Debates of 26 May 2020

MR SPEAKER
PRAYERS 11:14 a.m.
VOTES AND PROCEEDINGS AND THE OFFICIAL REPORT 11:14 a.m.
Mr Speaker 11:14 a.m.
Hon Members, Correction of Votes and Proceedings of Friday, 22nd May, 2020.
Page 1 -- 15
Mr Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa 11:14 a.m.
Mr Speaker, it appears that there are all kinds of challenges with the Votes and Proceedings we have. Some pages are blank; some are printed on others and it is making it very difficult for us to go through and be sure of what transpired on Friday. I have asked for two other copies and it is the same. So we could pay attention to that. It is very difficult for us to focus.
Mr Speaker 11:14 a.m.
Yes, thank you very much Hon Member. In fact, from page 22, it is quite clear that we have to do
a lot of straining and conjecturing to appreciate what is there. So, the Table Office should take notice of this accordingly.
Page 16 - 23.
Subject to the difficulty pointed out on page 22, the Votes and Proceedings of Friday, 22nd May, 2020 are hereby, admitted. Hon Members, we have the Official Report for 3rd March, 2020. Any corrections, please?
Mr Ablakwa 11:14 a.m.
Mr Speaker, again, I would need your guidance: I observed that we received the edition of the Official Report for 28th February, 2020, which should have been corrected last Friday, but it did not come up for correction. So I thought it may have been combined with the 3rd March, 2020 issue; if not, we may just miss out on the 28th February, 2020 issue.
Mr Speaker 11:14 a.m.
Hon Member, 28th February, 2020?
Mr Ablakwa 11:14 a.m.
Yes, Mr Speaker.
Mr Speaker 11:14 a.m.
If there is any noted correction, can we take it?
Mr Ablakwa 11:14 a.m.
I am most grateful Mr Speaker.
There are some noted corrections that I would like to point to quickly: at column 084, the terminology in the last paragraph should be ‘open defaecation'. It has been wrongly captured.
Mr Speaker, also in the paragraph above that, my Hon Colleague, the Hon Patrick Yaw Boamah spoke of the United Nations Children's Fund, but the acronym has been wrongly captured as “UNCF”, it should be “UNICEF”, the appropriate acronym.
Mr Speaker, at column 110, ‘Adomi Bridge' which is the bridge I cross every day to my Constituency, has been wrongly spelt; if it could be accurately spelt from the column 110 and the subsequent paragraphs.
Mr Speaker, then, at column 111, the bridge is Volivo to Dorfor- Adidome, not Volivo to Asutsuare. The Hon Member for Shai-Osudoku, Ms Linda Ocloo is here; what has been captured here in the name of the Hon Minister for Roads and Highways cannot be accurate.
It is Volivo to Dorfor-Adidome. That is from Shai-Osudoku to my Constituency, North Tongu. That is the
appropriate name for the bridge so; if these corrections could be effected?
I thank you Mr Speaker.
Mr Speaker 11:14 a.m.
Thank you very much, Hon Member.
Any further corrections?
Mr Ras Mubarak 11:14 a.m.
Thank you Mr Speaker. There are a few corrections on column 030.
Mr Speaker 11:24 a.m.
We are talking about the Official Report for 28th February, 2020.
Mr Ras Mubarak 11:24 a.m.
Yes, Mr Speaker. On column 030, line 9, where the Hon Majority Leader spoke, the word there is “touch base”, not “touch space”. And Mr Speaker, if we look at the next page; the third paragraph of column 031, line 3, it should read “cough”, not “coughing”. And last but not least: column 032, there should be an apostrophe at “Congress”. So, it should be ``the National Democratic Congress's Vice Presidential Slot` .`
I thank you Mr Speaker.
Mr Speaker 11:24 a.m.
Thank you very much.
Mr Speaker 11:24 a.m.
Hon Members, Questions -- item numbered 3? If the Hon Minister for Railway Development is here -- Yes, Hon Majority Leader?
Mr Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 11:24 a.m.
Mr Speaker, I am informed that the Hon Minister for Railways Development is unavoidably absent and so we have to stand the Question down and move to item numbered 4.
Mr Speaker 11:24 a.m.
Item numbered 4, Statements. The Hon Minister for Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration would read a Statement.
STATEMENTS 11:24 a.m.
Minister for Foreign Affairs AND Regional Integration (Ms Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey)(MP) 11:24 a.m.
Thank you Mr Speaker for giving me the opportunity to read a Statement on the occasion of Africa Day, which was commemorated yesterday, Monday, 25th May, 2020.
As we observe this day, it is important to acknowledge the successes of the African Union and as well reflect to the progress made in the development of the continent and boldly confront the challenges that lie before us.
Mr Speaker, we began the year 2020 with confidence and with great aspirations, that the Africa we want could be attained if we pursued our objectives strategically and with passion. We therefore maintained silencing the guns and creating conducive conditions for Africa's development as the theme of the Union. This is the theme that the Union has maintained for three consecutive years to reflect Africa's determination to end all wars, civil conflicts, gender- based violence and prevent genocide on the continent by the end of 2020. The object of this theme is to create a conducive environment for economic growth and prosperity.
Mr Speaker, we mark the 2020 Africa Day in the shadow of the novel Coronavirus pandemic which has swept across the world, including the continent. Even in an era of a challenging pandemic, Africa remains confident and dynamic in the pursuit of its aspirations for a better future for its citizens.
African countries are applying technology and innovation to unleash greater potential for its development as well as to address the challenges of climate change. African economies are also becoming integrated with the coming into force of the African Continental Free Trade Area ( ACFTA).
Mr Speaker, one of the cardinal objectives of African leaders in 2020 has been to operationalise the African Continental Free Trade Agreement by establishing the Secretariat in Accra at the end of March 2020 and to begin continental trade by 3rd July, 2020. The ACFTA is expected to bring the members benefits to the continent, including enhanced continental trade, factor markets integration and also attract investment for sustained economic growth to facilitate the creation of the badly-needed job opportunities for the continent.
The enhanced trade relations and growth from this initiative is estimated by the UN's Economic Coalition for Africa to be about 52 per cent over the current levels and to generate a collective GDP of 2.5 trillion for Africa, making the continent the eighth largest economy in the world.
Such a tremendous growth in economic activities, if fairly distributed across the continent would greatly enhance employment and commercial opportunities for the idle youth who ordinarily could be manipulated and used by disgruntled and belligerent individuals for conflicts.
Mr Speaker, the clear and pragmatic roadmap to leapfrog Africa unto a deserving path, to silence the guns and to create economic growth and prosperity has regrettably been impacted by the emergence of the incapacitating COVID-19 pandemic. Thus far, almost 96,000 people have been infected with almost 3,000 having lost their lives on the continent.
Despite the relatively lower morbidity rate among African victims, COVID-19 has heightened uncertainty and its impact on African economies has been quite disruptive, having reduced national, regional and continental growth and revenue while
Minister for Foreign Affairs AND Regional Integration (Ms Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey)(MP) 11:34 a.m.
undermining the plans and programmes of our continental and regional bodies in every facet of our lives.
It is obvious that COVID-19 will adversely have an impact on our ability to meet the aspirations of the AU's Agenda 2063 of a peaceful, united and prosperous continent. Several countries in Africa, Ghana inclusive, have had their economic targets and ratings revised as the virus has exposed the deep inequalities that continue to exist on the African continent and across the world. Indeed, it has shown how far we are from realising the development aspirations and our responsibilities to the citizenry. The pandemic has therefore put to a great test, the determination and resilience of our continent.
Mr Speaker, this bleak outlook notwithstanding, Africa is optimistic of riding the storm and coming out successfully from the pandemic. The pervasive negative impact of the pandemic will require more than ever before, our collective coordinated, strategic and innovative action in the fight against this pandemic to save lives without losing focus in our efforts to advance the cause of progress and development on the continent.
The most effective way for Africa to reverse the effects of the Coronavirus disease and prepare for any future pandemic is to assert our independence in economic, scientific and political terms. The results of self- sufficiency can be achieved by boosting intracontinental trade, strengthening our manufacturing base, departing from resource dependant economic principles, improving the financial sector, investing more in scientific research and adopting innovative contingency plans to contain any potential economic fallout. This global crisis should enable a new Africa to come to the fore, where African countries are able to work together to solve its own problems.
Mr Speaker, the unprecedented effects of the COVID-19 pandemic has also underscored the need for a collective and coordinated global response to assist the world's most vulnerable countries to mitigate the harsh economic and financial effects of the pandemic. The pandemic and its economic fallout has helped to highlight the longer-term efforts needed to strengthen our health systems, diversify economies and broaden domestic revenue sources of African countries.
With the benefit of immediate debt relief, developing countries could focus on protecting vulnerable
populations, preserving jobs and ultimately avert consequential political and social instability. Ghana supports the call for debt relief for African countries and the moratorium on the servicing of international loans, including private loans.

