Debates of 3 Jun 2020

MR SPEAKER
PRAYERS 11:09 a.m.
VOTES AND PROCEEDINGS AND THE OFFICIAL REPORT 11:09 a.m.
Mr Speaker 11:09 a.m.
Hon Members, Correction of the Votes and Proceedings of 2nd June, 2020.
Page 1 -- 7 …
Mr Samuel O. Ablakwa -- Rose
-- 11:09 a.m.
Mr Speaker 11:09 a.m.
Hon Okudzeto Ablakwa?
Mr Ablakwa 11:09 a.m.
Mr Speaker, at page 7, I have been marked absent but I was here yesterday. Indeed, my corrections have been acknowledged. So if it could be corrected accordingly?
Mr Speaker 11:09 a.m.
I can testify to that.
Page 8 -- 25 …
rose
Mr Ablakwa 11:09 a.m.
Mr Speaker, at page 25, item numbered (vii), we corrected the name the last time. The appropriate name for the country is “Saint Vincent and the Grenadines”. It could be amended accordingly.
Mr Speaker 11:09 a.m.
Thank you.
Page 26 -- 29
rose
Mr Speaker 11:09 a.m.
Yes, Hon Member?
Mr Annoh-Dompreh 11:09 a.m.
Mr Speaker, I have been trying to catch your attention. On page 24, the Committee met; we looked at the Budget Performance Report of the Ministry, but I realise that the Visa Waiver Agreements have also been stated as having been discussed.
This is not what happened. We only looked at the Budget Performance Report. So this is not the true reflection of what transpired; the Agreements were not looked at. I wish the correction would be effected.
Mr Speaker 11:09 a.m.
Thank you. Is there any further corrections?
Hon Members, in the absence of further corrections, the Votes and Proceedings of 2nd June, 2020 as corrected is admitted as the true record of proceedings.
Hon Members, we have the Official Report of 10th March, 2020. Is there any corrections?
Mr Speaker 11:09 a.m.
Hon Members, item listed 3. We have an Urgent Question. If the Hon Minister for the Interior would take the appropriate seat, it would be appreciated. Hon Member for Bolgatanga Central, ask the Urgent Question.
URGENT QUESTIONS 11:09 a.m.
MINISTRY OF THE INTERIOR 11:09 a.m.
Mr Isaac Adongo (Bolgatanga Central) 11:09 a.m.
Mr Speaker, I beg to ask the Minister for the Interior what measures are being implemented to
prevent and manage the potential risk of importation of Coronavirus from Burkina Faso and Togo through our borders.
Minister for the Interior (Mr Ambrose Dery) 11:19 a.m.
Mr Speaker, the Government, under the leadership of H. E. the President, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, has imposed restrictions including the closure of our international borders effective 22nd March, 2020 to contain and manage the COVID-19 pandemic. The country's borders are generally porous with several unapproved crossing points.
There are 42 approved crossing points along Ghana's 2,617 kilometres boundary with its neighbours, namely; Togo, Burkina Faso and La Cote d'Ivoire. The Government has set up a multi-agency taskforce made up of the Ghana Armed Forces, the Ghana Police Service and the Bureau of National Investigations (BNI) to assist the lead agency of the borders, which is the Ghana Immigration Service (G.I.S) in the protection of our borders, by increasing their physical presence and patrols along both the approved and unapproved routes. Snap and inland
Mr Speaker 11:19 a.m.
Thank you very much Hon Minister. Yes, Hon Adongo?
Mr I. Adongo 11:19 a.m.
Mr Speaker, from the Hon Minister's Answer, he alludes to the fact that there are very porous borders, particularly in the Upper East Region. I am sure that since he has lived there for so many years, he is very familiar with the territory. This Question was posed long before the borders were closed .
Subsequently, could the Hon Minister tell us the level of deployment that he has undertaken to secure the unapproved routes , particularly, in the Togo and the Burkina Faso areas which come into the Upper East Region?
Mr Speaker 11:19 a.m.
Hon Member, please I did not get -- Come clear.
Mr I. Adongo 11:19 a.m.
Mr Speaker, could the Hon Minister share with us the level of deployment that he has undertaken to secure the unapproved routes from Burkina Faso and Togo into the Upper East Region?
Mr A. Dery 11:19 a.m.
Mr Speaker, I wish to assure the Hon Member that we have made adequate deployment. He would realise that being specific about numbers has its own repercussions. Mr Speaker, I can assure him that the residents along the borders are working hard and collaborating effectively with the State agencies to make sure that we do not have the infiltrations.
Mr Speaker, he would also take note of the fact that we have Operation Conquered Fist along the northern border which we had deployed earlier to make sure we kept out terrorists. So it is a multiagency deployment, but Mr Speaker, we take note that I cannot, for strategic reasons, tell the Hon Member the exact numbers, but they are adequately deployed.
Mr I. Adongo 11:19 a.m.
Thank you, Mr Speaker. I think I am satisfied.
rose
Mr Speaker 11:19 a.m.
Yes, Hon Member?
Mr Ras Mubarak 11:19 a.m.
Mr Speaker, I am very grateful for your kindness.
I would like to find out from the Hon Minister what the status of the over 5,000 persons who have been intercepted is. Have they been deported to their countries? Are they still in our country? If they are, what is the likelihood that some of them may have COVID-19 and could infect the locals?
