Debates of 13 Mar 2020

MR SPEAKER
PRAYERS 11:23 a.m.
VOTES AND PROCEEDINGS AND THE OFFICIAL REPORT 11:23 a.m.
Mr Speaker 11:23 a.m.
Hon Members, we have the Votes and Proceedings of 11th March, 2020 for corrections.
Hon Members, any corrections?
Page 1…15
Mr Samukel Okudzeto Ablakwa 11:23 a.m.
I am most grateful, Mr Speaker. The item listed as 7, on page 9, the Hon Minister for Trade and Industry's name should be captured in full as it is an official record of this House. He is Mr Alan John Kwadwo Kyerematen.
Thank you Mr Speaker.
Mr Speaker 11:23 a.m.
Thank you very much.
Page 10 --
Mr Frank Annoh-Dompreh 11:23 a.m.
Mr Speaker, sorry, I have been trying to catch your eye earlier. On page 7, I have been marked absent; I was here yesterday.
Mr Speaker 11:23 a.m.
Thank you.
Page 10 -- 15.
Hon Members, the Votes and Proceedings as corrected, are hereby admitted as the true record of proceedings.
-- [Pause] --
Hon Members, the item listed 3, Business Statement for the 8th week, Hon Chairman of Business Committee?
BUSINESS OF THE HOUSE 11:23 a.m.
Majority Leader) 11:23 a.m.
Mr Speaker, the Committee met yesterday, Thursday, 12th March, 2020 and arranged Business of the House for the eighth week ending Friday, 20th March,
2020.
Mr Speaker, the Committee accordingly submits its report as follows 11:23 a.m.
Arrangement of Business
Formal Communications by the Speaker
Mr Speaker, you may read any available communication to the House.
Question(s)
Mr Speaker, the Business Committee has scheduled the following Ministers to respond to Questions asked of them during the week:
No. of Question(s)
i. Minister for Finance 2
ii. Minister for Communications 2
iii. Minister for Education 5
iv. Minister for the Interior 1
Total Number of Questions 10
Mr Speaker, in all, four Ministers are expected to attend upon the House to respond to 10 Questions during the week.
Statements
Mr Speaker, pursuant to Order 70(2), Ministers of State may be permitted to make Statements of Government policy. Statements duly admitted by the Rt Hon Speaker may be made in the House by Hon Members in accordance with Order
72.
Bills, Papers and Reports
Mr Speaker, Bills may be presented to the House for First Reading in accordance with Order 120. However, those of urgent nature may be taken through the various stages in one day in accordance with Order 119.
Pursuant to Order 75, Papers for presentation to the House may be placed on the Order Paper for laying. Committee reports may also be presented to the House for consideration.
Mr Speaker, the Committee accordingly submits its report as follows 11:23 a.m.
Motions and Resolutions
Mr Speaker, Motions may be debated and their consequential Resolutions, if any, taken during the week.
Sitting at Ten O'clock
Mr Speaker, the Business Committee has for some time now observed that the House does not Sit at exactly 10.00 a.m. as required by the Standing Orders. This development, the Committee noticed, had impacted negatively on the Business of the House. The Business Committee therefore urges Hon Members to endeavour to attend upon the House promptly for the expeditious transactions of parliamentary business.
Extended /Monday and Saturday Sittings
Mr Speaker, in view of the tall order of pending business, the Business Committee recommends that commencing from the ensuing week, the House considers Sitting beyond the prescribed period of 2.00 p.m..
Mr Speaker, apart from the extended Sitting being requested for by the Business Committee, the
Committee is passionately proposing to this honourable House the possibility of Monday and Saturday Sittings from the ensuing week till the House adjourns sine die.
This proposal has become necessary due to the huge backlog of pending parliamentary business, particularly Bills which are time-bound and therefore requiring urgent parliamentary action to meet deadlines. Again, the exigencies of the time within the global settings requires that the House optimally utilises the limited time available before an undesirable outcome occurs.
Conclusion
Mr Speaker, in accordance with Standing Order 160(2) and subject to Standing Order 53, the Committee submits to this honourable House the order in which the Business of the House shall be taken during the week under consideration.

Statements

Presentation of Papers --

(a) Request for waiver of Import Duties, Import VAT, GETFund Levy, NHIL Levy, EXIM Levy and Special Import Levy amounting to ten

million, one hundred and twelve thousand, nine hundred and forty United States dollars (US$10, 112,940.00) on materials and equipment to be procured under the Service Agreement between the Government of the Republic of Ghana, represented by the Ministry of Health and Fly Zipline Ghana Limited for the Delivery of Emergency Health and Blood Products to Public Health Facilities in Ghana.

(b) Budget Performance Report in Respect of the Ministry of Aviation for the Period of January to December, 2019.

Motions --

(a) Third Reading of Bills --

Narcotics Control Commission Bill, 2019

(b) Adoption of the Report of the Committee of the Whole on the Proposed Formula for Distributing the District Assemblies' Common Fund (DACF) for the Year 2020.

(c) Adoption of Report of the Committee of the Whole on

the Proposed Formula for the Distribution of the Ghana Education Trust Fund (GETFund) for the Year

2020.

(d) Adoption of the Report of the Committee of the Whole on the Proposed Formula for the disbursement of the National Health Insurance Fund for the year 2020.

Consideration Stage of Bills --

Corporate Insolvency Bill, 2019. (Continuation of Consideration)

Committee Sittings.

Questions --

*671. Mr Edward Kaale-Ewola Dery (Lambussie): To ask the Minister for Finance how much it cost the State to print the new GH¢100 and GH¢200 notes.

*672. Mr Isaac Adongo (Bolgatanga Central): To ask the Minister for Finance how much of the excess funds after capping the Stabilisation Fund
Mr Speaker, the Committee accordingly submits its report as follows 11:23 a.m.
has been transferred to the Sinking Fund for 2017 and 2018 fiscal years.
Statements
Consideration Stage of Bills
Corporate Insolvency Bill, 2019. (Continuation of Consideration)
Committee Sittings.

Questions --

*673. Mr Christian Corletey Otuteye (Sege): To ask the Minister for Communications what plans the Ministry has to improve communication network in the following communities: (i) Tehe (ii) Amuyao Korpe (iii) Afiadenyigba (iv) Dorgobom (v) Talibanya.

*674. Mr Kwame Governs Agbodza (Adaklu): To ask the Minister for Communications the extent of coverage of fourth generation (4G) cellular network in the country, taking into account regional and district coverage.

Statements

Consideration Stage of Bills --

Corporate Insolvency Bill, 2019. (Continuation of Consideration)

Committee sittings.