Mr Speaker, to conclude, I wish to state that COVID-19 is another major test of the resolve of the AU and its member States to advance development on the continent. While dealing with the pandemic and saving lives, Africa cannot defer urgent actions on plans and programmes that would advance continental trade and development. We must move ahead with the most ambitious steps towards Pan-African integration with the creation of the African Continental Free Trade Area and to ensure that it is operationalised as soon as possible.

It is imperative to continue to keep alive efforts to drive the African agenda of security, peace and stability, democracy and human rights and of women's emancipation as well as protection of the environment. The global health emergency, should under no circumstances derail the targets offered to silence the guns on the continents. It is therefore only through our collective efforts and resilience

that we could position Africa in the right place among the comity of nations.

Mr Speaker, I thank you for the opportunity.
Mr Speaker 11:34 a.m.
Thank you very much Hon Minister for Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration for this brilliant briefing.
Mr Frank Annoh-Dompreh (NPP -- Nsawam-Adoagyiri) 11:34 a.m.
Mr Speaker, I thank you for the opportunity to contribute to the Statement.
Mr Speaker, the theme for this year's celebration could not have been couched better, as stated by the Hon Minister: “Silencing the Gun in the Context of the COVID-19, Creating a Conducive Condition for African Development''.
Mr Speaker, if we want to superimpose the original objective that gave birth to the AU, this theme is still relevant today as before. So it is most appropriate for me to commend the AU for choosing this theme and finding a way of capturing COVID- 19 as a relevant pandemic confronting the world today.
Mr Speaker, if the group of people on the planet who have continuously seen Africa as a continent of poverty,
Mr Speaker 11:34 a.m.
Hon Member, in conclusion?
Mr Annoh-Dompreh 11:44 a.m.
Mr Speaker, if such wonderful Statements are delivered, one cannot help but slow it -- [Laughter].
Mr Speaker 11:44 a.m.
Hon Ranking Member for the Committee on Foreign Affairs Mr Okudzeto Ablakwa; after that, the Hon Leaders may decide on who to contribute. We have decided at our meeting this morning, to limit these contributions.Please, go on.
Mr Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa (NDC--North Tongu) 11:44 a.m.
Mr Speaker, I thank you very much for the opportunity to comment briefly on the Statement that has been so eloquently delivered by the Hon Minister for Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration. Indeed, yesterday, as we all know, marked African Union Day which was observed across the African continent.
Mr Speaker, as the Hon Minister has said, the COVID-19 pandemic has totally reshaped the focus of leaders on the continent so that whereas the theme for the year would have been, “Silencing the Guns;
Creating Conducive Conditions for Africa's Development” we have had to focus on what could be done to keep the continent safe from the ongoing pandemic.
Mr Speaker, I checked a while ago on the Africa Tracker and the latest numbers are 116,137 cases, 46,605 recoveries and 3,485 deaths. So this is really a sombre time; we are losing many of our compatriots on the continent even though as compared to other continents, it appears that the mortality rate is below what transpires elsewhere.
Mr Speaker, we all know that the WHO has warned that Africa could be the next epicentre after Europe and America, and that we should prepare. I am glad that the Hon Minister has indicated that African Governments are resolving to improve public health systems so that we can ensure that we are protected.
Mr Speaker, having said that, the impact is very wide. The Hon Minister has talked about the economic impact; there is also the impact on other facets, education for example. Should schools be reopened and at what level? As the WHO advises that we learn to live with the virus, what measures should we put in place and how can we ensure that we leverage on technology?
Mr Speaker, one of the lessons we should learn from this pandemic is the heavy investment in technology. If we do that, many can continue to keep jobs by working from home; many can continue to study online and to use artificial intelligence to expand their businesses, especially as we usher in the Africa Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
Mr Speaker, I am particularly impressed with the Hon Minister's resolve that Africa should not use COVID-19 as an excuse to delay progress on the kick-off of the AfCFTA. That is one area I was paying particular attention to and I commend the Hon Minister for insisting that the take-off date of 1st July, 2020 has been maintained and that remains the focus of our Government and African Govern- ments.
We all know that we host the Secretariat and it is important that we offer hope. Many have described the AfCFTA as a game changer that could create opportunities for young people and would end decades of perilous migration across the Mediterranean and ensure that manufacturing and the industrialisation that Africa missed are created this time for jobs to be created for young people.
Mr Speaker, the other thing that we should emphasise on is food security. The UN World Food Programme (WFP) is warning that, as one of the legacies of COVID-19, there could be food shortages. How are African Governments preparing to ensure that our farmers receive subsidies, they are well protected and are able to store up a lot of food to make sure that we are able to keep body and soul together?
Mr Speaker, as I conclude, I would like to emphasise that there ought to be an African solution. So far we noticed that many countries are thinking about themselves. The European Union has come out with the US$1 trillion Fund of which they have raised about US$8.2 billion so far. The Americas are also looking at how to develop a vaccine and subsidise their economies, protect jobs and get their people back to work -- the United States of America, for example, has lost about 39 million jobs.
Mr Speaker, so, if we are looking to the West for solutions, it would really take a very long time because charity must begin at home. Others are more hit and they are thinking about protecting their economies and the welfare of their people. So we must look within. Just as Europe
Mr Speaker 11:44 a.m.
Thank you very much; Hon Leadership, any contributions? Yes, Hon Member?
Dr Abdul-Rashid H. Pelpuo (NDC--Wa Central) 11:54 a.m.
Mr Speaker, I thank you for the opportunity to comment on the Statement made by
the Hon Minister for Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration. I would like to thank her for the timely intervention and the speech made on this very important day; a day of soul searching when we begin to reflect on the very foundation of the AU. The reason we decide that at this time on this particular day we would begin to search deeper into the consciousness of the African and to also think about the way forward in how we generate support for ourselves and get the unity we deserve and the need to move forward.
Mr Speaker, we celebrate this day because on 25th May, 1963, Africans decided that we would come together as a union and this is the day we mark every year to commemorate and to remind ourselves that we are moving forward to one day unite as Africans, not just because it is a lip service but because we want to unite our military, our economy and politically.
Every time we do so, it is with a certain theme. This year's theme: “Silencing the Guns…” is a very reflective theme because of the changing times and circumstances we found ourselves in.
Mr Speaker, COVID-19 is a terrible disease which is killing people. In Africa alone, we have about 111,812 infections out of which 3,354
have died. This is not good news at all. Even though in comparison to others, especially, the United States which has a smaller population with huge numbers; 1.7 million infections and about 100,000 deaths.

Mr Speaker, I mean, it is way ahead of what Africa has recorded but that does not mean that we should rest on our oars. It is time for us to now say that we may have been doing the right thing because the disease has come and we have been able to make sure that we nip it in the bud at a certain point.

Mr Speaker, the theme is not just one in isolation but a theme that reflects on certain key indicators. One important area of consideration in accordance with the African Union's (AU) reflection is that we must begin to see the nexus between development and peace because silencing the gun is simply, a conflict area of discussion.

How do we understand the difference between when we are at peace and how that will ensure effective development? Therefore it is very important and I think that Ghana and Africa should not take its peace with her neighbours and Maker for granted at any point in time.

Mr Speaker, it is also time to sensitise ourselves about ideas in what it means getting our youth and women to understand the development process. For our youth, the AU has an agenda of bringing up a young population that can understand the need for development and the dire need for us to keep the peace.