Mr A. Dery 11:19 a.m.
Mr Speaker, those we intercept at the border, we send them back. Those we intercept within the country, we first subject them to tests. As you would recall, for the Northern Region, we had eight Guineans and two Burkinabes in Tamale. They entered the country illegally.
We quarantined them and tested them. They were positive and they were treated, and when they were cleared, we had to bring them down to Accra to make sure that with the assistance of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration, we engaged their countries.
So as you noticed, we cannot just pick a foreigner who has tested positive and throw him outside the country. As we know, our own people are also in neighbouring
rose
Mr Speaker 11:19 a.m.
Yes, Hon Member proceed.
Mr Bedzrah 11:19 a.m.
Mr Speaker, some of our brothers have their farms across the border. What is the Ministry doing to ensure that they are also protected, and they do not contract the virus from across the border into the country?
Mr A. Dery 11:19 a.m.
Mr Speaker, we have kept our borders strictly closed. But on that side of the country, for some houses, the bedroom is in Ghana and the kitchen is on the other side. You would realise that it is mostly not immediately in the other country.
That would normally be in the transitional areas. So we try to monitor that and we collaborate with
the security forces on the other side to ensure that we implement the regulation without being inhumane in the way that we handle things.
rose
Mr Speaker 11:19 a.m.
Yes, Hon Member? That would be the last question.
Dr Dakura 11:29 a.m.
Thank you, Mr Speaker.
May I know from the Hon Minister what the Ministry is doing to ensure that enough Personnel Protective Equipment (PPEs) are provided to our Immigration officers at the borders?
I was at Aflao a few weeks ago and the officers were dangerously exposed. After they intercepted 16 Nigerians, they were all packed in the same pick-up vehicle with them; they did not have any PPEs on. I saw this physically. The problem was that they did not have enough PPEs to protect themselves.
Mr A. Dery 11:29 a.m.
Mr Speaker, I would want to assure the Hon Member that the supply of Personal
Protective Equipment (PPEs) have been stepped up. We would realise that what happens at the borders is that it is not all of them who are simultaneously interacting with the persons.
Most of the PPEs that we wear in this House cannot be used beyond a day or two. So while we are stepping up the supplies, there is also the challenge not to overuse the PPEs, lest they become ineffective, but yes, front liners are being taken care of and what we are doing is that the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Trade and Industry are working hard to make sure that locally-produced PPEs are brought up to supplement the efforts.
However, it continues to be a challenge that we are dealing with, but I assure him that we are dealing with it in the best way possible.
Mr Speaker 11:29 a.m.
Thank you very much, Hon Minister. We thank you for attending to the House this morning and answering our questions. You are respectfully discharged.
Hon Members, we would move on to the item numbered 4 -- Questions.
We have a number of Questions, but we would first take the Question numbered 707.
The Hon Minister for Railways Development may please take the Chair. Hon Majority Leader, where is the Hon Minister?
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 11:29 a.m.
Mr Speaker, the information is that the Hon Minister responsible for Railways Development gave a signal that he would be coming over tomorrow to answer to the Question. The Answer is therefore not provided in the Order Paper.
Mr Speaker 11:29 a.m.
Very well, this may be sorted out accordingly for tomorrow.
Hon Minister for Trade and Industry, I recognised your presence. Hon Member for Chereponi, you may ask your Question.
Mr Yusif Sulemana 11:29 a.m.
Mr Speaker, my Hon Colleague is not around and so with your permission, he wants me to ask the Question on his behalf.
Mr Speaker 11:29 a.m.
Hon Member, you may proceed.
QUESTIONS 11:29 a.m.
MINISTRY OF TRADE AND 11:29 a.m.
INDUSTRY 11:29 a.m.
Mr Yusif Sulemana on behalf of Mr Samuel Abdulai Jabanyite (NDC - Chereponi) 11:29 a.m.
Mr Speaker, I beg to ask the Hon Minister for Trade and Industry the current status of the Komenda Sugar Factory and efforts being made to operationalise the factory.
Mr Speaker 11:29 a.m.
Hon Minister, your Question please.
Minister for Trade and Industry (Mr Alan Kwadwo Kyerematen) 11:29 a.m.
Mr Speaker, it may be recalled that on 4th April 2019, I was called upon by this august House to respond to a question by the Hon Member of Parliament for Komenda/Edina/ Eguafo/Abirem on the status of the Komenda Sugar Development Company (KSDC) Limited.
In my statement, I indicated that the bid evaluation process to identify a strategic investor with the requisite technical and financial capacity to operate the Komenda factory efficiently and profitably had been
completed by the Transaction Advisor. In this regard, a recommendation was made for the consideration and approval by Cabinet. Mr Speaker, I am happy to inform the House that in June 2019, Park Agrotech Ghana Limited was approved by Cabinet as the preferred Strategic investor for the Komenda Sugar Factory.
Park Agrotech Limited, a company incorporated and operating in Ghana in the agribusiness sector will be working with STM Projects Limited, an Indian - based company that has extensive experience in the management and operations of sugar mills and plantations both in India and in other parts of the World.
Mr Speaker, following the approval by Cabinet as required by conventional practice, the Transaction Advisors entered into final negotiations with the successful bidder and with the view to entering into a concessional agreement for the operations of the Komenda Sugar Factory.
