Debates of 8 Apr 2020

Hon Members, Communication from the President.
Communication from the President

Hon Members, this is accordingly referred to the Appointments Committee for relevant consideration and report.

Hon Members, we have the Votes and Proceedings of 4th April, 2020 for correction.
Hon Members, any corrections?
Page 1…12

Mr Speaker, please on page 10 concerning the “BellSea Company Limited”, the rendition on the company's website appears different from what has been captured here. Therefore, the Table Office could have a second look at it.

Page 12…13

Mr Speaker, if I am permitted, I would want to take us back to page 8 on absenteeism. I have observed that consistently, getting to a year now, my Hon Colleague, the Hon Kyei- Baffour Eyiah has been marked absent. I am wondering what could have precipitated this long absence of our Hon Colleague. What is the state of our Hon Colleague such that he is
repeatedly marked absent? I think that we need to know since he is an Hon Colleague.
Thank you.

Hon Member, we are merely correcting the Votes and Proceedings as they are.
Page 13…16
1. 14 p. m.

Hon Members, the Votes and Proceedings of 4th April, as corrected --

Yes, Hon Okudzeto Ablakwa?

Mr Speaker, I thought that after the item numbered 14 which is your address, rooms have been created for remarks by the Hon Majority Leader and the Hon Minority Leader. They did also addresed the House after your remarks; so if that could be corrected?

Yes, they made remarks.
Table Office, correct accordingly, please.
Nomination of Deputy Minister

Introduction:
Hon. Members would recall that at the end of the Forty-Fifth Sitting of the First Meeting of Parliament held on Saturday, 4th April, 2020, Mr Speaker suspended the First Meeting indefinitely.
Furthermore, in the exercise of the power conferred on the Speaker by Order 6 of the Standing Orders of the Parliament of Ghana, Mr Speaker subsequently directed that Parliament resumes Sittings of the First Meeting of the Fourth Session today, Wednesday, 8th April, 2020.
Mr Speaker, the Business Committee accordingly met this morning, Wednesday, 8th April, 2020 and arranged Business of the House for today, Wednesday, 8th April,
2020.

Arrangement of Business
Formal Communications by the Speaker
Mr Speaker, you may read any available communication to the House.
Statements
Mr Speaker, pursuant to Order 70(2), the Minister for Finance is expected to make a request via a Statement in the House.
Mr Speaker may give appropriate directives relating to Statements to the relevant Committee(s) for determination and subsequent consideration by the House.
Bills, Papers and Reports
Mr Speaker, Bills may be presented to the House for First Reading in accordance with Order 120. However, those of urgent nature may be taken through the various stages in one day in accordance with Order 119.
Pursuant to Order 75, Papers for presentation to the House may be placed on the Order Paper for laying.
Committee reports may also be presented to the House for consideration.
Motions and Resolutions
Mr Speaker, Motions may be debated and their consequential Resolutions, if any, taken during the day.
Conclusion
Mr Speaker, in accordance with Standing Order 160(2) and subject to Standing Order 53, the Committee submits to this honourable House the order in which the Business of the House shall be taken during the day under consideration.

Formal Communication by Mr Speaker

Statements --

By the Minister for Finance

Presentation of Papers --

Budget Performance Report in respect of the Ministry of Finance for the Period January to December, 2019.

Consideration Stage of Bills --

Education Regulatory Bodies Bill, 2019;

Pre-Tertiary Education Bill,

2019.

Committee Sittings.

Yes Hon Okudzeto Ablakwa?

Mr Speaker, I commend the Majority Leader and Hon Minister for Parliamentary Affairs and the Chairman of the Business Committee for the presentation. There is one item which was outstanding before the House was suspended, and that is an update from the Hon Minister for Health.
We agreed that we would make some space before we rise but unfortunately, that did not happen. I thought that today, we would have created some space, because it is very important that the Hon Minister for Health updates this House on what the latest situation is on the COVID- 19 Pandemic, which is why we are here today and which is the reason the House was suspended on Mr Speaker's wisdom instead of an adjournment. The Minister of Health is integral to what we are doing and if the Majority could create some space for the Minister for Health?

Hon Quashigah?