Questions --

*699. Mr Ras Mubarak (Kumbungu): To ask the Minister for Education whether the Ministry is aware that the University of Ghana owes more than GH¢528 million from a consortium of banks it borrowed GH¢43 million from to build hostels, and if the Ministry is aware, what are the plans to pay off the debt.

*700. Dr Ziblim Iddi (Gushegu): To ask the Minister for Education what criteria is used by the GETFund Board in awarding academic scholarships to applicants.

*701.Dr Clement A. Apaak (Builsa South): To ask the Minister for Education what the

Ministry is doing to promote and enhance the teaching and learning of ICT at the Junior High School level in Ghana.

*702. Dr. Clement A. Apaak (Builsa South): To ask the Minister for Education the number of basic school teachers trained on the new curriculum for basic schools and the regional breakdown of the numbers trained.

*703. Rev. John Ntim Fordjour (Assin South): To ask the Minister for Education when GETFund Infrastructural Projects will be completed in Assin Manso SHS, Assin Nsuta SHS, Nyankumase Ahenkro SHS, Adankwaman SHS, Anyinabrim Catholic Primary School, and Assin Kruwa D/A Primary School.

Statements

Presentation of Papers --

Report of the Finance Committee on the Request for waiver of Import Duties, Import VAT, GETFund Levy, NHIL Levy, and EXIM Levy amounting to the Ghana cedi

equivalent of six hundred and nine thousand, four hundred and seventy- eight United States dollars seventy- three cents (US$609, 478.73) on materials, plant, machinery and equipment or parts to be procured by Petersfield & Rey Limited under the implementation of the One District One Factory (1D1F) programme.

Consideration Stage of Bills --

Corporate Insolvency Bill, 2019. (Continuation of Consideration)

Land Bill, 2019.

Committee Sittings.

Questions

*704. Dr Clement A. Apaak (Builsa South): To ask the Minister for the Interior what plans the Ministry has put in place to improve security in the Builsa South District.

Statements

Motions --

Third Reading of Bills Corporate Insolvency Bill, 2019.

Consideration Stage of Bills --
Mr Speaker, the Committee accordingly submits its report as follows 11:23 a.m.
Land Bill, 2019. (Continuation of Consideration)
Committee Sittings.

Statements

Consideration Stage of Bills --

Land Bill, 2019. (Continuation of Consideration)

Committee Sittings.
Mr Speaker 11:33 a.m.
Thank you very much, Hon Deputy Majority Leader?
Mr Kwabena Mintah Akandoh 11:33 a.m.
Mr Speaker, if you would indulge me, I would wish that we make provisions for the Hon Minister for Health to come back to this House to brief us on the emergency response preparedness -
- 11:33 a.m.
Mr Speaker 11:33 a.m.
Hon Member, you know what to do if you want the Hon Minister to come to the House.
Mr Akandoh 11:33 a.m.
Mr Speaker, this is an emergency situation.
Mr Speaker 11:33 a.m.
No! That is what Urgent Questions are for. Do not say
it as if it is somebody's responsibility. Who would bring him? Bring him tomorrow.
Mr Akandoh 11:33 a.m.
Mr Speaker, this is urgent --
Mr Speaker 11:33 a.m.
Hon Member, if you want the Hon Minister for Health to come to the House, file an Urgent Question on Monday and by Tuesday, he would be in the House to answer it. That is our rule.
Mr Akandoh 11:33 a.m.
Mr Speaker, it is well noted.
Mr Samuel Nartey George 11:33 a.m.
Mr Speaker, I would want to draw the attention of the House to a directive you gave in the past on the annual reports of Agencies. As an Hon Member of the Committee on Communications, a number of Agencies in that sector, have failed to bring any of their annual reports from 2017. None of those reports have come before this House for the Committee to assess the work that they do with the taxpayers' fund.
These reports are still in abeyance, so the Hon Ministers responsible for those sectors need to be compelled to bring these reports on behalf of their Agencies because we cannot go on this way. Three years on and
Agencies that ought to report to Parliament by statute every year have failed to do that.
Mr Speaker, secondly, I would want to thank you and the Parliamentary Service Board. We have seen the hand sanitisers that have been put around by way of your instructions. However, I want to plead that if it is possible, they could be replaced with the automated ones that have sensors.
The reason is that if somebody is infected and presses the sanitiser and someone else who is not infected but wants to sanitise his or her hands presses the same sanitiser, there is the possibility of those sanitiser points to become incubation ports for the virus. There are automated ones that have sensors, which need not be touched but dispensed with automatically after a hand is placed under them.
Mr Speaker 11:33 a.m.
Thank you Hon Member.
With regard to that matter, any moment from now, kindly have a word with the Clerk to Parliament, even as we are seated. That business can be resolved because these days we have moved into the age of “non-touch'', and I think it is very important [Hear! Hear!] --
Mr Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa 11:33 a.m.
Mr Speaker, may you live long for your wise interventions.
Mr Speaker, the Hon Deputy Majority Leader ought to be commended for the presentation. I did miss her very much and I am happy that she is back from her honeymoon [Laughter].
Mr Speaker, I would want to find out from the Hon Deputy Majority Leader, if the Hon Minister for Finance has been programmed to appear before the House in connection with the US$100 million the President announced to the nation on Wednesday? The President said that he has asked the Hon Minister for Finance to make the money available and we are ready to approve that Facility even if it is under a certificate of urgency.
I did not see that on the Business Statement for the ensuing week, so if she could speak to that matter because it is important especially, when we consider the phase we have entered into with the two confirmed cases of coronavirus.
Mr Speaker, this country must be up and doing and Parliament under your able leadership, is ready to support the President and the Government to contain this COVID- 19. I would want to know if the Hon
Mr Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa 11:43 a.m.
Deputy Majority Leader, would consider a special committee to be set up to carry out some oversight and monitoring of what the Executive arm is doing.

If Mr Speaker could consider that, it would be very helpful if this House can consider a special committee to carry out oversight of the preparedness measures that have been announced by H.E. the President?

Mr Speaker, I note that there would be extended Sittings, and we would be Sitting on Mondays and on Saturdays as well. I hope that the Hon Deputy Majority Leader and the Leadership of the House have put in place the needed arrangements?

We are ready to work, but often we come on time and wait for the business and the Hon Ministers of State would not show up or the business would not be brought. Two days ago Mr Speaker had to publicly complain that business was not being tabled.

Mr Speaker, I hope that as they seek for extension, they would make business available. We are available, ready and willing to work. Hon

Ministers would indeed show up and we would not see Questions being forwarded and postponed again and again as we continue to see so that we can quickly complete what we need to complete.

