Debates of 1 Apr 2020

MR SPEAKER
PRAYERS 10:43 a.m.
VOTES AND PROCEEDINGS AND THE OFFICIAL REPORT 10:43 a.m.
Mr Speaker 10:43 a.m.
Hon Members, Correction of Votes and Proceedings of Tuesday, 31st March, 2020.
Pages 1…17
Mr Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa 10:43 a.m.
Mr Speaker, I tried to catch your eye from page 14. Brong Ahafo Region keeps appearing and we made the point the last time and you asked that our records should reflect the current reality. It appears in the first paragraph on page 14 and the second paragraph of item numbered (f) (ii). If that could be amended accordingly?
Mr Speaker, on page 17, item numbered 4.1.3, let us correct the rendition of blood collection and reagent. It has been spelt wrongly.
Mr Speaker 10:43 a.m.
Thank you very much. It is a very important matter of national fact. I would entreat the Table Office to be mindful and apply the appropriate description accordingly.
Pages 14 -- 65
Hon Members, the Votes and Proceedings as corrected is hereby admitted as the true record of proceedings.
Hon Members, at the Commencement of Public Business, item listed 4 -- Presentation of Papers.
The following would be presented: item 4(a). Yes, Hon Majority Leader and Minister for Parliamentary Affairs?
10. 53 a.m.
Mr Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 10:43 a.m.
Mr Speaker, I believe that I can do the presentation in respect of the item numbered 4(a).
Mr Speaker, as I keep insisting that when the Hon Majority Leader does so in respect of the item numbered 4(a), he does so in his capacity as the Hon Majority Leader, but not as the Hon Minister for Parliamentary Affairs. I would therefore do so in my capacity as the Hon Majority Leader, but not as the Hon Minister for Parliamentary Affairs.
PAPERS 10:43 a.m.
Mr Speaker 10:43 a.m.
Hon Members, we would move on to the Paper numbered 4(b), by the Minister for Energy.
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 10:43 a.m.
Mr Speaker, I would want to request that you allow the Hon Minister responsible for Employment and Labour Relations to lay the Paper numbered 4(b) on behalf of the Hon Minister for Energy.
Mr Speaker 10:43 a.m.
Thank you very much, we would proceed.
By the Minister for Employment and Labour Relations (Mr Ignatius Baffour Awuah) (on behalf of the Minister for Energy) --
The 2020 Work Programme of the Ghana National Petroleum Corporation (GNPC).
Referred to the Committee on Mines and Energy.
Mr Speaker 10:43 a.m.
Hon Members, we would move on to the Paper numbered 4(c), by the Hon Minister for Finance.
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 10:43 a.m.
Mr Speaker, the Hon Minister for Finance is at a very crucial meeting, and his deputies are also having a meeting with the Finance Committee. So I would like to seek your permission and the indulgence of the House to present the Papers listed as 4(c); (i) and (ii) on behalf of the Hon Minister for Finance.
Mr Speaker 10:43 a.m.
Hon Majority Leader, you may.
By the Minister for Parliamentary Affairs (Mr Osei Kyei-Mensah- Bonsu) (on behalf of the Minister for Finance) --
(i)Annual Report on the Management of the Energy Sector Levies and Accounts for the Year
2019.
Referred to the Finance Committee.
Mr Speaker 10:43 a.m.
Hon Members, we would move on to the Paper numbered 4 (c) (ii).

(ii)Mixed Credit Facility Agreement between the Government of the Republic of Ghana and the African Development Fund (ADF) for an amount of five million, three hundred thousand Units of Account (UA5.3 million) [comprising a concessionary loan amount of UA3.2 million and a grant amount of UA2.1 million] to finance the Strengthening Institutional Capacity for Domestic Resource Mobilisation and Economic Management Project.

Referred to the Finance Committee.
Mr Speaker 10:43 a.m.
Hon Members, we would move on to the Paper numbered 4(d), by the Chairman of the Finance Committee.
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 10:43 a.m.
Mr Speaker, as I indicated, the Finance Committee is meeting. We would therefore have to stand --
Mr Speaker 10:43 a.m.
Hon Majority Leader, will it apply to the Paper item numbered 4(d)(ii)?
Mr Speaker 10:43 a.m.
Thank you very much.
Where do we move to from here?
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 10:43 a.m.
Mr Speaker, the Hon Chairman of the Health Committee is part of the Finance Committee meeting, which is currently being held. So unfortunately, we cannot take those Motions that follow the item numbered 5 and the others.
Mr Speaker, if I may, we could move on to the item numbered 44.
Mr Speaker 10:43 a.m.
Hon Majority Leader, which page is this on?
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 10:43 a.m.
Mr Speaker, it is on page 30 of the Order Paper, and it is the item numbered 44.
Mr Speaker 10:43 a.m.
Thank you.
Hon Members, we would move on to the item numbered 44 -- Motion,
by the Hon Attorney-General and Minister for Justice.
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 10:43 a.m.
Mr Speaker, I would want to plead that we allow the Hon Minister for Planning to stand in for the Hon Attorney-General and Minister for Justice.
Mr Speaker, I have called the Hon Attorney-General, and she is also at a meeting. I wanted the Hon Deputy Minister for Justice, our own Hon Kpemka to be with us, but unfortunately, he is not here. So since we have finished with the Consideration Stage and this being the Third Reading and there are no outstanding matters hence we can let the Hon Minister for Planning stand in for the Attorney-General and Minister for Justice to move this Motion.
Mr Haruna Iddrisu 10:43 a.m.
Mr Speaker, there is no objection. Having passed the Companies Act, I understand that this is a sister complementary legal regime to support it. So there is no objection to the Hon Minister for Planning, Prof Gyan-Baffour moving the Motion on behalf of the Hon Attorney-General and Minister for Justice.
Mr Speaker 10:43 a.m.
Thank you very much.
BILLS -- THIRD READING 10:43 a.m.
Mr Speaker 10:43 a.m.
Hon Majority Leader, where do we go from here?
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 10:43 a.m.
Mr Speaker, we could move on to the item numbered 50.
Mr Speaker 11:03 a.m.
Hon Members, we shall move to the Consideration Stage of the Education Regulatory Bodies Bill, 2019.
BILLS -- CONSIDERATION 11:03 a.m.
STAGE 11:03 a.m.
Mr Speaker 11:03 a.m.
Hon Majority Leader, where have we got to on this?
Mr Speaker 11:03 a.m.


Speaker, we got to clause 6.
Mr Speaker 11:03 a.m.
Are there listed amendments, Hon Chairman?
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 11:03 a.m.
Mr Speaker, the Hon Chairman of the Committee is doing some work on the Bill, so I may want to stand in for the Hon Chairman to move these amendments.
Mr Speaker 11:03 a.m.
Please, proceed.
Clause 6?
Clause 6 - Coordinating functions of the Commission.
Majority Leader (Mr Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu) (on behalf of the Chairman of the Committee) 11:03 a.m.
Mr Speaker, the Hon Chairman is here, but I can move the first advertised one.
Mr Speaker, I beg to move, opening phrase, delete “include” and insert “include, to”. so that it would read:
“The coordinating functions of the Commission include, to”.
Question put and amendment —
Mr Haruna Iddrisu 11:03 a.m.
Mr Speaker, I support the amendment but without
the word, “to”. And it means that what is in the original Bill is proper:
“The coordinating functions of the Commission include
(a)acting as an agency for channelling all external assistance and funding…”
And the word, “to” in the second line should be ‘for'.
Mr Speaker, so with your leave, I beg to move, that clause 6(a), line 2, delete “to” and insert “for”. It would then read:
“…for public tertiary education institutions”.
But to start the opening phrase with “include, to”, I have a difficulty with the “to”, the “include” is sufficient. The Majority Leader could read it again and he would see it.
Mr Speaker 11:03 a.m.
Hon Majority Leader?
-- [Pause] --
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 11:03 a.m.
Mr Speaker, the reason for doing this in clause 6 as the Hon Minority Leader would observe, the subclauses (a), (b), (c), (d) and (e) are all in present continuous tenses and usually, we
would want to state it in the present tense so that it would be:
“The coordinating functions of the Commission include, to act as an agency to collate, analyse and publish information”.
So that we would avoid the usage of the words in the present continuous tense. That is why we are doing, but it is about the same thing. Mr Speaker, clause 6(a) for instance would be:
“The coordinating functions of the Commission include, to
(a) act as an agency for channelling all external assistance and funding to public tertiary education institutions;
(b) to collate, analyse and publish information;
(c)to coordinate the planning of tertiary education”.
Mr Speaker, that is how it should flow, but in this sense really -- [Interruption] -- we have not changed the sense but we are just avoiding the statement to be in the present continuous tense.
Mr Speaker 11:03 a.m.
Hon Leaders, is there any compromise on this? Is it possible to --[Pause] -- If I see any difficulty, it is about whether it should start with the word, “to”.
Your functions include clean the floor in the morning; then, wash the clothing. And we need not start it with “to”, but you may so -- Let us come to an understanding on this.
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 11:03 a.m.
Mr Speaker, as I said, it is just to state it in appropriate language; the sense does not change at all.
Alhaji Fuseini 11:03 a.m.
Mr Speaker, I think that what the Hon Majority Leader is trying to do is consistent with drafting; to move it from the present continuous to the infinitive form of the verb. Their functions would include to do something. So it would have to affect the whole of clause 6. In fact, it would even affect clause 7 so that it becomes:
“The coordinating functions of the Commission include, to
(a) act as an agency for channelling all external assistance and funding to public tertiary education institutions
Mr Speaker 11:03 a.m.
Hon Minority Leader, nothing would be lost.
Mr Iddrisu 11:03 a.m.
Mr Speaker, I would accept the rendition, but the Hon Member for Tamale Central, Alhaji Inusah Fuseini, in reading clause 6(b), corrected himself so when we come to clause 6(b), it can no longer be collating -- [Interruption] -- All right, thank you.
Mr Speaker 11:03 a.m.
With the understanding that the “to” must flow through the entire clause, I will put the Question.
Question put and amendment agreed to.
Mr Speaker 11:13 a.m.
Further amendments?
Yes, Hon Chairman?
Mr William Quaittoo 11:13 a.m.
Mr Speaker, the clauses to be amended have been amended already because it flows through from the item numbered (i), (ii), and (iv) all on clause 6 on the Order Paper. So it changes paragraphs (a), (b), (c), (d) and (e), from the present continuous to the infinitive. So in paragraph (b), “collating'', would be amended to “collate'', “analysing'' to “analyse'', publishing'' to “publish''. In paragraph (a), the “acting'' would be amended to “act'' and in paragraph (c), “coordinating'', would be amended to “coordinate''.
In paragraph (d), “creating'' would be amended to come “create'' and in paragraph (e), “providing'' would be amended to “provide'', once we insert the “to'' at the top, with a comma after the “include''.
Question put and amendment agreed to.
Mr Iddrisu 11:13 a.m.
Mr Speaker, I have sent some few amendments to the Table Office and I am sure they are being processed. However, I want to seek your leave to propose an amendment to clause 6(a), which says; “to act as an agency for
channelling''. My problem is with the word “channelling''.
Maybe, it should read; “to act as an agency responsible for external assistance and funding''. The word “channelling'', is narrow. We want an agency that is responsible for all external assistance and funding to public tertiary education institution. So we should delete the word “agency for channelling'' and substitute it with “agency responsible for ' -- [Interruption] -- it would not be construed as received. They are responsible for external financing - when donors give money, they would be responsible for its disbursement and accountability. So the word “responsible'', would be a more elegant word than the “channelling''.
Mr Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa 11:13 a.m.
Mr Speaker, respectfully, I disagree with my Hon Leader. The function is about “channelling'' that is being a conduit. They are not responsible for the fundraising. We know that the universities have a way to attract research grants for example and those research grants should be channelled through. If we make it “responsible for'', then it means that they have to look for the money. That would change the meaning of what this function is. They are just supposed to coordinate some transfer. We have to
be careful we do not change the meaning or the import.
Mr Mahama Ayariga 11:13 a.m.
Mr Speaker, on the same subclause -- [Interruption] -- do we want to say that the agency should be responsible for channelling all external assistance? I urge that we delete “all''. It should be responsible for channelling external assistance but not all because the provider of the external assistance may have its own domestic laws that may not admit of mechanisms that would undermine or interfere with academic freedom. So they may say that they want to deal directly with a university, and not to pass the money through an agency to the university but if we say “all'', it means that no university would be able to take external assistance, unless that external assistance is channelled through the Commission and that would be very restrictive.
So I want to urge that we delete “all'', so that universities would still be free, subject to the preferences of the provider of the assistance not to be subject to having its resources compulsorily pass through the Commission. Let us be mindful of academic freedom, independence of academic entities and external policies in dealing with academic entities.
Alhaji I.A.B. Fuseini 11:13 a.m.
Mr Speaker, I got the sense of the Hon
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 11:13 a.m.
Mr Speaker, just as the Hon Member for Tamale Central indicated, I appreciate the issue raised by the Hon Member for Bawku Central. However, if we delete “all'', it would still mean the same, unless we introduce another word to qualify the external assistance to say “some external assistance'' but we cannot do that. So even if we delete “all'', it does not derogate from the fact that they should be the conduit for every assistance. So, even if we deleted “all'', so that it reads; “to act as an agency for channelling external assistance'', “external assistance'',
would include everything. So, it would not still alter the sense in that.
Mr Ayariga 11:13 a.m.
Mr Speaker, then we may introduce a further amendment to include --
Mr Joseph Yieleh Chireh 11:13 a.m.
Mr Speaker, if we delete “all'', it would not solve any problem. The issue is that if any external support is channelled, basic questions would be asked whether it is from external sources. If it is yes, the law says external sources should be channelled through the Commission. However, the purpose of this is that anybody who wants to support any tertiary institution must be willing to look at the procedure.
The idea the Hon Member talked about is far removed because if we really want money to go to the University of Ghana and it is asked to be passed through the Commission, it is an accountability to - it does not mean that the person should take it and dispense it on their behalf but they have to be aware that they have received resources. So as a Commission, they could follow through whether it would be applied well or not. If there is any institution outside which thinks that governing bodies with Ghana should not have accountability mechanisms, then they do not really want to give the help -- they should keep it.
I thank you very much, Mr Speaker.
rose
Mr Speaker 11:13 a.m.
Hon Member?
Mr Ayariga 11:23 a.m.
Mr Speaker is a professor. Mr Speaker has been in the university for decades. He knows very well that faculties and schools in universities must have autonomy in terms of raising funds and what they choose to do with the funds. If we create a mechanism through which money must pass before it gets to the university, we may ultimately have a situation where the mechanism through which money passes through to get to the university may have its own value systems that it uses either advertently or inadvertently to restrict certain types of moneys from passing through its system to certain types of programmes.
Mr Speaker, there has been lots of noise in this country about homosexuality, gays, lesbianism, etc., but academic freedom would require that we should have a right to carry out research in a university in those matters. Now, if there is external funding to a lecturer in sociology or religions or some other areas to
research into that subject matter and we say it should pass through the Commission and the Commission looks at it and says such money cannot pass through Ghana, it becomes a filter and an impediment to academic freedom. Whether we agree with the matter or not, a researcher must have a right to do research on the matter and tell us what it is.
Mr Speaker, when we create systems that act as filters to money going to our universities, we would be endangering academic freedoms. So I do not agree that moneys that should go to universities must pass through a Commission before it goes to them.
Mr Speaker, I think this is a very dangerous move that would endanger academic freedom and this House must not be seen to be creating such mechanisms.
I thank you, Mr Speaker.
Dr Matthew Opoku Prempeh 11:23 a.m.
Mr Speaker, I will plead with the Hon Member for Bawku Central, Mr Mahama Ayariga that this is the Business of this House and we must advert ourselves to the point that what is being done is not new. I wonder he being a former Deputy Minister for Education would make such a statement in this House -- [Uproar]
Dr Prempeh 11:23 a.m.
Mr Speaker, I am coming to a point.
Mr Speaker 11:23 a.m.
Hon Minister, let us keep this to the argument only. Make your point --
Hon Minister, withdraw that and make your point.
Dr Prempeh 11:23 a.m.
Mr Speaker, I do withdraw that. The book and research allowance that has been administered in this country for the last 20 years goes through the National Council for Tertiary Education (NCTE). If we look into the National Council for Tertiary Education 1993, (Act 454), universities collect their money and stipends through the NCTE.
Mr Speaker 11:23 a.m.
Hon Minister, please, read from the law.
Dr Prempeh 11:23 a.m.
Mr Speaker, I am quoting. I will get you a copy of the law. Globe grants and even budgets for the universities organised by --
Mr Speaker 11:23 a.m.
Hon Minister, do you have the Act?
Dr Prempeh 11:23 a.m.
Mr Speaker, I quoted the law for you; I will read it and I am not making a mistake.
Mr Speaker 11:23 a.m.
I thought you had it and that is why I requested that you read it.
Dr Prempeh 11:23 a.m.
Mr Speaker, I have paraphrased the Act and I will get it and read it verbatim.
Mr Speaker, in this country, all university budgets are coordinated by NCTE. Even coming to the Committee on Education in Parliament to defend the university budget, it is the NCTE. The Hon Members of the Committee here can confirm this. This has existed since this Parliament. It is nothing new.
Mr Speaker, book and research allowances and university budgets are all defended in this House through the NCTE and that is not about academic freedom. What has it got to do with academic freedom?
Mr Ayariga 11:23 a.m.
Mr Speaker, I thank you. Indeed, I was at the Ministry of Education and I was in charge of tertiary education. Public funding and Government of Ghana allocations passing through the NCTE to the universities is a normal route. That is public funding but when we talk about all external funding, does that include
when Mr Speaker as a professor of political science write to Cambridge University and wants to do a research and they have a fund for which they approve your proposal and give you US$100,000 to carry out the research, does that money has to pass through this Commission?
This is external money and that is my concern. How can it be said that that money must pass through the National Commission for Tertiary Education and not when there is a budgetary allocation and it passes through the NCTE. That is what has been happening. But we need to define external funding; if by external funding we mean Government of Ghana funding there is no problem.
Let us be elaborate and say Government of Ghana allocations but academic freedom will be stifled when we create additional hurdles for them in terms of raising and accessing resources for research and for infrastructural development, et cetera.
Mr Speaker, I think that we are making a very dangerous mistake. Universities should be free to raise external moneys and however it gets to them is their business. We can pass our moneys that we are giving to them through the Commission. So Mr Speaker, let us delete the entire clause
if that is the whole idea or rephrase it to reflect public money.
Why should external moneys from US, England, Asia, et cetera, pass through the Commission? So if a professor writes his proposal and it is accepted and the money is sent to him to carry out his research --
Mr Speaker, there are policies in universities where as a lecturer or professor, if one gets a research proposal, the resources should pass through the faculty because very often a percentage of that amount is kept by the faculty and the rest given to you to carry out your research.
Mr Speaker, these restrictions will not augur well for professors and researchers in our universities and we need to remove it. We cannot restrict them to that extent.
Mr Speaker 11:23 a.m.
Hon Members, there comes a time when we just zoom in on the main issue. Do we want that every external funding for whatever research that an academic or research receives should necessarily as a condition precedent be approved by such a body? There are a lot of foundations; Rockefeller Foundation, Fulbright Foundation -- I have personally benefited from some; it was not subject to the approval of any institution here. It was only given to
Dr Prempeh 11:33 a.m.
Mr Speaker, the National Council for Tertiary Education Act 1993 (Act 454), section 2(c) reads:
“To recommend to the Minister for the preparation of the annual national education budget, block allocation of funds towards running cost and grants towards capital expenditure of each institution of tertiary education including how the allocations are to be disbursed;
(d) to recommend national standards and norms including standards and norms on staff, cost, accommodation and time
utilisation for the approval of the Minister and to monitor the implementation of approved national standards and norms;
(e) to advise Government Councils of institution of tertiary education on suitable measures to generate additional funds; and
(f) to advise the institutions of tertiary education on the application for and acceptance of external assistance in accordance with government policy”.
Mr Speaker, so this is not new because the universities - as an Hon Member of the Minority asked a Question that the University of Ghana has gone into debts and so why is the Government not bailing out the university?
Mr Speaker, if we allow universities to borrow unnecessarily without recourse to Central Government, then we should be prepared for the consequences and these would be huge consequences. There are two contracts in University of Ghana and one is costing the Government of Ghana over US$80 million and the other another one is over GH¢500
million which were borrowed at the back side of Central Government. Mr Speaker, this is not about academic freedom and no government in this country, even the military regimes, have prevented a university from collaboration and bringing in external funding for research. Mr Speaker, that is even not the point here.
Mr Speaker 11:33 a.m.
Hon Minister, with matters regarding limitation of borrowing, would they necessarily have to accept grants from outside that come to researchers? If this is what you fear then why do you not look at that specifically? Respectfully, the nexus that the Hon Member is raising, to my mind, is not addressed by what you have read to us.
Dr Prempeh 11:33 a.m.
Mr Speaker, when I read from Act 454, the first part I addressed was on the grants. That in preparation of the annual budget of the university's expenditure, it should come through the National Council for Tertiary Education and it must include grants. This is the law that exists as at now and it is not a new law.
In 1993, a law was passed in this country that if the universities received grants, because of accountability, it must be seen in their budgets. So, towards the preparation of their annual budgets those grants should be admitted. Mr Speaker, if a
university gets an external funding and does not disclose, then something happens how would we account for it in this country?
Mr Speaker, that is not to say that they cannot get a grant to do something, however, it has to be accountable through their annual budgets.
Mr Speaker 11:33 a.m.
Hon Majority Leader?
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 11:33 a.m.
Mr Speaker, respectfully, it seems to me that we are digressing a bit. First of all, we are at the Consideration Stage and as our Standing Orders provide in 128(2):
“At the Consideration Stage of a Bill, the House shall not discuss the principle of the Bill but only its details.”
Mr Speaker, what we are doing now is discussing the policy and principle and this is a bit worrying. However, the matter being raised by my Hon Colleague is really for the purposes of accountability and transparency. Every public institution is subject to oversight by Parliament, and this provision is not in any way saying that they cannot attract grants, scholarships and so on from external sources, except that there must be a way to monitor what they receive. Mr
Mr Iddrisu 11:33 a.m.
Mr Speaker, I have listened to the Hon Minister reference a particular Act, I have listened to the Hon Majority Leader and I have listened to you also. What we should persuade the Hon Member for Bawku Central, Mr Mahama Ayariga to restrict himself to is the deletion of the word “all” because he has a point with that.
Mr Speaker, just like you intimated; Kennedy Foundation, Rockefeller Foundation and Fulbright Scholarship all deal directly with the universities. So with a certain aspect of it there should be no interference in the work of the universities. So if we construe external funding as what the Hon Minister knows about today -- the World Bank funds tertiary education and sometimes UNESCO makes allocations for higher education.
Mr Speaker, so all that the Hon Member for Bawku Cenral, Mr Mahama Ayariga is saying is that they can act as agents for channelling external resources. So we should delete “all” because some portions - the Hon Member has a point because I do not think that there is an intention to gag academic freedom. If we are not careful, it can undermine it and that is what he sought to convey. This is because if we control what comes from Kennedy Foundation or Fulbright Scholarship into a particular department of the university for pure academic purposes, then they can construe it that way. So since that is not the intention then let us delete the word “all”.
Mr Speaker 11:33 a.m.
Very well. I would put the Question without “all”.
Question put and amendment agreed to.
Mr Quaittoo 11:43 a.m.
Mr Speaker, then we have to put the Question on the whole of clause 6.
Mr Iddrisu 11:43 a.m.
Mr Speaker, clause 6 is on policy, but with your leave, clause 6(c) reads
“… coordinate the planning of the tertiary education system in line with national development goals”.
Mr Speaker, I saw the Hon Minister for Employment and Labour Relations, -- what is missing is ‘manpower needs'. Can we add ‘manpower needs' because there is a lot of digression by -- [Interruption] --
No, national development goals are too broad. In doing this, let us just add “manpower needs”. There is no country which does not have a road map of its manpower requirements.
We have universities which have been set up and they want to train what they want to train in and when they do not have jobs then we would say they are unemployed. So we would have to qualify national development goals and the manpower needs of the country.
Mr Quaittoo 11:43 a.m.
Mr Speaker, I think that has been catered for by paragraph (d): “Creating platform for regular interaction between industry and academia.”
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 11:43 a.m.
Mr Speaker, national development agenda is all-embracing. It includes the harnessing of natural resources, sustainable development, the over- racking development agenda of the
Mr Iddrisu 11:43 a.m.
Mr Speaker, if I have your leave, Hon Majority Leader, we are talking about the use of legislation to deal with national ills. This country does not have a manpower plan and that is wrong. Everywhere in the world, a country's manpower needs are projected from 10 to 20 years.
Ghana Beyond Aid is a national development aspiration. In it, there is human capital. So we are saying that we should be able to coordinate educational institutions, so that there would be institutions which would train lawyers; there would institution which would train doctors and institutions that would train ICT professionals. We must particularise manpower needs.
Mr Speaker, today, practically, the universities are not staying to their core mandates and this is our opportunity to remind them they should not just train any person; they must train what we need today and in
the future. Every day they train people in marketing, is that what the country needs? Is that our development aspirations?
Mr Speaker 11:43 a.m.
In fact, this must blend into the policy.
Dr Prempeh 11:43 a.m.
Mr Speaker, as the Hon Majority Leader said, manpower needs are factored in the national development goal. One of the SDGs is about manpower needs and skills.
Mr Speaker, for the sake of emphasis, we would bring into the Bill and say that manpower needs of the country and in line with national development goals, it is also very appropriate.
Mr Speaker, the debate on who should the universities train has gone on for so long. Should they train just for training sake or they should train in line with the aspirations of our manpower needs and goals? I do not think there is a problem here. I think if we insert before “national development goals”, “manpower needs in line with national development goals” then it is appropriate.
Mr Speaker 11:43 a.m.
Let us get the formulation clear.
Dr Prempeh 11:43 a.m.
Mr Speaker, the rendition would then be:
“The co-ordinating function of the Commission includes
(c) co-ordinating the planning of the tertiary education in line with the manpower needs and national development goals of the country.”
Question put and amendment agreed to.
Mr Ablakwa 11:43 a.m.
Mr Speaker, I was wondering if for the sake of consistency, clause 6(c) uses “tertiary education system” and clause 6(e) uses “tertiary education sector”.
Mr Speaker 11:43 a.m.
Hon Members, shall we ask the draftspersons to sort them out for us?
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 11:43 a.m.
Mr Speaker, I believe in the context, “system” is better.
Mr Speaker, when we go to clause 5(3) which talks about the structure of the tertiary education system. So in the context, it is the “education system” and not just the “sector”.
Mr Speaker 11:43 a.m.
Hon Chairman, any further amendment on clause 6?
Mr Quaittoo 11:43 a.m.
Mr Speaker, I think we have to leave paragraph (e) as it is. In that case, “sector” is better.
Mr Ablakwa 11:43 a.m.
Mr Speaker, I am wondering if clause 6(e), we are not being too narrow and restricting the ambit of the universities.
Mr Speaker, with your permission, I beg to read 11:43 a.m.
“…providing a hub for mutually beneficial interaction the articulation of national interest within tertiary education sector.”
We have agreed we would amend that to “system”, but should it not go beyond just the national interest? There is a Pan African agenda. We are talking about Global Centres of Excellence. I think it is too narrow -- [Interruption] -- I would have loved to see “Pan African” there.
Dr Prempeh 11:43 a.m.
Mr Speaker, the whole of clause 6 is a co-ordinating function of the NCTE. So sometimes I wonder how we could even say that co-ordinating is an issue. So when they are co-ordinating national issues, should they co-ordinate Pan African issues?
Mr Speaker, I think he would drop his amendment, so that we could make headway. When we get to
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 11:43 a.m.
Mr Speaker, we are making this law for the Republic. Indeed, even our international relations, as the Constitution stipulates in article 40, with your permission, I beg to read:
“In its dealings with other nations, the Government shall --
(a) Promote and protect the interests of Ghana.”
Mr Speaker, even though we live in a global village, the interest of Ghanaians should be paramount.
Mr Ayariga 11:43 a.m.
Mr Speaker, to provide a hub for mutually beneficial interaction and the articulation of national interest within the tertiary education system. What does that mean? A hub for interaction, does that mean that we should go to the Commission and interact? “For
articulation”, will they organise forum for us to articulate national interests? In terms of setting up a commission to be responsible for tertiary education. What do we mean when we craft a function like this? I am not even talking about whether it is Pan African interest or national interest.
Mr Speaker, a law must state something that we can relate to. But to say that the Commission is to provide a hub for mutually beneficiary interaction. So, what? Would they organise cocktail for professors to attend and interact with each other? It continues to say: “…and the articulation of national interest…” -- so at the fora, would they be articulating national interest? What kind of coordinating function is that?
Mr Patrick Yaw Boamah 11:53 a.m.
Mr Speaker, we read clauses and interpret provisions as a whole. Clause 6 talks about the coordinating functions of the Commission, and it has listed paragraphs (a), (b), (c), (d) and (e). With all those functions within it, if we do not have a focal point or forum to discuss and analyse to see the beneficial interest of all those provisions as set out in subparagraphs (a), (b), (c), and (d) then what would we have done?
In any case, the Vice Chancellors in the universities have a focal point or a Vice Chancellors Ghana Association (VCGA), where they meet to interact. Is it against this? We have the Pan-African Universities headquarters in Accra here, where they sit and discuss issues on research and other things. So I believe it is a very important provision, which has to be maintained.
Alhaji (Dr) Pelpuo 11:53 a.m.
Mr Speaker, it is true that we were discussing it, and we found it very interesting. Even at a point, we found it unnecessary that we would want to create a situation where there is a hub for an interaction and articulation of national interest within the tertiary sector.
Mr Speaker, in enacting laws, we know that there are certain specific clauses that can be measured, such that when they are violated, one can say that they are violated. Now, if this clause is violated, how would we be able to know that there has not been any interaction? How can anybody detect that there had not been an interaction or the consideration of national interest? How can anybody also know that there had not been articulation? I think that it should just not be there at all. I would therefore want to go with the suggestion by the Hon Member for Bawku Central, Mr Mahama Ayariga.
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 11:53 a.m.
Mr Speaker, the paragraph (e) that my Hon Colleague from Bawku Central spoke eloquently about, flows from paragraph (d). It says: “create a platform for regular interaction between industry and academia.” This is limited to industry and academia. When we come to paragraph (e), it says: “Provide a hub…” The “hub” is the same as a platform. So they are to create a platform for mutually beneficial interaction and the articulation of national interest within the tertiary educational sector. What it means is that this platform would go beyond industry and academia, and it would include all segments of societal aspirations and needs. That is what it means, and that indeed is

what the universities exist for. That indeed is where it flows from, and it is very relevant.