Mr Speaker, I thank you for the opportunity. To add to what my Hon Colleague has just mentioned in reference to the Minister for Health, I think the Minister must also be telling us what measures are being taken to address the Cerebro- Spinal Meningitis (CSM) challenge that we have in the Upper West region where 33 Ghanaians lost their lives and over two hundred are also in critical state. I think that it would be very critical and important for the Hon Minister of Health to really update us as to what measures are being taken in that direction.
Mr Speaker, the Business Statement read by the Majority Leader indicates in the first paragraph that at the Sitting of Parliament held on 4th April, 2020, Mr Speaker, suspended the First Meeting indefinitely. My understanding of Suspension would mean that the Mace would be in a certain position and I expected that walking into this Chamber, the Mace would have even been here because we are on suspension. Whether it is indefinite or not, the Mace should have been in a certain position even before we gathered in this Chamber, but that was not the case. And I think that that obviously, is a novelty to me. Since my days in this House and even before I came to Parliament, my understanding of suspension is for the Mace to be in a certain position.
Mr Speaker, again, when we look at the second paragraph, the Hon Majority Leader makes reference to Standing Order 6 and says that Mr Speaker subsequently directed that Parliament resumes Sitting of the First Meeting of the Fourth Session today. Mr Speaker, that in itself, is also another novelty because we are being told we are not in normal times therefore we are doing things that are outside the Standing Orders and we are being told that Mr Speaker has the power to do that.
But again, in doing all these things, let us bear in mind that posterity would judge us whether we are doing things rightly or wrongly. There are procedures to follow; the Majority Leader makes us understand that those procedures can be set aside as and when the House chooses.
Mr Speaker, I think that we need to reflect carefully on some of these things because we would all not remain in this House forever. For some people, it is only nine months that they may have to continue in their positions being a Majority Leader or not so let us not act as though we are demigods and let us not create the impression -- [Uproar] --

Hon Members, order!
As we say in our local languages, we are all mindful of the fact that nobody would remain salt on this earth. [Interruption] Thank you, you have had enough time. Those who are carrying their debates on various platforms may do so. Today is a special call and if you are not going to speak closely and in tandem with the Business Statement, please save us this morning.
Hon Minority Chief Whip?

Mr Speaker, in my view, the Business Statement as read by the Hon Majority Leader did not reflect what happened at the Committee. When it came to the issue of Statements at the Business Committee Meeting, I drew the Hon Majority Leader's attention to our Standing Orders which under Statements, do not require us to do anything because it is for information purposes.
With your permission, I read Standing Order 70 (1) and (2) which the Hon Majority Leader proposed that the Hon Minister for Finance comes on. It reads:
“(1) Mr Speaker may make statements on any matter of interest to the House.
(2) A Minister of State may make an announcement or a statement of government policy. Any such announce- ment or statement should be limited to facts which it is deemed necessary to make known to the house and should not be designed to provoke debate at this stage. Any Member may comment briefly, subject to the same limitation.”

“(2) If so desired by the person presenting a Paper, a short explanatory statement may be made by him upon its presentation.”
Mr Speaker, I believe that this is the right thing because when it is laid, it would then be proper for us to refer it to the Committee to consider and report as we indicated on paragraph 2 (b) of the Business Statement.
However, if he comes by Statements which are only for information purposes - I think that the right thing, which I raised at the Business Committee should be done.
I do not know why it was not properly captured but was captured as “via a Statement in the House”. So
we may have to do it properly. It should be under Standing Order 75 and that would be neater and cleaner for us to be able to deal with the business.