As she rightly said at paragraph 4 of her Statement, that we live in uncertain times and if we would have to finish with our Business quickly and adjourn the House, we do that.

Mr Speaker, finally, I would want to find out from the Hon Deputy Majority Leader if the very laudable arrangement being put in place also covers guests of Parliament? We still see the public gallery very busy; lots of school children are coming in their numbers.

Are we putting in place measures for the guests of Parliament as well to be thoroughly screened and to use all these hand sanitizers and the other WHO protocols that we are following?

We hope that it is not only for Hon Members of Parliament since at the end of the day, we all converge here with our good friends, the Press Corps, in the press gallery, and guests at the public gallery. All of us must be seen to be going through the protocols

so that we shall all be safe. We hope that the good Lord would see us through in these trying moments.

I thank you, Mr Speaker.
Mr Speaker 11:43 a.m.
I thank you very much, Hon Okudzeto Ablakwa.
Mr Mutawakilu Adam 11:43 a.m.
Mr Speaker, mine is in respect of the annual work programme of Ghana National Petroleum Authority (GNPC). The Petroleum Revenue Management Act, 2011 (Act 815), requires that they submit their work programme to the House for approval. We are in the third month and I cannot find expression of them bringing it to this House for approval. Meanwhile, expenditure is ongoing by
GNPC.
Mr Speaker, so I would want to find out from the Deputy Majority Leader, if he could get in touch with the Hon Minister for Energy on how soon the work programme would come for us to approve it?
Mr Speaker 11:43 a.m.
Thank you very much, Hon Member.
Mr Alexander K. Afenyo- Markin 11:43 a.m.
Mr Speaker, I thank you for the opportunity and I commend the Business Committee for putting together our programme for the ensuing week.
Mr Speaker, I listened to the views expressed by my much respected Colleague, Hon Okudzeto Ablakwa in respect of the need to have an oversight on this issue of coronavirus and the preparedness of the country, and the work of the Executive. I agree with him, except to say that since we have your Committee on Health in place, we do not need to have a special committee for this purpose.
Mr Speaker 11:43 a.m.
What do we not need to have?
Mr Afenyo-Markin 11:43 a.m.
Mr Speaker, he suggested that we set up a special committee for the purposes of oversight but I am saying that we have a Committee on Health in this House. [Interruption.]
Mr Speaker 11:43 a.m.
No comment; just go on and contribute.
Mr Afenyo-Markin 11:43 a.m.
Mr Speaker, so your Committee on Health has the competence and capability to undertake that in accord with the rules of this House oversight. Therefore, I suggest that instead of
Mr Ras Mubarak 11:43 a.m.
Mr Speaker, I thank you very much.
Mr Speaker, on page 1 of the Business Statement, there is a correction that I would want to draw the attention of the Hon Deputy Majority Leader to. It should read 10 Questions instead of 20 which has been indicated on the first page.
Mr Speaker 11:43 a.m.
Hon Ras Mubarak, you are usurping the --
Mr John Jinapor 11:43 a.m.
Mr Speaker, I knew you had signalled that I should take the Floor because you are not only a Speaker but a fair one too. [Laughter.]
Mr Speaker 11:43 a.m.
I conspicuously observed that Hon Jinapor -- [Laughter.] --
Mr Jinapor 11:43 a.m.
I thank you very much, Mr Speaker. May the Hon Speaker live long. [Laughter.]
Mr Speaker, let me thank the Hon Deputy Majority Leader, except to note that she is proposing that we Sit through Saturdays. We are not in normal times. This is the time that as MPs, our constituents depend and call on us, especially in the wake of this issue of coronavirus.
Indeed, I am inundated with calls from my constituents in respect of getting information. Sometimes a lot of our constituents depend on us for information.
Mr Speaker, I had programmed myself that, next week, I intended visiting the constituency to do some outreach and also support the Health Directorate to disseminate information. Now, we are called upon to stay back on Saturdays. I would propose to the venerable Hon Deputy Majority Leader to reconsider her decision so that we can respond to our constituents as well.
Those of us, especially far away in Central Gonja in the Savannah Region, so that we can help Government to disseminate information and provide the needed support so that we can contain this situation.
I thank you very much, Mr Speaker.
Mr Ras Mubarak 11:53 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I thank you. On the first page of the Business Statement, the Business Committee indicates that by the fact that Hon Members do not turn up at 10.00 a.m., it affects Business in the House.
I do not see how the Business of the House should wait for Hon Members to come. These are just about the same faces every day and Mr Speaker, you are very punctual. If Sitting should start at 10.00 a.m. we should be starting at that time.
Mr Speaker, I would humbly appeal that you insist that Sitting starts at 10.00 a.m. There are moments when school children come to the public gallery from very faraway places. That requires of them to return to their respective places early. If we do not start at the appointed time, it would be very difficult for them to get the full benefits of coming to observe Sittings in Parliament.
Mr Speaker, so the coming to Parliament late by some Hon Members should not inhibit the
Business of the House. Every day, there are Hon Members who are here by a quarter to 10.00 a.m. Must we wait for people to come after 10.00 a.m.?
Mr Speaker, on the suggestion to Sit on Saturdays, again, there was a suggestion two weeks ago that in view of the enormity of work in the House, we should Sit on Mondays.

It was thrown away. The suggestion by the Hon Majority Leader was that some of them had primaries and constituencies to nurture and for which reason, we should not be Sitting on Mondays.

So, what has changed that we would be required to Sit beyond normal Sitting hours? Sometimes, we leave here at 8 p.m., get back to our homes and resume work tomorrow by 10 o'clock in the morning. Throughout the week, our families and constituents do not get to see us.