The Hon Member for Bawku Central was putting a pun on some of the words, making it appear as if it exists for nothingness.
Mr Chireh 11:53 a.m.
Mr Speaker, the amendments that my Hon Colleagues are seeking for -- [Interruption] -- What I am saying is that we are merging two institutions; the National Accreditation Board and the National Council for Tertiary Education. If we are doing so, then we should look at the functions as they operate separately. If we seek to combine them, then we should look at what those functions would be.
In this particular case, all these things are a reflection of what they were doing before. This have been in the laws before, now therefore, if we have any objection to any of these things, then it must be that we do not agree with the way it is formulated. Concerning paragraph (e) which says: “provide a hub for mutually beneficial interaction and the articulation of national interest within the tertiary educational sector,” why not?
This is because the Vice Chancellors meet regularly. It is
termed as either a committee of Vice Chancellors or a Council of Vice Chancellors. Now, the Commission has the responsibility of managing matters in the tertiary educational sector, so they would create that avenue. The forum being talked about would be where they would share and exchange ideas about national development policies. I therefore do not see any problem with it being captured in the Bill.
Mr Speaker, finally, when we are at the Consideration Stage, the advice is that the moment two or three people argue for too long, we either stand down the clause, or put the vote on it; otherwise, we cannot make progress. Re-arguing principles would not help, and changing fallacies are not appropriate. If something is proposed which is not right, we can point it out, but if we are to make progress, then we either need to curtail the debate and put the Question, or to stand down the clause for a further consideration later on.
Thank you very much.
Mr Quaittoo 11:53 a.m.
Mr Speaker, I think that it is important that we leave paragraph (e) as it is. Some Hon Colleagues are advocating that we stand it down, but I am advocating that we leave it as it is.
Mr Speaker 11:53 a.m.
Hon Chairman, after all this debate, why should we stand it down?
Mr Quaittoo 11:53 a.m.
Mr Speaker, I invited you to put the Question to clause 6, but some people raised issues about paragraph (e). I am however saying that I am not in support of the amendment that they are proposing, so --
Mr Speaker 11:53 a.m.
Do you appreciate the issues or not?
Mr Quaittoo 11:53 a.m.
No, Mr Speaker, I do not.
Mr Speaker 11:53 a.m.
If you do not, then I would put the Question and forget about who appreciates and who does not appreciate.
Mr Speaker 11:53 a.m.
Hon Chairman, help us to put the Question categorically.
Mr Quaittoo 11:53 a.m.
Mr Speaker, there is no amendment on the floor, so I would want you to put the Question on the whole of clause 6 as amended.
Mr Speaker 11:53 a.m.
Hon Ayariga, if you insist, then you may want to put out your amendment, so that we vote for, or against it.
Mr Ayariga 11:53 a.m.
Mr Speaker, I did not move any amendment.
Mr Speaker 11:53 a.m.
So it means that whatever it is about the controversy has been abandoned?
Clause 6 as amended ordered to stand part of the Bill.
Mr Speaker 12:03 p.m.
The Hon Chairman says there is nothing more outstanding.
Clause 7? Hon Members, at this stage, we have a couple of—
Mr Quaittoo 12:03 p.m.
Mr Speaker, clause 7.
Mr Speaker 12:03 p.m.
Yes, we are not moving with the speed I would otherwise have liked us to; at this stage, I would like to suspend the Consideration Stage at this time and then move on to some of the substantive Motions so as to let the business flow.
If the Marshal could position the Mace appropriately?
Hon Members, Motion numbered 38, Hon Chairman of the Committee?
Chairman of the Committee (Mr Emmanuel Akwasi Gyamfi) 12:03 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I beg to move, that notwithstanding the provisions of Standing Order 80(1) which require that no Motion shall be debated until at least forty-eight hours have elapsed between the date on which notice of the Motion is given and the date on which the Motion is moved, the Motion otion for the adoption of the Report of the Committee on Mines and Energy on the Commercial Contract Agreement between the Government of the Republic of Ghana (represented by the Ministry of Energy) and TBEA Hengyang Transformer Company Limited for an amount of fifty million United States dollars (US$50,000,000.00) to execute the Supply and Erection of Electrical Materials and Equipment for the Electrification of 292 Communities in the Ashanti, Central, Eastern, and Brong Ahafo Regions (Self-Help Electrification Programme) may be moved today.
Minority Leader (Mr Haruna Iddrisu) 12:03 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I beg to second the Motion
.
Question put and amendment
agreed to.
Resolved accordingly.
Suspension of Standing Order
80(1)
Chairman of the Committee (Mr Emmanuel Akwasi Gyamfi) 12:03 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I beg to move, that notwithstanding the provisions of Standing Order 80(1) which require that no Motion shall be debated until at least forty-eight hours have elapsed between the date on which notice of the Motion is given and the date on which the Motion is moved, the Motion for the adoption of the Report of the Committee on Mines and Energy on the Engineering, Procurement and Construction (EPC) Contract Agreement between the Government of the Republic of Ghana (represented by the Ministry of Energy) and Tropical Cable & Conductor Limited for an amount of fifty million United States dollars (US$50,000,000.00) to execute the Supply and Erection of Electrical Materials and Equipment for the Electrification of 234 Communities in the North East, Savannah, and Northern Regions (Self-Help Electrification Programme) may be moved today.
Minority Leader (Mr Haruna Iddrisu) 12:03 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I beg to second the Motion.
Question put and amendment agreed to.
Resolved accordingly.
Mr Speaker 12:03 p.m.
Hon Chairman, you may move the substantive Motions listed as items 39 and 42.
MOTIONS 12:03 p.m.
AND 12:03 p.m.
Chairman of Committee (Mr Emmanuel Akwasi Gyamfi) 12:03 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I beg to move, that this
honourable House adopts the Report of the Committee on Mines and Energy on the Commercial Contract Agreement between the Government of the Republic of Ghana (represented by the Ministry of Energy) and TBEA Hengyang Transformer Company Limited for an amount of fifty million United States dollars (US$50, 000,000.00) to execute the Supply and Erection of Electrical Materials and Equipment for the Electrification of 292 Communities in the Ashanti, Central, Eastern, and the Brong Ahafo Regions (Self-Help Electrification Programme).
That this honourable House adopts the Report of the Committee on Mines and Energy on the Engineering, Procurement and Construction (EPC) Contract Agreement between the Government of the Republic of Ghana (represented by the Ministry of Energy) and Tropical Cable & Conductor Limited for an amount of fifty million United States dollars (US$50,000,000.00) to execute the Supply and Erection of Electrical Materials and Equipment for the Electrification of 234 Communities in the North East, Savannah, and Northern Regions (Self-Help Elec- trification Programme).
Mr Speaker, in so doing, I present your Committee's Report 12:03 p.m.
Mr Speaker, in so doing, I present your Committee's Report 12:03 p.m.
1.0 Introduction
1.1 The under-listed Agreements were laid in Parliament by the Hon Minister for Energy, Mr John Peter Amewu, on Thursday, 26th March, 2020 pursuant to article 181(5) of the 1992 Constitution:
i. The Commercial Contract Agreement between the Government of the Republic of Ghana (represented by the Ministry of Energy) and TBEA Hengyang Trans- former Company Limited for an amount of fifty million United States dollars (US$50,000,000.00) to execute the Supply and Erection of Electrical Materials and Equipment for the Electrification of 292 Communities in the Ashanti, Central, Eastern, and Brong Ahafo Regions (Self-Help Electrification Programme).
ii. Engineering, Procurement and Construction (EPC) Contract Agreement between the Government of the Republic of Ghana (represented by the Ministry of Energy) and Tropical Cable & Conductor Limited for an amount of fifty million
United States dollars (US$50,000,000.00) to execute the Supply and Erection of Electrical Materials and Equipment for the Electrification of 234 Communities in the North East, Savannah, and Northern Regions (Self-Help Electrification Programme
(SHEP).
1.2 The Agreements were subsequently referred to the Select Committee on Mines and Energy by the Rt Hon Speaker for consideration and report pursuant to Order 188 of the Standing Orders of the House.
2.0 Deliberations
2.1 The Committee met on Monday, 30th March, 2020 and considered the Agreements. The Committee is grateful to the Hon Deputy Minister for Energy, Mr William Owuraku Aidoo, for attending upon the Committee to provide the needed clarifications on the Agreements.
3.0 Reference
3.1 The Committee was guided by the following documents:
i. The 1992 Constitution of Ghana; and
ii. The Standing Orders of Parliament.
4.0 Background
4.1 The Government of Ghana through the Ministry of Energy had been pursuing a National Electrification Scheme (NES) since 1990 with the objective of reducing poverty, creating small-to-medium- scale industries, creating jobs in the rural areas, stemming rural-urban migration and improving the overall socio-economic development of the nation.
4.2 The target of the NES, complemented by the Self-Help Electrification Programme (SHEP), is to extend electricity to all parts of the country over a 30-year period. So far, 10,486 communities as at March 2019, have been connected to the national electricity grid under the NES and SHEP since their commencement in 1990.
4.3 The rate of access to electricity in Ghana has increased from about 15 per cent of the population at the inception of the NES to the current level of 84.98 per cent.
4.4 In order to accelerate the achievement of universal access to electricity, the Government of Ghana
is implementing several electrification projects in some selected communities across the country, including the areas covered by the current Contract Agreement laid before the House.
5.0 Contract Sum, Payment Schedule and Completion Timeline
5.1 The total contract sum of US$50,000,000.00 will be expended on the supply and erection of electrical equipment for the electrification of 292 communities in the Ashanti, Central, Eastern and the Brong Ahafo Regions.
5.2 The total contract sum of US$50,000,000.00 will be expended on the procurement, engineering and construction for the electrification of 234 communities in the North East, Savannah, Eastern and the Northern Regions.
5.3 The Government of Ghana has committed to pay fifteen per cent (15%) of the contract sum as an advance payment to the Contractors to take care of mobilisation and design and the remaining eighty-five per cent (85%) of the contract price upon submission of valid claims in respect of the supply of materials and installation.

5.4 The time for the completion of the works is seven hundred and thirty (730) days, which is two years, from the commencement date.

6.0 Condition Precedents

6.1 The Contract Agreement will come into force and effect upon satisfying the following conditions:

i. Approval of the Contract Agreement by relevant government authorities in Ghana;

ii. Approval of the terms and conditions of the Credit Agreement by the relevant government authorities and bodies in China and Ghana;

iii. Executed and effective Loan Agreement between the Industrial and Commercial Bank of China (ICBC) or other Chinese Financial Institution and the Government of Ghana represented by the Ministry of Finance;

iv. Approval of the Agreement in accordance with Ghana's Public Procurement Act, 2003 (Act 663) as amended by the Public Procurement

(Amendment) Act, 2016 (Act 914);

v. Completion of a Value For Money (VFM) Audit by the Ministry of Finance;

vi. Approval of the terms and conditions of the Credit Agreement by the relevant government authorities and bodies in China and Ghana;

vii.Approval for the Contract Agreement having been received from the Parliament of Ghana in accordance with article 181(5) of the 1992 Constitution; and

viii. Issuance by the Government of Ghana of Down payment and Receipt by the Government of Ghana of the Down Payment Guarantee.

7.0 Observations

7.1 Increasing Electricity Access Rate

7.1.1 The Committee observed some wide inequalities in the access rate of electricity in the regions. It was generally observed that the access rate in the Northern regions are low as

compared to the Central, Eastern and Southern part of the country.

7.1.2 It was further noted that only six out of the 16 regions have access rates above the national average of 84.98 per cent. The completion of the two Projects (that is connection of the total of 526 Communities to the national electricity grid) would increase the electricity access rate to a minimum of 90 per cent by 2020.

7.1.3 The Committee was also delighted to know that the Contracts involve the provision of the Light Voltage (LV) poles for all the beneficiary communities. The provision of Low Voltage poles (LV poles) has been a major challenge for many of the communities captured.

7.1.4 The table below provides the access rates of electricity in the various Regions of the country.

Table 1: Access rates of electricity on regional basis

Region Access Rate (%) Ranking

Greater Accra 96.66 1 Ashanti 91.57 2 Brong Ahafo 90.93 3 Western 90.15 4 Volta 89.02 5 Central 88.69 6 Eastern 81.60 7 Ahafo 79.62 8 Western North 77.14 9 Upper West 76.46 10 Bono East 73.61 11 Oti 70.36 12 Northern 70.21 13 Upper East 60.65 14 Northern East 59.12 15 Savannah 54.51 16 National Average of Electricity Access Rate 84.98%
Mr Speaker, in so doing, I present your Committee's Report 12:03 p.m.


7.2 Local Content and Local Participation

7.2.1 The Committee noted with commendation the engagement of Tropical Cable and Conductor Limited, an indigenous Ghanaian Turnkey Contractor, with much experienced and track record in similar projects which shall work with other experienced local sub- contractors in executing the projects for the North East, Savannah and the Northern Regions.

7.2.2 The Committee further observed that the Contractors are obliged under the Agreements, to utilise to the extent possible, Ghanaian goods and services. The Contractors have undertaken to procure materials and consumables such as wooden poles, transformers, conductors and cables, energy meters, wooden meter boards, meter enclosures, bolts, nuts and washers, diesel and petrol from local suppliers and manufacturers.

7.3 Value for Money Assessment

7.3.1 The Committee noted that value for money assessment conducted by Crown Agent on the Contract Agreement yielded a savings of US$1 million on the total contract price in respect of the contract between the Government of Ghana and TBEA

Hengyang Transformer Company Limited. The savings, as agreed by the Government and the Contractor, will be added to the initial contingency provisions of US$1,190,641.61 and will be expended solely on additional works to the project that will be determined by the Government of Ghana.

7.3.2 The Committee however noted that the value for money audit in respect of the contract between the Government of Ghana and the Tropical Cable & Conductor Limited is yet to be completed. The Ministry assured the Committee that the value for money report will be made available to the House, through the Committee upon completion.

7.3.3 The Committee urges the Ministry to utilise the savings from the value for money audit to expand electricity access to communities within the same regions which were not captured as part of the current project.

7.4 Measures to ensure Health and Safety

7.4.1 The Committee observed that the Contractor has committed under the Agreement to comply with all applicable health and safety regulations and ensure that reasonable

steps are taken to guarantee the health and safety of employees at the site.

The Contractor has also undertaken to insure against third party liability in the amount not be less than US$1,500,000 and a fire insurance covering fire damage to poles up to the point of a Taking-Over Certificate for each Section.

7.5 Liability during Defect Notification Period

7.5.1 The Committee further observed that the Contract Agreement makes provision for the issuance of a Retention Money Guarantee, equivalent to five per cent (5%) of the total Contract Sum, by the Contractor to the Government of Ghana to cater for defect liabilities during the Defect Notification Period of twelve months. The Retention Money Guarantee will be valid and effective upon the issuance of Taking-over Certificate for the project and remain enforceable until the expiration of the Defect Notification Period.

8.0Conclusion and Recommendation

8.1 The Committee has thoroughly examined the Commercial Contract Agreements and is generally satisfied with the terms and conditions. The

Committee is of the view that effective implementation of the Projects will go a long way to support the achievement of the government's industrialisation drive and poverty reduction agenda, particularly in rural communities.

8.2 The Committee accordingly recommends to the House to adopt its report and approved by Resolution:

i. The Commercial Contract Agreement between the Government of the Republic of Ghana (represented by the Ministry of Energy) and TBEA Hengyang Trans- former Company Limited for an amount of fifty million United States dollars (US$50,000,000.00) to execute the Supply and Erection of Electrical Materials and Equipment for the Electrification of 292 Communities in the Ashanti, Central, Eastern, and Brong Ahafo Regions (Self-Help Electrification Programme); and

ii. Engineering, Procurement and Construction (EPC) Contract Agreement between the Government of the Republic of Ghana (repre- sented by the Ministry of Energy) and Tropical Cable
Mr Speaker, in so doing, I present your Committee's Report 12:03 p.m.


& Conductor Limited for an amount of fifty million United States dollars (US$50,000,000.00) to execute the Supply and Erection of Electrical Materials and Equipment for the Electrification of 234

Communities in the North East, Savannah, and Northern Regions (Self-Help Electrification Programme), pursuant to article 181 (5) of the 1992 Constitution.

Respectfully submitted.
APPENDIX 12:03 p.m.
Mr Speaker 12:03 p.m.
Thank you very much.
Mr Adam Mutawakilu (NDC -- Damango) 12:03 p.m.
Mr Speaker, thank you very much for this opportunity to second the Motion.
Mr Speaker, your Committee met and it became evident that when we consider the national average of 84.98 per cent, Northern, North East and Savannah Regions are far below the national average. For example, Savannah Region is 54.51 per cent; North East is 59.12 per cent and Northern region is 70.21 per cent. So it is therefore imperative that when agreements like this come, we support it to ensure that we are able to increase the number of communities for them to catch up with the national average.
Mr Speaker, there are other projects that are currently ongoing and
if we take the Memorandum, they indicated that outstanding SHEP 4 project is still ongoing; outstanding SHEP 5 project is still ongoing. These are the projects which cover the Northern, Upper East and Upper West Regions.
Mr Speaker, when we refer to paragraph 463 on page 85 of the Budget Statement for 2017, the Hon Minister was clear that these projects would be executed in 2017.
Mr Speaker, with your permission, let me quote from the Budget Statement for 2017 12:03 p.m.
“In 2017, the Ministry will ensure the completion of the following projects: · outstanding SHEP-4 and SHEP-5 Pilot projects in the Northern, Upper East and Upper West regions; · implementation of CWE project for five regions phase-1; and · Hunan project for three regions phase-1.”
Mr Speaker, with your permission, let me quote from the Budget Statement for 2017 12:13 p.m.


However, these projections are still on-going, which shows the slow pace of the implementation of the rural electrification and as a result, a reflection of the low percentages that have been achieved since 2017.

Mr Speaker, in 2015, we achieved a national average of 80.5 per cent; in 2016, it increased to 83.24 per cent; but in 2017, it increased to 83.62 per cent, which is less than 0.5 per cent. In 2018, it increased to 84.3 per cent and in 2019, it increased to 84.98 per cent. It is expected that the Ministry would fast-track these projects alongside the one we are yet to approve to ensure that these regions achieve the national average that is required and to enable us to achieve universal access when it hits 90 per cent.

Mr Speaker, with Savannah, Northern and North East Regions, there was a peculiar problem for value for money audit but the memorandum indicated that it was still on-going. So the Committee, urged the Ministry as a matter of urgency to complete it and make a copy of the report available to the Committee for us to make follow ups. If we compare the bill of quantities of this Agreement to the previous Agreement that came to

Parliament in 2016, they are all within range and so I was pleased with the figures with respect to the bill of quantities.

Mr Speaker, with these few words, I support the Motion and urge Hon Colleagues to approve and adopt the Report.
Mr Speaker 12:13 p.m.
Hon Minority Leader?
Minority Leader (Mr Haruna Iddrisu) 12:13 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I thank you for the opportunity to contribute to the Motion.
Mr Speaker, I observed on page 7 of the Report that this would benefit the North East, Savannah and Northern Regions. We know the northern regions, so the Committee should have been specific with their details.
Mr Speaker, generally, any effort to expand rural electrification is worthy of support. In respect of the fact that Ghanaians everywhere need access to electricity for their daily lives and for businesses. In my constituency, the joy to commission a rural electrification project is high to the extent that those rural women, who otherwise, would travel miles just to mill rice, corn or millet, have joy
that it could be in their homes, when they have electricity which is important.
Mr Speaker, one other observation is that those communities that lack rural electrification, their use of mobile telephony is affected because they have to walk to nearby communities to be able to charge their phones. That is how important this intervention is in many areas.
In my constituency, I have achieved 100 per cent rural electrification thanks to former and present Hon Ministers of Energy. Every village in Tamale South is connected but what we suffer is expansion within those communities like Wamali, Kakpayili, Gukpegu and Viting, but for them I would not have a village to name for the Hon Minister to consider but he has to have another way to help those other communities that are left out.
Mr Speaker, in concluding, I noted the Western North Region is not part of this rural electrification project, so maybe, in the future when another Agreement comes, we could focus on them.
Mr Speaker, I just travelled to the Karaga District, for the funeral of the late paramount chief and communities such as Kokpeliga, Domon, Kalabihi, Bagli, Bakurili and Damanal had the rural electrification project on-going and sometimes they hear that the Hon Minister for Energy or an Hon Deputy Minister for Energy wants to stop the
continuation of those projects. If that is the case, it is not right. These are State resources and every Ghanaian is entitled to benefit from these resources. So the Hon Minister must pay particular attention to developments in Karaga, particularly, from the Pishegu road and the politics going on with the rural electrification. This would increase the coverage between 2017 or 2018 and 2019, we have not seen a significant leap in terms of expansion on access to rural electrification.
Mr Speaker, I support the Motion and trust that the particular case of Karaga and some communities in the Savannah area, there are many communities with the poles erected but wires have not been provided. Some of these poles have been standing for two or three years, since 2017. The Hon Minister would have to pay particular attention and do an audit on the contractors who work on those projects to ensure conclusion on it.
Mr Speaker, in paragraph 7.2 there is local content and local participation and then indigenous Ghanaian turnkey contractor. That is encouraged. So we see North East, Savannah and Northern Regions -- if they want to talk about the three hived regions, they should say so and have it much more significant.
Mr Speaker 12:13 p.m.
Majority Leadership?
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 12:13 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I would yield to the Hon Member for Kwadaso, Dr S. K. Nuamah
Dr Samiu Kwadwo Nuamah (NPP -- Kwadaso) 12:13 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I thank you for the opportunity to contribute to the Motion.
Mr Speaker, energy in its basic terms is defined as the ability to do work and the President on numerous occasions stated that he was not voted
into power to complain but to work. Again, we all witnessed the effect of dumsor in the past on the economy on the poor and on everything that we lived for.
It is important that as a country, we ensure that every one should have access to power to be able to enjoy life and make life bearable. The President has come up with lots of policies to ensure that poverty is reduced drastically, some of which include the One District One Factory which we all know that needs power to be able to work.
Again, access to power ensures that there is job creation in every corner of the country and it also plays a part in the health delivery in the country. There is no doubt that power to everyone, is important but we have focused so much on the accessibility and we do not talk about the affordability. When power is taken to people and they fail to pay for it, it becomes a problem.
Mr Speaker, I want to commend the Hon Minister for ensuring that power is accessible by everyone. I will also add that it must be affordable.
Mr Speaker, with these few words, I support the Motion for the expansion of electrification and I urge the House to also support the Motion.
Mr Speaker 12:23 p.m.
Thank you very much. The Hon First Deputy Speaker should please get ready to take the Chair.
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 12:23 p.m.
Mr Speaker, the Hon Deputy Minister for Energy is around and may want to make some few remarks.
Mr Speaker 12:23 p.m.
Hon Deputy Minister, you may.
Deputy Minister for Energy (Mr William Owuraku Aidoo) (MP): Mr Speaker, I wish to take this opportunity to thank your Committee on Mines and Energy and the Finance Committee for the good job that they did.
Mr Speaker, I would like to draw your attention to the assertion that was made by the Hon Member for Damongo, Mr Mutawakilu Adam about the value for money analysis which is yet to come before the House. It is instructive for the House to know that the amount that Tropical Cable & Conductor Limited quoted for materials is much lower than that of TBEA Hengyang Transformer Company Limited which we have the
value for money analysis for. So even without us providing the value for money analysis to the House, we already know that we are making some serious savings.
Mr Speaker, when I appeared before the Committee, I made it quite clear to them that as soon as the value for money analysis is in, I will make it available to the House through them.
Mr Speaker, in addition, the Hon Minority Leader also --
Mr Adam 12:23 p.m.
Mr Speaker, my Hon Colleague did indicate that when he considered the bills of quantities of the two, that of the Ashanti Region is higher than that of the North East, Savannah --
Mr Speaker, yesterday, I raised some issues. The Hon Deputy Minister should go and look at the intermediate poles. With that of the Savannah Region, while the unit cost per pole is US$226.12, that of TBEA Hengyang Transformer Company Ltd is US$220. So that assertion that the bill of quantities for the Savannah, North East and Northern Regions are lower should be taken with a pinch of salt.
Mr Speaker, apart from the bill of quantities and any savings made, the
Mr Adam 12:23 p.m.


value for money audit report will indicate what it should be used for and therefore giving the Committee information to do follow up during the implementation process is crucial. So it does quite much more than just bill of quantities.
Mr Speaker 12:23 p.m.
Hon Deputy Minister, you may want to tread cautiously at this stage.
Mr Aidoo 12:23 p.m.
Mr Speaker, the Hon Member just made mention of one item, but of course we take the aggregate that would advise us as to whether we have made some savings or not. We do not just take one item to make an assertion that one is higher than the other.
Mr Speaker, so first, we are hoping to make some serious savings from the value for money of Tropical Cable and Conductor Limited. As a matter of fact, it is based on this bills of quantities that the Public Procurement Authority (PPA) gave us authorisation to go ahead subject to the arrival of the value for money audit. As soon as the value for money audit is ready, we would make it available like I inidcated earlier to the House via the Committee.
Mr Speaker, when the Hon Minority Leader spoke, he made mention of expansion works. Expansion works are really not something that the Ministry pays too much attention to; we are more interested in providing electricity to virgin communities. We have left ECG and NEDCo to provide that service.
Mr Speaker, with these few words, once again, I thank you and the Committee for the work that they have done for this country.
Question put and Motion agreed to.
Mr Speaker 12:23 p.m.
Hon Members, Hon First Deputy to take the Chair.
  • [MR FIRST DEPUTY SPEAKER IN THE CHAIR.]
    • Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 12:33 p.m.
    Hon Members, we are to take Resolutions listed as items 40 and 43 on the Order Paper.
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 12:33 p.m.
    Hon Members, I invite the Hon Deputy Minister to move Resolutions listed as items 40 and 43.
    RESOLUTIONS 12:33 p.m.
    THIS HONOURABLE 12:33 p.m.
    HOUSE HEREBY RE- 12:33 p.m.
    RESOLUTIONS 12:33 p.m.
    THIS HONOURABLE 12:33 p.m.
    HOUSE HEREBY 12:33 p.m.
    RESOLVES AS 12:33 p.m.
    Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 12:33 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, we can now take item numbered 5.
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 12:33 p.m.
    Hon Members, item numbered 5. Hon Chairman of the Committee?
    MOTIONS 12:33 p.m.
    Chairman of the Committee (Dr Kwabena Twum-Nuamah) 12:33 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I beg to move, that this honourable House adopts the Report of the Committee on Health on the Contract Agreement between the Government of the Republic of
    Chairman of the Committee (Dr Kwabena Twum-Nuamah) 12:33 p.m.
    Ghana (represented by the Ministry of Health) and Hospital Engineering Gmbh, Rizzani De Eccher S.p.A., and Bergam Investment SA (HEDEBI JV) for an amount of one hundred and forty-five million, two hundred and twenty thousand euros (€145, 220,000.00) to execute the construction and equipping of a new 330-Bed Maternity Block at the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital (KBTH).
    Mr Speaker, in so doing I beg to present your Committee's Report.
    1.0 Introduction
    2.1 On Tuesday, 24th March, 2020 the Hon Minister for Parliamentary Affairs, Mr Osei Kyei-Mensah- Bonsu, presented the following Paper in Parliament on behalf of the Hon Minister for Health, Mr Kwaku Agyeman-Manu:
    “Contract Agreement between the Government of the Republic of Ghana (represented by the Ministry of Health) and Hospital Engineering Gmbh, Rizzani De Eccher S.p.A., and Bergam Investment SA (HEDEBI JV) for an amount of one hundred and forty-five million, two hundred and twenty thousand euros (€145,220,000.00) to finance the construction and
    equipping of a new 330-Bed Maternity Block at the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital (KBTH).”
    2.2 In accordance with the Constitution and Order 178 of the Standing Orders of the House, the Commercial Agreement was referred to the Committee on Health for consideration and report.
    2.3 In attendance at the Committee's deliberations was the Hon Deputy Minister for Health, Mr Alexander Kodwo Kom Abban, and other Officials of the Ministry of Health.
    3.0 Background Information
    3.1 Since the establishment of Korle Bu Teaching Hospital in 1923, the Maternity Block of the Facility has not received any major rehabilitation since its construction. The Hospital has grown from an initial 200-Bed capacity to over 1,500. It is currently the third largest Hospital in Africa and the leading national referral centre in Ghana.
    3.2 The Maternity Block at KBTH is identified as one of the critical health infrastructures that will enhance the health delivery system in the Country. The hospital's current operating conditions suffer from massive congestions, lack of enough theatres and delivery beds amongst a myriad
    of other issues. As a result, maternal deaths have been on the rise, 60 were recorded in 2016, 57 in 2017, 41 in 2018 which rose to about 53 in 2019. Also, an average of 179 babies die annually at the Facility.
    3.3 The Project, when completed, will help in the following ways:
    i. Improve the health of patients (mother and child);
    ii. Increase the volume of patient care to adequately manage regional needs;
    iii. Improve the quality of life and care for all stakeholders;
    iv. Provide enough space, capacity and equipment to meet the obstetric demands of the region and adjoining places;
    v. Increase the capacity of Ghana to provide secured referral teaching hospitals; and provide medical education of international standard;
    vi. Enable KBTH to position itself as one of the centres of excellence in health care in the West African Sub-region.
    3.4 The completion of the KBTH maternity Block will to a large extent address issues relating to maternal and child care and will offer the latest healthcare technologies, providing a new standard of health care for the general population of Ghana.
    4.0 Project Objective /Justification
    4.1 The Project is required to meet the Ministry's objective of providing access to quality healthcare. It is also in the fulfillment of the government's commitment to ensure universal healthcare for all citizens in Ghana and attain Sustainable Development Goal
    (SDG) 3.
    5.0 Project Implementation Plan and Duration
    The Project is expected to be completed in three (3) years (2019- 2021) and will be executed by Hospital Engineering Gmbh/Rizzani De Eccher/Bergam Invest AB (‘'Herebi JV''). The Ministry of Health would be the executing agency for the Project and will be responsible for the full implementation of this Project in line with the agreed loan and donor conditions. The implementation plan includes the following components:
    i. Completion of financing agreement;

    [TWUM-NUAMAH][MR TWUM-NUAMAH]

    ii. Provision of additional facilities in Civil Works to include Electrical and Plumbing Installations;

    iii. Supply and Installation of Medical Equipment & Furniture; and

    iv. Project Management and Procurement of Consultancy services.

    6.0 Project Description/Scope

    6.1 A total of six (6) components are clearly defined as part of the Project and are summarised below:

    i. Construction and equipping of a new 330-bed Maternity Block (9-Storey Block including a basement) with all ancillary facilities;

    ii. Provision of a 2-year Post Defects Notification Period Maintenance Programme and for Medical Equipment supplied;

    iii. Training and Technical Assistance for selected Medical Equipment Listed;

    iv. Procurement of start-up Equipment related consumables as per list;

    v. Installation of ICT infrastructure; and

    vi. Provision of Human Resource Training.

    7.0 Observations and Recommendations

    Project Scope

    7.1 The Committee observed that the Project involves the construction, retooling, and the supply of equipment to the Hospital there by addressing the problems associated with maternal and child health care.

    7.2 The Committee further observed that the Project also covers training on the use and maintenance of medical and non-medical equipment; professional development training for medical staff and supply of consumables to start operations. Details of the Project Scope is contained in the Appendix to the Report.

    7.3 The Committee is of the strong conviction that with the training component in the scope of the Project, the Facility would not have difficulties with the maintenance of the equipment as happened in times past.

    The Committee commends the Ministry of Health for negotiating to include training and the supply of consumables as part of the scope of the Project.

    Value-for-Money Audit

    7.4 The Committee observed that Value for Money Audit, a condition precedent to the approval and execution of the Project, had not yet been done but was in the pipe line. The Committee was assured that the outcome of the Audit would be made available to Hon Members in due course.

    7.5 The Committee therefore noted that approval was being sought for the Agreement pending the outcome of the value for money audit because of the urgency attached to the Project to provide the needed services, some of which have been mentioned afore.

    Payment Schedule

    7.6 The Committee also noted that payment schedule was not attached to the Contract Agreement. The Officials of the Ministry of Health who participated in the deliberations explained that it is usually done during the value for money audit and so will be made available to Hon Members in due course.

    8.0 Conclusion

    8.1 The Committee recommends to the House to adopt the Report and approve by resolution; the

    “Contract Agreement between the Government of the Republic of Ghana (represented by the Ministry of Health) and Hospital Engineering Gmbh, Rizzani De Eccher S.p.A., and Bergam Investment SA (HEDEBI JV) for an amount of one hundred and forty-five million, two hundred and twenty thousand euros (€145,220,000.00) to finance the construction and equipping of a new 330-bed maternity block at the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital (KBTH).”

    Respectfully submitted.

    Ranking Member (Mr Kwabena Mintah Akandoh): Mr Speaker, I beg to second the Motion and to urge the House to approve and support the Committee's Report.

    Mr Speaker, this project would serve a very critical portion of the population especially mothers and children. The first paragraph on page 2 of the Report shows that the statistics for maternal deaths is not encouraging at all. For the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital (KBTH) to take its
    Chairman of the Committee (Dr Kwabena Twum-Nuamah) 12:43 p.m.
    proper place as a centre of excellence and a premier hospital, I think that something needs to be done urgently.
    Mr Speaker, we are where we are because on page 1 of the Report, under Background, for some time now, the already existing maternity block at KBTH has not seen any major rehabilitation. Even if after the approval and construction of this facility, we do not ensure that there is proper maintenance culture then we would come back to where we are at the moment.
    Mr Speaker, we are where we are because there is congestion at the maternity block and lack of enough delivery theatres and beds. On page 2 of the Report, we would note the benefit of the project when it is completed and in operation.

    Mr Speaker, I believe that every government means well for the development of this country, especially the health sector. It is my humble plea that the health sector remains the most prioritised and it should be the most priortised sector in the country, especially at this point in time. So any investment in the health sector should be commended.

    Mr Speaker, if we continue to approve loans for the construction of health facilities in this House and then we do not complete those facilities, the citizenry will not get the full benefit of those health facilities. Irrespective of the Government in power, it is important that any time we commence the construction of any health facility, we must see to the full completion and operation of that facility.

    Mr Speaker, the former President, John Dramani Mahama's regime did very well. They invested so much in the health sector and some were completed. We could talk about the Dodowa District Hospital, the Ridge Hospital, which is today one of the isolation centres for the Coronavirus, the University of Ghana Medical Centre, the hospital in Fomena and your own Bekwai Hospital. Mr Speaker, a lot -- [Laughter] --
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 12:43 p.m.
    Hon Member, what did you say about Bekwai?
    Mr Akandoh 12:43 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I said that there is a health facility ongoing at Bekwai -- [Laughter]
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 12:43 p.m.
    I know that there is somebody here who knows the state at which it was left -- Hon Agbodza.
    Mr Akandoh 12:43 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I do not intend to debate you at all.
    The point I want to make is that, we must inasmuch as we approve more loans to establish and construct more hospitals, the uncompleted ones -- I know my Hon Colleagues opposite do not like the word “abandoned”, I would use “uncompleted” -- [Laughter] -- the uncompleted ones must also be completed and be put to good use, especially at this time.
    Mr Speaker, it is unquestionable that as we speak in this crisis, there are other facilities fully completed which are under lock and key.
    rose
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 12:43 p.m.
    Yes, Hon Member for Okaikwei Central?
    Mr Patrick Boamah 12:43 p.m.
    On a point of order. Mr Speaker, I thank you. May I refer the Hon Member to Standing Order 93(4)? -- [Interruption] -- It is on Motions.
    “The speech of a member must have reference to the subject matter under discussion.”
    Mr Speaker, we would want to save time and there is a lot of business on this Floor. The subject matter
    under discussion is contract agreement between the Government of the Republic of Ghana, represented by the Ministry of Health and Hospital Engineering Gmbh for an amount of €145,220,000.00 for the maternity block in Korle Bu. So when a Ranking Member decides to veer into former President Mahama's Manifesto -- [Uproar] -- it becomes out of place, Mr Speaker. Let us stay on track and do serious business on the Floor.
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 12:43 p.m.
    Your point is well made. Please, let us return to the Report.
    Mr Akandoh 12:43 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, if you go to page 4 of the Committee's Report, Value for Money Audit was something that came up strongly. We are of the opinion that Value for Money Audit should be a condition precedent.
    Mr Speaker, we were told that they would bring the report before the approval. I thought that was supposed to guide us to approve the loan agreement. Without it, we may not be able to know whether the contract sum have been bloated.
    Mr Speaker, I think that as a House, we must take a decision whether or not we would insist that Value for Money audit would be
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 12:43 p.m.
    Yes, Hon Member for Effiduase/Asokore, Dr Ayew Afriye?
    Dr Nana Ayew Afriye (NPP -- Effiduase/Asokore) 12:43 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, thank you. I rise to support the Motion and in doing so, I would want to make a few contribution with regard to the project in Korle Bu.
    Mr Speaker, the project is in order because it satisfies the provision of SDG-3 which talks about ensuring healthy lives and promoting the wellbeing for all at all ages.
    Mr Speaker, obviously it includes neonatal care; it is children from zero birth to under a month old. A lot of times, we have had a lot of reference and a lot of neonates have lost their lives. So when there is a referral
    centre which is modernised and can take care of them, it ensures that we can have healthy infants and healthy under five-year olds. Thereby, we are saying we are also near eliminating or reducing under five mortality.
    Mr Speaker, it has come in time and I think if this culture would continue, especially in Korle Bu, then we can see further transformation with regard to the other departments, then it brings to bear the meaning of SDG-
    3.
    This project takes into consideration ICT infrastructure and that is a good one. It would ensure a decrease in waiting time and eliminate all matters with regard to payments, processing, code-reading and other issues to do with fraudulent practices when we talk about the processing of claims.
    Mr Speaker, also inasmuch as the NPP Government would have to continue with other projects from other regimes, it is important that whatever money is allocated for other projects, regardless of regimes, people would adhere to the real Value for Money audit and provisions of allocation, so that we do not exhaust the allocation and then we would have to go and renew letters of credit and
    when it is not available, then it would stall the development of projects regardless of regime. I know this one will see the day of light [sic] and within the period of two years, we can start using it.
    Mr Speaker, with these few words, Hon Members would have to overwhelmingly support the construction of this project.
    Dr Kwabena Donkor 12:43 p.m.
    Thank you Mr Speaker.
    I am up only because this is a House of record. I do not want the phrase, “the day of light” to be in our Hansard. Could it be corrected to “the light of day”?
    Alhaji Mohammed- Mubarak Muntaka (NDC -- Asawase) 12:53 p.m.
    Thank you Mr Speaker, I rise to support the approval of this facility to enable us construct these two facilities the Urology and Nephrology Centre of Excellence at the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital.
    Mr Speaker, this is long overdue and I associate myself with most of the comments made earlier by Hon Colleagues, especially with regard to Value for Money.
    Mr Speaker, a number of times in Parliament, these agreements come and when we talk about Value for Money audit, they then say that it would be condition precedent and it is stated in the contract.