Over the first three years of the Agreement, Park Agrotech will invest US$28 million in capital expenditure and working capital, including the payment of an annual concession fee
of US$3.3 million for a period of 15 years. The Agreement will be effective upon the completion of Conditions Precedent which include the approval of the Agreement by this august House The required documentation will be brought before this House in due course.
Mr Speaker, during the final negotiations, it became necessary for action on the implementation of the project to be delayed until the finalisation of the National Sugar Policy which was intended to provide the strategic policy framework for the implementation of the Project.
Mr Speaker, after a series of extensive stakeholders' consultations, the National Sugar Policy was finally approved by Cabinet in October 2019. Mr Speaker, the approval of the Sugar Policy paved the way for the Concessionaire to be formally introduced to the Chiefs and Elders of the Komenda Traditional Area in November 2019. Mr Speaker, I wish to inform this august House that the formal agreement has now been executed between Park Agrotech Limited and Komenda Sugar Development Company Limited.
Mr Speaker, in conclusion, I wish to assure this House that as soon as the restriction on foreign travels arising
from the COVID-19 Pandemic is lifted, and after all the relevant approvals have been secured, the technical partners of Park Agrotech will begin a comprehensive programme of action to bring the Komenda Sugar Factory back to life. This will bring prosperity to the people of Komenda and its adjoining communities.
Mr Speaker, I thank you.
Mr Yusif Sulemana 11:29 a.m.
Mr Speaker, the Answer clearly shows that the process of giving this factory to this company is still on-going. However, on 27th November, 2019, the Chief Director at the Ministry of Trade and Industry summoned the chiefs and the elders of this particular area and handed over the site of this factory to the company and said that they were going to operationalise as soon as possible. Therefore I would want to know if the Hon Minister can reconcile this?
Mr Kyerematen 11:29 a.m.
Mr Speaker, in my Answer, I made reference to the fact that the concessionaire was formally introduced to the chiefs and elders of the Komenda traditional area in November 2019. In my Answer, I also indicated that when the necessary approvals are obtained, the site would
Mr Yusif Sulemana 11:29 a.m.
Mr Speaker, would the Hon Minister be ready to share with us the processes that they went through in settling on this particular company?
Mr Kyerematen 11:29 a.m.
Mr Speaker, in my Answer, I made reference to the work that the transactional advisor -- PriceWaterHouseCoopers -- had done.
They followed the process of identifying potential investors. The potential investors were made to go through the normal competitive bidding process, and that process was completed. After that, the preferred bidder was recommended to Cabinet for approval. I have made this reference in my Answer.
Mr Sulemana 11:39 a.m.
Mr Speaker, in 2017, the Hon Minister hired an audit firm to audit the Komenda Sugar Factory. The audit firm made very important recommendations. One of them was that the Ministry was supposed to undertake certain
activities in order to ensure that the facility does not deteriorate further. May I find out what the Hon Minister has done in this respect. If you ask me, nothing has been done and that is why the assets of the factory have deteriorated to the point that we are now giving it out at this very cheap price.
Mr Kyerematen 11:39 a.m.
Mr Speaker, regrettably, I am unable to understand the basis of the question asked by the Hon Member. I have made it clear that it went through a process of competitive bidding. That process has been completed, and I have indicated that when the necessary approvals are secured, the formal handing over of the factory to the concessionaire would be undertaken.
Mr Sulemana 11:39 a.m.
Mr Speaker, I am not sure the Hon Minister has answered my question.
Mr Speaker 11:39 a.m.
Hon Member, you have exhausted your questions.
Mr Samuel Atta Mills 11:39 a.m.
Mr Speaker, ever since the investor was introduced to the people, he has not shown up at the factory, and the excuse has been that he does not have an agreement with the Ministry. Has there been an agreement now between the investor and the Ministry, and if there is, when was it signed?
Mr Kyerematen 11:39 a.m.
Mr Speaker, if I may crave your indulgence, I indicated quite clearly in my Answer that the concessionaire was formally introduced to the chiefs and elders of the traditional area; the factory was not handed over to the concessionaire for the commencement of operations.
I have also indicated that after the final negotiations with the concessionaire, it became obvious that unless there was a sugar policy, which would provide the strategic framework for the work of the concessionaire, it would not be possible for us to complete the process of handing over the factory to the concessionaire.
So it only stands to reason that we go through the process of having the national sugar policy approved by Cabinet and that starts the basis for the completion of the process of finally handing over the factory to the concessionaire. Respectfully, Mr Speaker, all these are part of the Answer I gave this morning.
Mr Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa 11:39 a.m.
Mr Speaker, the Hon Minister for Trade and Industry points to a cardinal condition precedent -- an agreement which would be brought to this House in due course before the next steps
can be taken. Can he give us an assurance as to specifically when this agreement would be brought before this august House?
Mr Kyerematen 11:39 a.m.
Mr Speaker, it would be our pleasure to do this as soon as possible. Hopefully, within the next month and a half.
Mr James Klutse Avedzi 11:39 a.m.
Mr Speaker, the Hon Minister commissioned an audit to be done by Price Water House Coopers and a report was issued. In that report, there are steps to be taken by the Ministry to take action on the factory so that the assets do not deteriorate. Why did the Ministry not follow the recommendation of the audit report to follow those steps until now that the assets of the factory have deteriorated?
Mr Kyerematen 11:39 a.m.