So I humbly suggest and appeal that if we have to extend Sittings to extra days, it should be Mondays but not on weekends, when we are required, as part of our duties, to
Mr Speaker 11:53 p.m.
Please, those who have spoken, kindly oblige others. One bite at the cherry is enough. Hon Members, you are always entitled to whispering a good idea that has come to your mind to another Hon Colleague and it all helps Business in the House.
Mr Yusif Sulemana 11:53 p.m.
Mr Speaker, two weeks ago, I filed an Urgent Question asking if we could get the Hon Minister for Trade and Industry to brief the House on
UNIPASS.
I have a document from IMANI Centre for Policy and Education and I know that you have a copy because they have sent you one. This is where they raised very pertinent issues that going forward, if we are not careful, we would even begin to lose revenue at our ports.
Mr Speaker, I thought that it would receive some prominent and that this week I would have been given the opportunity to ask that Question. So if the Question is not admitted, I would want to call on the Business Committee to find a way of getting the Hon Minister to come and brief us on this very important matter.
My second issue has to do with the extended Sitting. For me, it is not about extending the days of Sitting, but it is about our commitment to the work. Just take a look at your Right hand side and you can count the number of Hon Members seated there; just about 10 or so. So even if we extend the days of Sitting and we do not come for work, how are we going to execute whatever we are supposed to do?
I agree with the Hon Ras Mubarak that if Sitting starts at 10 o'clock, it should start exactly at 10 o'clock. Hon Members who do not come at 10 o'clock, we will have a way of dealing with them. If not, we will not be able to get our work done.
Mr Kingsley Carlos Ahenkorah 11:53 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I have been listening to my Hon Colleague on the other Side who actually made pronouncements to the fact that he filed an Urgent Question and he has been waiting to question the Hon Minister for Trade and Industry on the UNIPASS project.
Mr Speaker, if my Hon Colleague were here yesterday, the Hon Minister was here in Parliament to answer Questions. I do not know whether he
was here or not and missed that opportunity to put it across. However, if he were here, I think that I will consider that as a missed opportunity.
However, I can state that the Hon Minister is prepared at any time --
Mr Speaker 11:53 p.m.
Hon Member, you have not yet -- the same question and if it is so, just go straight to the point. Was the Hon Minister here to answer the same Question in that the Hon Minister said so and so? Hon Member, you fell short of that.
Mr Ahenkorah 11:53 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I agree with you and I only want to inform him that the Hon Minister is ready to answer the Question anytime the opportunity comes to the Ministry --
Mr Speaker 11:53 p.m.
The Hon Member is not alleging that the Hon Minister is not ready. He is saying that the Question has not been admitted.
Mr Ahenkorah 11:53 p.m.
Mr Speaker, all right. The Question has not been admitted yet. I agree.
Mr Speaker 11:53 p.m.
So if the Table Office will please ensure the listing of the Question.
Mr Suhuyini Alhassan Sayibu 11:53 p.m.
rose --
Mr Sayibu 12:03 p.m.
Mr Speaker, thank you very much for the opportunity. I join other Hon Members in commending the Hon Deputy Majority Leader for taking us through the Business Statement for next week.
Mr Speaker, I also join others to commend you and the Leadership of the House for some of the measures that have been put in place to ensrue that Hon Members and staff of Parliament stay safe as we all work towards ensuring that we limit exposure to COVID-19.
However, I would want to appeal to you and the Leadership of the House to recommend that our Hon Colleagues who, in the last week or two, have had course to travel abroad and return, like Mr Ras Mubarak, Mr Samuel George, Mr Dominic Nitiwul and others, undergo some tests.
We can rule out the fear that they may have contracted this deadly virus, given the fact that the information we are getting is that the first two cases were imported into this country.
Mr Speaker, so it is important that as we live together in the House, we convince ourselves that our Hon Colleagues who travelled to countries that may have reported the cases did not also contract it. There is a period of about 14 days and so we are unable to tell yet if they are all free.
I suggest that we urge our Hon Colleagues to submit themselves for voluntary testing and possible self- quarantine for a period of 14 days. I think that will further ensure and guarantee the safety of the House.
Mr Speaker, I also want to add to the issue raised by the Hon Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, on the need for intersectoral collaboration. As we speak, some schools have already started announcing closures and so it has become a case beyond the Ministry of Health. The Ministry of Education at some point, will also have to tell us what plans they have in place for our wards in schools.

Looking at the nature of our military and how they are housed and all that I think we need an intersectoral collaboration and we would all be at ease when we are assured that that collaboration exist for our safety.

Mr Speaker, once again, I thank you very much for the opportunity. I hope that you would request our Hon Colleagues who in the last two weeks have been out of the country and back to submit themselves to some voluntary testing.
Mr Speaker 12:03 p.m.
The Ag. Clerk should please draw Dr Prince Pambo's attention to see how he can best interact with those Hon Members and to pursue the best way possible.
rose
Mr Speaker 12:03 p.m.
Yes, Hon Member?
Mr Annoh-Dompreh 12:03 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I thank you for your kindness. I would also commend you for the good measures. I am particularly excited at the commendations which came from our Hon Colleagues on the Minority side directed to Mr Speaker. It is very exciting -- [Interruption.]
Mr Speaker 12:03 p.m.
Hon Member, please do not come through the back door. Please go on.
Mr Annoh-Dompreh 12:03 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I would take a cue accordingly.
Mr Speaker, on the request for extended Sitting through Saturday, clearly, the matter is over-flogged. I would want to agree with my Hon Colleagues on the other Side who spoke to the fact that as Hon Members of Parliament, we also have a role to play in the scheme of things, especially in this time when we all know that we are not in ordinary times.
I have volunteered to work with my Municipal Directorate of Health to support the crusade to engage and educate the public. I would want to agree with my Hon Colleagues that probably, the Business Committee may have to rest the suggestion that we Sit throughout Saturday, and then we stick to our normal time. Properly, we could Sit from Monday to Friday.
Mr Speaker 12:03 p.m.
Order!
Mr Annoh-Dompreh 12:03 p.m.
So what we would need is that we should strengthen your Committee on Health to be able to execute their mandate.
Mr Annoh-Dompreh 12:03 p.m.


Mr Speaker, if our Hon Colleague would recall, the Majority Chief Whip is bereaved and as at the last time the Business Statement was presented, the Hon Leader of the House suggested that there would be a flight that would convey Hon Members of Parliament to commiserate with our Hon Colleague.

But if the Hon Member would recall, as of the last time, when they also went for their primaries, at a point in time, even their front bench was empty -- [Interruption] -- So we should be careful in putting up this information out there to create unnecessary impression about the commitment of Hon Members of Parliament. I thought that was very unfortunate.

Mr Speaker, having said this, I would want to agree with my Hon Colleague, Hon Afenyo-Markin that we should stick to your Committee on Health, but properly, we should resource them more to be able to do what they have to do.