    Mr Speaker, it is for us to able to have those information first hand to fully inform us to take a decision. A number of times, we even get the agencies saying that they would come back to this House, but nobody follows up. We therefore end up not knowing exactly what happens.

    Mr Speaker, in most of the cases, with the amount of money that is approved, even after the value for money where some reductions are done, this House does not follow up on it to know what happens to the extra money. Many at times, when they come to the Committee, they tell us that they used that extra money for other things within the project. I believe that this House needs to be up and doing, and need to keep track on these things. Our Committee on Government Assurance should follow up on these.

    Mr Speaker, there is also the issue about the way the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital operates. That was raised by
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 12:53 p.m.
    I am at Leadership.
    Dr Bernard Okoe Boye (NPP -- Ledzokuku) 12:53 p.m.
    Thank you very much, Mr Speaker.
    Mr Speaker, kindly indulge me to say that most of the facilities that are mentioned and tagged as not being used are actually being operationalised. It is important to mention that the University of Ghana Medical Centre, for example, has doctors who are working in it, and seeing to patients. The full roll out would obviously happen with time.
    Mr Speaker, I would like to say that today is a very joyous one for all staff of the Korle-Bu Teaching
    Hospital, and for all Ghanaians as well. The Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital has not had any major capital investment for the past two to three decades. We have had some maintenance here and there -- [Interruption] --
    rose
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 12:53 p.m.
    Yes, Hon Member for Adaklu?
    Mr Agbodza 12:53 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, my Hon Colleague is indeed the Board Chairman of the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital. Within the period that he is talking about, the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital had seen a new Ophthalmology Training Centre, built by Moorfields Eye Hospital (MEH) of the United Kingdom. The Hospital has also seen work being done on the Accident and Emergency Centre. It has seen the rehabilitation of the theatres and a lot more.
    In fact, this House approved of a loan of over US$200 million to re- tool the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital. So when the Hon Dr Boye says that because of an amount of US$140 million, the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital has not seen any major investments, he should put it in context. I can understand where he is going, but we should not create the impression that this is major
    Dr Boye 12:53 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, with all due respect to my senior Hon Colleague, I chose my words very well. It is true that we have had some refurbishments here and there, but the quantum of the moneys involved comes nowhere near this investment. Another education -- is that, the amount of US$200 million was not for the tooling of the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital. It was for hospitals across the country. The Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital did not receive an amount US$200 million investment in tools. It was for hospitals across the country; the Tamale Teaching Hospital, the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital, and the Ho Teaching Hospital. It was across Ghana. I know what I am talking about.
    Mr Speaker, this investment is very significant, so we should be clam to appreciate that. We are therefore grateful. I would also say that most of the deaths that were recorded in the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital; maternal deaths happened as a result of the lack for modern Intensive
    Care Unit (ICU) facilities. Most of these cases come from other hospitals; and were referred to the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital. Therefore these 330 modern facilities are going to give us the opportunity to be better equipped to take care of those cases that come in a very bad shape to the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital.
    I am very happy to mention that it also has ICU facilities for neonates, that is children who are less than 28 days. We should remember that although it is a maternity block, it handles both mothers and children as well.
    Mr Speaker, let me also show some appreciation for the existence -- on page 3 of the Report, if we look at the fifth paragraph, we have the provision of two-year post defects notification period maintenance programme and for medical equipment supply.
    I wish that as a country, we would seriously consider either a policy or a legislation that makes the maintenance of such structures compulsory for over at least, 15 to 20-year period. If we look at these maternity blocks, just as my senior Hon Colleague on the Minority side mentioned, the deterioration is so huge that one actually sees concrete slabs coming out of the building, exposed to patients.
    In fact, the maternity block today, is more or less a death trap. The
    degree of dilapidation is very huge. They should not therefore get these facilities and build the structure, only to demolish the whole structure and put up a new one within 15 to 20 years. We would therefore have to look at our maintenance regime very well.
    Mr Speaker, let me also say that this facility would show nine storeys on the outside, but there are two storeys in the basement; so it is actually a nine-storey facility. We would have facilities like antenatal clinics in adequate numbers, physio department, surgical suites, lecture halls and staff suites. So this is really an ultra-modern Facility.
    Mr Speaker, let me say that most deaths that we unfortunately record occur as a result of late referrals. And it is our hope that now that there is an increased capacity, we would receive these cases in due time and be in a position to assist our mothers and sisters and save their lives.
    Mr Speaker, with these few words, I thank you and urge the House to support the Motions.
    Question put and Motion agreed to.
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 1:03 a.m.
    Resolution numbered 6, Hon Majority Leader?
    Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 1:03 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, the Motion for the adoption of the Resolution to be moved by the Hon Deputy Minister for Health.
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 1:03 a.m.
    Very well, the Deputy Minister for Health, you may move the resolution.
    RESOLUTIONS 1:03 a.m.
    THIS HONOURABLE 1:03 a.m.
    HOUSE HEREBY RE- 1:03 a.m.
    Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 1:03 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, the item listed 15 on the Order Paper.
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 1:03 a.m.
    Hon Members, the item listed 15, Motion, by the Hon Chairman of the Committee.
    MOTIONS 1:03 a.m.
    Chairman of the Committee (Dr Kwabena Twum-Nuamah) 1:03 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, I beg to move, that this honourable House adopts the Report of the Committee on Health on the Contract Agreement between the Government of the Republic of Ghana (represented by the Ministry of Health) and VAMED Engineering GmbH of Austria for an amount of thirty-eight million euros (€38,000,000.00) to execute the Turnkey construction of a Urology and Nephrology Centre of Excellence at the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital.
    And in so doing, I present your Committee's Report:
    1.0 Introduction
    1.1 On Tuesday, 24th March, 2020, the Hon Minister for Parliamentary Affairs, Mr Osei Kyei-Mensah- Bonsu, presented the following Paper in Parliament on behalf of the Hon Minister for Health Mr Kwaku Agyeman-Manu:
    “Contract Agreement between the Government of the Republic of Ghana (represented by the Ministry of Health) and VAMED Engineering GmbH of Austria for an amount of thirty-eight million euros (€38,000,000.00) to execute the Turnkey construction of a Urology and Nephrology Centre of Excellence at the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital.”
    1.2 In accordance with the Constitution and Order 178 of the Standing Orders of the House, the Commercial Agreement was referred to the Committee on Health for consideration and report.
    1.3 In attendance at the Committee's deliberations was the Hon Deputy Minister for Health, Mr Alexander Kodwo Kom Abban, and other Officials of the Ministry of Health.
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 1:03 a.m.
    Yes, Hon Member for Nabdam?
    Dr Mark Kurt Nawaane (NDC -- Nabdam) 1:13 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I rise to second the Motion.
    Mr Speaker, to speak of Urology at the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital without paying special tribute to Prof Quartey, Dr Bentsil Dr Wiafe and other medical staff that passed away in the tragic accident is impossible.
    Mr Speaker, at that time, they were having only one operation day at the
    Korle Bu Hospital in 1993 where I was passing over. So the idea of going for an outreach was something they used to increase the number of operations that they did in this country; and it was within one of those journeys to Sunyani and on their way back that they met their untimely death.

    Mr Speaker, in view of this, this project is timely; it is needed because if we look at the scope of the works, we would realise that the project - If
    APPENDIX 1:13 p.m.
    Dr Kwaku Afriyie (NPP -- Sefwi Wiawso) 1:13 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I thank you for the opportunity.
    Indeed, today should be a good day for the KBTH. I say so because this is an area which has been neglected for a long time. The Hon Member for Ledzokuku, Dr Okoe Boye, referred to the maternity unit as having been neglected. The urology services in the KBTH too have also been neglected. I am happy for the KBTH because there is a demographic change in Ghana - we are living longer and urology even though it encompasses afflictions of all ages, mostly, a gerodontical affliction is what is mostly in the purview of urology. So, with those of us who are above 60 years, there is no reason we should not support this effort.
    Mr Speaker, I also support this effort because of reasons of making contributions in the frontiers of learning. Even though we are a third world country, we believe that in our climatic zone, we have a duty to make research and to research specifically into what works and what does not work. Those in the temperate regions cannot do this for us. So we owe humanity to make primary contri- butions and I believe that in the field of urology, this facility would help in that endeavour.
    Mr Speaker, still on research, the health system in Ghana is gradually
    becoming a niche for itself. Coronavirus reminds us that our own Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research has saved this country. In the same vein, if we do an analysis of the health systems in Ghana, it would be realised that we have a robust public system. What is lacking though, is the tertiary and the quaternary end and that is where the urology services in this context is very important.
    Mr Speaker, I want to plead with Hon Members to support this effort.
    With these few words, I thank you for the opportunity.
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 1:13 p.m.
    Minority Leadership?
    Alhaji Muntaka 1:13 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I would yield to the Hon Member for Adaklu, Mr Agbodza.
    Mr Kwame Governs Agbodza (NDC -- Adaklu) 1:13 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I thank you for the opportunity to support the Motion.
    Mr Speaker, I also associate myself with my Hon Colleague who paid tribute to the specialists, who in the service of the country sadly lost their lives in an accident in 2005. They were at the cutting edge of the practice of their choice when this happened.
    Mr Kwame Governs Agbodza (NDC -- Adaklu) 1:23 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, the background of this project indicated that after that incident the former President Kufuor started a process to review the possibility of building a centre instead of these compatriots going round the country, there should be a centre that could effectively deal with it. That process continued until 2016 when Cabinet approved a policy to build a centre of excellence. The process was taken through a public-private partnership funding but that never materialised in 2016. However, the current Government saw the need for this and has gone ahead to secure a loan to deal with this.
    Mr Speaker, it is important for us to know the importance of the KBTH to this nation. Some people have argued that maybe, it is high time we did a new master plan for the KBTH and do a proper design and construction thereof.

    Mr Speaker, at the Committee level, we were told by our Hon Colleague, the Board Chairman that there is a process to do a new master plan for KBTH. Fortunately, they have land but henceforth when we want to do a new maternity block, out of the master plan, we can plant that new maternity block where it should

    fit; when we are doing the Urology Centre, it should fit, so that over a period of time, we could have a modern hospital.

    Mr Speaker, currently, even if we want to carry out refurbishment of some of the areas, it is difficult because it is an active hospital and we cannot shut any part down. It is difficult to run that hospital as we expect today.

    Mr Speaker, we were also told that this unit will not only be for treatment; it is about urology which is basically about the urinary system and then nephrology which has to do with the kidneys and other things.

    Mr Speaker, people say it is the other version of the women's unit, the maternity block we are building. It is true that by the time we all grow old, chances are that if we count the number of men in this House, more men would have problem with their urinary system before they pass away than women. So as men, when we are building a urology and nephrology centre, we should pay attention and also see how that can help us in the future.

    Mr Speaker, we are told of the harrowing stories as to the number of people in this country who as we speak are at the KBTH who cannot effectively clear their system off urine

    and have to rely on all sort of things and painful processes simply because we do not have the ability to quickly conduct surgeries on them. This centre will not only be a centre to treat them but also where our citizens can actually do further studies on how we can treat these things and even prevent them in the future.

    Mr Speaker, I have absolutely no hesitation to support this project. At the Committee, we were told that value for money audit and others have not been done. It is not unusual, although it is not the best.

    The second thing is that, the Hon Majority Leader questioned the Committee on Finance on this project the last time as to whether there was any empirical evidence backing this project in the sense that we can project and say the next five to ten years this number of people will require treatment based on how we are designing these number of 105 beds.

    I think the Hon Minister should take this into account so that in the future when they are coming to the House, whether it is 330 beds; or a different number, it should have basis. It cannot just be that we are doing 330 beds but it should be our requirement projected over a period of time. I think the Hon Majority Leader's comment is very useful.
    Mr Speaker, the last point I would want to make is this 1:23 p.m.
    in other countries, the issue of kidney has got two things. It is either they take off one of your kidneys and hopefully you can function on one or you lose the two and if you have money, you could get a donor to give you one. It is not very common in our part of the world for people to decide that they have two kidneys but can function on one and so they want to donate one.
    Mr Speaker, even with that, there must be a law regulating organ donation. If we do this and there is no law governing it, if somebody today sadly dies and has a very functioning --
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 1:23 p.m.
    Hon Member, thank you but kindly return to the Report.
    Mr Agbodza 1:23 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, if we have a centre of excellence and there is no law governing organ donation - Human organs are not manufactured in the factory anywhere in the world. People must be prepared to consent that when they die accidently their organs could be harvested to support the lives of somebody else.
    Mr Speaker, we are urging the Ministry, to as a matter of urgency, propose a law on organ donation and transplant in this country, otherwise,
    Mr Alexander K. Afenyo- Markin 1:23 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, your ruling is not supposed to be challenged. You asked the Hon Member to focus on the Report and he was going on a certain part unknown to the Report. You advised him and as usual he would not take a cue, the same way Hon Akandoh challenged decisions to procure PPEs and questioned why vehicles must be added?
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 1:23 p.m.
    Hon Member, you are out of order.
    Mr Afenyo-Markin 1:23 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, yes, and he is equally out of order. I wanted him to stay on the path of righteousness.
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 1:23 p.m.
    Hon Member, conclude and speak to the Report.
    Mr Agbodza 1:23 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, we welcome our Hon Colleague back. He just entered the Chamber 20 minutes ago.
    Mr Speaker, for the information of my Hon Colleague, I know he just came and that he did not read the Report. Paragraph 7.8 talks about
    legislation. If he were in the House long enough, he would have known that there is a part of the Report that talks about legislation.
    Mr Speaker, to conclude, the Hon Minister would have to come to the House and the country would have to make a decision on organ donation and transplant.
    Mr Speaker, with these few words, I believe this is a very worthy project and it would go to the memory of our compatriots who lost their lives. It would give us opportunity to have a centre of excellence and to have advance training in terms of urology and nephrology and thirdly, it would provide opportunity for us to have a place that people can seek refuge in in terms of treatment when unfortunately, they have problems.
    I thank you very much, Mr Speaker, for the opportunity.
    Dr Nana Ayew Afriye (NPP-- Effiduase/Asokore) 1:23 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I rise to support the Motion that the House adopts the Report for the construction of a urology and nephrology centre in the KBTH.
    Mr Speaker, a lot has been said about the prevalence of urology health issues in the country and why persons
    above 40 years are more at risk to urology and its related presentations.
    Mr Speaker, it stands to say that we need to celebrate lives lost for persons who trained and for that matter those who are manning the centres in KBTH now; J. M Quartey, Isaac Bentsi and Benjamin Osei- Wiafe. Wherever their souls are should continue to rest in peace.
    Mr Speaker, they would be excited for what they stood for and all this while they lost their lives by just going on medical outreaches in various part of the country, and once upon a time, on returning from Sunyani between Bunso and Apedwa, their lives were perished.
    Mr Speaker, taking this step in a place like KBTH is in the right direction.
    Mr Speaker, kidney centre is good and not only available for adults; there are kids who have complex presentations, some inherited and some also due to predispositions from the environment.
    Mr Speaker, such a centre has come timely because in the paediatrician department, there has
    been an increase on the presentation of complex cases with regard to the kidneys of children.
    Mr Speaker, I have a strong belief that once again, this is feeding into SDG -3 timely to make lives available especially for the children who are losing their lives because of lack of a complex facility like that of a kidney centre.
    Mr Speaker, it is of interest to also note that this centre has a theatre component and absolutely, it is the belief of the Ministry of Health and also the service providers that they provide all forms of complex cases; kidney transplants, et cetera, that would even make the centre a tourist centre for persons from all of Africa, far and near, to come to KBTH for the treatment of kidney and its related cases.
    Mr Speaker, there is hope for persons on dialysis; persons with kidney failure. It is so expensive in the country. Sometimes one would have to go for a session and it would cost not less than about US$100.
    The hope is for places like the KBTH to have treatment regardless of one's socio-economic presentation.
    Dr Nana Ayew Afriye (NPP-- Effiduase/Asokore) 1:33 p.m.


    One would go and be faced with scoffing and debt exertion of dialysis of not less than GH¢500. People have lost their lives for their inability to pay for this, therefore when there is a competitive facility like the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital that would have a lot of these treatment services available then it would actually help to bring the cost down. For that matter, everyone regardless of the situation can have life when they go to this centre.

    Mr Speaker, people have lost their kidneys because of polluted water and some of these can be attributed to galamsey. Once again, we have visited kidney centres and there are persons who have lost their kidneys because of the issues of galamsey. However, I think that there is hope because this is a big centre and with the facilities that are available, I have hope and believe that the fees and prices would welcome all shades of persons from every socio-econoic bracket.

    Mr Speaker, with these few words, I know that my Hon Colleagues would support and vote overwhelmingly to see to the adoption of this Report. Mr Speaker, thank you very much.
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 1:33 p.m.
    Hon Members, I would put the Question.
    Question put and Motion agreed to.
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 1:33 p.m.
    We would take Resolution numbered 16.
    Hon Deputy Minister for Health?
    RESOLUTIONS 1:33 p.m.
    THIS HONOURABLE 1:33 p.m.
    HOUSE HEREBY RE- 1:33 p.m.
    Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 1:33 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, we can take item numbered
    7.
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 1:33 p.m.
    Hon Members, item numbered 7 -- Hon Chairman of the Committee on Health?
    MOTIONS 1:33 p.m.
    Chairman of the Committee (Dr Kwabena Twum-Nuamah) 1:33 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I beg to move, that this honourable House adopts the Report of the Committee on Health on the Contract Agreement between the Government of the Republic of Ghana (represented by the Ministry of Health) and Engineering, Development and Construction Ltd. (EDC) of Israel for an amount of one hundred and forty million euros (€140,000,000.00) for the construction of the Tema, Nkoranza, and Dormaa Hospitals and the Central Medical Stores and its ancillary facilities.
    Mr Speaker, in so doing I beg to present your Committee's Report.
    1.0 Introduction
    1.1 On Tuesday, 24th March, 2020, the Hon Minister for Parliamentary Affairs, Mr Osei Kyei-Mensah- Bonsu, presented the following paper in Parliament on behalf of the Hon Minister for Health, Mr Kwaku Agyeman-Manu:
    “Contract Agreement between the Government of the Republic of Ghana (represented by the Ministry of Health) and Engineering, Development and Construction Ltd. (EDC) of Israel for an amount of one hundred and forty million euros (€140,000,000.00) for the construction of the Tema, Nkoranza, and the Dormaa Hospitals and the Central Medical Stores and ancillary facilities.”
    1.2 In accordance with the 1992 Constitution and Order 178 of the Standing Orders of the House, the Commercial Agreement was referred to the Committee on Health for consideration and report.
    1.3 In attendance at the Committee's deliberations was the Hon Deputy Minister for Health, Mr Alexander Kodwo Kom Abban, and other Officials of the Ministry of Health.
    2.0 Background Information
    2.1 The Government recognises that the health system in the country is critical for national development. The vision of the Government is therefore to see that the right to health of all Ghanaians is guaranteed through an established health sector with sustainable ability to deliver
    affordable, equitable and easily accessible healthcare. The thrust of the government's health policy is to bridge the gap in healthcare infrastructure and also achieve the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 3 by 2030.
    2.2 Ghana has come a long way in the development of its healthcare services. The most significant stride has been the establishment of the National Health Insurance Scheme with its critical role of financing the delivery of quality healthcare in Ghana.
    The world has moved on considerably and the economic, technological, medical and social conditions have changed. In response to this, the Government of Ghana (GOG), through the Ministry of Health (MOH) intends to improve healthcare services delivery by expanding its infrastructure and improving access.
    2.3 The Ministry of Health (MOH) is desirous of constructing a number of secondary level hospitals over a period in the medium term. The Ministry of Health under its Capital Investment Programme wants to upgrade a number of hospitals and reconstruct the Central Medical Stores and other ancillary facilities in Tema that was gutted few years ago by a fire outbreak.
    2.4 The idea is to have modern general hospitals and a fully functioning Central Medical Stores and ancillary facilities that will facilitate both the delivery of healthcare and the training of medical cadres. The aim of the project is to provide a health facility for both general medical services, specialised medical services, for both outpatient and inpatient care, the training for pre- service students, internship and postgraduate medical training for all categories of health professionals in all specialties and sub-specialties.
    3.0 Project Objective/Justification
    3.1 The Project is intended to address the gaps in our healthcare infrastructure to meet government's commitment of achieving the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG)
    3.
    4.0 Project Description/Scope and Duration
    4.1 The Project is meant to:
    i. reconstruct the Tema General Hospital;
    ii. reconstruct the Central Medical Stores and ancillary facilities;
    iii. construct a new hospital at Nkoranza; and
    iv.construct Accident and Emergency Complex at Dormaa Hospitals.
    SPACE FOR APPENDIX 1:33 p.m.
    APPENDIX 1:33 p.m.
    SPACE FOR APPENDIX 1:33 p.m.
    SPACE FOR APPENDIX 1:33 p.m.
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 1:43 p.m.
    Any seconder?
    Mr Alhassan Umar (NDC -- Zabzugu) 1:43 p.m.
    Thank you, Mr Speaker. I beg to second the Motion for the adoption of the Report of the Committee on the construction of the Tema, Nkoranza and the Dormaa Hospitals and the Central Medical Stores and ancillary facilities.
    Mr Speaker, in seconding the Motion, I would need to make a few comments. On page 2 of the Report, paragraph 2.4, what we wanted to do was to support the creation of some many hospitals in other to diminish or
    take away the no-bed syndrome which has been a problem that we have experienced in the past few years.
    Mr Speaker, looking at the Report, we would build a total of 500-bed hospitals in the country which I believe will go a long way to reduce the no-bed syndrome.
    Mr Speaker, further to that, I would also want to comment on the provision or building of the Central Medical Stores. A few years ago, the Central Medical Stores was razed to the ground on January 13, 2015 which cost Ghana US$237 million. To date, Ghana does not have a Central Medical Store and even if we do, we
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 1:43 p.m.
    Yes, Hon Member for Tema East?
    Mr Daniel N. K. Titus-Glover (NPP --Tema East) 1:43 p.m.
    Thank you so much, Mr Speaker. I also support the Motion.
    Mr Speaker, for the sake of emphasis, I would want to focus on Tema. Yesterday you gave me the opportunity to comment and gave a brief history of how Tema General Hospital was established. That Partison Howards, the major contractor that constructed the Tema Port, after the construction gave that clinic which is now the hospital as a gift to the people of Tema.
    Mr Speaker, I agree with the Report that today when you go to the Tema General Hospital, unfortunately, it lacks so many modern
    equipment that can be used in taking care of patients that call in. I also said that because of the necessity and the population increase into OPD services in the hospital, the original three Tema constituencies and by extension, Ashaiman, Zenu, Kubeko, Sasabi, Aregon all the way to Dodowa, then also around Kpong, Dowenya, Ada, Sege and even accidents that happen on the Tema Motorway sometimes find their way into the Tema General Hospital. There has been pressure on that facility and for that matter, the Tema Traditional Council and the people of Tema East, Central and West are so grateful to President Akufo-Addo for coming to the rescue of patients in these catchment areas.
    Mr Speaker, 400-bed hospital is unprecedented -- [Interruption] -- Mr Speaker, there is a phrase in Shatta Wale's songs which says that “Amene kee wo nyee wo fee” to wit “They said we cannot do it”, but we today, are over doing it -- [Hear! Hear!] -- “ofee tso” -- [Laughter]
    Mr Speaker, President Akufo- Addo is over doing it. A 400-bed hospital with so many facilities. There is a pharmacy unit, laboratory and a blood bank, OPD clinic, cardiology, ECG, ophthalmology, ENT, neurology et cetera. There is also an administration block, an emergency and pathology units.
    Mr Speaker, all that we want to tell Mr President is that we appreciate what he has done for the people of Tema. Four more to Mr President. We are so grateful.
    Mr Speaker, what happened at the Central Medical Stores should not happen again. Inasmuch as President Akufo-Addo has sourced funding to put it up, all factors that led to the arson, when the construction is done, a very effective monitoring must be put in place to ensure that we would not go back to what happened. Because the Central Medical Stores is in my constituency, I would put an eagle eye to make sure that we would not repeat the arson that caused the nation so many millions of dollars.
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 1:43 p.m.
    Yes, Hon Member for Ho West?
    Mr Emmanuel Bedzrah (NDC -- Ho West) 1:53 p.m.
    Thank you Mr Speaker.
    I also rise to add my voice to the Motion and to urge my Hon Colleagues to support the Motion.
    Mr Speaker, I would want to state that when we are asked as a Committee to look at the commercial contract agreement between the Government of Ghana and the various ministries and departments, the Select Committee is supposed to scrutinise the contract.
    Mr Speaker, looking at this Report, I am afraid to say that our Hon Colleagues have not done justice to the contract agreement.
    Mr Speaker, myself, the Hon Majority Leader and few Hon Colleagues are putting some proposals together. In due course, we would present it to this House that when we are looking at contract agreements -- I mentioned here over and over again that there are a lot of contract agreements. We have the FIDIC Contract Agreement, which we are supposed to scrutinise. In the FIDIC Contract Agreement, we have the element of a Turnkey contract. Indeed, some mention has been made
    Dr Twum-Nuamah 1:53 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I really would not have liked to interject my senior Hon Colleague, but I would have to come in. Just as the Report indicated, the Committee asked the Ministry of Health's officials about this payment schedule, and we were told that they were yet to complete the value for money audit report, and that when it was completed, they were going to add the payment schedule, and Hon Members would be furnished accordingly.
    We were told that it is not all the time that we would get the payment schedule before the value for money audit. There were experts there; we actually had experts from this Chamber to support us at the Committee level, and they all advised us that at that stage, it was allowed for us to convey the value for money audit before the payment schedule was brought. I therefore think that the Hon Member's submission that it is always the case that we should have the payment schedule before the value for money audit cannot stand. I think that we should be guarded accordingly.
    Mr Bedzrah 1:53 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, those of us who are from the building environment, who deal with contract management would know that every contract has specific payment
    schedule. The payment schedule could indicate that a person could be paid as the work is measured. It could also indicate that a person would be paid when the work reaches a certain stage or milestone.
    However, to say that it is not in the Contract, and that it would be presented through the Committee afterwards -- I am saying that the Committee should have insisted that it should have been part of the Contract because what was presented to them was a Turnkey contract document. If it is not there, then it should have been in what we call “a specific contract”, but it was not there. Therefore this is free advice to all of us that when contract agreements are brought to us, we scrutinise them and look at specific things that would make the contract a valid one, or one that we can all accept.
    Mr Speaker with these few words I thank you.
    Mr Agbodza 1:53 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, my senior Hon Colleague is very right in terms of the absence of the payment schedule in the contract, but it is very unfair to the the Committee -- What happened was that the Hon Ranking Member, Mr Mintah Akandoh raised the issue at the Committee meeting. The Committee did not write the contract, but it identified this
    deficiency in the Contract and raised it. The Ministry could not insert the payment structure in there at the meeting, simply because it is an issue between the lender and the Government of Ghana. So they said that the value for money is actually a part of the negotiation for this sort of contract.
    In the process of the value for money, they would insist that the payment structure, whether ad- measurement or milestone payment would be part of the value for money report that would form part of the contract. So when my Hon Colleague made the first part of his argument, it was perfect, but for him to make the Committee look as if they were supposed to be the ones to insert that in the Contract and they did not, I think is a bit unfair to the Committee. It is a draft, but we should have enough information to be able to approve.
    However, truth be told, majority of contract agreements that come to this House never come with payment schedules. The Hon Member is talking about the ideal situation which we agree should be done henceforth. In fact, the Committee on Works and Housing came here a few times without payment schedules to contracts. As a matter of fact, we could ask the Hon Minister to tell us
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 1:53 p.m.
    Would the Leadership wish to make any further comments?
    Alhaji Muntaka 1:53 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I would pass it on to the Hon Member for Tamale Central, Alhaji Inusah Fuseini.
    Alhaji I.A.B. Fuseini 1:53 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, thank you very much for --
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 1:53 p.m.
    Hon Member, before you go on, having regard to the state of Business of the House, I direct that the House Sits outside the regular Sitting hours.
    Alhaji Inusah A. B. Fuseini (NDC -- Tamale Central) 2:03 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I thank you very much for
    the opportunity to make a few comments on behalf of the Leadership of the Minority in Parliament.
    Mr Speaker, there is no doubt that the loan for the upgrade of the health care infrastructure in Ghana as a whole, and particularly the La General Hospital is very important.
    Mr Speaker, the loan when granted, would definitely be repaid by the people of this country, so it is also important that in taking the loan, we make sure that all that is required to be satisfied are done before we approve the loan. It is very important, and we have said it time and again in this House that we not being able to determine the value and effectiveness of the implementation of a contract is certainly because we are not furnished at the time of making the decision, evidence of value for money audit, and that is a huge problem.
    Therefore when there are cost overruns, when the amount of money that we have approved is not able to deliver the project, or when the project is delivered short of expectation, we are unable to hold the contractors accountable for anything because we do not even have the tools. We were not in the first place satisfied that the contract or the loan
    that we were approving would be used for the purposes dictated by the agreement. That is why I would invite the Hon Chairman of the Health Committee, and particularly the Leadership of this House, that we come to some determination that --
    In fact, when the Hon Chairman of the Committee said that there was a gap because of the absence of the payment schedule, that was a right determination. This is because we need it to ensure that when the contractor is not due for payment, he cannot put us under pressure to pay him. We need it as part of the contract, so that we can hold the contractor to performance.

    Mr Speaker, but the Chairman says it is true; the attention of the Committee was adverted to that, and that is very important; that is commendable.

    Mr Speaker, I thought that the Hon Chairman would have gone a step further and say yes, in this House, if we do not have payment schedules, we would not approve it -- [Interruption] -- Mr Speaker, I am just saying that -- I can hear my good

    Friend and brother shouting from across the aisle that starting from today? Mr Speaker, there must be a point, and we have discussed this among Leadership; I have discussed it directly with the Hon Majority Leader. There must be a point for us to break from the past.

    Mr Speaker, these are the things -- today, there is a lock-down in Greater Accra but we are here approving loans; transacting business for and on behalf of the State; we are here concerned with the overall development of this country; we are here because whether there is Coronavirus or not, we must work, but in working, the people of Ghana must appreciate what we are doing. It is matters of this nature that belittle our contribution to the development of this country. And that is why I said that there must be a break from the past.