If we look across the continent, especially what happened in the heat of the pandemic, in China, Dubai, United States of America (USA) and everywhere else, Africans were molested and had no places to lay their heads. This tells us that we are the most disliked race in the world and so we must not dislike ourselves. So silencing the gun is a very important thematic area and I think that it should not be taken on the face value. It should be taken very seriously and we have to rise above the circumstances that we find ourselves in today. We have to rise up --
Mr Speaker 11:54 a.m.
In conclusion?
Dr (Alhaji) Pelpuo 11:54 a.m.
Mr Speaker, I appreciate the fact that the Hon Chairman of the Committee on Foreign Affairs called on Africa to ensure a trust fund. This reminds us of the call that the COVID-19 Fund should be one that should go beyond the COVID-19 pandemic. Today, it
Mr Speaker 11:54 a.m.
Thank you very much, Hon Alhaji Pelpuo. Hon Majority Leadership?
Mr Matthew Nyindam 11:54 a.m.
Mr Speaker, I will cede to the Hon Member for Ablekuma North.
Ms Nana Akua Owusu Afriyie (NPP -- Ablekuma North) 11:54 a.m.
Mr Speaker, I beg to comment on the Statement made by the Hon Minister concerning the AU Day.
Mr Speaker, the theme is 11:54 a.m.
‘Silencing the Guns, Creating Conducive Conditions for Africa's Development` .` Indeed, I would like to quote from what the Hon Minister said which must be commended; “one of the cardinal objectives of African leaders in 2020 has been to operationalise the African Continental Free Trade Agreement by establishing the Secretariat in Accra at the end of March, 2020 and to begin the continental trade under the AfCFTA by 1st July, 2020.
We should appreciate the intervention of the Government in these times. Africans have stood up to work hard in combating this situation but when we come to Ghana, just a few weeks ago, I read in the newspapers that His Excellency the President is bringing in an intervention to help small-scale businesses.
During this period of the COVID- 19 pandemic, a lot of businesses collapsed and people were not able to go about their businesses as they used to. In Africa, the first response
was for Governments to respond quickly to the pandemic with public health measures to prevent the spread of the virus.
Mr Speaker, when we go to South Africa, they declared a national state of disaster and implemented a nationwide lockdown before reporting their first death. In Uganda, they responded by avoiding public gatherings before the first documented case in the country. Nigeria started screening passengers at their international airport nearly a month before their first case was detected.
It is true that this has given African countries an advantage in limiting the spread of the virus. The report by the Public Utilities Regulatory Commission (PURC) says; ‘every decision or action taken by African governments may have slowed transmission while it is difficult to measure the precise impact of any single intervention; African Union members are yet to document this'.
When we come to Ghana, we have done our best, and I must also commend every Hon Member in this House for what they have done in their constituencies as we have seen and read. This is a time every individual got involved to curb the situation. So
the fight is still on and we are urging every individual in Ghana to continue the fight so that at the end of the day, we would be able to combat the situation and businesses will rise again, children will start going to school and the normal activities will start again. Mr Speaker, with these few words, I must say that the Hon Minister has done well in putting this together. Thank you very much.
Mr Speaker 11:54 a.m.
Thank you very much, Hon Member. We extend our appreciation to the Hon Minister for Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration for attending to the House, sharing with us, and briefing us this morning.
Indeed, Africa must look within Africa as we struggle to deal with COVID-19 and its problems and issues both now and in the future. Areas such as agriculture, local industries and self-sufficiency should be dealt with more directly in view of the pressing global lessons.Thank you very much, Hon Minister.
Hon Members, that ends Statement time. As we approach the commencement of Public Business, I wish to announce and inform that on behalf of the Leadership, it is mandatory for every Hon Member of Parliament and staff of Parliament to test for COVID-19.
Mr Speaker 12:04 p.m.


The Press Corps must also submit themselves to the test. Hon Members, further to the test taken last week, it is imperative to inform you that we should take this matter very seriously. In this connection, on Thursday and Friday, the team has been recalled to Parliament. They would be right here to test Hon Members, staff, and the media et cetera.

Please, the decision is that in our collective interest, it is mandatory. Please do not wait till we get to the state of applying sanctions. Elaborate steps are being taken to ensure the observation of all appropriate protocols in the light of results. Absolute confidentiality and professionalism in handling all cases; negative and positive. Please let us be advised accordingly.

Hon Members, at the commencement of public business -- item numbered 5. Presentation of Papers.
Mr Speaker 12:04 p.m.
Item numbered 5(a). Hon Majority Leader?
Mr Matthew Nyindam 12:04 p.m.
Mr Speaker, with your leave, I beg to present the Papers on behalf of the Hon Majority Leader.
PAPERS 12:04 p.m.
Mr Speaker 12:04 p.m.
Item numbered 5(b) -- Hon Minister for Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation.
Mr Nyindam 12:04 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I crave your indulgence for the Hon Deputy Minister for Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation to lay the Paper on behalf of the Hon Minister.
Mr Speaker 12:04 p.m.
Very well.
By the Deputy Minister for Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation (Ms Patricia Appiagyei) (on behalf of the Hon Minister) --
Budget Performance Report in Respect of the Ministry of Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation for the Period January to December,
2019.
Referred to the Committee on Environment, Science and Technology --
Mr Speaker 12:04 p.m.
Item numbered 5(c) -- Hon Minister for Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs?
Mr Nyindam 12:04 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I crave your indulgence for the Hon Deputy Minister for Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs to lay the Paper on behalf of the Hon Minister.
Mr Speaker 12:04 p.m.
Very well.
By the Deputy Minister for Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs (Mr Paul Essien) (on behalf of the Hon Minister) --
Budget Performance Report in Respect of the Ministry of Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs for the Period January to December, 2019.
Referred to the Committee on Youth, Sports and Culture.
Mr Speaker 12:04 p.m.
Item numbered 5(d) -- Hon Minister for Local Government and Rural Development?
Mr Nyindam 12:04 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I crave your indulgence for the Hon Deputy Minister for Local Government and Rural Development to lay the Paper on behalf of the Hon Minister.
Mr Speaker 12:04 p.m.
Very well.
Mr Speaker 12:04 p.m.
Item numbered (e) -- Hon Minister for Finance?
Mr Nyindam 12:04 p.m.
Mr Speaker, again, I crave your indulgence for the Hon Deputy Ministser for Finance to lay the Paper on behalf of the Hon Minister for Finance.
Mr Speaker 12:04 p.m.
Very well. Hon Deputy Minister?
By the Deputy Minister for Finance (Mrs Abena Osei-Asare) (on behalf of the Hon Minister for Finance) --
(i) Request for waiver of Domestic VAT amounting to the Ghana cedi equivalent of three
million, one hundred and fifty- five thousand, two hundred and forty-four United States dollars eighty-eight cents (US$3, 155,244.88) on local purchases and services in respect of the Rehabilitation and Upgrading of Equipment in Technical Universities, Polytechnics and Technical and Vocational Training Centres under the Government Concessional Loan Agreement between the Government of the Republic of Ghana and the Export-Import Bank of China.
By the Deputy Minister for Finance (Mrs Abena Osei-Asare) (on behalf of the Hon Minister for Finance) --
(ii) Request for waiver of Import Duties, Import VAT, GETFund Levy, Import NHIL Levy, and EXIM Levy amounting to the Ghana cedi equivalent of three hundred and forty-seven thousand, one hundred and seventy-four United States dollars forty-five cents (US$347,174.45) on plant, machinery and equipment or
parts to be procured by Camelot Ghana Limited under the implementation of the One District One Factory (1D1F) programme.
(iii) Request for waiver of Import Duties, Import VAT, GETFund Levy, Import NHIL Levy, and EXIM Levy amounting to the Ghana cedi equivalent of one hundred and thirty-one thousand, nine hundred and eighty-eight United States dollars (US$131,988.00) on materials, plant, machinery and equipment or parts to be procured by 01 Limited under the implementation of the One District One Factory (1D1F) programme.
Referred to the Finance Committee.
Mr Speaker 12:04 p.m.
The Hon First Deputy Speaker would get ready to take the Chair.
Hon Members, item numbered 6 -- Motion.
Mr Ken Ohene Agyapong 12:04 p.m.
Mr Speaker, before I move the Motion, I would plead with you to make a
correction on page 2 of the Report. Mr Speaker, both Upper Denkyira West and Upper Denkyira East are all in Central Region and not Western Region.
Thank you.
Mr Speaker 12:04 p.m.
Thank you very much.
MOTIONS 12:14 p.m.
Chairman of the Committee (Mr Ken Ohene Agyapong) 12:14 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I beg to move, that this honourable House adopts the Report of the Committee on Local Government and Rural Development on Monitoring Visits to Selected Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies in the Country.
Mr Speaker, I crave your indulgence to present the Report of the Committee.
1.0 Introduction
Pursuant to Orders 181 and 190 of the Standing Orders of the
DACF 12:14 p.m.
Mr Speaker 12:14 p.m.
Thank you very much.
MR FIRST DEPUTY SPEAKER
Mr Thomas Nyarko Ampem (NDC -- Asuogyaman) 12:17 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I rise to second the Motion and by so doing make some brief remarks.
Mr Speaker, it would have been helpful if we have copies of the Committee's Report so we could make meaningful contributions. However, I am a member of the Committee who took part in the trip. Based on that knowledge, I would make a few remarks.
Mr Speaker, on our visit to most of these assemblies, it came to light that the speed with which the Assemblies disburse funds in their main Common Fund accounts is different from the seriousness with
which they handle the disability account. We saw that most assemblies had a lot of moneys sitting in their Disability Accounts in the various assemblies.
Mr Speaker, we realised that most of the assemblies were not too committed in the disbursement of the funds to the people with disabilities. In some instances, about two to three quarters transfers were still lying in the assemblies' accounts, and we did not find this to be very encouraging. So the Committee encouraged the assemblies that the moneys are meant for the people with disabilities so just as they promptly disbursed the funds in their main Common Fund Accounts, they should do same to the moneys meant for the people with disability.
Mr Speaker, we realised that the the District Assemblies Common Fund Administrator has asked the assemblies to compile a register of all people with disabilities in their districts. Some have done it so well and have a tall list of people with disabilities with the description of the nature of their disabilities. Others too have very few names. Obviously, the Administrator hopes that going forward, they would disburse funds based on the number of registered people with disabilities to the various assemblies.
This is because, if for instance Asuogyaman has 1000 people with disability and Odododiodioo has only 400, all things being equal, more moneys must go to Asuogyaman than it goes to Odododiodioo. However, this is not to say that there are not more people with disabilities in Odododiodioo. It underscores the fact that that Assembly probably has not done enough work in capturing most of the people who are disabled. So we encourage most of the assemblies to take this seriously.
Mr Speaker, with these few words, I second the Motion.
Mr First Deputy Speaker 12:17 p.m.
Hon Deputy Minister for Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation?
Ms Patricia Appiagyei (NPP -- Asokwa) 12:24 p.m.
Thank you, Mr Speaker. I rise to support the Motion on the Floor and to commend the Hon Minister for Local Government and Rural Development and the Administrator of the District Assemblies Common Fund for this initiative.
Mr Speaker, this is one of the few times that we have received such support to undertake this particular monitoring programme. The first time, in 2018, we visited about 25 district
assemblies. This particular report carries about 45 district assemblies which were visited. I would like to mention that due to the regular monitoring visits that the Committee has started to embark on, it has actually created some awareness for some of the district assemblies, chief executives of the district assemblies and has actually put them on their toes to look at the formula critically and apply them as it should be.
My first critical comment would be on the fact that most of the projects undertaken by most of the assemblies as far back as 2009 have not been completed. The common excuse is that they have not received the required Common Fund allocation to complete those projects.