Mr Speaker, Hon Ablakwa drew our attention to an outstanding matter relating to the Hon Minister for Health. I agree with him that we have that outstanding business. Unfortunately, I tried to reach the Hon Minister several times yesterday but could not reach him. I believe it is a very germane matter that he has brought to our attention.
We would have thought that even before we had the suspension, he would have come before us to do the presentation. Unfortunately, we did not get him. As I said yesterday, even though we all know the exigencies of the times -- I do not know exactly where he was. I tried several times without success to reach him.
Mr Speaker, on the other issue relating to the presidential staffers, I do not know whether anybody is in breach. What I know is that it is required to be submitted to the House. The last time that I checked, and I think that was in mid-March, I was apprised of the fact that it would be transmitted. So I do not really know exactly where it is.
Now that the Hon Member has drawn our attention, I would follow through to see if it is hanging somewhere. However, in mid-March, I remember raising this matter, so we would follow through to see.
Mr Speaker, on the matter raised by Hon Quashigah in respect of the CSM, yes, we were all shell-shocked to have heard from Hon Pelpuo about the affliction of this nation in respect of those who had fallen victims. I think he related to a number of about 33 who had unfortunately transitioned.
Hon Pelpuo told us that over 200 people had contracted the disease, out of which 33 had unfortunately perished. What I did not hear him say, was that over 200 were in critical condition as Hon Quashigah said. He never said so in this House and when we listen, we must listen well. Hon Pelpuo never told this House that the rest of the over 200 people are in critical condition. Let us not embellish what we hear in this House.
Mr Speaker, I thought the Hon Member was going to address his mind to the Business Statement but because he stated this for the record of this House, it is important to relate to it. He made several allusions that people may stay in positions and positions are not forever which
everybody including pupils in primary school understand. He needed not to have belaboured the point, but what is the fact of the matter?
Mr Speaker, he said that the Mace should have stayed in the stand. It is important to respond to that on this Floor because when a Sitting is suspended, the Mace is in its hold and Sitting relates to a day's Sitting. When a Meeting is suspended, as Mr Speaker said, there is no provision for it in the Standing Orders. The Hon Member should show me where a Meeting is suspended and I would yield to him.
People can make their own statements that have no bearing in the Standing Orders. In fact --

Hon Majority Leader, you are entitled to say that you would yield to a certain situation and the Hon Member is on his feet, so thank you for offering to yield. You would now yield and we would hear the Hon Member.

Mr Speaker, I wish to humbly refer you to Standing Order 46(2) which with your permission I read:
“(2) The Mace shall stand upright before the Table during all Sittings of the House, except

Mr Speaker, exactly what I said. People are entitled to their opinions but we are not entitled to their own set of facts. The suspension of the House, that was alluded to in Order 46, relates to a day's Sitting and not a Meeting. [Interruption] - That is what people do not understand. So people should apply themselves to the Standing Orders. Indeed and in truth, whereas, our Orders provide for summoning of Meetings, unfor- tunately, it does not provide for adjournment of Meetings.
There is nowhere in the Standing Orders which relates to adjournment of a Meeting. It rather relates to adjournment of a Sitting, which is the day's activity. Anybody could show indication that I am wrong. People should apply themselves to the Standing Orders and read it. [Interruption]. That is it. It is not
about owning but about reading to understand. So Mr Speaker committed no offence by the suspension of the Meeting.
Mr Speaker, the Hon Minority Chief Whip, related to the procedure of the Hon Minister for Finance coming with a request. Yes, we discussed this at the Business Committee but I do not see any reason to yield to what he said. This is because he said we should come by Order 75 and that the Hon Minister for Finance would present a Paper to the House. I keep saying that if our Committees were energised and given sufficient muscle this matter that we would attend to today, that is the Hon Minister for Finance, having the authority at the instance of the Finance Committee, to access funds from the Contingency Fund, the Hon Minister could have touched base with the Finance Committee.
However, I know that Rt Hon Speakers have always insisted that referrals to Committees should come from the Chair. It is the reason why it was thought necessary for the Hon Minister for Finance to come to the House and make the request upon which, Mr Speaker, would then make the referral to the Finance Committee for them to give him authorisation and
subsequently, what is required to be done would be done.
Mr Speaker, that is the position and nothing untoward has been done as regards the proposal that has come before the House as submitted by the Business Committee.
Mr Speaker, I thank you.

Thank you very much, Hon Majority Leader.
An Hon Minister is clearly by the rules, entitled to make a presentation -- deliver a Paper at any time to the House. When any such Paper is presented, the Rt Hon Speaker may give directives accordingly. When we get to that bridge, we shall cross it accordingly.
Hon Members, the Business Statement as presented, is hereby admitted and we shall proceed with our Business.
Hon Members, item listed 4 --
We shall make a small adjustment in the Order Paper and take item numbered 5 -- Presentation of Papers by the Hon Minister for Finance.

The Hon Minister for Finance, would make a Statement.