    Repeating mistakes as we have been told, is not an experience this was a statement made by the late Obeng Manu. The famous learned senior told us so many years ago that repeating mistakes has never been considered as experience. So the fact that it was a mistake and we continue to repeat the mistake, does not make this House an experienced House.
    rose
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 2:03 p.m.
    Hon Majority Leader, do you have any objection to the Motion being adopted by the House?
    Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 2:03 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, not exactly.
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 2:03 p.m.
    Can I move on then?
    Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 2:03 p.m.
    Yes.
    Question put and Motion agreed to.
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 2:03 p.m.
    Resolution numbered 8?
    RESOLUTION 2:03 p.m.
    THIS HONOURABLE 2:03 p.m.
    HOUSE HEREBY RE- 2:03 p.m.
    Mr Akandoh 2:03 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I rise to second the Motion.
    Question put and Motion agreed to.
    Resolved accordingly.
    Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 2:03 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, we could take the item numbered 9. And Mr Speaker, I may want to plead that after the Motion has been moved and seconded, if you could just allow one from each Side and we then put the Question.
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 2:03 p.m.
    Hon Members, the item numbered 9, Motion?
    MOTION 2:13 p.m.
    Chairman of the Committee (Dr Twum-Nuamah 2:13 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I beg to move, that this honourable House adopts the Report of the Committee

    on Health on the Engineering, Procurement and Construction (EPC) Contract Agreement between the Government of the Republic of Ghana (represented by the Ministry of Health) and Poly Changda Overseas Engineering Co. Ltd. of China for an amount of sixty-three million euros (€63,000,000.00) to execute the rehabilitation and the equipping of the La General Hospital.
    Mr Speaker, and in so doing, I present your Committee's Report 2:13 p.m.
    1.0 Introduction
    1.1 On Tuesday, 24th March, 2020, the Hon Minister for Parliamentary Affairs, Mr Osei Kyei- Mensah-Bonsu, presented the following paper in Parliament on behalf of the Hon Minister for Health,
    Mr Kwaku Agyeman-Manu 2:13 p.m.
    “Engineering, Procurement and Construction (EPC) Contract Agreement between the Government of the Republic of Ghana (represented by the Ministry of Health) and Poly Changda Overseas Engineering Co. Ltd. of China for an amount of sixty-three million euros (€63,000,000.00) to execute the rehabilitation and equipping of the La General Hospital.”
    1.2 In accordance with the Constitution and Order 178 of the Standing Orders of the House, the Commercial Agreement was referred to the Committee on Health for consideration and report.
    1.3 In attendance at the Committee's deliberations was the Hon Deputy Minister for Health Mr Alexander Kodwo Kom Abban, and other Officials of the Ministry of Health.
    2.0 Background Information
    2.1 The reconstruction of the La General Hospital falls within the Government's commitment to upgrade health care infrastructure in the whole of Ghana and for that matter the reconstruction is intended to provide an ultra-modern hospital to enhance health care delivery.
    The Project is also intended to ensure equity and regional balance to meet Government's commitment to the provision of universal health care to the people in line with the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 3.
    Provision of this Facility will help bridge the geographical access gap in healthcare delivery as well as meeting the needs of the under-served and unserved communities.
    2.2 The Project is intended to provide the required infrastructure, medical
    equipment, and ancillary services to ensure that the Hospital is fully operational and fit for the purpose. It will also provide the enabling condition for attracting the needed healthcare professionals.
    3.0 Project Objective /Justification
    The Project seeks to address the healthcare infrastructural deficits in the Country and it is also for the fulfillment of Government's commitment to ensure universal healthcare for all citizens in Ghana.
    4.0 Project Implementation Plan and Duration
    4.1 The Project is expected to be implemented within a two-year period and this excludes defects liability period. The Ministry of Health will be responsible for the full implementation of this Project in line with the agreed loan and donor conditions. A detailed implementation plan has been developed and it includes the following components:
    a. Loan acquisition;
    b. Demolition of Existing Structures;
    c. Construction of New Facilities; and
    d. Training and Human Resource and Staff development activities.
    4.2 For the purposes of setting out the implementation programme, three key stages have been defined for the Project and they are as follows:
    a. Pre-Contract Stage: Statutory, Administrative and Legal Approvals;
    b. Post Contract: Commencement of Construction, completion and handing-over; and
    c. Post-Warranty Maintenance.
    4.3 Each stage shall have a series of sequenced activities that will define the task to be executed, the participants to be involved with the given activity and the timeframe within which work has to be completed.
    A Technical Project Team, which will comprise house technical staff from the Infrastructural Directorate of the Ministry of Health with representation from the Management of the La General Hospital and the Ghana Health Service, will be composed to oversee and coordinate the entire project implementation process and review progress reports.
    Mr Kwaku Agyeman-Manu 2:13 p.m.


    5.0 Project Description/Scope

    5.1 The Project description/scope is as follows:

    i. An Out-Patient Department (OPD) with dental, ENT, Ophthalmology and General Consulting Rooms and offices for specialists;

    ii. A Public Health Department;

    iii. A Pharmacy Unit, Laboratory, Surgery, Physiotherapy Department and some support;

    iv. Administration, Emergency and Pathology Units and Wards;

    v. Staff Accommodation; and

    vi. Supply and installation of medical and non-medical equipment including CCTV and other ICT devices.

    6.0 Observations and Recom- mendations

    Project Scope

    6.1 During the deliberations on the Agreement, it was disclosed to the Committee that the old structure will
    Mr Kwaku Agyeman-Manu 2:13 p.m.


    7.0 Conclusion

    7.1The Committee recommends to the House to adopt the Report and approve by resolution;

    “Engineering, Procurement and Construction (EPC) Contract Agreement between the

    Government of the Republic of Ghana (represented by the Ministry of Health) and Poly Changda Overseas Engineering Co. Ltd. of China for an amount of sixty-three million euros (€63,000,000.00) to execute the rehabilitation and equipping of the La General Hospital.”

    Respectfully submitted.
    APPENDIX 2:13 p.m.
    SPACE FOR APPENDIX 2:13 p.m.
    SPACE FOR APPENDIX 2:13 p.m.
    Mr Charles Agbeve (NDC -- Agotime-Ziope) 2:13 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I beg to second the Motion.
    Mr Speaker, the project is “a reconstruction'' but it is captured in the Motion as “a rehabilitation'' and I thought the correction would be made. So I would want to take a cue from you, whether we should go on with the “rehabilitation'' or “reconstruction''. The whole structure
    would be pulled down, so it is not a “rehabilitation'' but a “reconstruction''.
    Mr Speaker, the project is located in La, for the La Municipality and the justification of the programme is that the current population has outweighed the capacity of the existing hospital which has promoted overcrowding and it needs urgent expansion.
    Mr Speaker, this is the phenomenon we see and find in most
    of the hospitals in the country today because it is the very pressure on the facilities and the inability of the hospital authorities to catch with the maintenance of these facilities which lead to these challenges. The whole of the La Municipal Hospital would be pulled down and an ultramodern one built.
    Mr Speaker, this phenomenon of overcrowding could be seen in almost every district hospital and that is why in the previous Government, the then President took the initiative to construct a lot of hospitals to accommodate this challenge of overcrowding and pressure on these facilities.
    Mr Speaker, the La Municipal Hospital would have a new infrastructure to enable it meet this very important pressure. When we asked which hospital the people of La would visit when the reconstruction is being done, we were informed that there was a stakeholder engagement as in paragraph 6.9 which involves the chiefs and the good people of La, so that the people could attend the facility in LEKMA. The staff of the hospital have also been transferred to other facilities, so that they could serve the people of La.
    Mr Speaker, the project is a good one. There are good hotels in the La vicinity and therefore it is potential for the hospital to promote medical tourism in the country. The position of the hospital to meet this particular need is critical. These particular facilities that would be added to the project would also help the hospital to attract the medical tourism that would bring some revenue to the hospital.
    Mr Speaker, most importantly, we need to impress on the hospital authorities to ensure that when such wonderful facilities are provided, they should not leave them to run down for us to look for huge sums of money again to pull them down to construct new ones.
    Mr Speaker, with these few words, I ask the House to adopt the Report.
    Mr Vincent Sowah Odotei (NPP -- Dadekotopon) 2:23 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I thank you very much for the opportunity to contribute to the Motion.
    Mr Speaker, as has been said by my Hon Colleague, the La General Hospital does not only serve the people of La but since it would be upgraded from a polyclinic to a general hospital, the people of Osu, Teshie and

    Nungua and a lot of the indigenes in La, who have moved to the La villages of Oyarifa, East Legon and Ayi- Mensah, who have the emotional attachment to La would find their way back to the hospital.

    Mr Speaker, the location of the facility on the Accra-Tema Highway would also make it convenient to receive accident victims who commute on the highway.

    Mr Speaker, it is important to know that presently, the state of the hospital is very deplorable. There are a lot of cracks which serve more like death traps. There is no wonder when the stakeholder engagement was made, we agreed that the facility should be closed. As I speak now, the people of La and Osu and those who patronise the hospital have to use the facilities at the Ridge Hospital, LEKMA and some also go as far as the KBTH.

    Mr Speaker, what is encouraging about this facility is that, apart from the construction of the facility and the supply of the equipment, there is a component of training of medical staff on the use and maintenance of the equipment, which has been the bane of such projects and the absence of which can lead to early deterioration of these facilities.

    Mr Speaker, once people are trained to maintain equipment we can be sure that the people who patronise and use this services will have a long benefit of the facility.

    Mr Speaker, I am also very happy that once completed, this facility will have an Out Patient Department (OPD), the Dental Unit EMT Ophthalmology and General Consulting Services. We would also have specialists coming there. This will in no doubt reduce the pressure on the main KBTH, the Greater Accra Regional Hospital and the one that is being built in Tema.

    Mr Speaker, I must confess that I was part of the stakeholder engagement when the Hon Minister for Health came to the La Traditional Council for us to take a collaborative approach to this project. He assured them that within the two years that the project is expected to be executed, we would make sure that not only will it be completed on schedule but there would be a lot of local content in terms of the artisans and those who would be engaged in the construction of the hospital.

    Mr Speaker, the people of La, Osu, Teshie and those who would benefit when this project is completed

    would be very grateful to this Government and to H.E. the President because the 160 bed unit and the attached components would be so essential for the provision of universal health services for the people of La.

    On this note, I wish to urge Hon Colleagues to support this Motion and to approve this facility so that all these towns that I have mentioned would benefit from the services that this facility will bring and also bridge Tema and Accra.

    Mr Speaker, before I take my seat I would like to comment on something general about payment schedules. When we are financing a project with a buyer's credit, we do not need a payment schedule to set out in a contract; we need a payment procedure which is scheduled in the financing Agreement that would dictate the draw down procedure. This is a House of records and we need to correct that. If it was a seller's agreement, that is when we combine the financing and contract which then will determine the payment schedule, whether by approval of certificates or certain percentages of the agreement.

    Mr Speaker, with these few words, I would urge my Hon Colleagues to approve this contract so that the people of La, Osu, Teshie and Nungua would benefit from this basic healthcare.

    I thank you for the opportunity.

    Question put and Motion agreed to.
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 2:23 p.m.
    Hon Members, we will take Resolution listed 10.
    RESOLUTIONS 2:23 p.m.
    THIS HONOURABLE 2:23 p.m.
    HOUSE HEREBY RE- 2:23 p.m.
    Mr Kwabena Mintah Akandoh 2:23 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I beg to second the Motion.
    Question put and Motion agreed to.
    Resolved accordingly.
    Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 2:23 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, item numbered 11.
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 2:23 p.m.
    Hon Members, item numbered 11, Motion. Yes, Hon Chairman of the Committee?
    MOTIONS 2:23 p.m.
    Chairman of the Committee (Dr Kwabena Twum-Nuamah) 2:23 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I beg to move, that this honourable House adopts the Report of the Committee on Health on the Engineering, Procurement and Construction (EPC) Contract Agreement between the Government of the Republic of Ghana (represented by the Ministry of Health) and Poly Changda Overseas Engineering Co. Ltd. Of China for an amount of thirty- eight million euros (€38,000,000.00) to execute the construction and equipping of the Shama District Hospital.
    Mr Speaker, in so doing, I present the Report of your Committee.
    1.0 Introduction
    1.1 On Tuesday, 24th March, 2020, the Hon Minister for Parliamentary Affairs, Mr Osei Kyei- Mensah-Bonsu, presented the following paper in Parliament on behalf of the Hon. Minister for Health,
    Mr Kwaku Agyeman-Manu, 2:23 p.m.
    “Engineering, Procurement and Construction (EPC) Contract Agreement between the Government of the Republic of Ghana (represented by the Ministry of Health) and Poly Changda Overseas Engineering Co. Ltd. of China for an amount of thirty-two million euros (€32,000,000.00) to execute the construction and equipping of the Shama District Hospital”.
    1.2 In accordance with the Constitution and Order 178 of the Standing Orders of the House, the Commercial Agreement was referred to the Committee on Health for consideration and report.
    1.3 In attendance at the Committee's deliberations was the Hon. Deputy Minister for Health, Mr. Alexander Kodwo Kom Abban, and other Officials of the Ministry of Health.
    2.0 Background Information
    2.1 The Ministry of Health through its assessment of health care infrastructure in Ghana, is exploring various financing schemes to ensure provision of equitable and adequate distribution of health infrastructure across the country. It has been noted that the introduction of the National Health Insurance Scheme has led to
    Mr Kwaku Agyeman-Manu, 2:23 p.m.
    continuous increase in OPD visits to various public hospitals but the development of health infrastructure has not kept pace with this. There is also the inequitable distribution of available health facilities, excessive travel distances to some of the facilities. There are further manifestations such as poor state of physical infrastructure of the health estate including hospital equipment and transport, outdated facilities, low staff levels, inappropriate/poor functional layout of health facilities, provision of low-quality services. This has led to the congestion and pressure on the utilisation of most of the health facilities as they operate above their established thresholds. The situation affects patients' satisfaction as there is long waiting time at Out Patient Departments of health facilities across the country, a situation which also poses a challenge in providing quality health care services by over-stressed health workers.
    2.2 The Shama District Hospital, just like many other health facilities in the country, has seen an uncoordinated development over the years, fundamentally as a result of lack of resources to plan effectively. The Project is intended to provide the required infrastructure, medical equipment and ancillary services to ensure that the Hospital is fully
    operational and befitting the status of the Hospital. It will also provide the enabling condition for attracting the needed healthcare professionals to the Facility.
    2.3 The Project falls within government's commitment to upgrade health care infrastructure in the country as stated in the 2020 Budget Statement. Provision of this facility will help bridge the geographical access gap in healthcare delivery as well as serving the under-served and unserved communities for the purposes of primary referrals.
    3.0 Project Objective/Justification
    3.1 The reconstruction and equipping of the Shama District Hospital is intended to provide an ultra-modern hospital to serve the people with enhanced health care. The Project is also intended to ensure equity and regional balance to meet government's commitment to the provision of the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 3. Further, it will help in addressing the gaps in our healthcare infrastructure and will also contribute to concerted efforts being made by government and other stakeholders towards the fulfillment of universal healthcare for all citizens in the Country.
    4.0 Project Implementation Plan and Duration
    4.1 The Project is expected to be completed in two (2) years and this duration excludes defects liability period. As usual, the Ministry of Health will be responsible for the full implementation of this Project in line with agreed loan and donor conditions. Just like in the case of others, a Technical Team would be composed to see to the execution of the Project. A detailed implementation plan has been developed and it includes the following key components:
    a. Loan acquisition;
    b. Demolition of existing structures;
    c. Construction of new facilities;
    d. Installation of equipment; and
    e. Training and human resource and Staff development activities.
    4.2 For the purposes of setting out the implementation programme, three key stages have been defined:
    a. Pre-Contract Stage: statutory, administrative and legal approvals;
    b. Post Contract: commencement of construction, completion and handing-over; and
    c. Post-warranty maintenance.
    5.0 Project Description
    5.1 The Project will cover the following areas:
    a. A 100-bed hospital with 45- seater capacity Out-Patients Department (OPD) waiting area with general, dental and ophthalmology consulting rooms and offices;
    b. Public Health Department;
    c. Pharmacy, Laboratory, Emergency Units;
    d. Administration and Wards;
    e. Pathology;
    f. Equipment and installation medical and non-medical equipment; and
    g. Office for District Health Management Team/District Health Directorate.

    6.0 Observations and Recommendations

    Project Scope

    6.1 The Committee observed that the Project involves the construction, retooling, and the supply of equipment to the Hospital there by addressing the problems associated with beds and laundry services, corpse storage, dental services, audiology services, sterilization services, dietetic services, emergency care services, electricity supply, water supply and also address medical oxygen supply in the hospitals.

    6.2 The Committee further observed that the Project also covers training on the use and maintenance of medical and non-medical equipment; professional development training for medical staff and supply of consumables to start operations. Details of the Project Scope is contained in the Appendix to the Report.

    6.3 The Committee is of the strong conviction that with the training component in the scope of the Project, the Facility would not have difficulties with the maintenance of the equipment as happened in times past.

    The Committee commends the Ministry of Health for negotiating to include training and supply of consumables as part of the scope of the Project.

    Value for Money Audit

    6.4 The Committee observed that Value for Money Audit, a condition precedent to the approval and execution of the Project, had not yet been done but was in the pipe line. The Committee was assured that the outcome of Audit would be made available to Hon Members in due course.

    6.5 The Committee therefore noted that approval was being sought for the Agreement pending the outcome of the value for money audit because of the urgency attached to the Project to provide the needed services, some of which have been mentioned afore.

    Payment Schedule

    6.6 The Committee noted that payment schedule was not attached to the Contract Agreement. The Officials of the Ministry of Health who participated in the deliberations explained that it is usually done during the value for money audit and so will be made available to Hon Members in due course.

    7.0 Conclusion

    7.1 The Committee recommends to the House to adopt the Report and approve by resolution;

    “Engineering, Procurement and Construction (EPC) Contract Agreement between the

    Government of the Republic of Ghana (represented by the Ministry of Health) and Poly Changda Overseas Engineering Co. Ltd. Of China for an amount of thirty-two million euros (€32,000,000.00) to execute the construction and equipping of the Shama District Hospital”.

    Respectfully submitted.
    APPENDIX 2:23 p.m.
    SPACE FOR APPENDIX 2:23 p.m.
    SPACE FOR APPENDIX 2:23 p.m.
    Mr Alexander Roosevelt Hottordze (NDC -- Central Tongu) 2:33 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I beg to second the Motion and in contributing to same, I would want to state categorically that the siting of this particular facility at Shama is not misplaced. It is not misplaced because, as an official of the Ministry of Health, I visited Shama some time ago and when I saw their ill-equipped health centre, I was speechless. I think the project is in the right direction.
    Mr Speaker, I would want to narrow down to the project description. It is a 100-seater capacity and what is unique about this particular facility is that it has a district health directorate attached. This district health directorate has a 70-seater capacity conference room and a 10- seater boardroom, a server and an ICT room with washrooms attached. This is very good.
    Mr Speaker, I want to express my joy about the addition of Public Health Department to this particular facility and I am of the belief that with this, the health seeking behaviour of the residents of this area would be better than ever. Mr Speaker, not only that, accommodation is also part of the project scope; there would be a 16- unit accommodation for staff. To add
    to this, there would be training for the use of equipment and installation as well as professional development for the medical staff of the hospital.
    Mr Speaker, the addition of the District Health Directorate to this project scope is something that we must learn from henceforth. I personally want to suggest that anytime a facility is to be built, it would be very important to attach the District Health Directorate in areas that it does not exist. Mr Speaker, I say this because it would in no small way ease monitoring and evaluation of the medical staff.
    I want to express my joy about the other components of the facility which is the supply of consumables to start operations with. A lot of hospitals have been established in this country and their operationalisation has been a problem simply because the start up cash for these consumables became a problem. Now that this has been added I think that it would go a long way to help in the early operationalisation of the hospital.
    In conclusion, I would say that the maintenance culture of this country has been in question for some time so building a facility and adding training for staff to be able to maintain the facility and the equipment would go a long way to extend the life span of
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 2:33 p.m.
    Hon Member for Shama?
    Mr Ato Panford (NPP -- Shama) 2:33 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, thank you for this great opportunity. On behalf of the people of Shama and its environs, we are very grateful to the President and this august House.
    Mr Speaker, yesterday, I made some comments in respect of appreciation from the chiefs and people of Shama. Just as has been mentioned by my Hon Colleague on the other Side, with the population of the Shama district, we are still being served by a health post. There has been news coverage that have indicated that some parts of the health post are even inhabited by bats. Mr Speaker, I will dwell on the
    observation and recommendation in the Report and as the people of Shama are listening today, what is important to note is that the Committee took careful attention and observed that the project involved the construction, retooling and supply of equipment to the hospital, thereby addressing the problems associated with beds, laundry services, storage, dental services, audiology services, sterilisation services, dietic services, emergency care services, electrical supply, water supply and also address the medical oxygen supply in the hospital which in most cases becomes very challenging.

    Mr Speaker, thank you very much.

    Question put and Motion agreed to.
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 2:33 p.m.
    Item numbered 12 -- Resolution.
    Hon Deputy Minister for Health?
    RESOLUTIONS 2:33 p.m.
    THIS HONOURABLE 2:33 p.m.
    HOUSE HEREBY 2:33 p.m.
    Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 2:33 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I know we are stretched but before we suspend, we should take item numbered 13.
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 2:33 p.m.
    Very well.
    I would suspend the Sitting for just two minutes and return.
    2.42 p.m. -- Sitting suspended
    2.43 p.m. -- Sitting Resumed
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 2:33 p.m.
    Yes, Hon Leader did you say Motion numbered 13?
    Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 2:33 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, Motion numbered 13.
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 2:33 p.m.
    Very well.
    Yes, Hon Chairman of the Committee?
    MOTIONS 2:33 p.m.
    Chairman of the Committee (Dr Twum-Nuamah) 2:33 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I beg to move that this honourable House adopts the Report of the Committee on Health on the Commercial Contract Agreement between the Government of the Republic of Ghana (represented by the Ministry of Health) and VAMED Health Projects CZ s.r.o. (affiliate of VAMED Engineering) for an amount of seventy-one million, five hundred thousand Euros (€71,500,000.00) to execute the construction of Twelve (12) Polyclinics in Ashanti, Eastern, Greater Accra and Ahafo Regions in Ghana.
    Mr Speaker, I so doing, I present the Committee's Report.
    1.0 Introduction
    1.1 On Tuesday, 24th March, 2020, the Hon. Minister for Parliamentary Affairs, Mr Osei Kyei-Mensah- Bonsu, presented the following paper in Parliament on behalf of the Hon Minister for Health, Mr. Kwaku Agyeman-Manu,:
    “Commercial Contract Agreement between the Government of the Republic of Ghana (represented by the Ministry of Health) and VAMED Health Projects CZ s.r.o. (affiliate of VAMED Engineering) for an amount of seventy-one million, five hundred thousand euros (€71,500,000.00) to execute the construction of Twelve (12) Polyclinics in Ashanti, Eastern, Greater Accra and Ahafo Regions in Ghana.”
    1.2 In accordance with the Constitution and Order 178 of the Standing Orders of the House, the Commercial Agreement was referred to the Committee on Health for consideration and report.
    1.3 In attendance at the Committee's deliberations was the Hon Deputy Minister for Health, Mr Alexander
    Kodwo Kom Abban, and other Officials of the Ministry of Health.
    2.0 Background Information
    2.1 The Government of Ghana is committed to ensuring the provision of health infrastructure to enhance the quality of health services delivery and also promote universal access to healthcare services in Ghana. The Ministry of Health (MoH), as part of its programme of work, stride to reduce inequities in access to care and increase coverage, quality and use of health services so as to achieve a healthier population.
    2.2 The introduction of the National Health Insurance has increased access to health services with increasing utilisation of Out Patient Department (OPD) services nationwide. There is continuous increase in OPD visits in all the regions across the Country but the development of health infrastructure has not kept pace with it. The demand and rising Government direct spending on healthcare and other infrastructure is growing to the extent that, is likely to be unsustainable unless new funding sources are identified and tapped in lieu of the rising cost of maintenance of the traditional health infrastructure.
    Chairman of the Committee (Dr Twum-Nuamah) 2:33 p.m.


    5.3 The Committee is of the strong conviction that with the training component in the scope of the Project, the facilities would not have difficulties with the maintenance of the equipment as happened in times past. The Committee commends the Ministry of Health for negotiating to include the training and supply of consumables as part of the scope of the Project.

    Value for Money Audit

    5.4 The Committee also observed that value-for-money audit, a condition precedent to the approval and execution of the Project, had not yet been done, but was in the pipeline. The Committee was assured that the outcome of the Audit would be made available to Hon Members in due course.

    5.5 The Committee therefore noted that approval was being sought for the Agreement pending the outcome of the value for money audit because of the urgency attached to the Project

    to provide the needed services, some of which have been mentioned afore.

    Payment Schedule

    5.6 The Committee noted that a payment schedule was not attached to the Contract Agreement. The officials of the Ministry of Health who participated in the deliberations explained that it is usually done during the value for money audit and so it will be made available to Hon Members in due course.

    6.0 Conclusion

    6.1 The Committee recommends to the House to adopt the Report and approve by Resolution; the

    “Commercial Contract Agreement between the Government of the Republic of Ghana (represented by the Ministry of Health) and VAMED Health Projects CZ s.r.o. (affiliate of VAMED Engineering) for an amount of seventy-one million, five hundred thousand euros (€71,500,000.00) to execute the construction of Twelve (12) Polyclinics in the Ashanti, Eastern, Greater Accra and Ahafo Regions in Ghana.”

    Respectfully submitted.
    APPENDIX 2:33 p.m.
    SPACE FOT APPENDIX 2:33 p.m.
    SPACE FOT APPENDIX 2:33 p.m.
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 2:33 p.m.
    Yes, Hon Ranking Member?

    Mr Speaker, I beg to second the Motion and in so doing, I would want to draw your attention to a few observations as far as the Committee's Report is concerned. As I have already indicated, we need more of such health facilities in the country to strengthen our health sector.

    Mr Speaker, although a lot has been done in the past, for example, about five polyclinics were constructed in the Upper West Region, five polyclinics were constructed in the then Northern Region, five polyclinics were constructed in the then Western Region, five polyclinics were constructed in the then Brong Ahafo Region and another special funding arrangement was also put in place to fund another 10 polyclinics in the Central Region and five polyclinics in the Greater Accra Region respectively.

    Mr Speaker, irrespective of these investments in the health sector, I still believe that we need more of such

    health facilities in order to strengthen our health sector.

    Mr Speaker, what is striking is that it is about time we listened to our leaders when they speak. As leaders, anything we say today shall wait for us till God's Kingdom come.

    Mr Speaker, all these polyclinics I have indicated were constructed at an average amount of US$3 million. In June 28, 2018, it is on Ghanaweb.

    Mr Speaker, if we go to Ghanaweb, it is there. The present- day Vice President of the Republic of Ghana; Alhaji Dr Mahamudu Bawumia clearly indicated that the construction of a hospital should not go beyond €3 million.

    Mr Speaker, 12 polyclinics --
    Mr Afenyo-Markin 2:53 p.m.
    On a point of order. Mr Speaker, this is a House of record. My Hon Colleague says that certain polyclinics were constructed at an average cost of US$3 million. Maybe, he does not have the figures here, but I would insist that he makes those available for the sake of the Hansard . It can never be correct. For the time being, I would not say that he is misleading the House, but it appears so, especially
    Mr Akandoh 2:53 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, as I have already indicated, we must listen to our leaders, and from the submission that my Hon Colleague made just now, he has clearly disagreed with his own Vice President, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia.
    Mr Speaker, I have given you the source of this statement, and I repeat that it was on the 28th June, 2018 --
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 2:53 p.m.
    Hon Member, you should speak to the Report, because it is the Report of your own Committee. You should not keep on bringing needless outside information which would generate controversy.
    Mr Akandoh 2:53 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I would want to draw your attention to the contract sum, and that is where I am coming from.
    Mr Speaker --
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 2:53 p.m.
    You should make comments on the Report.
    Mr Akandoh 2:53 p.m.
    Very well, Mr Speaker.
    Mr Speaker, the point that I would want to make here is that if we are considering 12 polyclinics and the amount here is an amount of €71.5 million, then it is too expensive. On the average, we are constructing one at an amount of €6 million, which is quite outrageous. This is a polyclinic, not a hospital. It is not even up to the standard of a hospital.
    Mr Speaker, in principle --
    Dr Prempeh 2:53 p.m.
    On a point of order. Mr Speaker, the Hon Ranking Member of the Committee on Health made a statement to the effect that constructing one polyclinic at an amount of €6 million is outrageous. What are his comparative figures? What was the cost on the last ones that were constructed? What is the value of that money now? What was in that hospital compared to that? We were in this country when people procured ambulances that were empty; so when we get new ambulances --
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 2:53 p.m.
    Hon Minister, what are you objecting to?
    Dr Prempeh 2:53 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I am objecting to the fact that till the Hon Member gives us comparative data and the value of money, he cannot make a statement that some time ago they did it for an amount of €3 million, but now we are doing it for an amount of €6 million. What is being compared over here? We were here when we approved district hospitals at different debt rates. So the Hon Member cannot just make such a statement. The Hon Member is becoming unbecoming.
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 2:53 p.m.
    Hon Member, I have advised that you avoid these needless controversies as the Hon Ranking Member. If you would want to do that, then I would allow free room and sit here to watch you.
    Mr Akandoh 2:53 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, inasmuch as I appreciate your protection, we must also be mindful of the kind of words that we use in this House. This is the second time that the Hon Minister responsible for Education is getting at me with unparliamentary words. He said that “I am becoming unbecoming”. For God's sake, I am an Hon Member of Parliament for the people Juaboso constituency, so when I get on my feet,
    I should be allowed to express my opinion, and no attempt to gag me would succeed.
    Mr Speaker, I have already stated that in principle, I support the Project, but I think that the contract sum is outrageous, and I think there is no value for money.
    Mr Speaker, again, on page 5 of the Report, the issue of payment schedule was raised. At the Committee level, I personally raised issues on the payment schedule. If we had not raised it and it was also not seen to be attached to the Report, then if anybody suggests that we did not do good work, I would have agreed.
    Mr Speaker, however, we raised these issues and then the answers that have been captured in the Report were given. After that, we submitted our Report to the House for consideration. So I do not think that we did anything wrong, but if it is the decision of the House that every project must come with the payment schedule, then we are guided by that.
    Thank you, Mr Speaker.
    Question proposed.
    Mr Joseph Albert Quarm (NPP -- Manso Nkwanta) 2:53 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, thank you for giving me this opportunity to support the Motion.
    Mr Speaker, the commitment of President Akufo-Addo and the Health Minister to healthcare expansion in this country is welcome and commendable.
    Mr Speaker, Amansie West has suffered for far too long in terms of healthcare delivery in these modern times. The district is densely populated with over a 100,000 people without a district hospital. The Amansie West District is surrounded by six districts. These are Amansie Central, Bekwai Municipal, Amansie South, Atwima Mponua, Atwima Kwanwoma and that of Atwima Nwabiagya South.
    Mr Speaker, these six districts are all mining communities, and the most leading diseases within these vicinities are malaria and upper respiratory tract infection because of the mining activities. The Asuquo Mines and Goldfields Mines, have quite recently started their operations. This has attracted so many people into the district, as such, because there is no hospital within the Amansie West District, it is really affecting us and the
    people within the community. This new 40-bed capacity polyclinic, I believe is going to help the people of Amansie West District to solve their health care problems.
    Mr Speaker, children and women are the most vulnerable people within the constituency. And I strongly believe that with this healthcare facility, the healthcare problem of the constituency would be solved.
    Mr Speaker, on behalf of the people of Amansie West; the Omanhene of Manso Nkwantang, Nana P. Kusi-Appiah, we say we thank His Excellency, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo and the Minister for Health for giving us this 40-bed capacity polyclinic.
    Mr Speaker, I thank you. -- [Hear! Hear!] --
    Question put and Motion agreed to.
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 3:03 a.m.
    Resolution numbered 14, Hon Deputy Minister?
    RESOLUTION 3:03 a.m.
    THIS HONOURABLE 3:03 a.m.
    HOUSE HEREBY RE- 3:03 a.m.
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 3:03 a.m.
    Yes, Hon Member for Okaikwei Central?
    Mr Boamah 3:03 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, before --
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 3:03 a.m.
    Hon Member, are you seconding the Resolution?
    Mr Boamah 3:03 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, I have observed importantly that Resolutions are being supported by the Ranking Member; it is a novelty on this Floor.
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 3:03 a.m.
    Yes, so are you seconding the Resolution this time or not?
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 3:03 a.m.
    Yes, Hon Ranking Member?
    Ranking Member (Mr Mintah Akandoh): Mr Speaker, I rise to second the Motion. These are health issues so I think—
    Question put and Motion agreed to.
    Resolved accordingly.
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 3:03 a.m.
    Hon Majority Leader, up to what time is the House suspended?
    Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 3:03 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, we would come back at
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 4:30 a.m.
    The House is suspended until 4.30 p. m.
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker would take the Chair when we resume.
    3.06 p. m. -- Sitting suspended
    5.09 p.m. -- Sitting resumed
  • [MR SECOND DEPUTY SPEAKER IN THE CHAIR.]
    • Mr Second Deputy Speaker 4:30 a.m.
    Hon Members, I welcome you back from the suspension. We have a tall order today and I want to as much as possible, not indulge laxities so that we could cover much of the items that we have on the Order Paper. Definitely, I would be guided by leadership, but when we get to the rules, I will apply them as we have all agreed upon in the Standing Orders. So please, let us cooperate with each other.
    Hon Majority Leader, which item would we take?
    Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 4:30 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, thank you very much for laying the ground rules.
    The Finance Committee did not present their Papers in respect of item numbered 4(b). We stood it down in the morning, so if the Hon Chairman of the Committee could do that?
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 4:30 a.m.
    Hon Members, item numbered 4(b) -- Presentation of Papers, by the Hon Chairman of the Finance Committee?
    PAPERS 4:30 a.m.
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 4:30 a.m.
    Hon Members, we would take item numbered 17.
    Yes, Hon Majority Leader?
    Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 4:30 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, I am not sure the Report for item numbered 17 is available, so with respect, if we could take the item numbered 20.
    Chairman of the Committee (Dr Mark Assibey-Yeboah) 4:30 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, I beg to move that notwithstanding the provisions of Standing Order 80(1) which require that no Motion shall be debated until at least forty-eight hours have elapsed between the date on which notice of the Motion is given and the date on which the Motion is moved, the Motion for the adoption of the Report of the Finance Committee on the request for waiver of Import Duties, Import VAT, GETFund Levy, NHIL, EXIM Levy and Special Import Levy amounting to the Ghana cedi equivalent of twenty million, nine hundred and fifty-three thousand, sixty-six United States dollars sixty- nine cents (US$20,953,066.69 [made up of US$1,229,515.69 local
    purchases and US$19,723,551.00 imports]) on materials, equipment, and vehicles required for the construction of the second phase of the Tamale International Airport may be moved today.
    Minority Leader (Mr Haruna Iddrisu) 4:30 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, I second the Motion.
    Question put and Motion agreed to
    Resolved accordingly.
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 4:30 a.m.
    Item numbered 21?
    MOTIONS 4:30 a.m.
    Chairman of the Committee (Dr Mark Assibey-Yeboah) 4:30 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, I beg to move, that this honourable House adopts the Report of the Finance Committee on the request for waiver of Import Duties, Import VAT, GETFund Levy, NHIL, EXIM Levy and Special Import Levy amounting to the Ghana cedi equivalent of twenty million, nine hundred and fifty-three thousand, sixty-six United States dollars sixty- nine cents (US$20,953,066.69
    [made up ofUS$1,229,515.69 local purchases and US$19,723,551.00 imports]) on materials, equipment, and vehicles required for the construction of the second phase of the Tamale International Airport.
    Mr Speaker, in so doing, I present your Committee's Report.
    1.0 Introduction
    The Request for waiver of Import Duties, Import VAT, GETFund levy, NHIL, EXIM Levy and Special Import Levy amounting to the Ghana cedi equivalent of twenty million, nine hundred and fifty-three thousand, sixty-six United States dollars sixty- nine cents (US$20,953,066.69 [made up of US$1,229,515.69 local purchases and US$19,723,551.00 imports]) on materials, equipment and vehicles required for the construction of the Second Phase of the Tamale International Airport was presented to the House on Friday, 20th March, 2020 by the Hon Deputy Minister for Finance, Mrs Abena Osei-Asare on behalf of the Hon Minster for Finance.
    Rt. Hon Speaker referred the request to the Finance Committee for consideration and report.
    The Committee met with the Hon Minister for Aviation, Mr Joseph Kofi
    Adda, an Hon Deputy Minister for Finance, Mr Kwaku Agyeman Kwarteng, and officials from the Ministry of Finance, the Ministry of Aviation, Ghana Airport Company Limited and the Ghana Revenue Authority to consider the request.
    The Committee is grateful to the Hon Minster, the Hon Deputy Minister and the team of officials for attending upon it.
    2.0 Documents Referred to
    The Committee referred to the following documents during its deliberations:
    The 1992 Constitution of Ghana;
    The Public Financial Manage- ment Act, 2016 (Act 921);
    The Standing Orders of the Parliament of Ghana; and
    The Commercial Contract Agreement for the design and execution of the works between the Government of Ghana and Construction UK Limited in the sum of seventy million United States dollars (US$70,000,000) for the design and construction of the second phase of the Tamale International Airport.
    Chairman of the Committee (Dr Mark Assibey-Yeboah) 4:30 a.m.