Mr Speaker, I believe that if we set it out as a criteria for assessing the various Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies ensuring that before they assign a new project, they have to ensure that they have completed what they commenced as assemblies.

Hon Members would agree with me that because most development agents are attributed to the efforts of the Hon Member of Parliament in the area, most of the chief executives of
Mr First Deputy Speaker 12:24 p.m.
Yes, Hon Member for Aowin?
Mr Mathias Ntow (NDC -- Aowin) 12:24 p.m.
Thank you very much, Mr Speaker.
Before I go to the substantive issues and the observation made by the Committee, I would like to thank the Hon Chairman of the Committee and the Hon Members for a very good work done. As we are all aware, it is our responsibility to ensure that we do our oversight work.
Mr Speaker, from the observations made by your Committee, I think it is very important and necessary for the MMDCEs to ensure that projects that have been initiated are brought to proper completion. If you visit some of the MMDAs, you would find out that projects have been left for about five years and projects which started 10 years ago have not been completed.
Instead of a new chief executive to continue, they would initiate a new one which does not augur well for the development of the district.
Mr Speaker, the idea of the framers of the Constitution was that decentralisation should bring development to the rural areas. I always commend the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development because in my constituency, had it not been for the institution of the decentralisation policy it would have been very difficult for us to have a three storey building which serves as premise of the district assembly.
Mr Speaker, with the observations made by the Committee, with your permission, I would want to read a portion on page 3, paragraph 6.1.2, under Projects Undertaken using
DACF:
“An observation of records at the various MMDAs shows that many of the assemblies awarded contracts for new projects when existing projects had not been completed.”
I think it is a very good observation made by the Committee.
Mr Speaker, if we go to page 4 under paragraph 6.1.4 under recommendation of the utilisation of the DACF:
“The Committee recommended that the Ministry of Finance must do well to release moneys.”
Mr Mathias Ntow (NDC -- Aowin) 12:34 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I think this is very important. Sometimes the Ministry of Finance would wait for the three quarters before it releases the first quarter of DACF. Sometimes, it would be part of it not in full.
So, with these comments, we would want to urge the Ministry of Finance to help us develop the rural areas. The concentration is too much on the capital cities, Accra and the regional capitals. Everything is about Accra and Kumasi. What about Odoben-Brakwa and Aowin- Suaman?
Mr Speaker, I think the Committee has done a very good job. After disbursing the fund, the Administrator in collaboration with the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development and the Regional Coordinating Councils should carry out intensive monitoring and evaluation. It is an important point made by the Committee.

Mr Speaker, when moneys are released to district assemblies and the monitoring is weak, the MMDCEs may be tempted to do their own thing. So for us to facilitate and to expedite action on the developmental projects of this country, it is better for us as a
Mr First Deputy Speaker 12:34 p.m.
A Regional Minister and a Deputy Minister for Local Government and Rural Development both want to contribute, but I would listen to the Regional Minister first.
Mr Kwabena Okyere Darko- Mensah (NPP -- Takoradi) 12:34 p.m.
Mr Speaker, thank you very much for such a beautiful opportunity.
Mr Speaker, first and foremost, I would congratulate the Committee for going round the country to do this work in 2018, and then doing the same work in 2019.
Mr Speaker, I have tried to look for some indicators, so that I can see whether we are moving away from our traditional concepts of local government, or whether we are gradually changing to become self- sufficient local administrators.
Mr Speaker, if we take the 2018 Report, the recommendations are the same for the 2019 Report when it comes to the Internally Generated Funds (IGFs); commission collectors - - permanent collectors are not doing well, they only collect an amount of
GH¢500 while commission collectors collect an amount of about GH¢1000 a day. Clearly, it shows that there is a mis-match.
If we take some assemblies, they virtually also do not have money, and that is the reason I support the assemblies that took decisions to use part of their Debt-Adjusted Cash Flow (DACF) and their resources to invest in big projects like the Planting for Exports and Rural Development, as well as the Planting for Food and Jobs programmes, to ensure that local economies are developed.
Mr Speaker, we cannot continue to be in a country where everybody looks up to Accra for money. We should grow past this. When I was an assemblyman and a finance committee chairman, I was able to generate revenues for my IGF. In fact, my presiding member gave me a target.
He told me to do one is to one, and that is what we did. But we know that we are setting up assemblies that cannot generate easily from rates, property taxes and the rest. They need to invest into agriculture; that is where they would have the comparative advantage.
Mr Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah (NDC --Ellembelle) 12:34 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I thank you for the opportunity. I would want to thank the Committee for a very good work done and for this comprehensive Report.

Mr Speaker, the Committee's work in recommendations is very important, and I would want to start with one observation of the Committee. It is on the fact that it was noted that there were contracts that had been awarded, and there were projects that had not been completed, yet most of these assemblies had abandoned those projects and had started new projects.

Mr Speaker, this has been a very old problem. I recalled vividly that early in June 2009, the late Professor Mills issued a statement about that. He issued that his Government in all assemblies must focus on completing all uncompleted projects before new ones were done, and we had a lot of projects completed.

Mr Speaker, this is very important, and it is even important now. Even as we speak, four months before the end of term of the Government, if swe go to a lot of assemblies, there are new sod cuttings, and projects are 80 to 90 per cent incomplete. It is crucial, and I think that this recommendation and call by this Committee is very important. The assemblies must focus on completing projects before they start new ones.

The key here is on how we would monitor and ensure that this is done. I think that the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development, working with the Ministry of Finance must strengthen our monitoring capacity, and offer some sanction regime that basically ensures that DCES and assemblies are implementing and completing projects before they start new ones to save resources for the people of Ghana.

12. 44 p. m.

Mr Speaker, another important point that was made was the issue of DDF. DDF has really become part of the development funds of the District Assemblies. And what is so important about DDF is that there is this component about assessment and ensuring that people really get the amount of money based on performance.

And this is an area that I see a lot of assemblies use in a lot of infrastructural projects, and often, we would see that that exercise is taking place; if we go to different district assemblies we see the preparation and the anxiousness of these assemblies to score high. A lot of DCEs in the past have made a point that the more they score, it says something about their performance.

Mr Speaker, unfortunately, in this Report, we have noted that because of Government's failure to add counterpart funding, the DDF was not implemented, I am sure it had a huge impact on our development efforts.

I am happy to note in this Report that allocation was made in 2018 and in that DDF was supposed to be implemented. Mr Speaker, we must make sure that in the allocations, the Government's counterpart funding is in place to avoid the situation we found ourselves in 2017.

Mr Speaker, more importantly, I also noted another important area that this Committee focuses on, and that has to do with IGF. We could see in all the assemblies that we visited, almost all IGFs were used on recurrent expenditure. And it has been the practice that when they get the IGF, it is something that the DCEs and the assemblies could use.

Mr Speaker, there has to be some clear policy that says that some percentage -- and I think this Committee made a recommendation - at least 40 per cent of IGF must be focussed on physical infrastructure, and we have to encourage the assemblies to do that.

Mr Speaker, more importantly, we also have to make sure that there are systems in place that can really educate people on the needs and the importance of paying taxes. And I think that education is lacking so there is often this gap. There is always conflict trying to make sure people understand how important it is to pay their taxes and levies for the assemblies to be able to develop.

We must strengthen that education in that gap, but more importantly, the people who are put in charge of collecting IGF must be paid well. We could see that most of these employees are temporary workers and they are not motivated to even work.

And I think that in this Report, the Committee did a comparison where -- and the point that was being made here was that, in a district where these temporary employees were paid, it reflected in higher revenue; in higher collection rate; in districts that they were paid very low, the performance was not there and it had a rare impact on taxes. And I think these are very important and we must really focus on them.