Mr Speaker, I thank you and all Hon Members for Sitting today.
Mr Speaker, on 27 th March, 2020, His Excellency, President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, delivered his fourth Address on the Coronavirus Pandemic to the Nation. In that Address, the President directed the Hon Minister for Finance to prepare for approval by Parliament, a Coronavirus Alleviation Programme (CAP) to mitigate the disruption to economic activities and the hardship

imposed on the people of Ghana by the coronavirus pandemic, and to rescue and revitalise our industries that have fallen prey to the pandemic. The President further stated that the Minister for Finance would immediately make available a minimum of GH¢1.00 billion to households and businesses, particularly micro, small and medium- size enterprises, as part of the initiative.
Mr Speaker, thereafter, on 30th March, 2020, the Hon Minister for Finance delivered a Statement on the “Economic Impact of the COVID-19 on the Economy of Ghana” to Parliament.
The Hon Minister also placed before Parliament a proposal that sought parliamentary approval to lower the cap on the Ghana Stabilisation Fund (GSF) from US$300 million to US$100 million, and to transfer the excess amount of US$219 million over and above the newly proposed cap to the Contingency Fund to finance the Coronavirus Alleviation Programme
(CAP).
Mr Speaker, I wish to express our profound gratitude to Parliament for working expeditiously to approve the proposal to lower the cap on the Ghana Stabilisation Fund from
US$300 million to US$100 million. This has enabled us to transfer the cedi equivalent of US$219 million that is, one billion, two hundred and three million Ghana cedis into the Contingency Fund.
Mr Speaker, the pandemic continues to rage and yesterday, the world recorded the largest number of deaths in a day which included 1,850 people from the United States of America. Mr Speaker, a number of Ghanaians have also died in Ghana and in foreign countries including Mr Mike Adjei (former employee of the Daily Graphic and State Hotels). May their souls rest in perfect peace.

Mr Speaker, since we came to Parliament on Monday March 30, the global number of cases has soared from 693,282 to 1,279,722 with 72,614 deaths. In Ghana, we have 287 cases as of April 6th with five deaths. Greater Accra 258, Ashanti 18, Northern 10, Upper West 1 and Upper East 1 and Eastern Region 1.

It is this apocalypse that our President has sworn to avert from our land. His Excellency deeply believes like our noble Statesman, Dr J.B. Danquah who said that we the citizens of Ghana are all adehyee - Royals. He will therefore use our

resources to protect and ensure the sanctity of the life of every citizen.

Mr Speaker, in his fifth Address to the nation on 5th April, 2020, which focused on Ghana's response to the COVID-19 Pandemic, His Excellency the President, outlined a number of reliefs for Ghanaians as part of the measures that Government planned to mitigate on the impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic.

Mr Speaker, the Coronavirus Alleviation Programme will primarily support the provision of food and water for households and sanitation, relief for health sector workers who are modern-day protectors and soldiers against this unseen enemy and soft loans for micro, small and medium-size enterprises to alleviate the distractions of our business people -- informal, who represent 90 per cent of our employees.

Mr Speaker, the President's Address calmed the nation; removed any premonition of sinking into a Dante's Inferno and reassured us that we indeed have a war time leader, our Moses, to lead us to our promised land: a leader one can trust, who we can pray and work with and who will turn this ‘misadventure' into a new

vibrant industrial landscape. But all of us as citizens must pull in one direction; we must hold up his hands to inspire us to defeat this virus. The Lord will make a way in this desert as He unfolds a new thing for the nation as promised in Isaiah 43.

Mr Speaker, at the end of this trauma and pandemic, we should have reinforced our identity as a nation that cares, visits the fatherless, widows and protects the poor and vulnerable. That is our most sacred duty and responsibility; beyond the cold calculus of the economics.

Mr Speaker, consistent with article 177 (1) of the 1992 Constitution, I am by this presentation submitting a request to the Finance Committee to grant us the authorisation to access the requisite amounts from the Contingency Fund to confront the challenge that has engulfed the nation in this matter of Coronavirus (COVID-19) affliction.

Mr Speaker, following this, the Ministry will take steps going forward to do the needful. These are extraordinary times and we must respond with a deep sense of social justice so that our very humanity is not compromised. Permit me to end with Parliament's own prayer: ‘God, grant

Thank you very much, Hon Minister.
The Statement is duly referred to the Finance Committee -- Order! Hon Members, the Paper is formally
referred to the Finance Committee for consideration and report.
The Sitting is suspended for now until you hear the bell when the Finance Committee has finished with its work.
Sitting is suspended accordingly. We urge the Finance Committee to --
[Pause] --
Hon Members, we shall end the Business for today and I await further developments.
The Meeting is suspended indefinitely.
1.52 p.m. -- Meeting Suspended Indefinitely.