    3.0 Background

    The Tamale Airport was established as a military airport and was used as such until 2007 when it was opened to commercial activities by the Ghana Airport Company Limited (GACL). However, as a result of the rapid development of Tamale and its environs, the demand for air travel has increased tremendously.

    Upgrading the airport into international status will therefore be a major development milestone for the entire Northern Region and the nation as a whole. This will increase attraction for development and in the short to medium-term, boost business, commercial, industrial, sporting and recreational potential in the area.

    In furtherance of this, the Government of Ghana is currently undertaking the redevelopment of the Tamale Airport. Phase One was completed in 2016. The KfW IPEX- Bank GmbH has agreed to finance phase 2 of the project.

    Parliament, at its Forty-Second Sitting of the Second Meeting held on Tuesday, 24th July, 2018, approved by resolution the Commercial Contract Agreement for the design

    and execution of the works between the Government of Ghana and Construction UK Limited in the sum of seventy million United States dollars (US$70,000,000) for the design and construction of the Second phase of the Tamale International Airport.

    Section 1, Clause 6 of the Contract Agreement signed between the Government of the Republic of Ghana represented by the Ministry of Aviation, the Ghana Airports Company Limited specifies that the contract price does not include any taxes, duties and fees due in Ghana. This then puts the liability for the payment of taxes on the Government of Ghana.

    In order to implement the project successfully, there is the need to waive taxes and duties applicable. It is in this regard that the request for the waiver of taxes and duties for the construction of the Second Phase of the Tamale International Airport has been submitted to Parliament in accordance with article 174 of the 1992 Constitution of Ghana.

    4.0 The Request

    The request is to seek approval for the waiver of taxes amounting to the Ghana cedi equivalent of US$20,953,066.69 made up of US$1,229,515.69 on local purchases and US$19,723,551.00 on imports

    of materials, equipment and vehicles to be procured for the Tamale Airport

    project. The breakdown of the taxes and duties are captured in Table 1 below:

    Table 1 Details of the applicable Taxes and Duties

    ITEM AMOUNT (US$)
    IMPORTS 4:30 a.m.
    LOCAL PURCHASES 4:30 a.m.
    Mr Alex Adomako-Mensah (NDC -- Sekyere Afram Plains) 4:30 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, I beg to second the Motion.
    Mr Speaker, this tax waiver is to ensure a smooth execution of the Tamale International Airport, which is an ongoing project, and expected to cost US$70 million. The project when completed, would serve as a complement to the Kotoka International Airport.
    Mr Speaker, significantly, it is also expected that the completion of the project would make Tamale the centre of high economic activities in the country and would facilitate a smooth travel from Ghana directly to Saudi Arabia.
    Mr Speaker, when we look at the tax waiver, there is a portion marked as airport logo. I was a little bit worried that we could have made it a local content for local people to make it.
    Mr Speaker, with these few words, I second the Motion.
    Question proposed.
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 5:19 p.m.
    Hon Members, I am guided by
    Leadership, and the position is one from each Side of the House and then if Leadership would want to make a few comment they would be prepared to do so.
    So now, one from the Majority side.
    Mr Anthony Effah (NPP- Asikuma/Odoben/Brakwa) 5:19 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, this request for the second phase of the development of the Tamale Airport is so important to travellers within the country and those that would like to move out of Ghana into other neighbouring West African countries.
    Mr Speaker, the request for the waiver is included in the Contract Agreement that we have already signed. The amount that has been assessed for the waiver has been certified appropriately by the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA), and so I would not have any objection to this request.
    Mr Speaker, I therefore urge the House to support the Motion for the waiver of these taxes and duties.
    Mr Ras Mubarak (NDC- Kumbungu) 5:19 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, the airport project is very crucial, looking at the opportunity for job creation, but as much as it is very exciting to expand the airport project in Tamale,
    Minority Leader (Mr Haruna Iddrisu) 5:19 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, let me thank you for the opportunity to speak to the Motion and urge our Hon Colleagues to support it.
    The Tamale International Airport, when developed fully will be strategic. I believe that would open up better agricultural opportunities in the north. If we look at exports of horticultural products, beyond the completion of the airport, Government is able to invest in the Nasia-Nabogu Irrigation for them to concentrate on crops that could be exported. It is assumed that we would need five hours to travel to Europe and not six to seven hours as it is when one flies from Accra. That one-hour savings will make it attractive for many aircrafts.
    Mr Speaker, already, there is evidence that there is a lot of interest in air travel, particularly for Tamale and Kumasi. The few local domestic airlines are doing well.
    Mr Speaker, I am particularly happy that the Committee has done something significant in paragraph 5.4 but next time, what they should do is to endeavour to share numbers with us. For the Committee to ask about the impact of COVID-19 on revenues
    accruing from the airport passenger service charge, I think it is a good thing. Their probe, next time, must go into numbers; how much is anticipated to be the loss, because in future, when Government is reaching out to distress entities, this would be the measure for the particular group of people affected.
    Mr Speaker, in concluding, work has not started on the Tamale Airport phase 2 yet. I am a frequent flyer and I am particular about it, but I have seen that the contractor has mobilised to site. When you look beyond the right towards the Savelugu end of the airport, I have seen a number of vehicles parked.
    Mr Speaker, my worry is that we have given all these exemptions to a foreign company. Would we have done same if it were a local Ghanaian company? If we look at the attachment, we are granting exemptions to compressor, excavator, generator, and heap truck, et cetera because it is a foreign company. If it was a local company, would we have done same? I think that in the future this is what affects the muscle of our local contractors. They do not get these special opportunities that we give to foreign entities and therefore that is my strong observation.
    Mr Speaker, as observed, let me assure the Hon Member for Kumbungu that the facility that this House approved, there was provision made for compensation of the affected communities around that area including my village, Kpliying. What they needed to do is social impact assessment analysis and early on, there were problems attaining the cooperation of the communities. It had to take the Ya-Na to invite the chiefs and the people around that area to support the project. I understand that even when the Hon Minister for Aviation visited the Ya-Na, he allocated some new portion of land for the development of any other airport to it.
    Mr Speaker, generally, we want to see work commence.
    Mr Speaker, then, our brothers and sisters in Sunyani deserve an airport. If we read paragraph 5.3, and I would conclude with this:
    “While jet powered aircrafts require runways stretching in excess of 1700 metres, we are giving them what is 1350.”
    I think that the Hon Minister must do what is needful. He must make sure that we are anticipating in an interrelated connectivity across the country. Somebody may want to go
    Majority Leader (Mr Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu) 5:29 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, thank you very much for this opportunity.
    Mr Speaker, this facility that is before us really relates to tax waivers, and the question is whether or not to grant tax waivers. Where tax waivers are granted in such instances, they have the potential of facilitating a fast execution of the project. This is the first issue that should concern us.
    The second would be what government would lose if taxes are not imposed. However, if taxes are imposed, they add to the cost of the facility and we cannot win both ways. Mr Speaker, as a nation, what we do not do after granting the tax waivers and the equipment are brought in is that when they come to the end of their lives and they have to be sold - because in all cases, they are sold and not given out for free. In selling them, what we missed out would have to be collected at the point of sales, but we do not do that as a country. We do not give these equipment out as gifts because all the companies sell them, but when they sell them what happens?
    Mr Speaker, I must say that there are very few of them who would dole
    out these equipment as gifts. For instance, I know that when we granted tax waivers to the Canadian Parliamentary Centre when they were leaving, they donated some of their 4x4 vehicles even to Parliament as a gift. This is acceptable, but when the companies have to sell them, then at the point of sale, we would have to make good with what we lost out. But we never follow through and this is the difficulty we have as a country.
    Mr Speaker, even if we are not able to realise the entirety of the amount that we expect from procuring new items, at the point of exit if the sales value is one-fifth as it usually is, then we would collect same amount of the tax that we would have ordinarily imposed on those products.
    The Tamale airport has the longest runway and this must be protected because anytime one goes there, one would observe serious encroachment with people farming very close to the airport. Mr Speaker, some have already started to construct residential facilities, and we must guard against this. I believe that the earlier these lands are taken over by the Ghana Civil Aviation Authority, the better it would be for us, but of course, subject to the payment of the appropriate compensation. As the Hon Minority Leader said, the north
    is supposed to be the food basket, at least, the grain basket of this country. So once we finish with the construction, we must attach the necessary storage facilities because it would not only serve the purpose of promoting the One District One Factory, it would really assist us in import substitution and even in the export of domestically produced agricultural produce.
    Mr Speaker, if this should be the case, then we would need to do what is needful. The business development, would also help us to generate employment, and if we connect the airport to the railway network, then certainly we would be home and dry with the promotion of exports of our produce and even facilitate imports as well. This is because it is not all imports that should necessarily land at Tema before they are transported to the north.
    Mr Speaker, all in all, I believe that it is a very good project that must be supported, and I believe that we need to approve this tax waiver at this time except to develop the mechanism to follow through to what we freely grant and make sure that we are able to recoup a portion of what we give out.
    Mr Speaker, with these words, I thank you and I hope that we are able to approve this as early as possible in order to -- [Interruption] --
    Mr Speaker, I thank you.

    Hon Members, I would put the Question.

    Question put and Motion agreed to.
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 5:29 p.m.
    Item numbered 22 -- Resolution.
    RESOLUTIONS 5:29 p.m.
    BY THE COMBINED 5:29 p.m.
    Minority Leader (Mr Haruna Iddrisu) 5:29 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I beg to second the Motion.
    Question put and Motion agreed to.
    Resolved accordingly.
    Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 5:29 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, we would take item numbered 17.
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 5:29 p.m.
    Hon Members, item numbered 17 -- Hon Chairman of the Committee?
    Chairman of the Committee (Dr Mark Assibey-Yeboah) 5:29 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I beg to move, that notwithstanding the provisions of Standing Order 80(1) which requires that no Motion shall be debated until at least forty-eight hours have elapsed between the date on which notice of the Motion is given and the date on which the Motion is moved, the Motion for the adoption of the Report of the Finance Committee on the Financing Agreement between the Government of the Republic of Ghana and the International Development Association (IDA) for an amount of twenty-five million, five hundred thousand Special Drawing Rights (SDR 25,500,000.00) [equivalent to US$35.00 million] to finance the Ghana COVID-19 Emergency Preparedness and Response Project may be moved today.
    Minority Leader (Mr Haruna Iddrisu) 5:29 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I beg to second the Motion.
    Question put and Motion agreed to.
    Resolved accordingly.
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 5:29 p.m.
    Item numbered 18.
    GoG -- IDA Financing Agreement to finance the Ghana
    COVID-19 Emergency Preparedness and Response
    Project
    Chairman of the Committee (Dr Mark Assibey-Yeboah) 5:39 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I beg to move that this honourable House adopts the Report of the Finance Committee on the Financing Agreement between the Government of the Republic of Ghana and the International Development Association (IDA) for an amount of twenty-five million, five hundred thousand Special Drawing Rights (SDR 25,500,000.00) [equivalent to US$35.00 million] to finance the Ghana COVID-19 Emergency Preparedness and Response Project.
    Mr Speaker, in so doing I beg to present your Committee's Report.

    1.0. Introduction

    The Financing Agreement between the Government of the Republic of Ghana and the International Development Association (IDA) for an amount of twenty-five million, five

    hundred thousand Special Drawing Rights (SDR25,500,000) [equivalent to US$35.00 million] to finance the Ghana COVID-19 Emergency Preparedness and Response Project was presented to the House on Saturday, 28th March, 2020 by the Hon Deputy Minister for Finance, Mrs Abena Osei-Asare on behalf of the Minister for Finance.

    Pursuant to article 103 of the 1992 Constitution and Orders 169 and 171 of the Standing Orders of the House, the Agreement was referred to the Committee on Finance for consideration and report.

    The Committee subsequently met and discussed the Agreement with Hon Deputy Ministers for Finance, Mrs Abena Osei-Asare and Mr Kwaku Kwarteng as well as officials from the Ministries of Finance and Health.

    The Committee hereby submits this Report to the House pursuant to Order 161 of the Standing Orders of the House.

    The Committee is grateful to the above-mentioned Hon Deputy Ministers and the officials for attending upon the Committee.

    2.0 References

    The Committee referred to and was guided by the following documents inter alia during its deliberations on the Agreement:

    The 1992 Constitution of the Republic of Ghana;

    The Standing Orders of the Parliament of Ghana; and

    The Public Financial Management Act, 2016 (Act

    921).

    3.0 Background

    The Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) pandemic caused by a novel coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) is prevalent in over 110 countries and territories, including Ghana. As of March 23, 2020, the outbreak had recorded nearly 436,024 cases and 19,630 deaths globally according to the Coronavirus Worldometer.

    The impact of the COVID-19 has been profound as it has caused significant disruptions to social and economic activities across the world. With more than 65 per cent of the global economy under some form of a lockdown, most economies are predicted to experience some degree of depression for a foreseeable future.
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 5:39 p.m.
    Yes, any seconder?
    Question proposed.
    Mr Benjamin Kpodo (NDC -- Ho Central) 5:39 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I would want to place it on record, as I second the Motion that we on this Side of the
    House support this Agreement and recommend it to the entire House for approval so that we can quickly access the fund to prosecute the agenda against COVID-19 which is raging across the country.
    Mr Speaker, we know that the President informed all of us that he had allocated US$100 million for the fight against this pandemic and we thought that it was already available somewhere, but we now realised that we have to go through all these processes. We are ready to support the Government to raise these funds quickly because when we go across the country, people are panicking. In the districts, in the health facilities and in the markets, people are worried of what is happening and what we can all do to help them out of thesze predicaments.
    Mr Speaker, we endorse it. We would call on all our Hon Colleagues to do so.
    Mr Speaker, the breakdown of the application of the fund 5:39 p.m.
    The first component, is US$21.5 million. We have in the Agreement itself -- periodic plan and budget. The Agreement itself requires that the Ministry of Health should submit the budget or procurement processes which would be implemented in accessing the fund. So these must be done before we proceed with the
    implementation of the response measures.
    In fact, the Agreement has indicated timelines within which these things should be done and report taken back. So we must be mindful of all these conditions in the Agreement before we go in for the fund.
    The third element or component of the fund has to do with supporting families with stipends so that they can live on their own. We would plead that those who would distribute these stipends should not do it along political lines because COVID-19 does not infect people who belong to the New Patriotic Party (NPP), the National Democratic Congress (NDC), or the Convention People's Party (CPP) and others. It does not know anybody in high place or low place --
    [An Hon Member: Like the Hon Minister for Education] --
    Mr Kpodo 5:39 p.m.
    So when we are targeting the poor and the vulnerable, let us just go and do it as the definition says. We do not have to look for our favourites to give these stipends to.
    Mr Speaker, there is another issue that I have. There are four components 5:39 p.m.
    There is component 1 to which and the breakdown has been given very clearly, but for the other components, there is not much details given as to how the fund would
    be appropriated, but as I said earlier, the conditions of the contract itself require that we get detailed budget and plan as to how this would be implemented.
    Mr Speaker, so with these observations, I second the Motion once more and I would call on my Hon Colleagues to also approve the Agreement so that we can access the fund as quickly as possible.
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 5:39 p.m.
    Yes, Hon Member? You have changed your sitting arrangement. Is that the case?
    Dr Twum-Nuamah 5:39 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, something like that.
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 5:39 p.m.
    Is that approved by Leadership or you have done it suo moto?
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 5:39 p.m.
    Hon Member is social distancing to get closer to the Hon Chairman of the Finance Committee?
    One of the things you are not helping us to do is that these things are programmed, when you put on your microphone, the particulars of the Hon Member who rises to speak
    Dr Twum-Nuamah 5:39 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, these are not normal times.
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 5:39 p.m.
    What do you mean? These are not normal times -- Well, I will allow it to pass today, but please let us try to abide by it. An Hon Member must speak from his or her seat and that is in the Standing Orders.
    Yes, please go on.
    Dr Kwabena Twum-Nuamah (NPP -- Berekum East) 5:39 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I thank you for the opportunity.
    I think this facility is even necessary because of the fact that we are not in normal times. I want to support the Motion and urge the House to approve it because it will come in handy to support the country's strategy in fighting this COVID-19 pandemic.
    Mr Speaker, it is refreshing to note that when the President announced that he would devote US$100 million to fight this pandemic, many were those who doubted the ability of the President to raise this amount -- [Interruption] -- And a leader is
    supposed to think outside the box and generate resources to perform his responsibilities.
    Mr Speaker, this facility from the World Bank is a very -- [Inaudible] -- And if you look at the components, it would really support our ability to fight this pandemic.
    Mr Speaker, I would refer to paragraph 6.2 of the Committee's Report. Mr Speaker, with your permission, I beg to quote:
    “Alignment with Government Policies and Strategies:
    The Committee noted that the Project is in alignment with the National Action Plan for Health Security (NAPHS 2020-2025) being developed to address health emergencies under the “One Health” framework.
    5. 49 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, what this means is that even though we are fighting the COVID-19 pandemic, all the strategies that the Government is undertaking is within the bigger framework of the country and its preparedness. So we are not going to waste any resources. After the end of COVID-19, whatever we would do would still be useful for the country
    in the long term. I think that it is a better way of managing our resources in the limitations that we have found ourselves.
    Mr Speaker, secondly, I am also happy to note that provision have been made for insurance packages for frontline workers. So my colleague doctors who would be working very hard to save Ghanaians from this COVID-19 disease would be assured that in the painful event that some of them get infected, they have been insured both for terminal illnesses, for death and for infirmities. I believe that this would encourage our health workers to work confidently to save the country.
    We have seen from other areas in the world that health workers have not been spared from this pandemic. In the course of their work, some of them get infected. Painfully, some of them even lose their lives, so there are provisions in this Agreement to secure them so that when we get these unfortunate situations, their families would not suffer. I believe that this is a very laudable activity, and I would urge Hon Members to approve this facility so that we can have the money to support the fight against the pandemic.
    Mr Speaker, I thank you for the opportunity.
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 5:39 p.m.
    Any comments from Leadership? Or else I would put the Question.
    Mr John A. Jinapor (NDC -- Yapei/Kusawgu) 5:39 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, indeed, like the previous speakers mentioned and articulated,we are indeed in very trying moments, and we are in unchartered waters. We are experiencing a pandemic that has never been witnessed before, at least, in this modern generation. Like it was rightly said, this virus knows no boundary, and knows nobody. I would therefore want to put on record that even the learned and most experienced Hon Bagbin may not be spared if we do not pool our forces and resources together. I am very much sure that God would protect all Hon Members of this House.
    Mr Speaker, today is the first of April, and the President did announce on the 12th of March, 2020 that he had directed the Hon Minister to make these funds available. Subsequently, the Hon Minister right here stated categorically that the funds had been secured and were available. From this document, it is obvious that if we do not help to rescue the Hon Minister, the amount of US$100 million that the President
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 5:39 p.m.
    Hon Member, please hold on. Allow me to listen to the Hon Chairman of the Committee.
    Dr Assibey-Yeboah 5:39 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, it is important that the kind of information that we put out in relation to this COVID-19 pandemic be truthful.
    The Hon Member said that there are only two test centres in the country. We have a test centre at the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital, one at the Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, one at the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital, and one in Navrongo. We therefore have four test centres, not two. So the Hon Member should not put such information out because it is scare mongering. It would create the impression that there are only two centres, when indeed, they are four.
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 5:39 p.m.
    Hon Member, the Hon Chairman says that the two have been increased to four so we should take it on board and move on.
    Mr Jinapor 5:39 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, the Hon Chairman is grossly misleading this House.
    Mr Speaker, at the Committee level, based on this Report, they told us that when we approve this, they would apply part of these funds in order to set up a centre in Navrongo so that we can have a third centre. Therefore when the Hon Chairman says that there is already a centre in Navrongo, it is a palpable falsehood -- it is not true, and it cannot stand the test of time.
    Mr Speaker, this is the reason President Akufo-Addo and the Hon
    Finance Minister had to run to go and borrow money, despite the mantra of “Ghana Beyond Aid”. We cannot even raise one per cent of the whole of this amount of US$100 million from our own resources. In times of emergency like this, they have had to go outside to borrow an amount of US$100 million, yet we cannot even raise an amount of US$1 million on our own out of this.
    Mr Speaker, is this nation serious? We have such a pandemic, we have such a serious case, and all that Ghana can do is to rush to the World Bank and to the International Development Association to borrow an amount of US$100 million. Even with the amount of US$65 million, we had to go and borrow. The Hon Chairman himself perfectly states that to ensure as to how much the COVID-19 Emergency Preparedness and Response Plan would cost, the Committee was informed that the plan is estimated to cost an amount of US$100 million. The contingency emergency response of the existing World Bank-support of the Greater Accra Resilient and Interim Development Project has been activated to provide additional US$65 million. So apart from borrowing --
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 5:39 p.m.
    Hon Member, hold on.
    Mrs Osei-Asare 5:39 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, since the inception of this pandemic, Government on its own has made moneys available, and that is why we have the Contingency Fund. As we speak, we have been able to set up some centres, and we have been able to provide for test kits and Personal Protective Equipment (PPEs) in the health facilities.
    Mr Speaker, again, it is not that we do not have money. We have some money in the Ghana Stabilisation Fund, and that is why we are coming to Parliament for them to give us the approval to reduce the cap to an amount of US$100 million, and our own money of US$200 million, we can use that also to support what is happening. So my brother on the other Side cannot tell us that we do not have money and that is why we have rushed to the World Bank and the IMF to take money. That is not the case; on our own, we have had to put so much money into this, and these are only additional moneys that we are looking for. Even the United States of America, which is a super power of this world cannot have enough.
    Mr Speaker, I would therefore like my brother on the other Side to stop peddling untruths and say it as it is. As we speak, Government has already invested so much money into this programme.
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 5:59 a.m.
    Hon Members, please, let us listen to each other.
    Mr Jinapor 5:59 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, the Hon Deputy Minister for Finance is grossly misleading this House.
    Mr Speaker, she says that they have found some money in the Contingency Fund. I refer her to the Appendix 4(a) of the 2020 Budget Statement; in the Contingency Fund, they made an allocation of zero; so, how could they dip their hands in a zero account, pick money from the zero account and claim to be spending it? The 2020 Budget Statement is here.
    Mr Speaker, this morning, she had to lead a team to the Finance Committee to plead with us to allow them to withdraw US$200 million from the Stabilisation Fund. This is the time that we could realise that indeed, Presidents Mills and Mahama were visionary leaders -- [Hear! Hear!]-- If we did not accumulate money in the Stabilisation Fund, where would they have gone to?
    rose
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 5:59 a.m.
    Hon Member, just hold on; you mentioned the name of the Hon Deputy Minister for Finance so let us listen to her.
    Mrs Osei-Asare 5:59 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, sorry, I meant the Consolidated Fund, not the Contingency Fund. -- [Uproar] -- Yes, there is a Consolidated Fund, so I meant the Consolidated Fund, and not the Contingency Fund.
    Mr Speaker, my Brother on the other Side should also note that the law was passed by this House; it was not passed by President Mahama, it was not passed by President Mills. The Public Financial Management Act was passed by this House, so it was a collective decision taken by the people of Ghana to run their oil revenues efficiently.
    I thank you, Mr Speaker.
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 5:59 a.m.
    I wanted to encourage a healthy debate, but it is deteriorating into a cacophony; please, let us listen to one another. Do not follow the debate in the general public. This is -- What is happening between the Leaders?
    Hon Member, you may conclude.
    Mr Jinapor 5:59 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, may I also use this opportunity to, on behalf of this House and on behalf of President Akufo-Addo and the people of Ghana, express our profound gratitude and appreciation to Jack Ma of Alibaba for helping us in times of adversity.
    Mr Speaker, in concluding, I wish to associate myself with the approval of this US$35 million Loan Facility that the Government of Ghana has had to rush to the World Bank to secure funding for this project.
    Mr Speaker, I thank you very much, and may God bless us all.
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 5:59 a.m.
    Majority Leadership?
    Majority Leader (Mr Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu) 5:59 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, I thank you very much for the opportunity to say a few words about what is before us.
    Mr Speaker, I think in our traditions and cultures, we all have proverbs that suggest to us that in times of adversity, we should be speaking languages to bring the nation together, and not to put us apart. We should not have the uncanny ability of
    always making statements that have the potential of tearing this nation apart --[Uproar] -- Mr Speaker, it does not speak well of us as individuals.
    Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 5:59 a.m.
    I thought people should care at least; when the nation is in distress, people in this House should care. And at least we should not leave this House with patents that whenever we get up to speak, we have the potential of tearing this nation apart even when the nation is in perils --[Uproar] -- Mr Speaker, you can see those of them who want to wear that tag in this House.
    Mr Speaker, first, we must acknowledge that the Ghana Beyond Aid maxim does not in any way suggest that when the nation is in difficulties, we cannot go outside to borrow; it does not!
    Mr Speaker, the richest person in Africa, Dangote, still goes outside his own establishment to borrow to reinforce his establishment. I think there is collective wisdom in this.
    Mr Speaker, we must acknowledge that as a country, we are not out of the woods; regardless of the preparation that we make, we
    as I am saying, we are not out of the woods; we must recognise that our own deficiencies in healthcare delivery rose
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 5:59 a.m.
    Hon Majority Leader, I can see the Hon Member for Keta itching to say something.
    Mr Quashigah 5:59 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, the Hon Majority Leader in his contribution attempted to impute
    motives by saying that a situation like the COVID 19 should warrant togetherness; oneness. In effect, he is creating the impression that those of us on this Side who are scrutinising some Reports that have come to this House are virtually not in sync with the realities, and therefore would want to thwart the loan that is being taken.
    Mr Speaker, that motive is very dangerous; that motive if not corrected can actually create a whole impression out there. Those of us on this Side of this House are only ensuring that the right thing is being done, therefore if the Hon Majority Leader wants to create a certain impression, that impression or motive must be correct and should be right. I do not think that we on this Side have said anything or are doing anything that is inimical to the taking of the loan.
    We are only making an emphatic statement that we should be mindful of certain gaps and loopholes. I think that has been the position all through, and therefore the Hon Majority Leader must be mindful of that.
    Mr Speaker, I thank you.
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 5:59 a.m.
    Hon Majority Leader, your Hon Colleague is talking about you
    imputing ill motives; what do you say, even though he used the word, attempted?
    Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 6:09 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I believe you heard me; I am not denying him his right of extrapolating to whatever dimension that he wants, but you heard me, and I was not talking about imputing or impugning anybody here. He has his right to extrapolate in whatever dimensions that he wants, but the good people in this House who listened to me, and listened to me carefully heard what I said. I would not say anything on that.
    Mr Speaker, I am saying to us that indeed, where we are, we need to be mindful of how imperilled this country is and we need to come together as a country, and not to engage in matters that would tear this country apart.
    With that, I would urge that all of us come together to support this facility. However, I would want to agree that whatever amounts that are allocated, this House must stand together. If we want to perform dutiful oversight over allocations, that is indeed the duty of this House, but relating to Governments and there are gaps in the system - which
    administration did not have gaps in this country? However, we must strive to overcome our defects and deficiencies.
    Mr Speaker, I thank you.
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 6:09 p.m.
    Hon Members, before I put the Question, the President of this country, has already been given too much powers by our Constitution and laws. Do not add to that. Our discourse sees nobody apart from Presidents - as if the rest of us are nothing, we do not do anything. As if the nation has no vision, so everything is the vision of the President of the day. This does not help the development of democracy in this country. We must change and we are here to show leadership. We cannot continue this way, please. It is the collective action of the whole of this country, the people of Ghana that has gotten us this far. So let us acknowledge that in our contributions and appreciate whatever individual in this country contributes towards the development of the nation. We should not talk about only Presidents and former Presidents as if for all those years, we have done nothing. It is not right. That is autocracy and not democracy.
    Please, I would be compelled to apply the rules strictly so that we can have a good debate and not the way things are going. I would put the
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 6:09 p.m.
    This is a unanimous decision, so why the acrimony? [Laughter]
    We would take item numbered 19 -- Resolutions
    RESOLUTIONS 6:09 p.m.
    THIS HONOURABLE 6:09 p.m.
    HOUSE HEREBY RE- 6:09 p.m.
    Chairman of the Committee (Dr Mark Assibey-Yeboah) 6:09 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I beg to second the Motion.
    Question put and Motion agreed to.
    Resolved accordingly.
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 6:09 p.m.
    Hon Majority Leader, which item would we take?
    Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 6:09 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, item numbered 23.
    MOTIONS 6:09 p.m.
    Chairman of the Committee (Dr Mark Assibey-Yeboah) 6:09 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I beg to move that notwithstanding the provisions of Standing Order 80(1) which requires that no Motion shall be debated until at least forty-eight hours have elapsed between the date on which notice of the Motion is given and the date on which the Motion is moved, the Motion for the adoption of the Report of the Finance Committee on the request for waiver of Import Duties, Import VAT, GETFund Levy, Import NHIL, and EXIM Levy amounting to the Ghana cedi equivalent of ninety- nine thousand, nine hundred and twenty-five United States dollars (US$99,925.00) on materials, plant, machinery and equipment or parts to be procured by Kaskazini Limited as well as Corporate Income Tax for five years of operation under the implementation of the One District One Factory (1D1F) Programme may be moved today.
    Mr Joseph Yieleh Chireh 6:09 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I beg to second the Motion.
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 6:09 p.m.
    Item numbered 24
    MOTIONS 6:09 p.m.
    Chairman of the Committee (Dr Mark Assibey-Yeboah) 6:09 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I beg to move that this honourable House adopts the Report of the Finance Committee on the Request for the waiver of Import Duties, Import VAT, GETFund Levy, Import NHIL, and EXIM Levy amounting to the Ghana cedi equivalent of ninety-nine thousand, nine hundred and twenty-five United States dollars (US$99,925.00) on materials, plant, machinery and equipment or parts to be procured by Kaskazini Limited as well as Corporate Income Tax for five years of operation under the implementation of the One District One Factory (1D1F) Programme.
    Mr Speaker, in so doing, I present your Committees' Report.
    1.0 Introduction
    The Request for the waiver of Import Duties, Import VAT, GETFund Levy, NHIL Levy and EXIM Levy amounting to the Ghana cedi equivalent of ninety-nine thousand, nine hundred and twenty- five United States dollars (US$99,925.00) on materials, plant, machinery and equipment or parts to be procured by Kaskazini Limited under the implementation of the One District, One Factory (1D1F) Programme was presented to the House on Friday, 20th March, 2020 by the Hon Deputy Minister for Finance, Mrs Abena Osei-Asare on behalf of the Hon Minster for Finance.
    The Rt Hon Speaker referred the request to the Finance Committee for consideration and report.
    The Committee met with an Hon Deputy Minister for Finance, Mr Kwaku Kwarteng and a technical team from the Ministry of Finance, the Ministry of Trade and Industry and the Ghana Revenue Authority to consider the request.
    2.0 Documents Referred to
    The Committee referred to the following documents during its deliberations:
    The 1992 Constitution of the Republic of Ghana;
    The Public Financial Manage- ment Act, 2016 (Act 921); and
    The Standing Orders of the Parliament of Ghana;
    3.0 Background
    On Friday, 3rd May, 2019, Parliament approved a request for the waiver of Import Duties, Import VAT, GETFund Levy, Import NHIL, EXIM Levy on plant, machinery and equipment or parts as well as Corporate Tax for five (5) years of operation being tax incentives to support the implementation of the One District, One Factory (1D1F) Programme.
    The Resolution also required that all 1D1F beneficiary entities are to prepare and submit the list of their purchases for tax assessment and submission to Parliament for consideration and approval.
    Kaskazini is a registered Ghanaian company under the Companies Act, 1963 (Act 179) as a private limited liability company to operate business in the agricultural industry. The company aims to process raw materials into finished products up to
    international standards while creating sustainable jobs for the local people through sustainable technological food processing techniques both in Ghana and in the sub-region through the production of superior quality agricultural products.
    Kaskazani Limited is a company which has an ownership structure of 100 per cent by shareholding only. In order to enhance its operations, the company intends to undertake a project to extract palm oil, process kernels as well as decarbonise the shells for fuel. The cost of the project is estimated at US$1.25 million, which is proposed to be financed through a loan. The project will be sited at Ankaase in the Bekwai Municipality of the Ashanti Region.
    The Ministry of Trade and Industry has accessed the company and has granted it a 1D1F status, which would enable it benefit from the tax waiver incentives under the Programme.
    In order to acquire and install the new plant to enable the company enhance its operations, there is the need to waive taxes and duties applicable as an incentive under the 1D1F Programme. It is in this regard that the request for the waiver of taxes and duties and the master list of items to be procured by Kaskazini Company Limited has been submitted to Parliament in accordance with
    SPACE FOR APPENDIXSPACE FOR APPENDIX 6:09 p.m.
    Mr Richard Acheampong (NDC -- Bia East) 6:09 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I beg to second the Motion.
    Mr Speaker, we have already approved a framework to grant such rights to companies, which would fall in line with the ID1F Programme, but this is the time that the country goes round with cup in hand begging for resources to deal with the pandemic which is at stake. We use our left hand to beg for money and the right hand to give people money. In this difficult moment that we find ourselves in -- and this is a new company which has not even established itself. They have not created any employment for anybody in this country. I do not think this is the right time to grant this tax waiver because we would set up a fund of which private companies would contribute funds towards the eradication of this pandemic which has befallen this country. Some have given GH¢100,000 and GH¢200,000 and we would give US$99,000 to a new company.
    Mr Speaker, with your permission, I want to refer to the item numbered 5 on page 4 of the Report.
    rose
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 6:09 p.m.
    Hon Member, please, hold on.
    Yes, Hon Chairman of the Committee?
    Dr Assibey-Yeboah 6:09 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, a while ago, you advised us to be mindful of the tangent in which we debate and that you would apply the rules. My Hon Colleague has seconded the Motion on the Report which was unanimously approved by the Committee and, so if you could guide him. Why the --
    Mr R. Acheampong 6:09 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I did not get the drift of the Hon Chairman, but I would continue. In item 5.4, under “Payment of Local Taxes'' --
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 6:19 p.m.
    Hon Member, just a minute.
    I think it is important that if there is unanimity at the Committee level, it should so be stated in the Report. I am looking at the conclusion and there is no indication that there was unanimity in supporting it. But even when you support a Motion, you can in doing so make some observations that you think are critical to improving upon the future governance of the country.
    So I have actually been listening to him and I do not think he has used
    any unparliamentary language. We would only ask him to as much as possible restrict his contribution to the Report, but definitely, the reference to the fact that we are going out seeking money and at the same time giving out moneys is an expression and there is nothing unparliamentary about that one.
    So Hon Member, you may continue.
    Mr Richard Acheampong 6:19 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, may you live long -- [Hear! Hear!]
    Mr Speaker, I will refer the House to page 5 of the Committee's Report, under paragraph 5.4, Payment of Local Taxes:
    “The Committee noted that the company was registered and issued a certificate to commence operation on 23rd February, 2017. It had duly registered with the tax agencies. The project is however in the preparatory stages and it is yet to employ staff to be liable for taxes.”
    Mr Speaker, they are telling us that they have not employed anybody in this country. On what basis can we justify that this 1D1F company will employ many people in this country
    for us to benefit from it? From the word go, there is no basis whatsoever to give them US$99,000 in tax waivers whereas we are going out seeking resources to deal with the pandemic which the country faces.
    Mr Speaker, we have to prioritise our needs. Let us do things right. We can postpone this tax waiver; tell them that we need money this time around. They should give us the money and then in future when we do the assessment and the company is viable, we can grant it some exemptions, but not at the time that we are going out with a cup in our hand, at the same time we are giving moneys to a new company which has not created any employment, and has not paid any taxes to the state.
    Mr Speaker, what benefits are we deriving from this very company? We ought to be careful in order not to abuse this tax waiver just because Parliament is clothed with the authority to grant tax waivers under article 174, so any company at all would come applying for it and we do assessment and grant them tax waivers. It would not help this country because we have a projected revenue shortfall which we are thinking of how to raise revenue to deal with other infrastructural deficits that we task ourselves to do.
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 6:19 p.m.
    Hon Member, please, speak to the Report and conclude.
    Mr Richard Acheampong 6:19 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I would conclude by saying that let us do things right and at the right time.
    With these few observations, I call on Hon Members that next time let us reject this kind of Agreement that would come before us.