Mr Speaker, may I respectfully request Hon Members to keep to the text of the Answer that I have made. It has been made clear that the report of Price Water House Coopers was presented many years ago. Subsequent to that, a process of competitive bidding has been conducted.
A company that has deteriorated beyond recognition would not have become an attractive candidate for a
Mr Speaker 11:39 a.m.
Thank you very much, Hon Minister, for attending to the House and answering our Questions. Hon Minister, you are respectfully discharged.
Item listed 5 -- Statements. There is a Statement by the Hon Minister for Health on World Hypertension Day.
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 11:39 a.m.
Mr Speaker, the Hon Minister responsible for Health has sent the Hon Deputy Minister to do the presentation of the Statement.
Mr Speaker 11:39 a.m.
Noted.
STATEMENTS 11:39 a.m.
Mr Speaker 11:49 a.m.
Thank you very much Hon Deputy Minister. Can we have the Ranking Member of the Health Committee and perhaps the leadership?
Dr Francis Bawaana Dakura (NDC -- Jirapa) 11:49 a.m.
Mr Speaker, thank you. I just want to support the Statement made by the Hon Deputy Minister for Health.
Mr Speaker, I know you have on your own done a lot to support the fitness of honourable Members of this House by getting us a very good gym. Hypertension is a very silent killer and most of the time, before somebody realises, he or she is at the apex of all the associated reasons people have hypertension. Examples are bad
eating habits, lack of exercise and even, actually, the kind of foods that are available in our shops we purchase from.
I think that the Ministry of Health, together with the Food and Drugs Authority have a very big responsibility to ensure that labels on foods that come into this country are well checked. I know that because of the kind of foods that we import and perhaps to some extent, the lack of proper supervision on the kind of foods that come into this country, a lot of time we end up eating junk food. Junk food is also part of the reasons we struggle with ill health in this country.
So I would appeal in this very short supportive statement to the Ministry, the Deputy Minister and the substantive Minister, to work closely with the Food and Drugs Authority and the Ghana Standards Board to ensure that food that comes into this country are properly labelled and are healthy. They should also, to some extent, liaise with the Ministry of Communication to do a bit more on public education on healthy lifestyles.
By doing so, it would help a lot of people in the country to be healthy and beat the evil of hypertension.
Dr Kwaku Afriyie (NPP -- Sefwi Wiawso) 11:59 a.m.
Mr Speaker, hypertension is now an old friend which has a history behind it. In Africa and in Ghana in particular, hypertension together with some of the non-communicable diseases are used to be called the “white man, rich man or people living in the cities disease''.
The people who lived in the villages did not accept that they could even have hypertension and there was even a little truism to it in the sense that we did not live long. These diseases empirically manifested themselves when a person lived long to earn it so to speak.
Mr Speaker, because Ghana is in a demographic transition in the sense that we live a lot longer, our life expectancy has increased. Virtually, when a person is above the age of five years, the person's life expectancy in Ghana and indeed, in the tropics, is virtually the same as in the first world -- and people are not aware of this.
Once a person clears the five year hurdle, he or she could live almost as long as people who live in the developed world. So as far as diseases are concerned, we are in a
demographic transition in that sense because we live to earn hypertension, diabetes and the cancers.
Mr Speaker, that is why it is very important that the Hon Deputy Minister has celebrated this day as it has been done worldwide. This is because hypertension is a very dangerous disease which is very protean in its manifestation. Indeed, we have to go to statistics to define hypertension because it is a continuum and increases gradually even with age but it is aggravated by certain conditions -- a person's lifestyle, genetic predisposition and others.
So as a person lives longer, his or her blood pressure rises. However, we are all aggrieved that if a person is in his or her 20s and his or her blood pressure is above 140/90 mms Hg, then that person must be at risk and operationally be called hypertensive.
Mr Speaker, hypertension is a very common disease and worldwide, the prevalence for people under 40 years is 7.5 per cent, the prevalence for those between 40 and 59 years is about 33 per cent which means that every third person that we meet has hypertension, either known or unknown and the prevalence for those above 60 years is also above 60 per cent .
Mr Speaker 11:59 a.m.
Thank you very much, Hon Member.
Minority Leadership?
Alhaji Mohammed-Mubarak Muntaka (NDC -- Asawase) 12:09 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I equally want to thank the Hon Deputy Minister for drawing our attention.
Mr Speaker, I associate myself with a lot of the comments by the Hon Colleagues, so I would not want to repeat them. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), the causes of hypertension are amongst smoking, obesity, diabetes, having a sedentary lifestyle, lack of physical exercise, high salt or alcohol intake levels, insufficient consumption of calcium, potassium or magnesium and deficiency in Vitamin D, stress, aging, chronic kidney diseases and many others.
Mr Speaker, when we look at the causes and in particular, our life styles in this House, we should even take this caution more seriously as the Hon Deputy Minister has drawn the attention of the whole country.
Mr Speaker, during the administration of former President Kufuor, Hon Members of Parliament went to the cardiothoracic centre for a routine check-up, which was done once in a year. I also remember that during the administration of the late former President Atta-Mills, we had that check-up once.
Since you also became the Rt Hon Speaker of Parliament, we have also had that check-up once. However, I want to add that when we were asked
to go for a thorough check up, many of us failed to do it, so we did not even get to know what their status is.