Mr Speaker, I think generally, this Report is very comprehensive and I would like to commend the Committee for this comprehensive work.
Mr First Deputy Speaker 12:34 p.m.
Yes, Hon Deputy Minister?
Deputy Minister for Local Government and Rural Development (Mr Augustine Collins Ntim)(MP): Thank you, Mr Speaker. Let me join my Hon Colleagues who have just spoken to the Report to commend the Chairman and the members of the Committee for giving us that comprehensive Report.
Mr Speaker, indeed, it is so comprehensive in the sense that it touches base with every aspect in terms of the financial management of the district assemblies.
Mr Speaker, it is very important that as a nation; as Parliament, we set up a very strong monitoring team to be able to monitor the assemblies essentially because Government, in its quest to touch base with every community in the country; every sector is run by several programmes and interventions.
Several programmes like the Planting for Food and Jobs; Planting for Export and Rural Development and then the Modernisation of Agriculture in Ghana; the Rearing for Food and Jobs; Digitisation, all these
programmes eventually find expression at the district level where actual implementation occurs.
Mr Speaker, and all these interventions also go along with cash; funding arrangements so there is a significant amount of funds that are going to various assemblies and there is the need for us as a country to also come out with monitoring guidelines to be able to check the utilisation of these resources.
Mr Speaker, in this light, the Ministry for Local Government and Rural Development led by the Hon Minister, Hajia Alima Mahama, has also put up very comprehensive guidelines; very strong monitoring tool to be able to ensure that all these funding arrangements; the programmes and interventions going on in the various MMDAs are well implemented and well managed.
And I am happy that the Committee in Parliament charged with the oversight responsibility over the district assemblies is also taking over the years to go round assemblies to also monitor for themselves what is happening in the various assemblies, not only monitor but coming out with a comprehensive Report, trying to guide the Ministry in the management of those funds.
Mr Speaker, just to touch base on the Disability Fund as espoused by the Hon Member of Parliament for Asuogyaman. Mr Speaker, assem- blies are very eager to manage the Disability Fund, but we are moving from the traditional system of direct cash transfer to the poor and the vulnerable to skill development.
We want to curtail the cyclical poverty arrangement whereby people with disability are just given cash transfers. Some of them are disabled but the disability does not mean that they are unable; they can. The trend has been that we are providing skills training development to all the people within prison.
And that of course, would carry lobbying and fire funding arrangements. And I am happy to note that this present Government has increased the Disability Fund from 2 per cent to 3 per cent. And that of course, is of the reasons why we see heavy amount of cash in the assemblies.
Mr Speaker, however, the delay is not as a result of reluctance of the DCEs to disburse, but because with the new arrangement, they have to go through some procurement processes to even get the equipment. We are not giving them only the skills but we
capacitate them by way of tooling them. And that has to go through some level of procurement and that might be one of the reasons why when we go to some few assemblies [Inaudible] but in essence, be it as it may, we are encouraging all the Chief Executives to be able be proactive in the management and the disbursement of the money in a way that would make the people with disability financially inclusive.
Mr Speaker, on the issue of the DDF and its disbursement it is so important that as a country, we do not just dole out funds; but then, it has to be linked with performance. And for that matter, Government introduced the DDF, which is a performance- based grant to assemblies.
Before the inception of that grant, it used to be just administrative and governance issues; how we are able to record, book keepings and all of that. We are gone further; we have gone further to bring about implementation of programmes and of that, and for that matter, assemblies are well assessed to be able to ensure that they perform.
Mr Speaker, the good thing is that as Members have been complaining that we need, as a country to ensure that projects started are completed so that we have the full benefit of the
Mr First Deputy Speaker 12:54 p.m.
projects in district assemblies, then, of course, it avoids a reasonable number of delays.
But to be able to address that comprehensively, the Ministry has instituted an institutional mechanism in the District Performance Assessment Tool (DPAT) to the extent that if any assembly delays in the completion, it suffers in cash transfers.

We are trying to introduce an incentive system through the completion of the project to be able to ensure that assemblies complete the projects in good time. So it is good observation and the Ministry is working to put up the institutional mechanisms as I said, to be able to address that.

Mr Speaker, on the issue of the local economic activities, the Ministry is now focusing attention on situations where maximum emphasis is placed on local governance as against the rural economic development.

Now, the Ministry is urging the Assemblies to improve upon their Internally Generated Funds (IGFs). How would they improve the IGF if the people they are supposed to take the IGF from are not financially inclusive?

Therefore the main paradigm is that Assemblies are charged not only to construct roads, classrooms and toilet facilities. The physical development should go in tandem with the economic empowerment of the people through the implementation of programmes such as the Planting for Food and Jobs and the Planting for Export and Rural Development.

Mr Speaker, what I am happy about this Planting for Export and Rural Development in this Report is that, one of the Members of the Committee, after touring the country came to my office and said that:

“Honourable, we visited almost about 30 districts in the Ashanti Region, Western Region, Northern Region among others and what we realised was that Assemblies are rather using their moneys to raise ceilings, not in hundreds but in hundreds of thousands.”

They think that it is supposed to be a flagship programme, so they should not use the Assemblies. It was there and then that I drew the Hon Member's attention to the fact that one of the functions of the Assemblies is not only to put up physical infrastructure but empower the people. It is also linked to His Excellency's vision of the decentralised industrialisation agenda.

The key ingredient of that agenda has to do with raw materials to feed into the One District One Factory Initiative. The Assemblies are empowered and encouraged to use their resources to be able to undertake and implement successfully its programmes.

That explains why this time, when we went round, we saw all the Assemblies doing that. It is a carefully tailored programme to ensure that Assemblies do not only focus on physical developments, such as toilets, but they move in tandem with the economic empowerment of the people, so that many more Ghanaians, especially those in the rural areas are empowered.

It is linked with Government's agenda, so they are all connected and I am happy that the Committee has also captured it. As a Ministry, we have taken note of all the recommendations made from various facets in terms of funding arrangements, District Assemblies Common Fund, IGF among others.

We would work on them and we thank Hon Members of Parliament (MP), especially the members of the Committee on Local Government and Rural Development for taking time to

go round the country to assess the performance of the various Assemblies.

I would want to urge each and every MP here on the need to make conscious efforts to empower our people. We should invest some of our MPs Common Funds in programmes like the raising of the seedlings - we are not only doing cashew. So far, we have validated about 98 districts where we are planting cashew, from the transitional zones of the Ashanti Region and the Northern Region and the Upper East Region among others.

Also, we have validated 31 districts where we have validated the production of coconuts. So with all these interventions, we want to urge MPs to support that programme, so that our people would become financially inclusive. There is the tendency that once we are resourced, we would not bother --
Mr Avedzi 12:54 p.m.
On a point of order. Mr Speaker, the Hon Member is the Deputy Minister for Local Government and Rural Development. He said that MPs should provide some form of support by using our Common Fund. First of all, the impression is being created that the Common Fund is sufficient. Also, there are guidelines for the disbursement and use of the MPs
Mr First Deputy Speaker 12:54 p.m.
Hon Deputy Minister, please wind up. You are contributing to a Report, so later, if you wish, you can come and make a Statement.
Mr Ntim 12:54 p.m.
Mr Speaker, in talking about all this, the Hon Deputy Minority Leader should note that it is local economic activity and we are trying to craft a system that would ensure the sustainable economic empowerment of our people. So no matter how small the funding, if they contribute towards that, I think that it would help.
Mr Speaker, with these few words, I thank you for the opportunity.
Alhaji Mohammed-Mubarak Muntaka (NDC -- Asawase) 1:04 p.m.
Mr Speaker, thank you for the opportunity to contribute to the Motion.
I would like to just highlight some of the key areas mentioned in the
Report, prominent among them is the use of the guidelines. Like the Hon Deputy Minister rightly said, I agree with him that the MPs Common Fund is not too small for us to say that we cannot do anything. We need to incorporate it into the guidelines, however, just as the Hon Deputy Minority Leader said, to enable MPs to look at their local environments and see what some youth could be assisted to do within their local environments.
For example, if you are in the transitional zone, as he said, you could do cashew. If you are around Suhum, you could look at the local activities there and see what you can do. Many of us who sit in this Chamber would agree that even with GH¢20,000, the lives and livelihoods of many people around us could be changed.
If in every quarter, you decide that you would just allocate GH¢20,000 to those kinds of activities, in four quarters, you would have spent GH¢80,000 in trying to assist people and in four years that would mean that you would help a lot. Over the years, that could be useful, but it has to be in the guidelines.
Mr Speaker, in the guidelines which are very common to me, you and many others in the Chamber, when it comes to the MPs Common Fund and its utilisation, the Hon Deputy Minister
for Local Government and Rural Development was a victim in the previous Administration.
I believe that the time has come for us -- and probably, my Hon Colleague the Deputy Minister, having suffered from it before -- to take the steps to amend the Local Government Act. In my view, the MP's memo should go straight to the Coordinating Director and when the disbursement form is ready, the MP should sign it.
It takes away the MCE and the conflicts between the two on the ground, so that the Assembly would help the MP in spending its fund and then the MP would get to know how much is taken because he or she signs the disbursement forms.
Mr Speaker, currently, what is happening -- which has happened before -- is that you would see the Assembly dipping their hands into the MPs Common Fund without the MP's knowledge. Sometimes when you then write a memorandum, even though the guidelines say processing it should not go beyond two weeks, sometimes it takes months.
Apparently, either they have used part of your money and the money is not there, so they are waiting to get money to quickly replace it before
they process it or sometimes because of the local politics and the rivalry that exists, there are unnecessary delays and waste of resources.
There is a waste of resources because if you write a memorandum to support a church or an organisation with about 1000 bags of cement, which is sold at a rate of probably GH¢37 today, that would be GH¢37,000. If you delay for two months and the price of cement changes, it can no longer buy 1000. What could one do in that circumstance?
They might not be hurting the MP, anyway, but they would be wasting the resources that are meant for the district.