    Question proposed.
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 6:19 p.m.
    Yes, Hon Member, are you anywhere near Bekwai constituency?
    Mr Daniel Okyem Aboagye 6:19 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I am at the Bantama constituency in the Ashanti Region.
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 6:19 p.m.
    Bantama is far away from Bekwai. I want those from the constituencies closer to Bekwai to speak because this project is to be sited at Bekwai. They deal with palm oil and it is for that. [Pause]
    We have not come to Greater Kumasi -- [Laughter] -- Since there is nobody, you may continue.
    Mr D. O. Aboagye (NPP-- Bantama) 6:19 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I thank you for the opportunity to contribute to the Motion that is being discussed and to make a few comments.
    Mr Speaker, the waiver that is being requested should be supported. I entreat my Hon Friends on the other Side and my Hon Colleagues on this Side to also all support the Motion. A company that is going to be sited in Ankaase, Bekwai, where we all know that if there is nobody who would benefit at all, our own Hon First Deputy Speaker will definitely have the opportunity to get some jobs for the people in Bekwai. To that extent, we are quite grateful for this.
    Mr Speaker, it seems to me that some of our Hon Friends on the other Side still have difficulties in comprehending the policy of 1D1F. It is a policy that attempts to leverage and give incentives to the private
    sector to join in developing the country by building companies.
    Mr Speaker, we also have to understand that if there is any time in our recent history that a country or even family's sustainability is tested, it is this time.
    Now, we have COVID-19, airlines are not flying and who knows how far it will go. I hope it does not go that far. We are now beginning to appreciate what it means to be a country beyond aid; a country where we can have a number of factories that are producing within so that at least we can eat, wear and be able to support the things that are produced internally. This is one of the attempts.
    Mr Speaker, when this 1D1F status is given to existing companies, some of our Friends on the other Side have problems; now, this has gone to a new factory that is looking for an opportunity to import machineries and materials to produce, and some of our Friends on the other Side are still having problems.
    What do we do? Do they actually understand what the policy stands for?
    Mr Speaker, it is important to state that even though Government is giving incentives to get the private sector to
    come in and drive the economy, the Government will benefit by way of jobs. When there are jobs in the system, you and I can sleep. People would not be on the streets; prostitution would be minimised; armed robbery would be minimised.
    Mr Speaker, that is why the Government is pushing this agenda of 1D1F. I believe this is a good policy and it should be supported.
    Mr Speaker, with these words, I thank you for the opportunity and I hope my little contribution would help some of our Hon Friends on the other Side to appreciate that Ghana ultimately would become a country beyond aid because borrowing in itself does not mean that we cannot go beyond aid.
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 6:19 p.m.
    Yes, Leadership?
    Mr Richard M. K. Quashigah (NDC--Keta) 6:19 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I thank you for the opportunity; I thank Leadership as well.
    Mr Speaker, indeed, anything that is to make the forward march of our nation is refreshing and must be
    Mr Richard M. K. Quashigah (NDC--Keta) 6:29 p.m.


    supported. The 1D1F policy in itself is one that was envisioned as it were to create jobs for our society for the teeming unemployed young people and also to bring about wealth into our nation.

    Mr Speaker, it was for this reason that this House with a heavy support from the Majority side agreed that any entity under 1D1F must be given the necessary support by way of waivers. This company obviously comes under that and therefore must necessarily enjoy what we all have agreed on.

    Mr Speaker, in fact, this entity by way of waivers would benefit one- tenth of how much they intend to invest in the project which is largely supposed to produce cosmetics.

    Mr Speaker, this entity also tells us that they intend to engage 10 to 100 people in this country, specifically we have not been told whether since they came in 2017 they have actually engaged 50 or 60. They only said between 10 and 100 and this is worrying.

    Mr Speaker, palm kernel oil which is being milled in Bekwai, but for this entity to produce cosmetics may be

    laudable, but we must also ask ourselves the quantum of benefits that we would derive from this. These are critical questions that we need to ask ourselves when we are giving waivers of this nature to entities like this.

    It is good and appropriate to support companies that are intended to create jobs for our young people and to bring some resources into this country, but it must not just be any entity. When we have not done an extreme and critical appraisal, then we give them waivers and at the end of the day what we expected is not realised.

    Mr Speaker, I cannot speak against this because we have an understanding that this is what they are entitled to; one-tenth of what they are investing into this economy. I hope and pray that at the end of the day, the dividends we would derive from this company as a result of this support that we are giving would not become a nightmare and a loss to the State, but it would translate into our expectation of job creation and wealth generation.

    Mr Speaker, people tend to link this to Ghana Beyond Aid, but I cannot see the synergy between Ghana Beyond Aid and this particular activity. However, I hope and pray that the issue of Ghana Beyond Aid would become a reality so that we do not go borrowing any how to address basic problems and challenges that we are confronted with as a nation.

    Mr Speaker, with these words, I support the Motion.
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 6:29 p.m.
    Majority Leadership?
    Mr Anthony Effah (NPP -- Asikuma/Odoben/Brakwa) 6:29 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, thank you.
    Mr Speaker, the talks about waivers seemed to be generating debate today, but what we have to avail our minds to is that there is a private sector investment of US$1.25 million into a local economy in the country and this is worth mentioning.
    The proportion of the tax that is to be waived against the investment that is coming to the local rural community is just about eight per cent of the new investment. I think that while we are all mindful of the fact that we have shortfalls in the revenue that we generate, attracting private investment into the domestic economy is something that we have to encourage.
    Mr Speaker, my Hon Colleague from Bantama has explained the rationale and the policy in detail. This particular investment of US$1.25 million in the Bekwai District would add value not only to the palm oil, but even the by-products of the palm oil. The Report indicates that after the palm oil has been extracted, we would
    Mr Anthony Effah (NPP -- Asikuma/Odoben/Brakwa) 6:29 p.m.


    Hon Member, I would put the Question.

    Question put and Motion agreed to.
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 6:29 p.m.
    Hon Members, item numbered 25 -- Resolution.
    Hon Deputy Minister for Finance?
    RESOLUTIONS 6:29 p.m.
    BY THE COMBINED 6:29 p.m.
    Chairman of the Committee (Dr Mark Assibey-Yeboah) 6:29 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I beg to second the Motion.
    Question put and Motion agreed to.
    Resolved accordingly.
    Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 6:29 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, we could take item numbered 26.
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 6:29 p.m.
    Hon Members, item numbered 26 -- Hon Chairman of the Committee?
    MOTIONS 6:29 p.m.
    Chairman of the Committee (Dr Mark Assibey-Yeboah) 6:29 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I beg to move, that notwithstanding the provisions of Standing Order 80(1) which requires that no Motion shall be debated until at least forty-eight hours have elapsed between the date on which notice of the Motion is given and the date on which the Motion is moved, the Motion for the adoption of the Report of the Finance Committee on the 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 may be moved today.
    Mr Joseph Y. Chireh (NDC -- Wa West) 6:29 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I beg to second the Motion.
    Question put and Motion agreed to.
    Resolved accordingly,
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 6:29 p.m.
    Hon Members, item numbered 27.
    Hon Chairman of the Committee?
    Tax Waiver on GoG - Fly Zipline Ghana Ltd Service
    Agreement for the Delivery of Emergency Health and Blood
    Products to Public Health Facilities
    Chairman of the Committee (Dr Mark Assibey-Yeboah) 6:39 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I beg to move, that this honourable House adopts the Report of the Finance Committee on the 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.
    Mr Speaker, in so doing I present your Committee's Report.

    1.0 Introduction

    The request for waiver of Import Duties, Import VAT, GETFund Levy, NHIL, EXIM Levy and Special Import Levy amounting to the Ghana Cedi equivalent of 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 was presented to the House on Monday, 16th March, 2020 by the Hon Minister responsible for Parliamentary Affairs, Mr Osei Kyei- Mensah-Bonsu on behalf of the Hon Minister responsible for Finance.

    Pursuant to Order 169 of the Standing Orders of the House, the Request was referred to the Finance Committee for consideration and report.

    The Committee met and considered the request with Hon Deputy Ministers for Finance, Mrs Abena Osei-Asare and Mr Kwaku Kwarteng as well as a team of officials from the Ministries of Finance and Health and the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) and hereby presents this Report to the House pursuant to Order 161(1) of the Standing Orders of the House.

    3.0 Background

    Over the past two decades, the epidemiological data of Ghana suggests that the country faces a complex burden of diseases (communicable, non-communicable diseases, injuries and co-morbidities). These are the main drivers of morbidity and mortality among the population. These diseases to a large extent affect the Quality of Life (QoL) of the people and have negative impact on national development.

    One of the major challenges facing the Ministry of Health (MoH) and its related agencies in the implementation of their mandate is access to and delivery of medical cargo such as blood products, emergency vaccines, lifesaving and essential medicines, laboratory reagents and diagnostic supplies and medical consumables across the country.
    SPACE FOR LATTER 6:39 p.m.
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    • Mr Richard Acheampong (NDC -- Bia East) 6:39 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I beg to second the Motion.
    Mr Speaker, the period which we find ourselves in is the one that we need to support anything about health. So I would call on all Hon Members to support the waiver of US$10,112,940.00 so that we could Support Fly Zipline Ghana Limited to continue to give us the delivery service that they give to this nation.
    Mr Speaker, I refer the House to page 5 of the Report, paragraph 4.1, with your permission, I beg to read:
    “The Committee noted that under section 7.4 of the Service Agreement, it is provided that the Ministry of Health shall take exceptions from applicable taxes and duties for the import of all Fly Zipline equipment to be used for the provision of the service. It was explained to the Committee that the Government of Ghana is accordingly required to bear the cost of taxes, duties and other fiscal levies which may be imposed in the Republic of Ghana on materials and equipment to be procured under the Service Agreement.”
    Mr Speaker, so it is a condition precedent. If we deny them this tax
    waiver, the state must find money to make up for the difference. So I do not see any reason why anybody will kick against this kind of arrangement. We either have to look for money and pay for the taxes or we give them the tax waiver. This is something we need to support.
    Mr Speaker, we would not always speak against something the Executive would present to this House. [Hear! Hear!] -- So when we raise critical issues, our Hon Colleagues on the other Side must also listen to us and take into consideration that we are speaking to them and they have to listen to it. Now, they are happy that I am not kicking against it --
    [An Hon Member: Hon Majority Leader is smiling] -- [Laughter]
    Mr Richard Acheampong 6:39 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, because it is a condition precedent, I support the waiver of the tax of over US$10 million for Fly Zipline Ghana Ltd. to provide services like sending blood and other materials to underserved communities in this country.
    Thank you very much for the opportunity.
    Question proposed.
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 6:39 p.m.
    Yes, Hon Member?
    Dr Kwabena Twum-Nuamah (NPP -- Berekum East) 6:39 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I thank you for the opportunity to support the Motion.
    I am personally very happy that we are approving this tax waiver. I remember when the Service Agreement for Fly Zipline was brought to this House and some of us said that as part of the arrangement, there is a condition subsequent that tax waivers would be sought for so that Government would not have to pay for those components, some of our Hon Colleagues on the other Side were in support of it. So I am happy that today we are here to approve this tax waiver. I am so happy that this novel intervention which was started by the President has been successful and it has been touted the world over. Even this period of COVID-19 pandemic - it is assisting --
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 6:39 p.m.
    Hon Member, I thought it was a manifesto pledge to improve the health sector and I do not believe that the manifesto was written just by the President. It was the whole political party -- [Interruption] -- I disagree with those who think that anything that happens in this country is the vision of the President.
    Dr Twum-Nuamah 6:39 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, the intention to use drone technology to move initial medicines in addition
    to blood is also done in Rwanda and it is a personal vision of the President, and I would want to put it on record. This is the first time in the world that we are using drones to supply not only blood, but also essential medicines.
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 6:39 p.m.
    Hon Member, are you saying that this is the first time in the world? [Laughter]
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 6:39 p.m.
    Yes, Hon Member?
    Mr Chireh 6:39 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, my Hon Colleague said something. He said we went to Rwanda to borrow it and we are the first in the world. Could he correct himself?
    Dr Twum-Nuamah 6:39 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, in Rwanda, they use it to transport only blood, but we are transporting essential medicines and vaccines.
    Mr Speaker, even in this COVID- 19 pandemic, we use the drones to transport the samples which are taken in some facilities and it is working perfectly well to support in the testing.
    Mr Speaker, I think that we have had a very laudable initiative --
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 6:39 p.m.
    Hon Members, is that the reason why you said this is the first time in the world?
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 6:39 p.m.
    How many countries are in the world? And how many countries do know of or apply drone-technology to medical services?
    Dr Twum-Nuamah 6:39 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, Rwanda started, Ghana followed and some cities in North Carolina also do it, but they are using it for only blood services. We are the only country which uses it for essential medical services.
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 6:39 p.m.
    Hon Member, are you saying that it was started in Rwanda in the whole world?
    Dr Twum-Nuamah 6:39 p.m.
    Yes, Mr Speaker.
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 6:39 p.m.
    You would have to revise your notes -- [Laughter] -- Go on, conclude.
    Dr Twum-Nuamah 6:39 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I would want to urge the House to support the Motion since the Fly
    Zipline Ghana Limited has really done well. They started at a site in the Eastern Region; Omenako in the Suhum Constituency. They have moved to Ashanti Mampong and they are about starting in the north in a village near Walewale. The intention is to scale it up to the whole country, so I believe that they are on the right track and the House will do the country a lot of good, if we approve this waiver, so that they can have the means to do more for the country.
    Mr Speaker, as my Hon Colleague who spoke earlier indicated, if we do not give them the waiver, the State would have to pay for the cost of the waiver and I think that it is in the right direction to approve it.
    Mr Speaker, I thank you for the opportunity.
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 6:39 p.m.
    Hon Members, it is now the turn of Leaders.
    Yes, Hon Member for Ho Central?
    Mr Benjamin Kpodo (NDC -- Ho Central) 6:39 p.m.
    Thank you, Mr Speaker, for the opportunity to speak in support of this waiver which is being requested of the House.
    Mr Speaker, the point is that by the initial approval which we gave, we have tied our legs [sic].
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 6:39 p.m.
    Hon Member, did you say we have tied our legs? -- We have tied our hands, but not our legs. [Laughter]
    Mr Kpodo 6:49 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I want to take it to that level -- [Laughter] -- I think that we have taken these tax waivers to ridiculous levels.
    Mr Speaker, I keep on referring to the fact that we need to have a policy document which we would enact into a legislation to guide us, but up till now, almost four years down the line, it has not been done.
    Mr Speaker, if you look at the specific exemptions -- on page 1 of the Report, we are granting tax waivers on cots, washer M2.5; 210 pieces, the CIF value is US$6.00 and for import duty, it is US$1.00 and import VAT is US$1.00, but we have a total of US$3.00.

    Mr Speaker, one plus one is now three on this sheet. Beyond that, I think that we were not even diligent in arguing up the exemptions. If we go further, the amounts being exempted are so infinitesimal. For the swing mixing nozit, we have an amount of US$1. We also have amounts of US$10 and US$11. What sort of waivers are all these?

    At some point - I have been told to say that our hands are tied, but our hands are tied because this House has already entered into an Agreement. Even though some people opposed it, they went ahead and used their numbers, so we agreed. So when we are implementing it, we would have to be serious. These things are so inconsequential, and yet as I said early on, we have already tied our hands.

    Mr Speaker, what is important is that, have we asked for a report from the Fly Zipline Ghana Limited on what they have done so far, so that we can go into details to examine the effectiveness of this exercise that we are carrying out? I think that as a Parliament, we would need to request a practical report from the company.
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 6:49 p.m.
    Hon Member, are you a member of the Finance Committee?
    Mr Kpodo 6:49 p.m.
    Yes, Mr Speaker.
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 6:49 p.m.
    Did you ask for those reports at the Committee level?
    Mr Kpodo 6:49 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I would invite you to one of our meetings, and you would see how our benevolent
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 6:49 p.m.
    Hon Member, are you inviting the Hon Speaker to your Committee meetings?
    Mr Kpodo 6:49 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I think that you can send one of your intelligence people to come to one of our meetings and report back to you.
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 6:49 p.m.
    But you see, you have made a serious allegation against the Hon Chairman of the Finance Committee.
    Hon Chairman, I am sure that you heard him? He says that at the Committee level, you disallow probing questions. Is that the case? I would just want to hear from you because even though he said it in jest, it would be on the record.
    Dr Assibey-Yeboah 6:49 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I only apply the rules. [Laughter]
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 6:49 p.m.
    Which rules have you been applying.
    Dr Assibey-Yeboah 6:49 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, Standing Order 67 has provisions on questions.
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 6:49 p.m.
    Are you sure that you read Standing Order 67 properly?
    Dr Assibey-Yeboah 6:49 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I am referring to Standing Order 67(1)(h). That is what I use against them. [Laughter]
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 6:49 p.m.
    Hon Member, he says that he always applies the rules, which is the Standing Orders, particularly Standing Order
    67(1).
    Hon Member, you may continue.
    Mr Kpodo 6:49 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, he has ever admitted on the Floor that he is a benevolent dictator. He has said it, and it is in the Hansard, so I am just referring to that.
    Mr Speaker, I am suggesting that following from this approval, we should request for a report on the performance of the company thus far, so that when we continue to grant the waivers, we would know that we are really benefiting from the performance of the company.
    Mr Speaker, I therefore thank you for the opportunity. We support it.
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 6:49 p.m.
    From the Majority Side, is Leadership willing to make any contribution?
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 6:49 p.m.


    Hon Member, it looks like today is your day. You have come back from behind the pillar to the middle and today is your day.
    Mr Anthony Effah (NPP - Asikuma/Odoben/Brakwa) 6:49 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, thank you.
    When this service agreement has already been approved, it is in order to request for a performance of this company. This is a four-year initial contract period. So I would like to say that before the expiration of the Service Agreement, the Ministry of Health may have to look at that performance critically, and probably review the contract before it expires completely. I however think that the benefits to Ghana are enormous; so we would need to support this tax waiver.
    Thank you, Mr Speaker.
    Alhaji I.A.B. Fuseini 6:49 p.m.
    -- rose
    -- 6:49 p.m.
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 6:49 p.m.
    Hon Inusah Fuseini, there is some understanding here. I do not know whether you are aware of it.
    Alhaji I.A.B. Fuseini 6:49 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I am aware of the understanding, but I keep hearing “performance”, which is creating a wrong impression. It says that we are to do an assessment of the performance of the company that we
    are granting tax waiver for. Essentially, tax waiver is a waiver on the importation of equipment. It is not about the performance of the company, so we would need to get it clear.
    We are saying that they are bringing equipment, and if they had come into the country without this arrangement, then they would have paid tax. We are also saying that we are waiving the tax because they are coming under a policy of 1D1F, which would encourage and promote employment. It is different from performance.
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 6:49 p.m.
    But they are not linking the performance to the tax waiver. This is because the tax waiver thing has been explained, and it is this House that earlier approved the agreement and insisted that anytime a particular company or firm is bringing in these equipment, they would have to bring back a report to the House for approval. In those agreements, we have the provision of tax waivers, and that is what is happening.
    Mr Iddrisu 6:49 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I requested for the formal document which was laid as a memorandum to Parliament by the Hon Minister for Finance on this subject. Just for the records, and for the Table Office, page 17 is mixed up with pages 14
    and 15. If they do not correct it, anybody reading -- as I read, I wanted to satisfy myself that section 7.4 provided for this tax exemptions, but when I went through the pages I had difficulty. So I would want them to correct the records appropriately. It should rather read pages 14, 15, 16, and 17 not pages 17, 14, 15 and 16 as it is in the document.
    Thank you.
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 6:49 p.m.
    Well, what you are talking about is not part of the Committee's Report.
    Question put and Motion agreed to.
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 6:49 p.m.
    Hon Members, we would now move to the Motion on the adoption of the Resolution.
    Yes, Hon Deputy Minister for Finance?
    RESOLUTIONS 6:49 p.m.
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 6:49 p.m.
    Any seconder?
    Chairman of the Committee (Dr Mark Assibey-Yeboah) 6:49 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I beg to second the Motion.
    Question put and Motion agreed to.
    Resolved accordingly.
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 6:59 a.m.
    Hon Majority Leader, do we move to item numbered 29?
    Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 6:59 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, before we do that, if we could attend to other matters covered by the Order Paper Addendum.
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 6:59 a.m.
    Hon Members, do you have copies of the Order Paper Addendum?
    Hon Members, the item listed as 1 on the Order Paper Addendum, Presentation of Papers. The following Papers to be presented:
    The item listed 1(a)(i), by the Chairman of Committee?
    APERS 6:59 a.m.
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 6:59 a.m.
    Hon Members, item listed 1(b), Minister for Sanitation and Water Resources?
    Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 6:59 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, the Hon Deputy Minister for Sanitation and Water Resources could present the Paper on behalf of the Minister.
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 6:59 a.m.
    Yes, Hon Deputy Minister for Sanitation and Water Resources?
    By the Minister for Sanitation and Water Resources --
    EPC/Turnkey Contract Agreement between the Government of the Republic of Ghana (represented by the Ministry of Sanitation and Water Resources) and Strabag AG of Austria for an amount of eleven
    million, five hundred thousand euros (€11,500,000.00) to execute the construction of the Four Constituencies Water Supply Scheme, phase III for Central Tongu, Adaklu, Agotime-Ziope Districts and the Ho Municipality.
    Referred to the Committee on Works and Housing.
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 6:59 a.m.
    The Leadership - Leadership prefers that it be referred to Committee on Works and Housing.
    Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 6:59 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, this is a Contract Agreement.
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 6:59 a.m.
    It is so referred.
    Thank you very much.
    Hon Members, the item listed number 2 -- presentation and Frist Reading of Bills -- COVID-19 National Trust Fund Bill, 2020, Hon Attorney-General and Minister for Justice?
    BILLS -- FIRST READING 6:59 a.m.
    Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 6:59 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, this indeed, is a trust fund Bill so appropriately, it must be referred to the Finance Committee.
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 6:59 a.m.
    Hon Members, this is a Bill; I know it is a fund but it deals with the law and we had the opportunity of having problems with some of the Committees that do not have technical support so if you want me to refer it to the Finance Committee, I would call upon the Leadership of the Committee on Constitutional, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs to support the Finance Committee in considering this Bill.
    Dr Assibey-Yeboah 6:59 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, I seek your guidance as to why the Bill is being presented by the Attorney-General and Minister for Justice? This is a trust fund and I would have thought that the Bill would be
    presented by the Minister for Finance -- [Interruption] -- that is why I want to be educated.
    Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 7:09 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, Bills that come to this House come with the advice of the Attorney- General to the President. So technically, every Bill could be under the sponsorship of the Attorney- General. So there is nothing wrong.
    Mr Speaker, but I even want to suggest that given the volume of work that is before the Finance Committee, I would rather that we refer the Bill to the Committee on Constitutional, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs with the support of the Leadership of the Finance Committee.
    Mr Speaker, this Bill is coming to this House with the request from the Attorney-General to have us process this Bill under the certificate of urgency, which would mean that the Bill has not been gazetted as we speak so the determination would have to be made and then the Bill would have to be processed.

    Between now and when we adjourn, already, the hands of the Finance Committee are very full and that is why I proposed that it should rather be referred to the Committee
    Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 7:09 p.m.


    on Constitutional, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs and to be supported by the leadership of the Finance Committee, so that we would be able to process the Bill very fast.
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 7:09 p.m.
    Minority Leader?
    Mr Iddrisu 7:09 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I would support the Hon Majority Leader and I think your first ruling should stand - that this Bill for the establishment of a trust fund, which was hinted to by the President earlier, be referred to the Committee on Constitutional, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs with the leadership of the Finance Committee to support it.
    My attitude remains the same -- any matter in relation to the COVID- 19 pandemic, must be treated with a sense of urgency. The Committee should move out now to meet on its urgency and come back and report to the House, so that tomorrow, we would look at other merits. My position even on the financing - the Hon Majority Leader promised that the Hon Minister for Finance would come to the House today, but he did not come. He must treat this pandemic with a sense of urgency.
    Mr Speaker, the Hon Majority Leader should not promise this
    Parliament that the Hon Minister for Finance would come to the House and 24 hours, he has still not been in the House -- [Interruption] -- I just heard him. If we want to keep the country together on this pandemic, we must support the President together but when the Hon Minister for Finance gives us his word, he should keep it.
    Mr Speaker, I wish that you could direct the Committee on Constitutional, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs to go and determine its urgency and come back to report to the House because it is not a controversial matter. [Interruption]. Yes, they could determine that now, so that we could proceed but we need assurance from the Hon Majority Leader that tomorrow the Hon Minister for Finance would come to this House.
    He cannot walk away with a statement thinking that if he comes to the House to read a statement, Parliament would give him the necessary consequential approval. He must behave in a manner consistent with the Constitution and our Standing Orders.
    If he wants to appropriate, he knows what to do. He does not come by a statement and say he has come to update us. We have moved beyond updating. He must come and tell this House the decision -- the particular
    amount he wants to spend to prevent and contain COVID-19 and not on a Statement of an update.
    Mr Speaker, the Hon Ranking Member for the Committee on Constitutional, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs, is in the Chamber, so he should look for the Hon Chairman of the Finance Committee and go and come back to report to the House that it is an urgent Bill, then we could exempt the provisions of article 106 of the Constitution.
    Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 7:09 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, the Hon Minority Leader cannot in any circumstance and under any pretext assume the authority to the Chair. Mr Speaker, it is for you to direct but he sits in his place and is directing the Committee on Constitutional, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs to move out -- [Laughter] -- What powers does he want to assume? The Hon Minority Leader must be controlled otherwise he may assume the position of the Hon Member for Yapei/ Kusawgu, Mr John Jinaporp -- [Laughter] [Interruption]
    Dr Assibey-Yeboah 7:09 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, the Hon Majority Leader indicated that leadership of the Finance Committee, should be joined to the referral. However, I would
    want to suggest that the leadership of the Finance Committee should be dropped and the leadership on the Committee on Employment Social Welfare and State Enterprises, should rather be added.
    In the long title of the Bill as was read by the Clerks-at-the-Table, this Bill is geared at the venerable and the poor -- [Interruption] -- the long title of the Bill says that; “this Trust Fund is a Fund being set up to help the venerable in the society and the needy''. That is why I have made this application. Maybe, the leadership of the Committee on Gender and Children could be added so that the Finance Committee would concentrate on the financial matters.
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 7:09 p.m.
    I listened to the House because initially, I was clear in my mind that this was a Bill that could properly be referred to the Committee on Constitutional, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs and that was what I did.
    However, from your submission, I varied the referral. Now, I have been advised to refer it back to that Committee and I would do so but as to support or assistance, any other Hon Member could attend the Committee meetings and support it to present a comprehensive and holistic Report for our consideration. So the Bill has been referred to the Committee on Constitutional, Legal
    Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 7:09 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, the communication to the House, which was copied to myself and the Hon Minority Leader - we have it, so the Table Office should have it.
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 7:09 p.m.
    The Rt Hon Speaker might have it but since I am in the Chair for and on his behalf, I was not given a copy. They just brought it to me.
    Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 7:09 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, maybe it was inadvertent. It was not even given to the Rt Hon
    Speaker. It was to the Table Office for onward relay to you. Having said so, we could -- you stressed the fact that it has not been gazetted and the referral is to the Committee to determine its urgency and once they make the determination of the urgency, it could then be gazetted.
    Mr Speaker, with that we could go back quickly to the items listed on the original Order Paper. We would take items numbered 29 and 32.
    Mr Iddrisu 7:09 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, fair to you and the Hon Minister for Justice and the Attorney-General, I have a letter which is from the Office of the Attorney-General and Minister of Justice, which was delivered to me by the Table Office -- “Re COVID-19 National Trust Fund Bill, 2020'' with a paragraph which emphasis “with the special request from the Hon Speaker's approval to have the Bill laid under a certificate of urgency''.
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 7:09 p.m.
    I think it was the oversight of the Table Office. We have the correspondence from the Secretary to the President to the Attorney-General and from the Attorney-General to the Clerk to Parliament. So the Committee would have to determine that first before we proceed. The Hon Chairman of the Committee should take note.
    Hon Members, we would go back to item numbered 29 on the original Order Paper.
    Dr Assibey-Yeboah 7:09 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, the Hon Majority Leader indicated to you that we would take items numbered 29 and 32 together.
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 7:09 p.m.
    You could precede.
    Dr Assibey-Yeboah 7:19 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, before I move items numbered 29 and 32, in our Committee's Report, originally, the regions were listed as Ashanti, Central, Eastern and Brong Ahafo.
    However, going through the communities, the Brong Ahafo Region would now be changed to Ahafo and Bono East Regions. Our Reports have captured it rightly because the communities in there would be Asunafo North, Kintampo North and Kintampo South which are now in the Ahafo and Bono East Regions. So wherever we have Bono Ahafo Region, it has to be changed to Ahafo and Bono East Regions all through the procedural Motions, substantive Motions and the Resolutions. This will
    apply to items numbered 29, 32, 30, 33, 31 and 34 of the Order Paper.
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 7:19 p.m.
    Hon Members, take note of the corrections that have just been made by the Hon Chairman of the Committee.
    Hon Chairman of the Committee, you may now proceed.
    MOTIONS 7:19 p.m.
    Chairman of the Committee on Finance (Dr Mark Assibey- Yeboah) 7:19 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I beg to move, that notwithstanding the provisions of Standing Order 80(1) which requires that no Motion shall be debated until at least forty-eight hours have elapsed between the date on which notice of the Motion is given and the date on which the Motion is moved, the Motion for the adoption of the Report of the Finance Committee on the Term Loan Facility Agreement between the Government of the Republic of Ghana (represented by the Ministry of Finance) and the Industrial and Commercial Bank of China Limited (as Lender, Agent, and the Insured) for an amount of forty- six million United States dollars

    (US$46,000,000.00 [inclusive of an estimated Sinosure premium of US$3,500,000.00]) to finance the Supply and Erection of Electrical Materials and Equipment for the Electrification of 292 communities in the Ashanti, Central, Eastern, Bono East and the Ahafo Regions.
    AND 7:19 p.m.
    Mr Joseph Yileh Chireh (NDC -- Wa West) 7:19 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I beg to second the Motion.
    Question put and Motion agreed to.
    Resolved accordingly.
    MOTIONS 7:19 p.m.
    Dr Assibey-Yeboah 7:19 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I beg to move that this honourable House adopts the Report of the Finance Committee on the Term Loan Facility Agreement between the Government of the Republic of Ghana (represented by the Ministry of Finance) and the Industrial and Commercial Bank of China Limited (as Lender, Agent, and the Insured) for an amount of forty-six million United States dollars (US$46,000,000.00 [inclusive of an estimated Sinosure premium of US$3,500,000.00]) to finance the Supply and Erection of Electrical Materials and Equipment for the Electrification of 292 communities in the Ashanti, Central, Eastern, Bono East and the Ahafo Regions.
    And
    That this honourable House adopts the Report of the Finance Committee on the Term Loan Facility Agreement between the Government of the
    Dr Assibey-Yeboah 7:19 p.m.


    an Hon Deputy Minister for Finance, Mrs Abena Osei-Asare, and an Hon Deputy Minister for Energy, Mr William Owuraku Aidoo and a technical team from the Ministries of Finance and Energy and hereby presents this report to the House.