Mr Speaker, even with the check- up that we did in 2017, the records showed in Parliament that a lot of the Hon Members failed to do it but as Hon Members of Parliament, we are required to do this twice in a year because of our life styles.
We sit in an air conditioned Chamber, offices and most at times in air-conditioned cars and probably, we even sleep in air-conditioned rooms. If we do not watch our diet and do regular exercise, definitely the tendency to grow obese is high.

Since the gym was opened in this Parliament at the Job 600 Building, I can bet you that out of the 275 of us, the record shows that only 35 are regular or at least, have visited the place even once. [Interruption] I am a regular member there and the Hon Deputy Minister would attest to what I am saying.

Mr Speaker, I think that we make a lot of noise and called on you to get the gym equipped. Now that it is equipped, we do not find it necessary to go. In fact, if you check, the record shows that parliamentary staff attend
Mr Speaker 12:09 p.m.
Thank you very much, Hon Minority Chief Whip.
Majority leadership, any contribution?
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 12:09 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I believe we can move on.
Mr Speaker 12:09 p.m.
Very well, we have another Statement by Hon Mavis Nkansah Boadu.
Coronavirus Pandemic: The Need to be
Self-Reliant and Self-Sufficient
Ms Mavis Nkansah-Boadu (NPP--Afigya-Sekyere East) 12:09 p.m.
Thank you, Mr Speaker, for the opportunity to make a Statement on how the Coronavirus pandemic has put the spotlight on the need for the country to invest time and energy towards becoming self-reliant and self-sufficient.
Mr Speaker, the Coronavirus has spread rapidly around the globe since its outbreak in Wuhan, China in the late 2019 and Ghana recording its first case in March, 2020.
Mr Speaker, this has led to a projected global recession with severe consequences on global economies, threatened food security and constituted a major destruction of global supply chain of goods and services.
Mr Speaker, it cannot be doubted that prior to the outbreak of the virus, countries in this part of our world relied heavily on countries elsewhere particularly, China, UK and USA for imported goods and services. Indeed,
in the case of Ghana, a very unbalanced relationship existed which created an unhealthy dependence on China and other countries for critical goods such as pharmaceutical products, industrial machinery, electronics and electrical items, household furnishing, personal protection equipment and many other manufactured goods.
Mr Speaker, due to the border restrictions and global supply chain being destructed, owing all these to the pandemic, movement of goods and services have been severely impacted negatively. It has now brought into focus, the need for the country to work assiduously towards becoming self-reliant and self- sufficient which also falls in line with the President's vision for a Ghana beyond Aid.
Mr Speaker, this pandemic should reignite the nation's conversation for a new economic paradigm in Ghana for a regime of imported dependency to a regime of productivity, import substitution and export promotion.
Mr Speaker, the emergence of COVID-19 has called for a greater attention to be placed on the revival of our local industries to boost the production of import substitutes thereby making the country self- reliant.
Mr Speaker 12:09 p.m.
Thank you very much Hon Member. There would be one contribution from each Side including Leadership. So please, decide. [Interruption]
Very well, Hon Ayamba?
Ms Laadi Ayii Ayamba (NDC-- Pusiga) 12:19 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I thank you very much for the opportunity to comment on the Statement ably made by my Hon Colleague from the other Side of the House on the COVID- 19 pandemic.
Mr Speaker, there would not have been a better time to make such a Statement than now. The Coronavirus pandemic is real and there is a very big gap when it comes to dealing with the issue. Education is very necessary and I can assure you that in most of our communities today, especially where I come from, people do not believe that there is anything like Coronavirus.
Mr Speaker, it is rather unfortunate that we keep giving out the information on the COVID-19 pandemic and providing some communities and health facilities with Personal Protective Equipment (PPEs) but the majority of the people do not believe this is real. It is very important that we let our communities understand that this is real.
The worst situation that I have in my constituency was when a girl of about 27 to 30 years, was informed that she had COVID-19, the whole community rallied against this information. It was very interesting. The girl refused and a whole lot of issues came up before she agreed to go with the team that had come to pick her up.
Interestingly, it was not up to two weeks, when she returned and as to why, nobody could tell. There was no explanation as she is not able to say anything substantive except for the fact that she was put in a particular room, fed and after some time, was told to come home.
Mr Speaker, according to her, there was no medication that was administered to her except vitamin C which is all right. This is because I know it is part of the medications that can boost the immune system.
Mr Speaker 12:19 p.m.
Thank you very much, Hon Member. The Majority Side?
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 12:19 p.m.
Mr Speaker, Hon Odotei --
Mr Vincent Sowah Odotei (NPP -- Dade Kotopon) 12:19 p.m.
Mr Speaker, thank you very much for this opportunity to contribute to this very important discussion and subject on self-reliance and dependence in the light of the globalisation.
Mr Speaker, I thank the Hon Member who made this Statement very much because as I said, the issue of the COVID-19 pandemic has reawakened the need for us, not only as Ghanaians but Africans to look at how to ensure that we rely on ourselves and stop being over
dependent on the people on the other side of the globe in respect of everything that we need and the need to take a second look at this.
This is where the visionary positioning of His Excellency the President in terms of the “Ghana Beyond Aid” comes in. I recalled H. E. the President said that the “Ghana Beyond Aid” is not just a mantra but a vision that must encapsulate every decision that we take in the building of our new Ghanaian civilisation.