We have hammered the guideline adherence again and again over the period and the time has come for us to create it. A memorandum would be written to the coordinating director; the Municipal Chief Executive (MCE) would have nothing to do with it and when the disbursement form is ready, the MP would sign it.

This is because without the disbursement form, the bank would not honour the cheque. However, currently, once the memorandum is
Alhaji Mohammed-Mubarak Muntaka (NDC -- Asawase) 1:04 p.m.
written, that is it. It is the disbursement form that the banks inspect before the cheque is honoured. This is something we need to discuss and see how we could go around it.
Mr Speaker, we have to admit that over this period, the concept of the District Assembly was excellent but over the years, we have allowed our political party faithfuls to virtually hijack the Assemblies, so they have become centres of corruption. This is because any time there are agitations from the people for the District Chief Executive (DCE) to be changed, it is because he or she does not do or has not done one thing or the other.
How would he or she do it? It is the same Common Fund which is meant for development that they want to be used in a way that is not proper and the DCEs who stand their grounds and refuse, the party faithfuls want that person changed. So the only way for the MPs and the MMDCs, in their efforts to survive, is to find a way to manage the party faithfuls with the Common Fund, which is not enough. This is something that all of us as political parties need to admit and work around.
Most of us have been in and out of government, so we know the realities but how do we deal with it? If we see
how the chunk of the moneys are used in the District Assemblies, we would be very sad for the districts because the money is not really used for the purposes for which it was brought and that is why sometimes the physically challenged in the community do not get their share as captured in the Report that they owe so much because in their efforts to please these party apparatchiks, they award all manner of contracts, which make them owe so much that the Common Fund just dries off and does not even allow them to follow their development plan.
Mr Speaker, between 2006 and 2007, when the Committee on Poverty Reduction went round for visits, I made it a point to ask each Assembly for their development plan but not even one Assembly was able to have their plan aligned. It was as if the development plan was meant for Accra, so they do it; it goes through the regional coordinating council and get to the National Development Commission and that ends it.
In the District, everything else they do, they do not even make reference to the development plan. That is worrying because we could create many Assemblies but their impact on the lives of the ordinary citizens in their localities would be minimal.
Mr Speaker, sometimes moneys are transferred to the Assemblies and even MPs do not have copies. For example, apart from the Common Fund that is disbursed by the Administrator of the Common Fund which MPs get copies, I have never received a copy of a letter which indicates how much or the amount that would go into my municipal.
Recently, during this COVID-19 period, they sent GH¢166,000 and later they sent another GH¢20,000. Many of the Assemblies have told the citizens that nothing has come for the management of the pandemic. Why? This is because that letter has not been copied to any other person apart from themselves.
If the MP is copied, at least, he or she, in an effort to educate the people, would make it known to the people and they would demand accountability from the Assemblies. However, if the money is transferred and no other person is copied, how would accountability be ensured?
Sometimes the District Assemblies distance themselves so much from the people. The ordinary citizen cannot just walk to the Assembly to demand anything. The person has to be connected to someone before he or she could go to the District Assembly.
Even sometimes the Assemblymen who are supposed to be the operators of balance with the District Assemblies are not known and do not get to know of any information. For example, there could be a District Assembly that would run for six months without having a single Assembly meeting so the Assemblymen do not get to know what happens and when they want to know they are tagged as opponents even if they all belong to the same political party.
These are realities that we all know. The DCEs tag the Assembly Men as being “anti” and begin to do all manner of things. So the purpose for which the District Assemblies are established to bring governance closer to the people, it rather makes governance far from the people. For example, some people even say that they do not know the use of some District Assemblies because they are not informed and involved in anything. The only time they see the Assemblies is when they come to collect their toll or property rate.
Mr Speaker, another important issue that requires mention is the share of royalty from the Administrator of Stool Lands because it moves from them straight to the Assembly. I do not even think the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development is even served copies as to how much

has gone to a specific Assembly. How do they monitor? So they decide to just do whatever they want to do. If we even decide to embark on monitoring, we know that Common Fund has been sent together with the District Development Fund (DDF) but we do not know about the others, especially on how effective monitoring would be provided?

We need to find a way to synchronise all these so that the Assemblies would become useful to our citizens.

Mr Speaker, lastly, with regard to uncompleted projects, in a number of Districts there are uncompleted structures that have been littered all over. This is very sad because sometimes it is simple politicking and one wonders why they have not been completed. With those projects that have been completed, their maintenance is poor.

Hon Members put a lot of pressure on the Hon Minister for Energy to line up streets with lights but when a single bulb goes off, they are not interested in fixing it and in no time all the lights go off. The Districts do not care. If you ask them they would tell you they did not fix it and that those who fixed it should come and maintain it.
Mr First Deputy Speaker 1:04 p.m.
Majority leadership?
Yes, Hon Deputy Minister for Local Government and Rural Development?
Mr Osei Bonsu Amoah (NPP -- Akuapem South) 1:14 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I thank you for the opportunity to contribute to the Motion.
Indeed, this is about the third Report that I have seen with regard to the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development.
There is even a joint Report by the Ministries of Local Government and Rural Development; Works and Housing; and Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation. It is all good and while commending the Ministry for sponsoring such tours to gather such Reports, I would also want to commend the various Committees, especially, the Committee on Local Government and Rural Development, for this diligent work. Indeed, when they go round they are able to expose some of these challenges and share thoughts.
Mr Speaker, some of the Chief Executives of the Assemblies also get to know what is required of them even though they have gone through various training.
Mr Speaker, I noticed that part of the Report talks about sanitation and what we need to do in that regard.
The various recommendations have been submitted to us and we are seriously working on same.
Indeed, the Committee also talks about auditing where after disbursing the Common Fund by the Administrator, they expect the Ministry to carry out an audit. There are several forms of auditing. Indeed, there is the internal audit and, of course, the Auditor-General also performs his duty and it is believed that with these efforts, a lot is being done to ensure that what is sent to the Assemblies will be accounted for.
Mr Speaker, I can say that this is one of the best times for the Assemblies. Indeed, a lot has been sent to the Assemblies and some of these reports are a bit late, otherwise, they would have captured the kind of funding that we sent to the Assemblies, either under the DDF or under Special Projects like the Secondary Cities Projects or even the Safety Net Project, and of course, the almighty Common Fund.
Mr Speaker, so I would say that reading through the recommendations, the Committee has touched on several aspects, one being the non-payment of DDF that has been addressed because when this Administration inherited the DDF projects, we were in the arrears of US$20 million.

Through the effort of the Ministry of Finance and that of the Local Government and Rural Development, the US$20 million arrears was cleared and now the DDF is on course. It has become one of the major source of funding for the Assemblies when it comes to very critical projects.

Mr Speaker, it is also mentioned that some of the Assemblies are performing very well when it comes to raising revenues, that is the Internally Generated Funds (IGFs), whereas, some too have been listed as low performers and that we should find a way of assisting them to raise revenue internally.

Mr Speaker, there are several programmes that the Ministry has embarked upon to ensure that some of these Assemblies are able to generate some revenues to run the Assemblies. Generating them is one aspect but utilising them too is another. Indeed, the Committee has touched on the fact that some of them are able to raise revenue but when it comes to utilisation, it is skewed towards what they think would be their preference.

Mr Speaker, the Report also talks about difficulty in the evaluation of property. It has been a major issue for the Assemblies in the sense that, it is when they are able to put value on

a property that they are able to impose the appropriate rates to generate revenue. But even in getting to how these property are valued, they need so much money to put in before they get feedback. The Ministry of Finance is finding a way to ensure that some of these things are covered so that we get the appropriate values for property and the Assemblies then would be able to generate the relevant revenues.

Mr Speaker, the compliance with fund guidelines and disability fund management arrangement and mode of disbursement are all issues which have come up as these reports come.