Mr Speaker, I thank you very much for the opportunity.
Mr Speaker 12:03 p.m.
In fact, if you would not contribute towards that aspect of the Business Statement any more, in my mind, the Committee of Health should lead in that particular matter. Out of the wisdom of the Committee, they should please co-opt any Member they feel would be of help in this regard.
Any other contributions?
Some Hon Member -- rose --
Dr Abdul-Rashid Hassan Pelpuo 12:03 p.m.
Thank you, Mr Speaker.
I am a Member of the Business Committee and out of frustration from the limited time and space we have in dealing with Businesses, we thought that it was necessary to have an extended Sitting, so we added Saturday. But if it would be possible for us to come on time and close late, I believe that we can cover the period of Business and we could stand up to the responsibility so placed on us.
I would urge that if we want to agree to come early, it should be a joint responsibility. We should come early and close late or sometimes have
extended Sittings. I am sure that within one week, we can do the work of two weeks.
Mr Speaker, again, from contributions here, I have noticed that we would need an internal arrangement of prevention before the disease gets out of hands.
Mr Speaker, people enter the elevators with Hon Members of Parliament. They sneeze, cough and do all kind of things there. It is a place we cannot dodge. I would therefore urge that there is an hourly disinfecting of the elevators while we use them.
Again, I would want to suggest that the Committee on Health which would work along with any other Hon Member that Mr Speaker may suggest should work with our clinic and the resident doctor. We should have Closed Sitting or a Joint Caucus Meeting, where the doctor would invite experts to join him, so that they come to give us guidelines on how we can tackle this. It should be as soon as possible.
Mr Speaker, if it would be possible for the Business Committee to include it, so that next week, we could have experts here to teach us how we could carry ourselves. This is a security problem, and the
Marshal's Department must take it up seriously because people can deliberately come here in order to attack Hon Members of Parliament by spreading the disease in places. It should be taken seriously how people come in and how they are led into places where they are not supposed to.
Ms Laadi Ayii Ayamba -- rose
-- 12:03 p.m.
Mr Speaker 12:03 p.m.
Yes, Hon Member?
Ms Ayamba 12:13 p.m.
Thank you Mr Speaker for the opportunity. Just yesterday, you cautioned us on how we should handle ourselves in order that we do not get infected with this disease and before day break, we heard that there are two confirmed cases.
Mr Speaker, I think that your suggestion was timely and I would wish that you would use your good office to help to undertake more activities in Parliament to prevent any infected person who might come to this House. According to sources, it took two weeks for the two cases to be confirmed.
Today, our children and teachers have come here. I do not know whether there are sanitizers at the gates they used for them to sanitise
Mr Samuel Atta-Mills 10 a.m.
Mr Speaker, I thank you very much for the opportunity.
Mr Speaker, the item numbered 3 on the Business Statement, Sitting is supposed to be at 10.00 a. m. in the mornings, but today, we did not start at 10.00 a.m. I do not think that it was the fault of the Rt Hon Speaker or Hon Members of Parliament. Maybe, Business was not ready. Sometimes reports are also not ready and that is why we may not start at

Mr Speaker, coming to the issue of Sitting on Saturdays, when we look at the Votes and Proceedings of yesterday, we adjourned at 11.30 a. m. in the morning. Therefore if there was any Business to have been done, then we should have stayed to do that. However, we cannot drag it on so that in the last minute we ask Hon Members to Sit on Mondays and Saturdays just because they would do it.

We also need time to stay with our constituents. Not only that, our quality of life is very important. When we work so many hours and so many days, our immunity closes down. So I would add my voice to it that we should perhaps reconsider staying longer in the day instead of adding more days to it.
Mr Bedzrah 10 a.m.
Mr Speaker, we would want to thank the Business Committee for bringing the Statement to us.
Mr Speaker, if we look at the detailed programme on Monday, on the item numbered (iii), which has to do with Motions, we noticed that we have three adoption of formulas -- the District Assembly's Common
Fund (DACF), the Ghana Education Trust Fund (GETFund) and the National Health Insurance Scheme
(NHIS).
As we speak, various institutions have laid their formulas, but Hon Members do not have copies. So the leadership could get in touch with the various institutions to bring the formulas for us to go through before we have the Closed Sitting and the adoption of Monday.
Mr Speaker, Hon Colleagues have spoken about extended Sittings. It is true that we all need to finish what we have to do before we rise, but looking at the fact that we need to go back to our various constituencies, especially on Saturdays that we have scheduled programmes for ourselves, we would want to plead with the Business Committee to reconsider the Saturday, so that we can do more work during the Sitting hours from Monday to Friday so that Saturdays could be used for other equally important assignments that we have as Hon Members of Parliament.
Mr Speaker, listening to Hon Colleagues talk about the corona virus, we have noticed that it is not everybody here who understands what it is and what to do. Just as one
Mr Speaker 10 a.m.
Thank you very much.
Ms Safo 12:23 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I wish to thank Hon Members for their contributions, their questions and for dissecting the Business Statement that was presented this morning.
Mr Speaker, I also very much agree and share the sentiments of Hon Members of Parliament on the pandemic that we are all witnessing, which is not only peculiar to Ghana but globally. For this reason, suggestions have been laid by the various contributors on how Hon Members of Parliament could also secure and protect themselves from the disease.
Mr Speaker, my engagement with the Ag. Clerk to Parliament this morning indicates that indeed, plans are underway to secure or procure some gadgets that would test the temperature of Hon Members as well as visitors who come into Parliament from time to time. This would enable them to be able to detect whether something abnormal is happening in
their systems. This is also one of the things that would add on to the remedy of the use of sanitisers that we find around.
Mr Speaker, again, I agree that this issue of the coronavirus has caused a lot of panic in the country and in Parliament as well. So the suggestion that some travels should be banned on Hon Members of Parliament, just as the Executive has done for its members is not far-fetched. I do not think that there is a suggestion that same could be emulated in Parliament. It rests in the bosom of the Rt Hon Speaker, and if Leadership would consult on that, I do not think it would be out of place.
Mr Speaker, except to say that I know that the Hon Ras Mubarak travels to Algeria a lot. That would be a bit of a matrimonial hitch for him, but for the safety of himself and for all of us, I believe that he would comply, should there be a directive to ban a travel for Hon Members of Parliament as well.
Mr Speaker, again, with the issue that was raised on the Hon Minister for Finance appearing before the House to brief or present a Motion for the release of a hundred million facility to deal with this emergency.

Mr Speaker, I would like to assure the Hon Member of Parliament that I do not see it on the Business Statement, and he is right about that. We would consult with the Hon Minister for Finance and as the Hon Member knows, we are masters of our rules, since it is an emergency and an urgent matter, we can always slot it in so that Hon Members would have a role to play in the approval and disbursement of those moneys.

Mr Speaker, again, I wish to draw Hon Members' attention to Standing Order 191. It reads:

“The House may at any time by motion appoint Special or Ad Hoc Committee to investigate any matter of public importance; to consider any Bill that does not come under the jurisdiction of any of the Standing or Select Committees”.