Mr Speaker, the COVID-19 pandemic brings in what we call force majeure. How can we ensure that we are able to militate against such times by protecting our economy and avoiding the crumbling of our way of life?
Mr Speaker, there are two more things that we need to look at. I would like to touch on what I believe are policies that are peculiar and are particular in ensuring that our basic dependence on food does not come from external economies. Our industries are properly supported within the rules of the World Trade Organisation (WTO). We need to craft out innovative ways of ensuring that we provide finance not just for broad industries but for the small and medium scale industries which are the core or bedrock of this economy.
Mr Vincent Sowah Odotei (NPP -- Dade Kotopon) 12:29 p.m.
We need to ensure that we target specific policies that will ensure that we promote growth, value addition and ensure that we are able to promote the critical industries which are essential to the developmental needs of this country.

Mr Speaker, apart from ensuring that we craft peculiar policies and strategies, the broad solution to the issue of self-reliance is about building a resilient economy. That is why the age-old argument and the age-old processes of building a stable macroeconomic environment is crucial. We are all aware that the issues regarding inflation, stability of the currency, good export-led value addition, and support of the private sector are key.

Assuming that as a country, we do not have the capacity to ensure reliance on our own resources, but even before we could borrow, we must have the ability that would impact the cost of the borrowing and also have the ability to repay. It all depends on the stability and the way the economy is managed.

Mr Speaker, prior to the COVID- 19 pandemic, we had to commend the Economic Management Team

under the President for the good work they were doing, because all the fundamentals of the economy were pointed in the right direction. These fundamentals are what provide the hygienic environment within which any development or growth could be carried out.

If we do not have enough reserves, then when we are faced with external shocks like the COVID-19 pandemic, we would be found wanting. If we do not have the external reserves to ensure that we provide the necessary financial interventions to businesses and private people, then we would be found wanting.

Mr Speaker, so I commend the Hon Member who made the Statement and also state that we must ensure that all Bills and policies that are brought to this Floor and seeks to strengthen the economy and ensure that we are empowered so that individuals, businesses and organisa- tions are supported, not only in the production of PPEs, but in the broad capacity to ensure that the country is well-positioned and have the capacity to face any external pressures like the COVID-19 pandemic must be controlled.

Mr Speaker, I would once again thank the Hon Member who made the Statement and thank you for giving me the opportunity to contribute.
Mr Speaker 12:29 p.m.
Hon Members, thank you very much for your helpful contributions.
This brings us to the end of Statement time. At the Commence- ment of Public Business -- item listed 6. Presentation of Papers.
Item number 6 (a) - Hon Minister for Foreign Affairs?
PAPERS 12:29 p.m.
-- 12:29 p.m.
Mr Speaker 12:29 p.m.
Item numbered 5 (b) -- Hon Minister for Business Development?
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 12:29 p.m.
Mr Speaker, may I present the Paper on behalf of the Hon Minister for Business Development?
By the Majority Leader (Mr Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu) (on behalf of the Minister for Business Development) --
Budget Performance Report in Respect of the Ministry of Business Development for the period January to December,
2019.
Referred to the Finance Committee.
Mr Speaker 12:29 p.m.
Item numbered 5 (c) -- Hon Minister for Energy?
I understand that this --
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 12:29 p.m.
Mr Speaker, some engineering may have to be done for the item numbered 6 (c) and the Hon Deputy Minister for Energy is here to do what is required to be done.
Mr Speaker 12:29 p.m.
Hon Deputy Minister, you may proceed.
Deputy Minister for Energy (Mr William Owurako Aidoo) (on behalf of the Minister for Energy): Mr Speaker, thank you.
I rise to seek your leave and the indulgence of the honourable House to withdraw the 2020 Work Programme for the Ghana National
Alhaji Mohammed-Mubarak Muntaka 12:29 p.m.
Mr Speaker, the Hon Deputy Minister is withdrawing it without telling us any reason for the withdrawal. Mr Speaker, because based on the Petroleum Management Act, the work programme of GNPC is supposed to be passed by this House within a certain period, so if he could tell us the reason for the withdrawal and when the new one would be brought?
Mr Speaker 12:29 p.m.
Hon Deputy Minister, is there any intention to substitute it with a new one?
Mr Aidoo 12:29 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I do believe that it has been advertised in today's Order Paper so that a new Work Programme would be laid today. The earlier one is being withdrawn because it was found to be defective.
Mr Speaker 12:29 p.m.
So is there a substitution for the withdrawal?
Mr Aidoo 12:29 p.m.
Mr Speaker, yes.
Alhaji Muntaka 12:29 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I thought I heard my Hon Colleague say that he was seeking the leave of the House to withdraw. However, he has to move a Motion for the withdrawal to be done. If he comes by a Motion with the explanation then the Speaker would put a Question for us to vote. Once it is withdrawn then he can go ahead and lay a new Paper.
Mr Speaker 12:29 p.m.
Hon Majority Leader?
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 12:29 p.m.
Mr Speaker, technically, the Hon Minority Chief Whip is right. If Bills have to be withdrawn then the sponsoring Hon Minister or the person in charge of the Bill may have to move a Motion and that is in tandem with Standing Order 132 - [Interruption] It is not Standing Order 82. Mr Speaker, the person who was canvassing the idea is getting the Standing Orders wrong.
Mr Speaker, Standing Order 132 states that 12:29 p.m.