    2.0 Background

    A major objective of Govern- ment's poverty reduction and growth agenda is the extension of electricity infrastructure to support the operation of productive ventures, social projects and activities, especially in rural areas.

    The National Electrification Scheme (NES) commenced in 1990 with the aim of extending reliable electricity supply to all parts of the country over a 30-year period.

    The objectives of the National Electrification Scheme (NES) are as follows:

    i. Reducing poverty, especially in the rural areas;

    ii. Increasing the overall socio- economic development of the nation;

    iii. Improving people's standard of living, especially those in the rural areas;

    iv. Creating small-to-medium- scale industries in rural areas;

    v. Enhancing activities in other sectors of the economy, such as Agriculture, Health, Education, Tourism; and

    vi. Creating jobs in the rural areas, thereby reducing the rate of rural to urban migration.

    Complementary to the NES is the Self Help Electrification Programme (SHEP) under which communities which are within 20kms radius of an existing medium voltage (MV) network, which have provided the requisite Low Voltage (LV) electric poles and have wired at least one-third (1/3) of the houses are qualified to be connected to the national electricity grid.

    Currently, the access rate to electricity in Ghana has increased from about 15 per cent of the population in 1990 to about 84.98 per cent.

    3.0 Purpose of the Loans

    The purpose of the instant Credit Facilities is to finance the supply and

    installation of electrical materials and equipment for the electrification of 292 communities in the Ashanti, Central, Eastern, Ahafo and Bono East Regions.

    4.0 Terms and Conditions

    The terms and conditions of the Agreements are as follows:

    i. SINOSURE-insured Facility by ICBC

    Facility Amount -- US$46,000,000.00 (inclusive of an estimated SINOSURE premium of US$3,500,000.00)

    Interest Rate -- 6 Months US Libor + 1.95% p.a.

    Grace Period -- 3 years

    Repayment Period -- 12 years

    Maturity Period -- 15 years

    Commitment Fee -- 0.5 per cent p.a.

    Upfront Fee -- 1.50 per cent flat

    All-in-cost -- 5.28 per cent p.a.

    ii. Tied Commercial Facility financed by Societe Generale Ghana

    Facility Amount -- US$7,500,000.00

    Interest Rate -- 6 Months Libor + 4.5 per cent p.a.

    Grace Period -- 1 year
    SPACE FOR APPENDIX 7:19 p.m.
    APPENDIX 7:19 p.m.
    SPACE FOR APPENDIX SPACE FOR APPENDIX 7:19 p.m.
    SPACE FOR APPENDIX SPACE FOR APPENDIX 7:19 p.m.
    Mr John Jinapor (NDC -- Yapei/Kusawgu) 7:19 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I beg to second the Motion ably moved by the Hon Chairman of the Committee on Finance. I would want to commence with a quote which states:
    “To seek gratitude is courteous and pleasant; to enact gratitude is generous and noble --
    Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 7:19 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, respectfully, this is a procedural Motion. Motions numbered 29 and 32 --
    Mr Jinapor 7:19 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, the Hon Majority Leader is not even listening.
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 7:19 p.m.
    No, Hon Majority Leader, we are now at the substantive Motions. We have finished with the procedural ones.
    Hon Member, second the two Motions; items numbered 30 and 33.
    Mr Jinapor 7:19 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, like I said, having listened to you and with my determination to learn from experienced people such as you, and like you rightly said, all of us are building this country. So with your permission, let me commend and thank the Hon Chairman of the
    Committee on Finance, Dr Mark Assibey-Yeboah for leading us through this process.
    Mr Speaker, rural electrification is indeed a major component of our national development agenda. That is why as we speak, Ghana is next to South Africa when it comes to access to electrification.
    Mr Speaker, we have indeed worked together as a team towards arriving at this level. I am even more happy that through our collaborative effort with people such as the Hon Chairman of the Committee on Mines and Energy, today, we have communities such as Bolanposo, Bogoeposo, Dalegope, Dawulipe, Kadibonto, Mamudupe, Lipwe, Lunyape, Sankwala and Sankunpe all in the Yapei-Kusawgu Constituency that are to benefit from this project. It only goes to confirm that we are indeed working together as a team. This is contained in page 9 of the Chairman's Report.
    Mr Speaker, I have already commended the Chairman; I am only speaking to his Report and if you check page 9 of the Report, these are towns that the Hon Chairman himself find important and that is why he has listed them.
    When we criticise them, they complain; when I praise them, they complain. So I just do not know --
    Dr Assibey-Yeboah 7:19 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, the Hon Member is listing communities in the Savannah Region; we are considering the Report which relates to Ashanti, Central, Eastern, Ahafo and Bono East Regions.
    Mr Speaker, I will urge my Hon Colleague to pay attention to the Motions that are taken when he is in the House.
    Mr Jinapor 7:19 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, once again, let me commend the Hon Chairman of the Committee for leading us through the Committee's Report. Even more important is the fact that today like we started under the previous Administration, we are empowering local companies. It is important that eventually, we get local companies to undertake these projects rather than foreign ones that come in with so-called supplier's credit.
    Mr Speaker, with these few words, I want to associate myself with the Chairman's Report and to second the Motion.
    Question proposed.
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 7:19 p.m.
    You have debated this already in the Commercial Agreement and so no further contribution.
    Alright, I will put the Question.
    Question put and Motion agreed to.
    Resolved accordingly.
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 7:19 p.m.
    Hon Members, we would move to the adoption of the consequential Resolutions; items numbered 31 and 34, Hon Deputy Minister for Finance?
    RESOLUTIONS 7:19 p.m.
    Chairman of the Committee (Dr Mark Assibey-Yeboah) 7:19 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I beg to second the Motion.
    Question put and Motion agreed to.
    Resolved accordingly.
    RESOLUTIONS 7:19 p.m.
    THIS HONOURABLE 7:19 p.m.
    HOUSE HEREBY RE- 7:19 p.m.
    Chairman of the Committee (Dr Mark Assibey-Yeboah) 7:19 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I beg to second the Motion.
    Question put and Motion agreed to.
    Resolved accordingly.
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 7:29 p.m.
    Item numbered 35 -- Hon Chairman of the Committee?
    Chairman of the Committee (Dr Mark Assibey-Yeboah) 7:29 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I beg to move that notwithstanding the provisions of Standing Order 80(1) which requires that no Motion shall be debated until at least forty-eight hours have elapsed between the date on which notice of the Motion is given and the date on which the Motion is moved, the Motion for the adoption of the Report of the Finance Committee on the Medium Term Loan Facility Agreement between the Government of the Republic of Ghana (represented by the Ministry of Finance) and ECOBANK Ghana Limited (acting through the ECOBANK Development Corporation) for an amount of fifty million United States dollars (US$50,000,000.00) to finance the Supply and Erection of Electrical Materials and Equipment for the Electrification of 234 communities in the North East, Savannah, and the Northern Regions may be moved today.
    Mr Joseph Y. Chireh (NDC -- Wa West) 7:29 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I beg to second the Motion.
    Question put and Motion agreed to.
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 7:29 p.m.
    Item numbered 36.
    Hon Chairman of the Committee?
    MOTIONS 7:29 p.m.
    Chairman of the Committee (Dr Mark Assibey-Yeboah) 7:29 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I beg to move, that this honourable House adopts the Report of the Finance Committee on the Report of the Finance Committee on the Medium Term Loan Facility Agreement between the Government of the Republic of Ghana (represented by the Ministry of Finance) and ECOBANK Ghana Limited (acting through the ECOBANK Develop- ment Corporation) for an amount of fifty million United States dollars (US$50,000,000.00) to finance the Supply and Erection of Electrical Materials and Equipment for the Electrification of 234 communities in the North East, Savannah, and the Northern Regions.
    Chairman of the Committee (Dr Mark Assibey-Yeboah) 7:29 p.m.


    In so doing I present your Committee's Report.

    1.0 Introduction

    The Term Loan Facility Agreement between the Government of the Republic of Ghana (represented by the Ministry of Finance) and the ECOBANK Ghana Limited (acting through the ECOBANK Develop- ment Corporation) for an amount of fifty million United States dollars (US$50,000,000.00) to finance the Supply and Erection of Electrical Materials and Equipment for the Electrification of 234 Communities in the North East, Savanna and the Northern Regions was presented to the House on Friday, 20th March, 2020 by the Hon Minister responsible for Parliamentary Affairs, Mr. Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu on behalf of the Hon Minster for Finance.

    The Rt Hon Speaker referred the request to the Finance Committee for consideration and report.

    The Committee met with an Hon Deputy Minister for Finance, Mrs. Abena Osei-Asare, and the Hon Deputy Minister for Energy, Mr William Owuraku Aidoo and officers from the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Energy to consider the referral.

    2.0 Documents Referred to

    The Committee referred to the following documents during its deliberations:

    The 1992 Constitution of Ghana;

    The Public Financial Management Act of 2016 (Act 921); and

    The Standing Orders of the Parliament of Ghana.

    3.0 Background

    The Government's National Electrification Scheme (NES), began in 1990 with the following objectives:

    i. Reducing poverty, especially in the rural areas;

    ii. Increasing the overall socio- economic development of the nation;

    iii. Increasing people's standard of living, especially those in the rural areas;

    iv. Creating small to medium scale industries on rural areas;

    v. Enhancing activities in other sectors of the economy, such

    as Agriculture, Health, Education, Tourism, et cetera; and

    vi. Creating jobs in the rural areas thus reducing the rate of rural to urban migration.

    The NES aims at extending the reach of reliable electricity supply to all parts of the country over a 30-year period. Complementary to the NES is the Self-Help Electrification Programme (SHEP) under which communities which are within 20kms radius of an existing Medium Voltage (MV) network and which have provided the requisite Low Voltage (LV) electric poles, and have wired at least one third (1/3) of the houses that qualifies to be connected to the national electricity grid.

    So far, over 10,486 communities in Ghana, as at March 2019, have been connected to the national electricity grid under the NES and SHEP since their commencement in 1990. Rate of access to electricity in Ghana has increased from about 15 per cent of the population at the inception of the NES to the current level of 84.98 per cent. The current Electricity Accessibility Rates for the regions of Ghana is captured in Table 1 above:

    Table 1 Current Electricity Accessibility Rates for the Regions of Ghana

    Region Access Rate (per cent)

    1 Greater Accra -- 96.66

    2 Ashanti -- 91.57

    3 Brong Ahafo -- 90.93

    4 Western -- 90.15

    5 Volta -- 89.02

    6 Central -- 88.69

    7 Eastern -- 81.60

    8 Ahafo -- 79.62

    9 Western North -- 77.04

    10 Upper West -- 76.46

    11 Bono East -- 73.61

    12 Oti -- 70.36

    13 Northern -- 70.21

    14 Upper East -- 60.65

    15 North East -- 59.12

    16 Savanna -- 54.51

    National Average of Electricity Access is 84.98 per cent.
    SPACE FOR APPENDIX SPACE FOR APPENDIX 7:29 p.m.
    SPACE FOR APPENDIX 7:29 p.m.
    SPACE FOR APPENDIX 7:29 p.m.
    Mr Ras Mubarak (NDC -- Kumbungu) 7:29 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I beg to second the Motion and I would express my excitement over this particular project. The process of electrifying rural areas in Ghana started as far as in the 1990s under former President Rawlings through to former Presidents Kufuor, Mills, Mahama and currently President Akufo-Addo who is continuing with this process.
    Mr Speaker, I am exceedingly excited because out of the 234 communities that have been captured,
    the Kumbungu Constituency alone has 48 communities including Binbegubiyili, Bongnaayili, Buglang, Digu, Dimanzugu, Dinyokpaligu, Faandu, Garizegu, Gbali and so on would benefit from this particular project.
    Mr Speaker, if the Hon Member for Sagnarigu, Alhaji B. F. Alhassan were in the Chamber I would have paid royalty to him for quoting a Dagbani proverb; “you befriend a monkey so that if you have your cudgel on top of a tree, the monkey would get it for you.” Mr Speaker,
    these were my continued and incessant appeals to the Hon Minister for Energy and his Hon Deputies and so I am excited that 48 of my communities are captured in this exciting facility.
    Mr Speaker, the other thing I would want to add is that it is going to a local contractor called Tropical Cable and Conductor Limited. This means that we would not have incidences of capital flight where a foreign contractor --
    rose
    Mr Ras Mubarak 7:29 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I see the Hon Member for Tamale Central on his feet.
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 7:29 p.m.
    Hon Member, my attention has been drawn to the fact that you are on your feet.
    Alhaji I.A.B. Fuseini 7:29 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, thank you so much.
    My Hon Brother gave a proverb and that proverb is so important in Dagbani such that he mutilated it and it is important for us to state it correctly. It says “the only reason you accept a monkey as a friend is for the monkey to help you to remove your cudgel from a tree.”
    Mr Ras Mubarak 7:29 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I thank the Hon Member for Tamale Central --
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 7:29 p.m.
    No, that is not correct.
    You only accept the monkey as a friend because of the powers it has to climb trees. You recognise the qualities of a monkey to climb trees and that is why you befriend a monkey. So that when you have a problem to climb trees the monkey would do that. There are some qualities in the monkey that you acknowledge and you have acknowledged some qualities in the Hon Minister for Energy.
    Alhaji I.A.B. Fuseini 7:29 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, that is a better rendition of the proverb.
    Mr Speaker, thank you.
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 7:39 p.m.
    Well, now we are on proverbs.
    Mr Frederick Opare-Ansah 7:39 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, it is obvious that as we descend from Kumbungu to Tamale and then to Suhum, the proverb changes.
    Mr Speaker, the proverb is, “If your friend is the monkey, then your cudgel would not be left on top of the
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 7:39 p.m.
    No! That is wrong. [Laughter]
    Mr Opare-Ansah 7:39 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I told you as you come down from the north, the proverb changes. It says in Twi, “Se wo brebe ni asurubuaa, wukotokro nka suru.”
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 7:39 p.m.
    Hon Member, the monkey has no quality to control the use of the cudgel --
    Mr Opare-Ansah 7:39 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, our proverb is that, “If the monkey is your friend, then your cudgel would not be left hanging on top of the tree.” It would always bring it down for you. [Interruption]
    Now, we are descending into problem and the Hon Majority Leader is joining the fray.
    Mr Ras Mubarak 7:39 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I thank you. I can see that my Hon Friends are excited about the proverbs.
    Mr Speaker, as I said, I am very happy that a local contractor would execute the project. We have had incidence of capital flight in the
    country and that is very worrying. To think that a local contractor would handle a project worth about US$50 million, it is exceedingly commendable. I would want to commend the Ministry for this particular initiative.
    Mr Speaker, I would conclude by expressing my thanks once more to my friends at the Ministry of Energy and of course the plenipotentiary Hon Chairman of the Finance Committee on all the hard work they have put in to ensure that Kumbungu got a huge chunk.
    Mr Speaker, this is unprecedented. Out of 234 communities, Kumbungu alone would get 48.
    Mr Speaker, having said that, there are a few corrections though. If you look at communities such as Belem which was electrified under former President John Agyekum Kuffuor, but it has been captured here, so I believe that is an error. If you look at a community like --
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 7:39 p.m.
    Hon Member, please unless you have other evidence --
    Mr Ras Mubarak 7:39 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I have evidence to the effect and indeed in the Report --
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 7:39 p.m.
    Hon Member, does it pass through that community or the whole community has been electrified?
    Mr Ras Mubarak 7:39 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, Belem has electricity and it was under former President Kufuor. The Hon Minority Leader is here and he would bear me witness.
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 7:39 p.m.
    So, is the community 100 per cent covered?
    Mr Ras Mubarak 7:39 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, the community is 100 per cent electrified.
    That is why in the Report, they indicated that if there are communities that may have been done already, names would be submitted for them to change those communities. The same goes for Timbone which was started under former President Jerry John Rawlings and it was completed under former President Kufuor.
    Mr Speaker, I would want to state this on record. Going forward, I will be giving them names of new communities to substitute with. With this, I want to thank you very much for the opportunity.
    Question proposed.
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 7:39 p.m.
    Majority Leadership, I have about three of your Hon Members on their feet.
    Yes, Hon Member for Tolon?
    Mr Wahab Wumbei Suhuyini (NPP -- Tolon) 7:39 p.m.
    Thank you, Mr Speaker, for giving me the opportunity to comment on the Report submitted by the Finance Committee on the electrification of 234 communities in the Northern Region.
    Mr Speaker, Tolon and Kumbungu were one district. I was the District Chief Executive Officer between 2005 and 2008 and Belem, one of the communities Hon Mubarak talked about was electrified during my tenure. But in this Report, not a single community in Tolon has been mentioned and we have less than 50 per cent coverage. [Interruption]-- So I think -- [Interruption] --
  • [Mr Mubarak: Mr Speaker, they are questioning me and that is why my friend is the monkey.
    • Mr Suhuyini 7:39 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, the coverage has not been evenly distributed -- [Interruption] -- it should be reviewed, so that I also get a few other communities to go along. [Hear! Hear!]
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 7:39 p.m.
    Hon Member for Tolon, I heard you say you want to “comment”, but I did not hear you talk about “support”. So, you make a comment, but do you support the Report?
    Mr W. W. Suhuyini 7:39 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I think I have supported the Report and the contribution, but I made a passionate appeal that I should be given a few slots. [Hear! Hear!]
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 7:39 p.m.
    Thank you. That is well done.
    Mr John Abu Jinapor (NDC -- Yapei/Kusawgu) 7:39 p.m.
    Thank you, Mr Speaker.
    I rise to associate myself with the Motion moved by the Hon Chairman of the Finance Committee.
    Mr Speaker, first of all, there ought to be the value-for-money Audit. Normally, value-for-money Audit leads to some savings and those saving could be applied to extend the scope of the whole project.
    So Hon Members who may want to push for some of their communities to be included, I believe that is a way for them to also look at that.
    Mr Speaker, secondly, if we find that a community that has been already electrified since 2008 finds expression in the Report, it could be that they
    would want to intensify it because beyond 2008, the community might have expanded and there would be the need to further expand to new areas. If we take a town like Sampala in my constituency, it is a very big town which has expanded and it is even joined to another village. Sometimes we might see a name, but it may include two towns. It is a technical way of going about it.
    Mr Speaker, like you advised us, I must be honest, but for the likes of the Hon Deputy Minister for Finance, Hon Abena Osei-Asare, who fought and championed the cause of this project, we probably would not have been here. It is only proper that if this beautiful Hon Member of Parliament has distinguished herself -- [Interruption] -- It is only fair that we acknowledge her contribution and efforts towards taking us to this level.
    Mr Speaker, the Savannah Region is one of the least covered areas. Indeed, over the past four years, we had to move the electrification rate from about 14 per cent to the current 59 per cent. Indeed, records would attest that we had only three towns connected throughout the whole district, but today, we have about 72 towns and I am happy that through our efforts, resilience and collaboration with the Ministry, we
    have all these communities that are to be connected.
    Mr Speaker, in this Report, there is nothing about tax waivers. I just want to make that point here. I do not know whether all the items would be procured here and whether taxes and other levies have been incorporated. Other than that, the Ministry may want to take cognisance of that. So that if there is the need to come for tax waiver to facilitate the project, we would look at that. Local companies also import certain equipment.
    7. 49 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, under our Rural Electrification Project, it is virtually impossible to procure everything from Ghana.
    Mr Speaker, this is a good move, and we would want to commend all of us for working together towards coming to this level. It is a two-year project, and it is our hope that we would not default because in the Agreement, if we default in the payments, the penalties are about 12 per cent on a compounding basis, based on the Agreement that we have. So I would plead with the Ministry of Finance to ensure that we make prompt payment and service the
    Facility as far as this Agreement is concerned.
    Mr Speaker, with these words, I would want to thank you and to express my appreciation for your guidance, going forward.
    Mr Vincent Sowah Odotei (NPP -- Dade Kotopon) 7:39 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I rise to support the Motion for rural electrification for the North-East, Savannah and the Northern Regions.
    Mr Speaker, I am sure that we would all agree that under the old economy, electrification leads to the opening up of communities, it leads to the attraction of investments, it leads to the inclusion of communities in development. The reason this project is very commendable is because under the new economy - yesterday, we passed an agreement for the rural telephony and the digital inclusion. Without electricity, a lot of these communities would be excluded from the digital evolution.
    Mr Speaker, we need power for them to be able to operate their electronic equipment. We need power to enable them to operate and manage ECRCs to ensure that they are included in the digital economy. We need them to be on the grid, so that the financial inclusion which we are trying to project through the mobile
    Minority Leader (Mr Haruna Iddrisu) 7:39 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, this is just to thank you.
    I support the Motion for the expansion of rural electrification.
    I would however want to point out, so that the Hon Minister would take note, that if we look at the annex for the scope of works, there is nothing like - when we say Tamale 13, there is a Tamale Metropolitan Assembly and there is a Sagnerigu Municipal Assembly. It should reflect same in the records so that we know the communities in Tamale benefiting, and those that are not benefiting.
    I see that only one community from Tolon is to benefit from this project. There are many other communities in the Tolon area between Nyankpala and other areas, but they are not covered. For instance, for West Mamprusi; we have 32, compared to other communities like Chereponi which have two, four and three. Why would they load other areas with as much as 32, while they give one or two to other areas?
    The Hon Minister must therefore do a fair distribution to the communities. I see a lot of spelling mistakes. What we would have to demand is that the last five agreements that have been approved under SHEP, in all the regions, we have detailed reports on them and the communities. This is because some of
    them appear repetitive, and that would mean that we are double- paying for what work has been done.
    Mr Speaker, these are just corrections that I would want to do. If we look at the Table, we have Saboba - 4, West Mamprusi - 32, and Chereponi - 2. Where is the fairness in the distribution? Tolon gets only one, but when we come down to Karaga it is 13, Gushegu - 20, and then Salaga 4, but Salaga deserves more than four. With the word “Sangule,” in certain places in the Report, the last words are captured as “li” but in other places of the Report, it is spelt as “le”. There should therefore be consistency.
    Mr Speaker, thank you.
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 7:39 p.m.
    Hon members, before I put the Question, it is important for me to remind the Hon Minister for Power that there are some regions that are not highly connected, which are not included. He should therefore take serious note of that, including my region; Upper West Region and the Oti Region. If we go through the coverage that is in Table 1, we can see that some Regions are still far below -- they are in the 70s in terms of percentages. The Oti Region has 70.36 per cent, the Upper West has
    76.46 per cent, and the Western North also has 77.04 per cent. They are definitely in need, but other Regions which are at 90 per cent are still being covered. Please, you should look at that seriously. From 90 per cent, they would be getting to 100 per cent while others would still be at 70 per cent. That definitely would not bring about equity.
    Question put and Motion agreed to.
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 7:39 p.m.
    Hon Members, we would move on to the item numbered 37, by the Hon Minister for Finance.
    RESOLUTIONS 7:39 p.m.
    THIS HONOURABLE 7:39 p.m.
    HOUSE HEREBY 7:39 p.m.
    RESOLVES AS 7:39 p.m.
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 7:39 p.m.
    Any seconder?
    Minority Leader (Mr Haruna Iddrisu) 7:39 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I beg to second the Motion.
    Question put and Motion agreed to.
    Resolved accordingly.
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 7:39 p.m.
    Hon Majority Leader, which item should we take from here?
    Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 7:39 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, we would continue with the Education Regulatory Bodies Bill, 2019, which is captured as item numbered 50.
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 7:39 p.m.
    Hon Members, we would take the item numbered 50 -- the Education Regulatory Bodies Bill, 2019 at the Consideration Stage.
    BILLS -- CONSIDERATION 7:59 p.m.
    STAGE 7:59 p.m.
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 7:59 p.m.
    Hon Members, clause 6?
    Mr Quaittoo 7:59 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, we finished with clause 6.
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 7:59 p.m.
    What I have on my Order Paper starts from clause 6.
    Mr Quaittoo 7:59 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, we started in the morning and did clause
    6.
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 7:59 p.m.
    Hon Chairman, my attention has been drawn that you have taken clause 6 already so we would go to clause 7.
    Clause 7 -- Regulatory functions of the Commission.
    Mr Quaittoo 7:59 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I beg to move, paragraph (a), line 1, delete “ensuring” and insert “to ensure”.
    Mr Speaker, if you allow me, we could just take the whole of clause 7 at a go because they all have a similar amendment; we would be changing the present continuous; like paragraph (a) for instance, to read “to ensure” and then, in paragraph (d), we have, “to develop” and in paragraph (e), “to undertake”. It is the same amendment and that is why we have ‘clause' repeated several times.
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 7:59 p.m.
    Hon Members, I have granted leave to the Hon Chairman to move the
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 7:59 p.m.


    proposed amendment in the clause together, starting from (vii) to (xii).
    Mr Quaittoo 7:59 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, we are adding “to” to where it matters.
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 7:59 p.m.
    It is the same principle for all of them.
    Mr Quaittoo 7:59 p.m.
    Yes, but for (b) and (c), it is not; we are leaving “the approval of the establishment of public…” --[Pause] -- we have not listed amendments in respect of (b) and (c). What is listed is (a), (d), (e), (i), (k) and (l).
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 7:59 p.m.
    Hon Chairman, I have referred to (vii), (viii), (ix), (x), (xi) and (xii); the same principle applies so I granted you leave to move all and then I will put the Question, but—
    Mr Chireh 7:59 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, in clause 6, paragraph (b) they want to leave “approval”. That would not be in sync with what you have done because—
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 7:59 p.m.
    Hon Member, which number?
    Mr Chireh 7:59 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, paragraph (b) of clause 6:
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 7:59 p.m.
    That is the (a) which says “to ensure” instead of ensuring.
    Mr Chireh 7:59 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, and I am saying that when we come to paragraph (b) —
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 7:59 p.m.
    When we come to paragraph (b)? It would not apply to (b).
    Mr Chireh 7:59 p.m.
    Why?
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 7:59 p.m.
    It is because it only applies to (a); from (b), it starts from “the approval”, but it does not say “include, to”, it says include; “to ensure…”. So the “to” there, applies only to (a).
    Mr Chireh 7:59 p.m.
    I do not agree with you but—
    Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 7:59 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, there is a slight departure from what we did in (c) where we lifted the “to” to be the preambular. In clause 7, it is not like that; the “to” is not lifted up to be with the preamble. So it starts; “the regulatory functions of the Commission include (a) to ensure…”. Where we have the present continuous beginning, then, the “to” would precede it so that it would be “to ensure”. But indeed, we have “the
    approval” just as we have in (c); the development. So those ones would remain. Indeed, when we come to (f); the setting up; (g), the development, those ones would remain but where we have the verb, it would be “to” like in (j) “to cultivate,” “to verify” and “to make”. That is how it is.
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 7:59 p.m.
    Hon Members, you are not looking at the Order Paper; the Order Paper has proposed amendments to particular paragraphs and that is what we are moving; the others that you are referring to, there are no proposed amendments to those paragraphs.
    Mr Chireh 7:59 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, that is why I am raising it; because you are going to take them all together and the principle here is to make the thing “ensure” and all the rest; then, at some point we are saying “approval”, “development”. What I am saying is that if we want to change everything to infinitive, we would do so because they also have the same meaning. But we are saying that we should leave those ones in the noun form, that was why I was—
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 7:59 p.m.
    Yes, Hon Member, let us adopt this then; you could move further
    amendments to take on board the concerns that you are raising. But the amendments that have been proposed is what is on the Order Paper but you have identified that there is the need to look at other paragraphs so you could propose amendment later after we have dealt with this then we could consider that one.
    Dr Prempeh 7:59 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I hope my Hon Friend would drop it because there are specific paragraphs that we are including the “to”; the (b) and (c) do not -- and that is why it is correct. If we read the (b), it becomes:
    “The regulatory functions of the Commission include the approval”.
    And there is nothing wrong with that because we are not bringing the “to” up there.
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 7:59 p.m.
    Yes, Hon Minority Leader?
    Mr Iddrisu 7:59 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I support the Chairman's amendment, therefore you probably, may want to put the Question after which when we come to any specific place that the Hon Yieleh Chireh has difficulty, he may share with us. But it runs through up to paragraph (l) anyway.
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 7:59 p.m.
    Hon Members, I will put the Question.
    Question put an amendment agreed to.
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 8:09 p.m.
    Any further amendment to clause 7?
    Mr Iddrisu 8:09 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, it is related to policy but with your leave and indulgence, if the Hon Chairman could accept it. My view is that paragraph (b), should be separated into two different paragraphs.
    Mr Speaker, “the approval of the establishment of public and private tertiary education institution'', in paragraph (b), must be a stand-alone regulatory function. Then “regulation of the structure of the tertiary education system in the country'' must also be a distinct function which should stand alone. We should not lump the two together.
    Mr Speaker, in paragraph (a), I want to know if there are national standards or national norms. When they said “norms and standards'' -- would they be qualified by national norms and national standards? I want clarification on it. However, the Hon Chairman should break down
    paragraph (b), if he has policy approval from the Hon Minister, into two distinct functions. The two cannot be merged.
    Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 8:09 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, really, this has nothing to do with policy. What the Hon Minority Leader proposed, would make it much more reader friendly. So the Hon Chairman should accept that so that we could break it down to:
    “the approval of the establishment of public and private tertiary education institutions''.
    However, with the “regulation'', if we want to begin as the Hon Member for Wa West, Mr Yieleh Chireh further proposed, that it should begin with “to'', then it could be:
    “to approve the establishment of public and private tertiary education institutions and to regulate the structure of the tertiary education system in the country''.
    So that we could have two separate functions.
    Mr Anyimadu-Antwi 8:09 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, with regard to what the leaders have said, the paragraph (b) could read:
    “to approve the establishment and regulation of public and private institution and private tertiary education institutions in the country''.
    So that it would be a simple sentence.
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 8:09 p.m.
    That was the issue that the Hon Member for Wa West raised early on.
    Mr Chireh 8:09 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, in that case, you may request the draftspersons to separate these other ones, which keep the noun from the ones that should be infinitive. So, the first batch would be infinitive but the ones we want to keep as approval should also be separate, so that it could -- [Interruption] -- Mr Speaker, I did not move an amendment. I said that you should direct the draftspersons to rearrange it -- they would understand what I said because it should not be mixed up.
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 8:09 p.m.
    I was about to direct the draftspersons to redraft clause 7 taking into account the concerns that have just been raised so that it would read:
    “The regulatory functions of the Commission include to...''
    Then the other paragraphs would follow. So the paragraph (b) would read:
    “to approve the establishment of public and private tertiary education institutions''.
    Then the other paragraphs would read:
    “to regulate the structure of the instituitions education system”
    “to develop policies and regulation''
    And in paragraph (f), it would read:
    “to set up and operate tertiary management information systems to enable real-time access to decision''.
    The draftsperson is available and she has taken note of that, so I direct that it should be done.
    Mr Quashigah 8:09 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I am aligned with what you have proposed. However, paragraph (e) says:
    “to undertake or causing to be undertaken.''
    Mr Quashigah 8:09 p.m.