Mr Speaker, I know you have already given a directive on that but just to also share what our Standing Orders state when the Hon Member for North Tongu, Mr Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa actually proposed, that an Ad Hoc Committee should be set up to deal with the coronavirus situation. Once again, it rests in your bosom; it must come by
Mr Speaker 12:33 p.m.
I trust that we shall all approach the Business of the House for the rest of the time with mutual discipline. I can see the regulars nodding as I speak. One thing that is important for Hon Members who have contributed is not a matter of whether they would attend or not, but that yesterday was pathetic.
We waited for a signal but in the end, we came but had to adjust how we would manage to do something useful and that is the truth of the matter. Before it was 2.00 p.m., we were long gone.
Please, all I want is that those who arrange Business should themselves be here in the House to ensure that Business is available to be done. That is the view of my two Hon Deputy Speakers, who are seated in the Chamber. I want us to proceed with this in this manner and then when the regular time is well utilised, we can talk about extra times [Hear! Hear!]. Hon Members, let us all together do it with discipline and commitment.
Hon Members, I can tell you for sure that there are no Questions pending as at now in my office or that of the Hon First Deputy Speaker's office. Questions when admitted formally by the Speakership, whether it is myself, the Hon First or Second Deputy Speakers, are forwarded to the administration. The Table Office then lists them according to the Business in the House et cetera.
Any Hon Member who is in doubt or would want to follow up his or her Question, should please approach the Table Office immediately after Sitting
to know the state of the Question. After admitting the Question, it is an administrative matter, so let us have that clear.
On that note, the Business Statement as presented is hereby admitted. Any relevant adjustments should be a mutual leadership understanding.
Hon Members, item listed 4 -- Questions.
The Hon Minister for Energy, is not in the House. I have a letter with me, so we will not belabour the point. That takes care of Questions 694, 695 and
696
Any indication as to Question 697, which has been addressed to the Hon Minister for Health?
Ms Safo 12:33 p.m.
Mr Speaker, the Hon Minister for Health has been slated to answer Questions 697 and 698 but given the sad news throughout the night and the fact that he has to respond adequately to those issues, he has indicated his inability to appear before the House.
Mr Speaker 12:33 p.m.
Hon Members, once more, we will not belabour the obvious. The Hon Minister for Health
is under strenuous times. Let us reschedule these two Hon Ministers next week.
Shall we move on to Statements?
We have agreed that we would not normally admit Statements in view of our present schedules but I have a Statement by the Hon Member for Effutu, Mr Afenyo-Markin on the death of a Senior High School blood donor under weird circumstances.
STATEMENTS 12:33 p.m.
Mr Alexander K. Afenyo- Markin (NPP -- Effutu) 12:33 p.m.
I thank you Mr Speaker for the opportunity to make this brief statement on the floor of the House
Voluntary blood donors play a vital role in healthcare system as year on year, a great number of people rely on receiving donated blood to save lives. It is therefore shocking why a donor, in an attempt to save life ends up dying due to the negligence of health officials to adhere to standard procedures.
According to Ghana Blood Service, Ghana needs at least two hundred and sixty thousand (260,000) units of blood every year to ensure that the blood bank is well stocked. Mr Speaker, about 51 per cent of these donation come from
Mr Speaker, in view of the seriousness of the situation at hand 12:33 p.m.
1. An urgent investigation be conducted into this matter to bring to book all persons found culpable;
2. Criminal charges be brought against the staff of the National Blood Service and authorities of the school under whose supervision this
unfortunate incident occurred. Thus after completion of investigations the following should be pursued;
3. The bereaved family should be adequately compensated for the loss of their son.
4. There should be a public education on processes one must go through to ensure if donors are fit to undergo blood donations;
5. This I believe will serve as both caution to other health officials and organisations in this practice and to ensure the safety of voluntary donors on all times during donations;
Respectfully Submitted.
Mr Speaker, before I take my seat, may I take this opportunity to commend highly, Peace fm, for bringing this to our attention and making it possible for me to even make this Statement on the floor of this House. This is what we expect in journalism.
I thank you so much, Mr Speaker; I appreciate your kind audience and the indulgence of my Hon Colleagues.
I thank you once again.
Mr Speaker 12:43 p.m.
Thank you very much, Hon Afenyo-Markin. This is a very important Statement.
Ms Laadi Ayii Ayamba (NDC-- Pusiga) 12:53 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I thank you for the opportunity to comment on the Statement ably made by my Hon Colleague from the other Side of the House.
Mr Speaker, this is a very disheartening incident; an incident that would send shivers to the spines of all well-meaning Ghanaians. It is unfortunate and I wish to send my sympathy to the family, especially the mother and father of the said boy.
Mr Speaker, it is unfortunate that this has to happen because, as mentioned by the Hon Member who made the Statement, it means that most of the blood that is being gotten to support people who may need blood is normally gotten from voluntary donors.
If this had happened, one could imagine the impact that would come when people actually want to volunteer. It is unfortunate, but God knows best and we do not know why it has happened in this manner.
Mr Speaker, I am wondering why all the precautionary measures that are supposed to have been put in place, maybe I should say, have not been put in place because from the Hon Member who made the Statement, there was no form of testing, and ensuring that some kind of clarification or consent of parents have been sought for before the donation of blood was done.
Mr Speaker, listening to the Hon Member who made the Statement, one realises that those who organised the programme may not even have that professional knowledge of what should be done before these children are encouraged to go and do the donation which has led to this particular sad news.
Mr Speaker, it is very important that all organisations are given that information, and that all who would be part or all those who might be involved in undertaking such activities should be professionals.
Mr Speaker, I would want to agree with the Hon Member who made the Statement by saying that, stringent measures should be taken to bring to book all those involved in order to send message to officials to prevent similar future activities that may take place.

Mr Speaker, as a teacher, and especially, in a Senior High School, at least, even if one does not have that knowledge, I think one has every right to find out what should be done before talking to students and asking them to be patriotic and do the needful in order to support those who may need blood.

However, if one listened to the Statement, it seems the teachers or organisers did not do due diligence before these students donated the blood. It is very important and necessary that when such things are organised, whether for students, teachers, nurses or whoever, professionalism should be ensured such that tests are run and the necessary contacts are made.

This is because it is not just a matter of pushing people to donate blood especially, when age and health are in question.

Mr Speaker, one person is dead and we are here lamenting and wondering why. Many more are lying there and we do not know what the outcome will be, although we pray that Insha Allah to wit; if Allah wills it, they become well by the grace of the Almighty God.