Mr Speaker, the Assemblies are required to set up committees to get the disability funds disbursed. Some are doing very well; others too are really not complying with what we expect of them. The attention has been drawn to some of these things and I believe, moving forward, we should be able to address these issues.

Mr Speaker, all in all, I think that this is a very useful exercise and some of our Colleagues indeed have been saying that some of these things should have started far earlier under the previous Administration and that if this is what is being done now, we should all encourage it; which we did. Of

course, this also promotes transparency in our local governance system.

So I commend and thank the Committee for this wonderful work and assure the whole House that we would pursue some of these issues raised to ensure that we all have a better system and a better Ghana to live in.

I thank you so much, Mr Speaker.

Question put and Motion agreed to.

Resolved accordingly.
Mr First Deputy Speaker 1:14 p.m.
Hon Majority Leader, what is next?
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 1:14 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I believe we can now go to item listed 7.
Mr First Deputy Speaker 1:14 p.m.
Hon Members, item numbered 7; Education Regulatory Bodies Bill, 2019 at the Consideration Stage.
Yes, Hon Minority Chief Whip?
Alhaji Muntaka 1:14 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I thank you. The Hon Chairman of the Committee to consider the item numbered 7 that which the Hon
Majority Leader has called for is not in the Chamber. None of the Hon Ministers sponsoring the Bill is here. I do not know whether they are having some other meeting?
Mr Speaker, I do not see how we are going to do this without the Hon Chairman or any Hon Member of the Committee on Education in the Chamber. I do not know if the Hon Majority Leader has adverted his mind to this?
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 1:14 p.m.
Mr Speaker, the Hon Chairman of the Committee has just been invited to a crucial meeting and I believe the amendments that have been proffered here are all driven by the Winnowing Committee which did them in conjunction with the Committee leadership themselves. I believe we could, in the circumstance, deal with the amendments as advertised.
Mr Speaker, the other day, as you observed, we ran into some hurdles because it was unfortunate that the Table Office could not effectively capture what was done by the Winnowing Committee and that is why we stopped the consideration in order for them to properly capture the outcome of that meeting.
Alhaji Muntaka 1:14 p.m.
Mr Speaker, my worry is that the sponsors of the Bill are not here. We cannot take that one away. They must be here because even if they had winnowing issues could still come up and when they do, we would need people to provide explanations. I do not see how we would proceed with the consideration of the Bill when the sponsors of the Bill are not here.
Mr Speaker, unless the Hon Majority Leader has planned to have extended Sitting. It is about 25 minutes to 2.00 p.m. which is the time for us to close and we do not have the --
Mr First Deputy Speaker 1:24 p.m.
Hon Member, by my watch, it is 34 minutes to 2.00 p.m.
Alhaji Muntaka 1:24 p.m.
Mr Speaker, all right. It is 34 minutes before we close and we do not have the sponsors of the Bill here too.
Mr Speaker, so that is key and we cannot just gloss over this. If we could get the sponsors of the Bill, that will be very useful for us to spend the about half an hour or so left for us to do that. I do not know if the Hon Majority Leader can get the sponsors of the Bill because if they are not here, I do not see how useful our proceedings with the consideration of this Bill will be to the rest of us in the House.
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 1:24 p.m.
Mr Speaker, as I indicated at the very outset, the winnowing that we did was done with the close collaboration of the Hon Minister; he sat in and we know in what direction we are going. If anybody wants - and I am glad we are indicating it to ourselves that we want to make expeditious use of the time available to us.
Mr Speaker, so I would want to plead that we go on, but of course, it is a decision of the House; if Hon Members think that we should stop, so be it. However, I think that where we are, we can make progress.
Alhaji Muntaka 1:24 p.m.
Mr Speaker, the Hon Majority Leader is not addressing the issue. The issue is that the sponsors of the Bill are not here and we all know that we can have a very fantastic winnowing but when the Bill is brought before the House, once
every Hon Member has the right to raise concern about any amendment, we need to have the sponsors of the Bill to provide explanation.
So it is not about a number of four, six or 10 people who have done winnowing. And if they are in the Chamber, where are the Hon Minister, Chairman, Vice Chairman and Members of the Committee on Education?
Mr Speaker, this is a legitimate issue and we should not just make it look as if we could do it anyway. I only hope that the Hon Majority Leader will address the legitimate issue so that when the sponsors of the Bill are around, that is fine and if not, we could adjourn. This is because we must not just put our rules aside and assume that when we want to work, we must just be running as it is not fair to the House.
Mr Speaker, aside that I am told that due to the situation we find ourselves in, we should not be Sitting for long hours in the Chamber. So if we do not have the sponsors of the Bill, why not adjourn till tomorrow or if they are close by, we get them in and we can proceed.
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 1:24 p.m.
Mr Speaker, respectfully, the Committee on Education is not the sponsor of the Bill but the Hon Minister for Education.
Mr Speaker, the Hon Muntaka said I did not answer the question; I responded to it, maybe, he was not listening closely to what I said. I said that the Hon Minister has been with us at the Winnowing Committee. If it is that Hon Members who were with us at the Winnowing Committee are also changing their minds, let them tell us. This is because the Hon Member for Wa West, Mr Yieleh Chireh was there but he sits somewhere else and shakes his head.
So I believe that we can go on with the Bill, where we are, but if - as I said, it is the property of the House now. If the House thinks that we cannot go on, I can only try to convince Hon Members that we go on with it because we are clear in our minds in terms of the direction -
Mr Speaker, so unless anybody has something materially against the consideration, I believe we can go on.
Mr Joseph Yieleh Chireh 1:24 p.m.
Mr Speaker, it is true that occasionally, the Hon Minister was in the Winnowing Committee but as the Hon Minority Chief Whip has said, people
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 1:24 p.m.
Mr Speaker, as I said, the decision is for us to take but the Hon Member for Wa West, Mr Chireh knows that what he said is most untrue. Please, let us not re-write the rules such that where it is convenient for a person, that person postulates a theory. He is not right and we have, on many occasions, gone on with Bills that we all agree on in the absence of Hon Ministers, especially when they are non-controversial.
Mr Speaker, I agree that ideally, we should have an Hon Minister to be with us in the Chamber as it goes without any telling. However, I am saying that on many occasions, we have gone on, especially in these matters where the Hon Ministers have been with us at the winnowing level. As I said, ultimately, it is for us to decide on the issue.
Mr First Deputy Speaker 1:24 p.m.
I am the referee; if the players are not ready to play the match, the referee has no role to play. If the players agree on a match then I will officiate, but for now, there appears to be no agreement as to whether we will play the match or suspend it.
Alhaji Muntaka 1:24 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I know there have been instances where the Hon Ministers as well as their deputies have not been there and sometimes we say that; “this is not a controversial Bill, can we make progress while we try to get the Hon Minister and his deputies”? However, in this instance, even the Hon Chairman and his Vice are not here and no Hon Member on the Committee on the other Side is here and we are still being asked to proceed.
I find that very difficult to understand. I hope the Hon Majority Leader moves the Motion for
adjournment till tomorrow since he says the Hon Chairman of the Committee was in a meeting. We hope that tomorrow, he will be in the Chamber then we can Consider the Bill even in the absence of the Hon Minister, but for now that none of them is available, I do not think we will be fair to ourselves if we proceed.
Mr First Deputy Speaker 1:24 p.m.
Yes, Hon Member for Manhyia North?
Mr Owusu Collins Amankwah 1:24 p.m.
Mr Speaker, if the Hon Minority Chief Whip says that there is no Hon Member on the Committee on Education, he is grossly misleading the House. This is because the Hon Ranking Member is also an Hon Member of the Committee. [Interruption] - - Hon Member of Parliament for Kumawu is also here and he is an Hon Member of the Committee.
So why should a whole Hon Minority Chief Whip mislead the House? This is a House of record. He cannot mislead this august House as he is fond of doing that and I do not think it is right.
Mr Speaker, I appeal to you that as a matter of urgency and necessity, he should retract and apologise to the House.
Mr First Deputy Speaker 1:24 p.m.
Hon Member for Manhyia North who wants to play the match -- ? [Laughter] -- he has put fuel on fire on the other Side, which only helped to delay the match.
rose
Mr First Deputy Speaker 1:24 p.m.
Hon Ahiafor, are you an Hon Member of the Committee on Education?
Mr Ahiafor 1:34 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I am an Hon Member of the Committee on Education. Unfortunately, the Hon Member who just spoke is grossly misleading the House.
The Hon Member for Kumawu is not an Hon Member of the Committee on Education and so if he is alleging that the Hon Minority Chief Whip is misleading the House, then he is rather misleading the House and this is a House of record. Mr Speaker, that ought to have been expunged from the record.
Mr Speaker, he can check the membership list and the Hon Member for Kumawu is never an Hon Member of the Committee on Education. Mr Speaker, next time, he has to look carefully before he leaps.
Mr First Deputy Speaker 1:34 p.m.
Hon Deputy Minister for Agriculture?
Dr Sagre Bambangi 1:34 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I am an Hon Member of the Committee on Education, however, I was not part of the winnowing. I just want to correct the record that there is no other Hon Member of the Committee on this Side of the House because I am here. Mr Speaker, I am the Hon Member for the Walewale Constituency.
Mr First Deputy Speaker 1:34 p.m.
So on both Sides of the House, there is one misrepresentation because the Hon Minority Chief Whip said that there was none, but we have identified one member of the Committee now.
The Hon Member for Manhyia North said that the Hon Member for Kumawu is an Hon Member of the Committee, but the Hon Member is not an Hon Member of the Committee. [Laughter] So there is a misrepresentation each from both Sides. Hon Majority Leader, I am still waiting for the decision by the House.
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 1:34 p.m.
Mr Speaker, you made the decision for us, and as I said, I have appealed that we can go on. We are ready to play the match but if others are not ready
to play then let them say so; then we can adjourn proceedings. Mr Speaker, but we are ready to play the match.
Mr First Deputy Speaker 1:34 p.m.
They are saying that the number on your team does not constitute a legitimate team to play a match.
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 1:34 p.m.
Mr Speaker, in this instance, it is the competence of the team that is available that matters and not the number.
Mr Dafeamekpor 1:34 p.m.
Mr Speaker, clearly, we are ready to do business but the Hon Leader of Government Business does not have the team to play the match. The Hon Chairman and the Hon Vice Chairman are not here and they have not detailed anybody to act in their stead to move the proposed amendments. If they had detailed someone else to act in their stead, then we would do business.
Mr Speaker, as the Hon Minority Chief Whip said, we have spent some time to debate this matter so I would suggest humbly that we suspend Sitting for 30 minutes and put our house in order and resume Sitting. Otherwise we can adjourn for the day.
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 1:34 p.m.
Mr Speaker, unfortunately, we are spending useful time on minor matters but let me assure the Hon Member for South Dayi, Mr Dafeamekpor that one Messi or one Maradona is equivalent to more than 20 part-time players. [Laughter]
Mr Speaker, I know I am the Leader of Government Business but he acknowledges that I also led the efforts at the winnowing. So I can take charge of moving the proposed amendments if we agree to continue with the business.
Mr First Deputy Speaker 1:34 p.m.
I do not know how to decide because I do not want to start a match where -
The Hon Majority Leader's supporting team is actually the opposing Side and when they decide not to cooperate with him - [Laughter] - This is my challenge now, but we have 20 minutes left to 2.00 p.m. and so we can do up to 3.00 p.m. Otherwise, we cannot go far with the 20 minutes.
Alhaji Muntaka 1:34 p.m.
Mr Speaker, the Hon Majority Leader talks about one Messi or one Maradona being better than 20 part-time players. However, he knows that in the world of football even if there are 11 Messis, it does not mean that the other side
must feature 30 trainers or bench players to play the match. It would still have to be 11 players against 11 players.
Mr Speaker, my worry is his proposal to move the proposed amendments on behalf of the Hon Chairman as he knows that that does not happen in this House. Unless the Hon Majority Leader is willing to turn almost all our conventions upside down, Mr Speaker, firstly, he is not an Hon Member of the Committee though I agree that he led the winnowing.
Presently on this Side of the House, those who were with him at the winnowing are only the Hon Member for South Dayi, Mr Dafeamekpor; Hon Member for Akatsi South, Mr Ahiafor and the Hon Member for Wa West, Mr Chireh. We have already heard from Mr Chireh, so I believe that we should just adjourn till tomorrow because it would better serve our collective interest.
Mr First Deputy Speaker 1:34 p.m.
It is not 2.00 p.m. so I do not have the authority to adjourn the House. I am still waiting on the House to take a decision.