“Either before the commencement of public business or at the
commencement of any stage of a Bill, the Member in charge of the Bill may make a motion without notice for its withdrawal”.
Mr Speaker, so technically he is right, except that by our own conventions and practices, we have always allowed Hon Members or the person in charge to seek the leave of the House to withdraw. However, if we want to be technical, then a Motion may have to be moved as per Standing Order 132.
Mr Speaker 12:29 p.m.
In doing so, the practice in reality has been that on the Floor of the House, the person would move verbally for the withdrawal. This would require another Hon Member to second and then I would put the Question.
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 12:39 p.m.
Mr Speaker, the reason the Speakers and indeed the House have agreed for persons sponsoring Bills to just seek the leave of the House is that if as he is saying, a Bill is presented by an Hon Minister or any other person and it is found to be defective and the person wants to withdraw, but the House then decides not to allow for its withdrawal, then what would happen?
So it would really create a problem for ourselves and that is the reason why by convention the person just mentions it for the information of the House and then it is withdrawn. That has been the practice.
So in the new Standing Orders, we have indeed amended Order 132 so that the person comes by way of information to the House to withdraw. Otherwise, we would find ourselves in some difficulties if a motion has to be moved. If a motion has been moved, a question on it has to be put. And if the Question is put and the House rejects the application to withdraw, where would we be in such an event?
Mr Speaker, so I would plead that we allow the convention to hold for the Hon Deputy Minister to withdraw and resubmit the work programme as listed.
Mr Speaker 12:39 p.m.
So that in effect, the Hon Deputy Minister would formally make an application to withdraw and substitute it for whatever reason he would give. It would be seconded, and I would put the question.
Deputy Minister for Energy (William Owuraku Aidoo): Mr Speaker, I come under Standing Order 132 and beg to seek your leave to withdraw the 2020 Work
Mr Speaker 12:39 p.m.
Does the Hon Minority Chief Whip agree with this one and second this move?
Alhaji Muntaka 12:39 p.m.
Mr Speaker, as a member of the Committee on Mines and Energy, I beg to second the Motion ably moved by the Hon Deputy Minister.
Question put and amendment agreed to.
Resolved accordingly.
Mr Speaker 12:39 p.m.
Hon Minister, you may formally lay your Paper.
Deputy Minister for Energy (Mr William Owuraku Aidoo) (on behalf of the Minister for Energy)
-- 12:39 p.m.
Mr Speaker 12:39 p.m.
The Hon First Deputy Speaker would take the Chair at this stage.
Item number 7, Motion. Hon Members, are we in the position to take the item listed 7?
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 12:39 p.m.
Mr Speaker, we are doing some consultations on the item numbered 7. Before then, I believe we could take item listed as number 9 on page
20.
Mr Speaker 12:39 p.m.
Hon Members, page 20, item listed 9, Chartered Institute of Marketing, Ghana Bill, 2019 at the Consideration Stage.
BILLS -- CONSIDERATION 12:39 p.m.
STAGE 12:39 p.m.
Mr Speaker 12:39 p.m.
Hon Majority Leader, you were on your feet?
Chairman of the Committee (Mr William A. Quaittoo) 12:39 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I beg to move, clause 1, subclause (3), lines 1 and 2, delete “immovable property, the immovable property” and insert “land, the land”.
Question put and amendment agreed to.
MR FIRST DEPUTY SPEAKER
Mr First Deputy Speaker 12:46 p.m.
Yes, Hon Chairman?
Mr Quaittoo 12:46 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I believe there should be an amendment on subclause 1, but it was not listed in the Order Paper. With your leave, if I may move it?
Mr Speaker, the amendment is; clause 1, subclause 1, delete “with perpetual succession”. This conforms to the new rendition.
Mr First Deputy Speaker 12:46 p.m.
Which Bill are we considering?
Mr Quaittoo 12:46 p.m.
Mr Speaker, we are considering the Chartered Institute of Marketing, Ghana Bill, 2019. It is on page 20 of the Order Paper, item
9.
Mr First Deputy Speaker 12:46 p.m.
You said you wanted to delete in clause
1 -- ?
Mr Quaittoo 12:46 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I beg to move, clause 1, subclause 1, line
2, at the end, delete “with perpetual succession”.
Mr First Deputy Speaker 12:46 p.m.
We did that yesterday. Did we not?
Mr Quaittoo 12:46 p.m.
Mr Speaker, this is a new Bill. It is the Chartered Institute of Marketing, Ghana Bill, 2019. Yesterday we started considering the Chartered Institute of Human Resource, Ghana Bill, 2019. That was completed.
Mr First Deputy Speaker 12:49 p.m.
What has been put before me is the Chartered Institute of Human Resource Management Bill. Get me a copy of the Bill, please.
All right. So the proposal is to delete “with perpetual succession”. Is that the amendment on which the Rt Hon Speaker put the Question?
Mr Quaittoo 12:49 p.m.
Mr Speaker, he put the Question on subclause 3.
Mr First Deputy Speaker 12:49 p.m.
Very well.
Question put and amendment agreed to.
Clause 1 as amended ordered to stand part of the Bill.
Mr Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 12:49 p.m.
Mr Speaker, clause 3 (b), at the end, we should delete those words “in the country”.
Mr First Deputy Speaker 12:49 p.m.
Hon Leader, which specific words?
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 12:49 p.m.