    So if we say “to undertake'', then what should follow should be “or cause to be undertaken''.
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 8:09 p.m.
    Exactly. That is how it would be.
    Mr Ablakwa 8:09 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I want us to look at clause 7(c) and I am glad the Hon Minister is in the House. The Commission would regulate the entire private and public space. However, paragraph (c), narrows this to “public'' -- “the development of policies and regulations to advance the conduct of research and innovation''. They are very important functions but it narrows it to only “public tertiary institutions''. Do we want to leave it at that? I thought that it should be for both “public'' and “private'' because higher educational institutions exist to advance research and innovation and I do not think that we should oust the private tertiary institutions out of this provision.
    So I want to plead that we should include “private tertiary institutions'', so that it would be “private and public'', consistent with what we have done with earlier functions.
    Dr Prempeh 8:09 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, it would be neater, if we delete the word “public''.
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 8:09 p.m.
    Early on, we used the words “public and private tertiary''.
    Dr Prempeh 8:09 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, yes, but we do not have a problem with that. He intends to introduce the word “private'' into it.
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 8:09 p.m.
    In paragraph (b), “public and private tertiary''.
    Dr Prempeh 8:09 p.m.
    Yes, Mr Speaker. However, to make it neater and because we are in paragraph (c) specifically, if we delete the word “public'', it covers everybody because then it would become “to develop policies and regulations to advance the conduct of research and innovation in public tertiary institutions''. So if it is applicable, then the same thing could be done in paragraph (b).
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 8:09 p.m.
    All right. So the draftsperson is requested to delete the “public and private'' and insert “tertiary''. So it would apply to both “public and private tertiary institutions''. That is what has been proposed.
    Mr Anyimadu-Antwi 8:09 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I want to find out from the sponsor of the Bill, whether it is all right because we are talking about development of policies. I want to find
    out if policies could be developed for private tertiary institutions?
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 8:09 p.m.
    Hon Member, it is the country that develops the policies and then the private sector operates within the national policies.
    Dr Prempeh 8:09 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, recently, we published the first ever tertiary education policy and it is the policy that both the public and the private derive their source from. [Interruption] -- Yes, it was brought to the House.
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 8:09 p.m.
    Did you say that you “developed'' or you “published'' -- which meant that it was in existence?
    Dr Prempeh 8:09 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, Cabinet approved it and it was brought to the House.
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 8:09 p.m.
    You did not get my question. You said you “published'' which meant that it was in existence but was not published. However, if you “developed and published'' --
    Dr Prempeh 8:09 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I said that the first ever tertiary education policy was developed and published.
    So it was published and brought to the House.
    Mr Quaittoo 8:19 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, paragraph (b) has to do with establishment and in this Bill, we have merged the National Council for Tertiary Education (NCTE) and the National Accreditation Board (NAB) coming together, so they regulate the establishment of all universities.
    When we come to paragraph (c), they are to develop policies and regulations to the conduct of research and innovation. So why can the private institution not have its own independent policies or innovations?
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 8:19 p.m.
    Hon Chairman of the Committee, the private institutions develop the human resource for the country. So that development would be within the national policy.
    Mr Quaittoo 8:19 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, it is not necessarily so because they could be getting their funding from other sources.
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 8:19 p.m.
    I am not talking about funding but the human resource.
    Mr Quaittoo 8:19 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, once a private institution finds its own funding, it means it could develop its own policies. [Interruption] - - Why not?
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 8:19 p.m.
    Well, you are an expert in agriculture, which explains it; agriculture is basically private sector.
    Mr Quaittoo 8:19 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, no, I am also an expert in management. [Laughter] -- Mr Speaker, do not forget that.
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 8:19 p.m.
    But this is not management.
    Mr Quaittoo 8:19 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, this is policy.
    Mr Chireh 8:19 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I do not agree with him on what he is talking about because in the end it is the Commission that has to recommend for the charter to be given to a private tertiary institution in this same Bill. Therefore, they should be certified on what content is being taught and what the overall national goal is; what is the objective of tertiary education? We cannot leave them out.
    We are not going to regulate what they do on everyday management issues but we would want them to produce graduates that have critical
    thinking. If they bring their documents and we see that it does not form part of it, we may not recommend them for the charter.
    Dr Francis B. Dakura 8:19 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I just want to ask a simple question. Are all tertiary institutions educational institutions? The answer is no because Korle Bu Teaching Hospital (KBTH) is a health sector.
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 8:19 p.m.
    Hon Member, KBTH is a tertiary institution.
    Dr Dakura 8:19 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, is it under education? [Interruption] - A portion of it? We need to examine it properly because we --
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 8:19 p.m.
    Hon Member, that policy is being developed because it is a different area altogether. The collaboration between health and education is being done separately but there is a tertiary institution there and that is why we have over 700 medical officers there; it is because we have the consultants, specialist and professors who are tutors.
    Dr Prempeh 8:19 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, also, in the health nomenclature, we have primary, secondary and tertiary and even quaternary hospitals. That is a
    different nomenclature. We are talking about tertiary education.
    Mr Speaker, the only reason we would call a hospital a teaching hospital is because it is associated with a medical school or a health institution, or else, it does not become a teaching hospital.
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 8:19 p.m.
    Hon Members, I reiterate my directive to the draftspersons to redraft clause 7 according to the concerns that have been raised and the decisions that have been taken by the House.
    Mr Iddrisu 8:19 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, with your indulgence, I just want to draw the Chairman's attention --
    It is not strong but if he feels strongly with his view; “cultivating links” and “establish relationship” which is better? Paragraph (j), instead of just “cultivating links” use, “establish relationships with relevant national and international stakeholders”.
    Mr Speaker, two, “to make recommendations to the Minister to ensure discipline”. Does he want to use the word, “ensure” or “maintain” which I know -- ?
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 8:19 p.m.
    Hon Minority Leader, ‘to ensure' is wider. They would have to develop the rules, norms and then maintain them.
    Mr Ablakwa 8:19 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I was going to draw attention to that provision that the way it has been couched, the tertiary institutions would find it rather offensive. They would think that we are portraying them as primary or basic institutions.
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 8:19 p.m.
    Hon Member, which paragraph?
    Mr Ablakwa 8:19 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, on that paragraph, I would rather go for, “to improve governance”. They would not like this at all. They would be offended by it. Let us go for “improve governance” which is a terminology in that sector. We do not talk about ensuring discipline in the tertiary sector.
    Dr Prempeh 8:19 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, if my Hon Colleague would desist from getting up and not advertising -
    Mr Speaker, yesterday, we were all informed that to proceed, we should advertise.
    Mr Speaker, in every university Act, there is a chief disciplinarian and it is stated. Nobody has ever been
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 8:19 p.m.
    Hon Members, these are petty things that we do not need to --
    What is the difference?
    Mr Ablakwa 8:19 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, there is a wide difference. The chief disciplinary officer in universities statutes is the vice chancellor. So going by the argument of the Minister for Education, is the Minister going to usurp the duties of the Vice Chancellor per the statutes of our universities?
    There are terminologies we use in that sector. We talk about governance in that sector and improving governance: “make recommendations to the Minister to improve governance” but if we say to ensure discipline, there would be a backlash and I do not think that Parliament should run into those landmines.
    Mr Speaker, I think that this can be couched better. Let us talk about improving governance. That is how it should be.
    Mr Chireh 8:19 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, on the issue he is raising, why would he talk about governance? What is the purpose of governance? It is to ensure discipline and other things going on.
    Mr Speaker, I think that the issue is also about what the Commission if it finds that one university or tertiary institution does not have the appropriate structures to ensure discipline -- It is not the Ministry which would come to do it because the chief disciplinarian is the Vice Chancellor.
    Mr Speaker, apart from that, there are committees. In fact, sometimes an outside body that would ensure that if one is being unfairly treated, they come in and it is all part of the universities Acts and also the statutes.
    Mr Speaker, so the issue he is raising is reading too much more as if this issue is to be implemented by the Commission.
    No, the Commission is to ensure that these things exist. They were for discipline.
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 8:29 p.m.
    Hon Member for Effutu?
    Mr Alexander K. Afenyo- Markin 8:29 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, my little worry is the aspect of the submission by Hon Ablakwa which suggests that there would be backlash because in that field there is a certain language used. Mr Speaker, but that should not be the basis of his argument on the floor of this House.
    I do not readily have the number of the case, but I recently did a case at the Supreme Court and my client was John Bondzie Sey. The Supreme Court in its ruling made certain orders and one was to the effect that the university, which was the respondent in the matter, should set up an Appeals Board for the purposes of hearing disciplinary issues. So that issues would not be coming to court every now and then.
    Mr Speaker, so if my Hon Colleague is saying that professors would not be happy because we are using the word “discipline” then, in the least, he is playing to the gallery. However, if he is saying that the “discipline” in context is not fit for the purpose then I may support him. But the senior legislator, Mr Yileh Chireh, has explained that discipline and
    governance as you profess are one and the same.
    So, I believe that if the use of discipline is not offensive as he has explained and I expect you to accept then let us not waste time as Mr Speaker has so directed that we should not knock down our shoulders on this petty matter.
    Mr Speaker, thank you.
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 8:29 p.m.
    Hon Members, we have to make progress. We are not talking about maintaining discipline, we are talking about ensuring discipline because the Vice Chancellors are called upon to maintain discipline because there are rules that are already established and they are to apply those rules. This is ensuring discipline and it goes maintaining discipline.
    Mr Ablakwa 8:29 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, this is to make recommendations to the Hon Minister to ensure discipline. It is not best practice. The best practice is to improve governance. In tertiary education terminologies, we cannot use “ensure discipline” especially when it is talking about recommending to the Minister and when there are sensitive principles of autonomy, academic freedom and so on.
    Dr Prempeh 8:29 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I think that we should go on because the more people want to ponder, it would become very difficult for us to make headway.

    Please this is not for the Hon Minister to maintain discipline because it is not the function of the Hon Minister to do that in any university. The chief disciplinary officer of a university is the Vice Chancellor -

    [A Hon Member: And the Minister.]\\
    Dr Prempeh 8:29 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, it is not the Minister and that is the Hon Member's lack of understanding. This is not the Hon Minister becoming a disciplinary officer of a university.
    [Interruption] That is what you thought.
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 8:29 p.m.
    Hon Majority Leader?
    Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 8:29 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, much as I agree with what Hon Ablakwa said, but his own concerns have been taken on board under the general functions of the Commission and it is under clause 4. The governance issue and best practices come under the general functions of the Commission.
    However, this section is dealing with the regulatory functions and so the concerns that he has expressed finds expression under clause 4 -- the General Functions. I agree that the issue that he has raised is relevant but it has been captured under clause 4 and we do not need to repeat that under the regulatory functions in clause
    7.
    Mr Speaker, I believe that you can put the Question except that I wanted us to have an omnibus construction. Apart from what we have here which appears to be water tight, we can have another formulation to make recommendations to the Hon Minister to ensure the effective and efficient functioning of the tertiary education institutions. This formulation could come after paragraph (l) so that we
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 8:29 p.m.
    Hon Members, please I would advise you to carefully read clause 3. That is dealing with the functions of the Commission and there are general terms. They have taken them one by one; for instance, “(a) general” is clause 4, “(b) advisory” is clause 5, “(c) co-oordinating” is clause 6, “(d) regulatory” is clause 7, “(e) accreditation” is clause 8, and then there are the other functions.
    This is what is being amplified so please let us be guided by that. I would proceed to put the Question on clause
    7.
    Dr Kojo Appiah-Kubi 8:29 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I beg to make a further
    amendment to clause 7(c) that after “advance” insert ‘teaching and learning as well as' then we would delete “the conduct of”.
    Mr Speaker, so the new rendition would read ‘'to develop policies and regulations to advance teaching and learning as well as research and innovation in tertiary institutions”.
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 8:39 p.m.
    Hon Member, I think that you were not following us. You are taking us backwards.
    Hon Members, I would put the Question again.
    Question put and amendment agreed to.
    Clause 7 as amended ordered to stand part of the Bill.
    Clause 8 -- Accreditation Functions of the Commission
    Mr Quaittoo 8:39 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I beg to move, subclause (3), delete and insert the following:
    “(3) The Commission shall, in conjunction with
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 8:39 p.m.
    Yes, Hon Chairman, we still have a proposed amendment to clause 8.
    Mr Quaittoo 8:39 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I beg to move, subclause (4), paragraphs (a) and (b), redraft as follows:
    “(a) in collaboration with the relevant regulatory bodies and relevant institutions, develop and implement a National Qualification Framework and National Learners' Qualification Framework at the tertiary level;
    (c) assess the performance of tertiary institutions in respect of teaching, learning, research and any other verifiable parameter;”.
    Question put and amendment agreed to.
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 8:39 p.m.
    Hon Chairman, we would move on to the last proposed amendment to clause 8.
    Mr Quaittoo 8:39 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I beg to move, subclause (1), paragraph (g), line 1, delete “and rank.”
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 8:39 p.m.
    Hon Chairman, are you saying clause 8(1)(g)? There is no paragraph (g) in subclause (1).
    Mr Quaittoo 8:39 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, it should rather be captured as subclause (4) (g). So it would be captured as “provide a framework for ranking tertiary…” So we are deleting the phrase “and rank”.
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 8:39 p.m.
    Hon Member, the proposed amendment is to subclause (4), so please correct it on the Order Paper. It is not subclause (1), but subclause
    (4).
    Mr Quaittoo 8:39 p.m.
    That is so, Mr Speaker.
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 8:39 p.m.
    So the amendment should be captured as subclause (4), paragraph (g), line 1, delete “and rank”.
    So it would read: “…provide a framework for ranking tertiary education.”
    Hon Chairman, is that it?
    Mr Quaittoo 8:39 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, that is so.
    Question put and amendment agreed to.
    Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 8:39 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, we may have to ask the Hon Minister for direction in clause 8(g), even though I was part of this whole re-engineering.
    Mr Speaker, we have deleted “and rank”. As I said, I was part of the group that did it, but the issue that I am raising there is that, if we delete “and rank”, what it would mean is that the Commission would provide the framework for ranking tertiary education institutions on quality and performance and on an annual basis based on indicators developed by the Commission.
    If we add “and rank,” it would mean that the Commission would have to do the ranking after providing the framework, but if we delete the “rank”, it would mean that some other body may have to do that, but is that the position of the Hon Minister and
    indeed the Ministry? If that is the position, then it is better we delete it. If on the other hand the Commission is required to do the ranking after developing the framework, then perhaps even though the language is not very tidy, we may have to leave it as that.
    Dr Prempeh 8:39 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, the policy trust was that the Commission would rank the tertiary institutions for quality and other indicators, especially those to do with equity, demographics and things, and how they are performing on teaching research and all that. So that was what the Commission was supposed to do. Therefore providing a framework was a precursor to what they were supposed to do, so that all the universities would know that they are going to be ranked based upon these indicators. But really, it is the Commission that should do the ranking itself as well.
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 8:39 p.m.
    So, it is not right to delete the “and rank”. This is because it is the Commission which would set the criteria and proceed to rank.
    Dr Prempeh 8:39 p.m.
    The Winnowing Committee -- Mr Speaker, it is in your bosom, so we would restore the “rank”.
    Mr Iddrisu 8:39 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I would persuade the Hon Chairman to abandon the amendment and leave paragraph (g) as it is in the Bill: “provide a framework for ranking and rank tertiary education institutions on quality and performance on an annual basis…” Even with this construction, the way it ends creates a drafting problem, but the drafters can be directed to correct it.
    Mr Speaker, while I am at it, with your leave, when we come to subclause (5) where we have --
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 8:39 p.m.
    Hon Chairman of the Committee, are you with us? Do you agree to the timely intervention of the Hon Majority Leader that there is the need to still maintain the phrase “and rank”?
    Mr Quaittoo 8:39 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, from the answer given by the Hon Minister, I think that we should maintain it.
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 8:39 p.m.
    Why? The Hon Minister spoke so you have no objection? If you disagree with them, you should say so. You cannot say -- they are not dictating to you. If that is so, then it means that you are persuaded by their intervention. Others are not persuaded, so I would listen to them.
    Hon Member, please, you should make it snappy because the others --
    Mr Quashigah 8:39 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, considering the volume of work as far as ranking is concerned, taking into consideration all the tertiary institutions in Ghana, would the Commission have the capacity to undertake that function? Would it not be appropriate for the Commission to just develop the framework and have some other entity carry out the ranking?
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 8:49 p.m.
    Well, we have no basis to question the capacity of the Commission. So, let us move on.
    Alright, the Hon Chairman has accordingly withdrawn his proposed amendment to subclause (4) of clause 8. I would therefore put the Question on the whole of clause 8.
    Question put and amendment agreed to.
    Clause 8 as amended is ordered to stand part of the Bill.

    Clause 9 -- Liaising with related institutions
    Mr Quaittoo 8:49 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I beg to move, delete and insert the following:
    “The Commission shall, in the performance of the functions of the Commission, liaise with any relevant Education Regulatory Body”.
    Mr Iddrisu 8:49 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I have a problem with headnote and even the body.
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 8:49 p.m.
    Hon Member, let me finish with this, if it is just the headnote.
    Mr Iddrisu 8:49 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, what is liaise?
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 8:49 p.m.
    Let us finish with the clause and then we can move your proposed amendment to the headnote.
    Mr Chireh 8:49 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I remember that many times when we ask an institution either to collaborate with sectors or in cooperation they should do things, but now we are saying “liaise” -- [Interruption] --
    I did not introduce it with you; I withdraw any introduction that I made.
    Mr Speaker, the point I want to make is that this is the first time I am
    seeing “liaise” - [Interruption] - But if it is all right?
    Dr Prempeh 8:49 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, just like “cultivate” is in common usage than establish, “cultivate” is a common phraseology, but we agree. “Liaise” here and “collaborate” are the same.
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 8:49 p.m.
    Hon Members, do you accept the term “liaise”?
    Mr Quaittoo 8:49 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I think we would prefer to use “collaborate” in the headnote and then use same on the first line.
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 8:49 p.m.
    So you would delete “liaise” and insert “collaborate”.
    Question put and amendment agreed to.
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 8:49 p.m.
    So it would read:
    “The Commission shall, in the performance of the functions of the Commission, collaborate with any relevant Education Regulatory Body”.
    Mr Quaittoo 8:49 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, the headnote would be “collaboration” and not “collaborate”. That was moved by the Hon Minority Leader

    and that was why I went back to him. It is not your proposed amendment.
    Mr Iddrisu 8:49 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, no, I would collaborate with him once he accepts. So the headnote should read: “Collaboration with related institutions”.
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 8:49 p.m.
    What do you mean by related institutions?
    Mr Iddrisu 8:49 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, it would be “collaboration with other relevant institutions.”
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 8:49 p.m.
    Hon Members, there is a proposed amendment to the headnote. What does that mean?
    Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 8:49 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, here we are talking about not the institutions, but other regulatory bodies. So rather, it should relate to bodies and not institutions. So the headnote should be made to effect the relevant amendment. It should rather be in “collaboration with other relevant bodies” - [Interruption]
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 8:49 p.m.
    There is a proposed improvement “collaboration with other relevant
    regulatory bodies”. Is that the understanding of the House?
    Mr Dafeamekpor 8:49 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I failed to see the difference between the previous amendment and the one the Hon Majority Leader just proposed -- [Interruption] -- He teaches us. At this stage, he will say that there is no difference. Either we are just thinking of “collaboration” but he said “bodies” or the earlier rendition was “institutions”. Either ways, we are just thinking of collaboration.
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 8:49 p.m.
    Hon Member, the issue is the subject matter. What is the subject matter? We are dealing with regulatory bodies, so the headnote should talk about bodies and not institutions.
    Mr Iddrisu 8:49 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, we can settle at that, but just to add to what the Hon Majority Leader said, if we go to the memorandum of the Bill, reference is made of other national teaching councils, national schools inspectorate authority, et cetera. So those are the institutions anticipated that there would be collaboration with them.
    Mr Ebenezer K. Kum 8:49 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, in the body we have the words “any relevant education regulatory bodies” introduced. So
    why do we keep the “relevant” in the headnote? I think it should be simply “collaboration with other regulatory bodies” and not “…other relevant regulatory bodies”.
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 8:49 p.m.
    So what is the final rendition? Collaboration with other bodies.
    Question put and amendment agreed to.
    Mr Quaittoo 8:49 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, in the Bill --
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 8:49 p.m.
    Yes, but it deals with regulatory bodies. Does it deal with all other bodies?
    Mr Chireh 8:49 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, the earlier rendition you gave “…of relevant bodies” would be better because if we say “regulatory”, they cannot collaborate with any other body.
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 8:49 p.m.
    Alright, the final decision is, Collaboration with relevant bodies.
    Question put and amendment agreed to.
    Clause 9 as amended ordered to stand part of the Bill.
    Clause 10 -- Conflicts with other enactments in approval of programmes
    Mr Quaittoo 8:59 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I think we should drop the amendment because we did not agree to it yesterday. I would move the next amendment.
    Mr Speaker, I beg to move, clause 10, subclause (2), lines 5 and 6, delete “to the exclusion of any other person or body”.
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 8:59 p.m.
    Yes, I got you; we should delete that.
    The next proposed amendment, Subclause 4? I want to take all the proposed amendments on clause 10 and then --
    Mr Quaittoo 8:59 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I beg to move, clause 10, subclause 4, delete “Further to subsection (2), the” and insert “The”.
    Mr Speaker, I beg to move, clause 10, subclause (4), paragraph (a), delete “professional bodies and associations” and insert “a professional body or association”.
    Mr Speaker, I beg to move, clause 10, subclause (4), paragraph (b), line
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 8:59 p.m.
    Some of them are just editing.
    Hon Members, the Chairman has moved the amendments as stated on page 34, (xvii), (xviii), (xix), (xx), (xxi). It is for the consideration of the House.
    Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 8:59 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, just a minor amendment; it is typographical error and indeed, we could even leave it to the draftspersons. It has to do with clause 10(1), line 3: “Academic programmes offered by a tertiary education institution” so we would insert “a” before tertiary, and we singularise institutions to institution so that it would read:
    “Where there is a conflict between the provisions of this Act and the provisions of any other enactment in matters relating the approval or accreditation of academic programmes offered by a tertiary educational institution, the provisions of this Act shall prevail”.
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 8:59 p.m.
    Hon Chairman, there is a further proposed amendment to clause 10(1)
    by the Hon Majority Leader, what do you say to that?
    Mr Quaittoo 8:59 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, we did not agree to that amendment yesterday so we are using “education institution”.
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 8:59 p.m.
    Are we using the “a tertiary education institution” as has been proposed?
    Mr Quittoo 8:59 p.m.
    Yes, I think that is right, Mr Speaker.
    rose
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 8:59 p.m.
    Do you have a further amendment on clause 10? You can propose it; we would take it.
    Mr Iddrisu 8:59 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, even during Second Reading I raised this; clause 10, “conflicts with other enactments”. And it reads:
    “Where there is conflict between the provisions of this Act and the provisions of any other enactment…”.
    Mr Speaker, this is implied repeal, for instance, the University of Ghana has its own Act; Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology has its own Act; and this had worked
    for them. Now, we are doing a repeal by implication and that is why I need an explanation. So if there is something wrong with the University for Education, Winneba, this law would prevail. That means we are ousting -- [Interruption] -- Mr Speaker, I raised it during the Second Reading and I feel very strong about it.
    Mr Speaker, these are some of the matters that can raise concerns in those universities about interference and their freedoms guaranteed under the Constitution. But subject to a satisfactory explanation, are we not going to oust -- ? [Interruption] - - It is Dagbani; I went to Koko school; I did not go to Achimota. Yesterday, the Hon Member was teasing me about ‘Kwale Bu' and Korle Bu; we only know ‘Kwale Bu'.
    Mr Speaker, but we have to properly look at “…conflict with other enactments”.
    Mr Ahiafor 8:59 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, if we look at the provision in clause 10(1) carefully, it is not a general implied repeal. The Interpretation Act is to the effect that when two laws are in conflict, it is the latest version that prevails. But this one is making specific reference to matters relating to programme or accreditation of
    courses. So while this one implies repeal specifically dealing with na matter, we cannot look at it in general terms as if it generally repeals any other law it is inconsistent with.
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 8:59 p.m.
    Well, the Hon Minority Leader has abandoned his proposed amendment.
    Mr Iddrisu 8:59 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, this is a superior argument so mine flies in the face of it; I have abandoned mine.
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 8:59 p.m.
    Yes, because the Interpretation Act takes care of that; and this is with specific reference to approval of programmes.
    Mr Afenyo-Markin 8:59 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I do not know how the Hon Minority Leader would suddenly abandon a point that has received support.
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 8:59 p.m.
    Well, if you know that, may you keep that to yourself?
    Mr Afenyo-Markin 8:59 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, if he has so abandoned, I have found wisdom in that position so if even he has abandoned, I would proceed. It is a legal point and he cannot just abandon it.
    Mr Afenyo-Markin 9:09 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I would explain; one, the principle of implied repeal as we all know is that the law which precedes the law which is latest in time, would have no effect so the new law takes precedence.

    Mr Speaker, the point is that is it necessary to repeat, when by law we know that -- ? [Interruption] -- I am in the Chamber because of the Hon Minister for Education and I would be against him because it is necessary to be against him. So he says that I should be stopped by you. He wants to take my right from me but I have the Floor.
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 9:09 p.m.
    I recognised you but if you want to accede your right to him, you could do so.
    Mr Afenyo-Markin 9:09 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, who am I? I would accede it to him.
    Dr Prempeh 9:09 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, there is no amendment to continue with this debate. The Hon Minority Leader, who intended to amend it has abandoned it and besides it is not about a law coming after a law. As the Hon Member for Wa West said, there are two bodies which would be combined. One is the National Accreditation Board which already has original jurisdiction in the approval of the course before any university or tertiary could do it. Even they are able to re-certify accredited programmes to make sure that there are quality staff and everything. So this is not about a general law outside any university jurisdiction but a regulatory function.
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 9:09 p.m.
    Clearly, today takes precedence over yesterday, so let us move on.
    Mr Codjoe Mr Speaker, I want to propose an amendment to clause
    10(1).
    Mr Speaker, I beg to move, clause 10, subclause 1, line 2 delete “the provisions of''.
    The rendition would read:
    “Where there is a conflict between the provisions of this Act and any another enactment…''
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 9:09 p.m.
    Well, it makes sense.
    Hon Chairman, have you noted that? Instead of the repetition of the word “provisions'' --
    Mr Anyimadu-Antwi 9:09 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, an enactment is a law or a document as a whole and there are also provisions of an enactment. There is a difference and so I object to this amendment. There are provisions of an enactment. If we finish with this Bill, it would become an enactment but there are different provisions in the enactment.
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 9:09 p.m.
    How would a provision of one enactment conflict with a whole enactment which does not refer to the provisions of that enactment? How would that happen?
    Mr Anyimadu-Antwi 9:09 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, that is why we should not delete “the provision'' because the moment we delete it then we are talking about the whole enactment.
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 9:09 p.m.
    Can a provision of “Act A'', be in conflict with all the provisions of “Act B''? The proposed amendment is in order.
    Mr Banda 9:09 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, what we have done so far with respect to punishment regimes is to give the minimum and maximum. With specific reference to clause 10(5), which is the sanction regime but it gives just the upper and not the minimum. I believe it is an anomaly.
    Mr Speaker, we would recall that in clause 8(3), item numbered (xiii) on the Order Paper, we said that “the Commission shall'' -- I want to lay emphasis on the word “shall'', which is mandatory and the clause 8(3)(b) says; “in conjunction with the relevant regulatory body''. However, the provision in clause 10(3), is not different in any way from what we just did under clause 8 but the word “may'' was used in clause 10(3), which makes it permissive. It says; “the Commission may, before approving an academic…'' and it joins it with the “any regulatory body''.
    Mr Speaker, I want to propose that to the extent that under clause 8(3), we used the word “shall'', which is mandatory, in clause 10(3), we should also use the word “shall'', so that they would be coherent and not conflict with one another. This is because the sense is the same in both clauses 8(3) and 10(3).
    Mr Iddrisu 9:09 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I want to remind the Hon Majority Leader that it is past 9.00 p.m. and our --
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 9:09 p.m.
    Yes, I intend to finish at clause 10.
    Mr Iddrisu 9:09 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I want to persuasively urge the Hon Chairman of the Committee on Constitutional, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs that he should not construe these functions regime in a criminal context and wanting us to have defined penalties and others. Universities have their own sanctions regime -- he referred to clause 8(5) -- [Interruption] -- No! It says; “the Commission shall take appropriate actions including sanctions''. It said “the Commission'', it did not say “court'' -- [Interruption] -- unless he is reading a different subclause 5. Where is court mentioned? It is the Commission, so it could decide to close a particular university because they do not meet minimum requirements for accreditation or because their physical infrastructure
    is not adequate enough -- [Interruption] - Alright; he referenced clause 10(5)? I am sorry.
    Mr Quaittoo 9:09 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, an Hon Member raised an issue on clause 10(1) but we did not conclude it.
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 9:09 p.m.
    On what?
    Mr Quaittoo 9:19 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, someone raised an issue on clause 10(1) and we did not conclude it.
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 9:19 p.m.
    We have concluded.
    Mr Quaittoo 9:19 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, no, we did not.
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 9:19 p.m.
    Well, Hon Chairman of the Committee, you were not listening to me. I disagreed with the Hon Member and guided the House that the proposed amendment is in order. [Interruption]
    Well, you could disagree with me and I will put it to a vote and that will be all.
    I was listening to the Hon Chairman of the Committee on Constitutional, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs but I
    realised that because of the nature of the offence that is being created --
    It involves, “…purports to license, accredit, recognise audit, inspect, index students or collect a fee or a charge from a tertiary education institution or a student commits an offence….to a fine of not more than”.
    So they want it to start from zero up to a limit. That is what has been proposed there; one could be a letter of reprimand depending on the gravity of the offence. If it is a serious one, then, two thousand five hundred penalty units will apply and I think there is nothing wrong with that.

    So I will put the Question.
    Mr Banda 9:19 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I had a second proposal: I beg to move clause 10 subclause (3), line 1 after “Commission” delete “may” and insert “shall”. We just effected an amendment under clause 8, item numbered (xiii) on today's Order Paper and the word, “shall” is used.
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 9:19 p.m.
    Hon Member, the word, “shall” is used because the clause talks about relevant regulatory bodies, accredit professional programmes and institutions at the tertiary level. That is their function they are performing and they shall perform that function in conjunction with this.
    But clause 10(3) talks about other professional bodies. So it would read ‘the Commission may, before approving those professional programmes' -- and not tertiary institutions. With that you cannot use “shall” but “may”.
    Mr Banda 9:19 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I am saying this with the Ghana School of Law in mind. The problem that we have had to grapple with is that the National Accreditation Board (NAB) accredits law faculties and their programmes without reference to the General Legal Council (GLC) and there appears to be a disconnect between the law faculties and the GLC. That has always been a problem.
    Mr Speaker, once we have had an opportunity of bringing this Bill into being, if this Commission which is being mandated to be accrediting professional institutions is to accredit any professional institution, it would be appropriate. I thought that it would
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 9:19 p.m.
    Well, let us listen to the Hon Minister.
    Dr Prempeh 9:19 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, if one wants to set up a law faculty in a university, one necessarily has to consult the GLC. If one wants to set up a medical school, one has to consult the Ghana Medical and Dental Council (GMDC). It pertains everywhere especially for those professional bodies that have existed for a very long time because the accreditation for licensing always implies that that regulatory body should accredit or license that faculty.
    Mr Speaker, for example, I attended the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) School of Medical Sciences. When I finished and I wanted to go to the United Kingdom (UK) for further training, they had to look in the books in the UK whether my medical school is accredited. So for professional bodies where one
    went to school matters very much if they want to admit you to do your professional practice.
    Mr Speaker, there are medical schools in China that the medical regulatory body in China does not recognise. We have had a situation where some Ghanaian students have gone to that medical school. It was now a challenge for the regulator to admit them into the profession of medicine here because they were not even recognised for where they trained.
    Mr Speaker, so I do agree that it is very important not to let us put up with “may” if the mind of the House is being adverted to it because it is something that should happen, or else, we would train people at tertiary education institutions and they cannot enter for licensure into the professional bodies. I agree that we should change the “may” to “shall”.
    Mr Dafeamekpor 9:19 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I am in agreement with my Hon Chairman's position -- [Uproar] --
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 9:19 p.m.
    The sense of the House is that we would delete “may” and insert “shall”.
    Hon Members, we proposed a number of amendments to clause 10; it is important that the Clerks-at-the-
    Table get it properly. Are we together or I should go over it?
    Alright, so I will put the Question.
    Mr Ablakwa 9:19 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, there is one small point that if the Hon Minister could consider at clause 10(5) which states with your permission;
    “A person who without lawful authority purports to license, accredit, recognise, audit, inspect, index…”
    Mr Speaker, can we insert “reaccredit”? We know that accreditation is for a period and it is renewed every three years or five years. When an institution is new, we accredit it; but if it has to be renewed, it is called, reaccreditation.
    Mr Speaker, if we look at the L.I., it uses “reaccredit”.
    Dr Prempeh 9:19 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, every accreditation process is an accreditation process. Whether you have had it first and you are doing it the second time it is still an accreditation process. The failure and maintenance standards are the same.
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 9:19 p.m.
    Hon Members, I will put the Question.
    Question put and amendment agreed to.
    Clause 10 as amended ordered to stand part of the Bill.
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 9:29 p.m.
    Hon Majority Leader, I think that it is time for us to call it a day.
    Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 9:29 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I honestly believed that today we would have been able to go up to clause 40 to complete the Part One, unfortunately, we have not even covered one-quarter of the journey. However, I would thank Hon Colleagues who have stayed to do the works except to plead that perhaps tomorrow we would be better positioned to work faster on this. [Interruption]
    Mr Speaker, the Hon Minister is issuing some threats behind the curtain, but I would plead that we work faster on this tomorrow because we need to finish this before we adjourn sine die.
    Mr Speaker, there is something else I would have to discuss with you
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 9:29 p.m.
    There used to be but it is no longer the law in this country.
    Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 9:29 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, yesterday, some Hon Members were up in arms against me and I told them that they are yesterday lawyers.
    Mr Speaker, but we would deal with it.
    Mr Afenyo-Markin 9:29 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, for the record, there is nothing like summary conviction and I am surprised that those who were advocating for that are quiet. There is nothing like summary conviction so whether the person is an Hon Member
    of this House or a supporting staff, nobody should say summary conviction.
    Mr Afenyo-Markin 9:29 p.m.
    Which law says summary conviction?
    Mr Speaker, may you hold on to adjourning the House?
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 9:29 p.m.
    Hon Chairman of the Committee on Constitutional, Legal and Parlia- mentary Affairs?
    Mr Banda 9:29 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, there are a lot of terminologies on this; summary offence, summary jurisdiction, summary conviction. This is because the summary conviction only determines the mode of trial; it is a trial that is carried out summarily as against trial on indictment. So when we say a conviction is summary, all that it means is that the trial was not carried on indictment. This is what it simply means, so in law it is not wrong to say summary conviction.
    Mr Speaker, it has been defined in the Interpretation Act so it is not wrong.
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 9:29 p.m.
    Hon Chairman, we used to have that because of the summary trial and trial
    on indictment, but now we do not say summary conviction. You could say summary trial but not summary conviction. Upon conviction then there is the sentence. It is conviction through summary trial or on indictment, but not summary conviction. We do not have that now.
    Hon Members, this brings us to the end of the Consideration Stage for the Education Regulatory Bodies Bill, 2020 for today.
    ADJOURNMENT 9:29 p.m.
  • The House was adjourned at 9.36 p.m. till Thursday, 2nd April, 2020 at 10.00 a.m.