I will suggest that in the investigations, all those who are supposed to have done the right thing and have not done it, should actually face the full rigours of the law to send the message to other persons.

Mr Speaker, last but not least, it is very important for education to go on for people to understand that we do not just say we are donating blood without following due process.

Also, whoever that will be responsible at the last minute to put the syringe that will pull out blood should be ready to ensure that he or she has checked that the donor is of age and healthy. So that whatever the person is doing, we can at least, say that we have some level of safety measures that have taken place.

Mr Speaker, with these few words, I thank you for the opportunity.
Mr Speaker 12:53 p.m.
Thank you very much, Hon Member. One more contribution from each Side and then the Hon Leaders may either contribute themselves or nominate one Hon Member.
Mr Speaker 12:53 p.m.
Thank you, Hon Member. Minority leadership?
Dr Zanetor Agyeman-Rawlings (NDC -- Klottey Korle) (wearing a face mask) 12:53 p.m.
Mr Speaker, thank you very much for the opportunity to contribute to the Statement ably made by my Hon Colleague on the other Side.
Mr Speaker 12:53 p.m.
Dr Agyeman- Rawlings, is it possible for anyone to possibly speak through a mask? [Laughter] -- I just want to know.
Dr Agyeman-Rawlings (wearing a face mask) 12:53 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I could try, just by demonstration. In case it comes to the point that Parliamentarians have to wear these face masks and gloves. (showing them).
Mr Speaker, can you hear me?
Mr Speaker 12:53 p.m.
Oh yes!
Dr Agyeman-Rawlings 12:53 p.m.
[Laughter]
Very well.
Mr Speaker, this is to de-stigmatise the concept of wearing face masks, should it come to that point and of course, the gloves and hand sanitiser which should be standard for all of us in the Chamber.
Mr Speaker 12:53 p.m.
Thank you very much. You will surely feature on the Committee.
Dr Agyeman-Rawlings 12:53 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I would be honoured to serve; for God and country.
Mr Speaker 12:53 p.m.
Please proceed.
Dr Agyeman-Rawlings 12:53 p.m.
Mr Speaker, every year during the blood donation week, we make announce- ments repeatedly over the media and call for action on the floor of Parliament and we can never seem to get enough people to donate towards the blood banks.
Our children deserve more and they should not be the ones carrying the burden of blood donation in this country. Granted that the youth carry the majority with regards to population, but certainly, the adults should also play their role in making donations.
Mr Speaker, according to the World Health Organisation (WHO) recommendations, the age for blood
Dr Agyeman-Rawlings 1:03 p.m.
donation is between 18 and 65 years. It can be around 16 or 17 years with parental consent. However, given that in many of these schools and institutions, we have children who may be under nourished, putting that extra strain on these young children is unfair.
There are clear standard operating procedures with regard to blood donation and if these are followed to the letter, we should not be reporting cases of children or under age donors being hurt or compromised in terms of their health when it comes to blood donation.
Mr Speaker, perhaps, we need to have stricter enforcement with regard to the age group that can be approached as regards to the donation of blood. There must be stricter regulations on the enforcement of the criteria that must be used for the selection of people to donate blood. For example, for the haemoglobin levels in females, it must not be less than 12 grammes per decilitre and in males, not less than 13 grammes per decilitre.

There are reasons why we have these; in order to prevent some of the outcomes that my Hon Colleague,

who is also a medical professional on the other Side, clearly stated in his contribution.

Mr Speaker, we tend to have the situation where we wait for things to go wrong and then we start to lament, but the reality is that we have all the policies and regulations in place. Perhaps, what we need to do is to have stricter adherence to the guidelines that we have in place for all these procedures, in order to minimise the effects of some of the lamentations that we end up going through at the end of such things.

Blood donation is necessary, but we must not make children the ones to bear the burden. I would like to take this opportunity to appeal to grown-ups across the country to take it as their civic duty to contribute towards the blood banks by donating regularly. There are criteria that would be adhered to as per the guidelines. We should let our children have the opportunity to be children until they reach that age where they can give their consent as adults.