Speaker, when a Bill is introduced in the House and especially when we are at the Consideration Stage, any Hon Member of the Committee, regardless of what Side the person belongs to, can take charge of the Bill. This is the rule in this House; the person necessarily does not have to come from the Majority side, and especially in this case, they have agreed on the amendments.

Mr Speaker, when the Hon Chairman of the Committee moves a proposed amendment, he does so in the name of the Committee and not in his own name. So in his absence, any other Hon Member of the Committee can lead the process.

However, having said so, we have spent 20 minutes doing nothing but talk about minor matters when the major business is here for us to do. So, for the time that we have used to talk about these minor issues, if we had attended to the business, we would have gone some distance.

Mr Speaker, but as I said, I thought that we are making progress. People have been talking about social distancing and which would not require all the numbers to be here. I have related to this, that the very people who would say that we do not need all the numbers to be here would

be the same people who talked about the numbers and the absence of some Hon Members. Mr Speaker, let us be consistent; we cannot be blowing both hot and cold.

I have nothing useful to add to what I have said, but if as a House we want to go on then let us do so, and if we want to stop then let us stop.
Alhaji Muntaka 1:34 p.m.
Mr Speaker, the Hon Majority Leader is supposed to provide leadership but he is not -- Hon Members are giving him indication but he is still insistent on moving on with business.
Mr Speaker, the issue of social distancing is one aspect and the other aspect is that we should not stay in an enclosed environment for long. That is why we are saying that we have already stayed in this Chamber for over three hours but the recommendation has been that after every two hours, individuals would have to move out of an enclosed area. Mr Speaker, we have stayed here for over three hours but the Hon Majority Leader is still insistent.
Mr Speaker, he is the Hon Leader of the House and so he should provide leadership by adjourning the House till tomorrow. So we can assemble the team and we may probably work faster tomorrow
instead of the push and pull situation being created now. Mr Speaker, he is the Hon Leader of the House so he should provide leadership for us to adjourn till tomorrow.
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 1:44 p.m.
Mr Speaker, first of all, he started by saying that we have stayed here for more than three hours, but that is not true.
If he knows when we started then he would know that we have not stayed here for even three hours. [Interruption] We have not spent three hours.

Mr Speaker, he is asking whether I am not providing leadership? I am providing leadership except that admittedly, it is difficult to work with professional obstructionists.

However, Mr Speaker, it is true, and I know why the Hon Minority Chief Whips are referred to as forces of darkness in the United Kingdom

(UK).
Mr First Deputy Speaker 1:44 p.m.
Hon Member for Wa West, what again?
Mr Chireh 1:44 p.m.
Mr Speaker, the Hon Majority Leader insists on not
Mr First Deputy Speaker 1:44 p.m.
Hon Member for Tamale Central?
Alhaji Inusah A. B. Fuseini 1:44 p.m.
Mr Speaker, it is true that in times such as this, we would want to work. I remember when I came in the Chamber, I signalled the Hon Deputy Majority Chief Whip since I did not see the Hon Chairman. When the Hon Majority Leader came into the House, I signalled him to look for the Hon Chairman.
All the proposed amendments we have here are standing in the name of the Hon Chairman. He has the exclusive responsibility to move the amendments per our Standing Orders. And so his absence, unless it could be shown that he delegated responsibility to his Vice Chairman, we might not be able to move those proposed amendments.
I agree with the Hon Majority Leader that we have built some level of consensus, but that does not derogate from the fact that it is the Hon Chairman who must move the
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 1:44 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I know that if I say I am adjourning the House as my colleague is requiring me to do, some Hon Members would say that I have stepped into the shoes of the Speaker. It is not part of my remits to do so.
Mr Speaker, he asked about the whereabouts of the Hon Chairman. I gave an indication that he has been summoned to a meeting which I thought is a bit irregular, but in deference to that body, he had to go, which is what he did. I had some serious conversation with him, and I thought that invitation was not very regular, yet in deference to that body, I asked him to go.
Unfortunately, they fixed the meeting at exactly 12.00 noon. So I guess he is still there. He had to receive some petition in respect of the
same Bill that we are considering. That is why the Hon Chairman is not available.
Mr Speaker, having said so, we are not making progress, and in that regard, I would beg to move, that we adjourn and come back tomorrow at 10.00 a.m. If we could meet at exactly 10.00 a.m. we can make good progress because where we are, in two days, we should finish this Bill. Certainly, we must bring closure to it before the week ends.
Alhaji Muntaka 1:44 p.m.
Mr Speaker, at long last, the Leader has provided leadership.
I beg to second the Motion. I agree with him that we should be here at 10.00 am. Many of us get here before 10.00 a.m. but sometimes we do not come in and start early. Also, our rules say that Statements should not last for more than an hour, but we sometimes drag them over an hour.
If we would adhere to this, we would be able to make time for these Bills and many other Government Businesses to run on. I would want to urge the Majority bench to get persons who are supposed to do
Business ready for Business. The laying of Papers was done by Hon Deputy Ministers the whole day.
I hope that he would also be of help by getting his lieutenants in the Chamber so that we could get Government Business running as fast as it could.
Question put and Motion agreed to.
ADJOURNMENT 1:44 p.m.
  • The House was accordingly adjourned at 1.50 p.m. till Wednesday, 27th May, 2020 at 10.00 a.m.