Mr Speaker, I thank you very much for the opportunity.
Mr Speaker 1:03 p.m.
Thank you very much.
Yes, Majority Leadership?
Ms Sarah Adwoa Safo (NPP -- Dome/Kwabenya) 1:03 p.m.
Thank you very much, Mr Speaker.
Mr Speaker, a lot has been said on the Statement that has been made. It is very sad and my heart pours out my condolence to the family of the deceased. As a mother -- and I know a lot of mothers would indeed be saddened by this sad event.
Mr Speaker, in the Statement, a paragraph on page 2 is what saddens my heart the most. With your permission, I beg to read:
“…the students who were reluctant in participating in the exercise however were coerced by school authorities to do so.”
Mr Speaker, inasmuch as we want to encourage people to donate blood and as much as we would want to encourage children to be part of a good exercise, I think it is legally and fundamentally wrong to coerce a child to undergo a medical procedure that he or she does not want to. It is so clear that in cases where minors are made to take certain decisions - legally, they ought to be guided by their parents or guardians.
Mr Speaker, most parents today have entrusted their children to school authorities and school teachers, because they spend about 80 per cent
of their daily time in school learning. So I think the onus is on these school authorities and teachers to ensure that the rights of these children who are minors are not infringed upon.
Mr Speaker, maybe this child's instinct was so strong that he really did not want to go through it. Maybe, God was speaking to him in another way; yet they were coerced to undergo the procedure. The age that has been stipulated by international treaties and protocols have been infringed upon.
Mr Speaker, they ought to bow their heads down in shame. We should not allow these things to happen. Our attention should be on how to get these children to grow up free of certain deadly diseases that attack children but we underplay in this country. A typical one is Hepatitis B; where both adults and children can be vaccinated.
Mr Speaker, children are our future and we should protect them; we should take the right decisions for them. Many children in the schools and in our homes are prone to these infections. Sweat from an infected parent or person can infect the child with the disease. Sharing of cups and cutlery could also spread the disease.
Mr Speaker 1:13 p.m.
Thank you very much, Hon Deputy Majority Leader.
Hon Members, we would all agree that this is a very tragic matter. I think it should be a further wake-up call to Hon Members with regard to our own Private Members Bill.
This is what we are there for. We seek gaps in the law and so on and then we also close those gaps in the interest of our people who have asked us to represent them.
Hon Members, this is most unfortunate. I would refer the matter to the Committees on Constitutional, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs; Health, and Gender and Children. They are to be joined by Hon Dr Bernard Okoe Boye, Dr Zanetor Agyeman-Rawlings, if they are ready they should join Hon Members of those Committees, and Hon Alexander Afenyo-Markin.
They are to report within two weeks. They may decide to have a sub-committee to facilitate the work that they would do. We expect them to start work immediately.
Hon Members, the minimum age by way of a minor cannot be changed or modified in any manner by any school teacher or otherwise. In fact, some of these should only come with parental consent. They may want to consider some serious stringent provisions, and in that connection, school teachers cannot stand in loco parentis. If a teacher wants a child to donate blood, he or she must get a written consent from the parents.
From what I read, this child was compelled to donate two pints of blood. Because human beings are finished in Ghana, a child is exploited and two pints of blood is drawn from him or her, so as to save another Ghanaian's life?
We may even need to strengthen our procedures for donation, and make people aware by civic education and other things. It is really very painful, but we must tighten the law if people are taking it for granted. We have a law on blood donation by minors, but we make it very clear that until a person reaches the age of consent, which is already defined by
law, we cannot draw blood from that person without written consent of the parent only.
In fact, it also should be by a doctor's certification. These things are done in some countries, especially in England. There, if a doctor does not certify, a minor's blood cannot be taken. This is because a doctor is the only person who can actually determine whether a person is medically fit and qualified to donate blood.
This is just like the case where one cannot have sex with a girl or a woman under-age, even when the person agrees because such an agreement is no agreement in law. I would therefore charge that we consider it thoroughly, so that this House would be seen to be responding as a responsive House.
We expect our Hon Colleagues to tell us something in two weeks. The Legal Department should take this up with the appropriate quarters or apply other sanctions. Also, the law should be strengthened to protect our children.
I thank you very much.
Hon Members, that would end Statement time.
Ms Safo 1:13 p.m.
Mr Speaker, the item listed as 6 (i) is not ready to be taken.
Mr Speaker 1:13 p.m.
What about the item numbered 6(ii)?
Ms Safo 1:13 p.m.
Mr Speaker, that is also not ready.
Mr Speaker 1:13 p.m.
What about 6(iii)?
Ms Safo 1:13 p.m.
Mr Speaker, it is same for that one too.
Mr Speaker 1:13 p.m.
I trust that we would not face this difficulty on Monday?
Mr Bedzrah 1:13 p.m.
Mr Speaker, that is exactly what I said early on. I said that these formulas were presented to us late yesterday. Unfortunately, we do not even have copies as Hon
Members of Parliament. Therefore I doubt if we could take it on Monday as you mentioned.
Mr Speaker, we could perhaps ask the Clerks to quickly talk to the various institutions to at least bring copies to us, so that the Committees could meet on this, and bring it before the end of the week.
Mr Speaker 1:13 p.m.
Hon Members, we would move on to the item listed as 7 -- Motion. This is to be moved by the Hon Chairman of the Committee on Environment, Science and Technology.
rose
Mr Speaker 1:13 p.m.
Yes, Hon Dr A. A. Osei?
Dr A. A. Osei 1:13 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I would want to bring your attention to page 15 of the Order Paper. I have noticed --
Mr Speaker 1:13 p.m.
Hon Member, just a minute.
Dr A. A. Osei 1:13 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I have noticed that there is an advertisement for the Committee of the Whole to meet today, Friday 13th March, 2020.
Mr Speaker, majority of our Hon Members are on official business to Berekum. So I am surprised that it has been advertised for today. I would want to appeal to the Leadership to change that date to a more appropriate date, so that most of us could participate.
Mr Speaker 1:13 p.m.
Thank you very much, it is noted.
Hon Members, we would take Motion 7.
Ms Safo 1:13 p.m.
Mr Speaker, the item numbered 7 is also not ready.
Mr Speaker, just so that we do not go through all the numbers, I would want to indicate to you that as a result of the very important burial of the father of a very solid pillar of this House, it has caused most of our Hon Members to be outside Accra. They are precisely in Sunyani to attend the said funeral.
Mr Speaker, respectfully, sub- sequent to the items that you have made referral to; it cannot be taken. It is same with the issue that has been raised by our Hon Dr A. A. Osei on page 15. Majority of the Hon Members of the House are outside the region; so the other businesses cannot be taken as well.
Mr Speaker, on that note, permit me to move for an adjournment.
Mr Bedzrah 1:13 p.m.
Mr Speaker, as the Hon Deputy Majority Leader has requested to move the Motion for adjournment, we noticed that just as it was mentioned early on, we do not have any business at hand. As we all know, most of the businesses are not yet ready. Therefore we would want to urge our Hon Colleagues on the other Side to make business available to us. We are ready to work.
Mr Speaker 1:13 p.m.
For the avoidance of doubt, we are adjourning to when?
Ms Safo 1:13 p.m.
Mr Speaker, we are adjourning to Monday.
Mr Speaker 1:13 p.m.
What time on Monday?
Ms Safo 1:13 p.m.
Mr Speaker, do I then move the Motion for adjournment?
Mr Speaker 1:13 p.m.
We just want to be sure. So what time on Monday do we start?
Ms Safo 1:13 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I beg to move that this House be adjourned to Monday at 10.00 a. m. in the forenoon.
Mr Bedzrah 1:13 p.m.
Mr Speaker, thank you very much.
Mr Speaker 1:13 p.m.
The Hon Chairman of the Committee on Constitutional, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs Committee would act as the convener for the Committee that relates to the matter on children and blood donation.
Hon Dr Akoto Osei?
Dr A. A. Osei 1:23 p.m.
Mr Speaker, this is an august House and we would like to do things right. When I heard the available Hon Leader say “the House must meet at 10.00 a.m.”, [Interruption]-- Mr Speaker, we have already agreed in paragraph 3 of the Business Statement on when to meet. But for an Hon Member of this House to have the audacity to say, “the House must meet…”, that is the
prerogative of Mr Speaker. And we should not be seen to be taking the job of Mr Speaker. [Interruption]-
- 1:23 p.m.
Mr Bedzrah 1:23 p.m.
Mr Speaker, as I speak, I speak on behalf of the Minority; I am the available Minority Leader and I am supporting the Motion, supporting Mr Speaker, that Hon Members should be here at 10 o'clock. And we are imploring Mr Speaker to adjourn the House so that Hon Colleagues can be here on Monday at 10 o'clock in the forenoon.
Thank you Mr Speaker.
Mr Speaker 1:23 p.m.
Hon Members, the Motion for adjournment has been moved and seconded. I would put the Question.
Question put and Motion agreed to.
ADJOURNMENT 1:23 p.m.
  • The House was accordingly adjourned at 1.25 p. m. till Monday, 16th March, 2020 at 10.00 a. m.