Mr Speaker, “in the country”.
It should read “…set the agenda for the practice of marketing.” The words “in the country” is superfluous in the context.
Question put and amendment agreed to.
Clause 3 as amended ordered to stand part of the Bill.
Clause 4 ordered to stand part of the Bill.
Clause 5 -- Governing body of the institute
Mr William Quaittoo 12:49 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I beg to move, clause 5, subclause (1), paragraph (h), line 1,
delete “three” and insert “two” and in line 3, delete “one of whom is a woman”.
Question put and amendment agreed to.
Mr Quaittoo 12:49 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I beg to move, clause 5, subclause (1), add the following new paragraph:
“a member of the Institute who is a woman elected by secret ballot by fully paid up members at an Annual General Meeting”.
Mr James Klutse Avedzi 12:49 p.m.
Mr Speaker, this new subclause is in line with what we did yesterday. But if you look at paragraph (h), which has been amended earlier to read “two members” instead of “three members”. What happens if those two members of the institute are all women? It would mean that in the end, all of them would be women. Is that the position that we want?
Mr First Deputy Speaker 12:49 p.m.
There could be all women, but there cannot be all men.
Mr Avedzi 12:49 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I would want to know, because the same thing happened yesterday. If the two members elected -- [Interruption] -- I have not been defeated; I only
want an information. So it is clear now that it could happen that at the end, all the two could be women.
Mr First Deputy Speaker 12:49 p.m.
And we find that equitable -- not acceptability, but equitability. Are we making these changes because we fear that it may be skewed in favour of men? But now, we are legislating in such a way that it can all be women and we do not consider that to be inequitable. [Laughter] -- Very well.
Question put and amendment agreed to.
Mr Quaittoo 12:49 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I beg to move, clause 5, subclause (2), line 2, delete “chairperson and other”.
Mr Speaker, the new rendition would be 12:49 p.m.
“The President shall, in accordance with article 70 of the Constitution, appoint the members of the Council.”
Question put and amendment agreed to.
Clause 5 as amended ordered to stand part of the Bill.
Clause 6 -- Functions of the Council
Mr Quaittoo 12:49 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I beg to move, clause 6, paragraph (c), line 2, delete “proper” and insert “efficient and effective”.
Question put and amendment agreed to.
Clause 6 as amended ordered to stand part of the Bill.
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 12:49 p.m.
Mr Speaker, just a minor correction. Clause 6(c), as we did yesterday, it should be:
“…to manage and determine the efficient and effective use of the funds and assets.”
Mr Speaker, we should delete “fixed” as we did yesterday.
Question put and amendment agreed to.
Clause 6 as amended ordered to stand part of the Bill.
Clause 7 -- Tenure of office of members of the Council
Mr Quaittoo 12:49 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I beg to move, clause 7, subclause (1), lines 2 and 3, delete “but a member shall not be appointed for more than two terms” and insert “for another term only.”
Mr Speaker, the new rendition would read 12:49 p.m.
“A member of the Council shall hold office for a period of three years and is eligible for reappointment for another term only.”
Question put and amendment agreed to.
Mr Quaittoo 12:59 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I beg to move, clause 7, subclause (5), line 1, before “member”, delete “a” and insert “the.”
Mr Speaker, the new rendition would read 12:59 p.m.
“The President may by a letter addressed to the member of the Council revoke the appointment of that member.”
Mr Avedzi 12:59 p.m.
Mr Speaker, with that amendment, the new rendition reads: “The President may by a letter addressed to the member…” It should rather be captured as “to a member.” Therefore, what we have is correct. If we use “the”, then it means that we know that member already. So it should rather be captured as: “….by a letter addressed
to a member of the Council revoke…” I think that what we have in the Bill is appropriate.
Mr Quaittoo 12:59 p.m.
Mr Speaker, that member has been referred to as a member who does something and is reported to the President for his appointment to be revoked. In clause 4, “a member” is used, and when we come to clause 5, that same member is being referred to. So we use “a”, but the next time, it becomes “the”.
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 12:59 p.m.
Mr Speaker, in this context, I believe that the Hon Deputy Minority Leader is right. What we seek to do does not really follow directly after whatever. So it cannot apply. The original should be maintained.
It would therefore read: “The President may by a letter addressed to a member of the Council revoke the appointment of the member”, not “that member”. [Interruption] -- I am saying that the appropriate construction should read “a member” in line 1, and in line 2, “that” should be changed to “the” so that it may read: “The President may by a letter addressed to a member of the Council revoke the appointment of the member.” That is how it should read.
Mr Bagbin 12:59 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I think that the Hon Majority Leader is right. Subclause (5) does not only refer to subclause (4). It goes beyond subclause (4), referring to the power of the President to revoke the appointment of a member by a letter.
So the rendition should actually read: “The President may by a letter addressed to a member of the Council revoke the appointment of the member.” So it does not only refer to subclause (4). I think that the Hon Chairman's attention is only drawn to subclause (4) and not the power of the President to revoke an appointment. The Hon Majority Leader is therefore right.
Mr First Deputy Speaker 12:59 p.m.
Yes, Hon Chairman?
Mr Quaittoo 12:59 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I thought that after all the nominations, it is the President who would appoint all the members of the Council. We are talking about the meetings of the Council, so if someone fails to attend a meeting for three consecutive times, then the person ceases to be a member of the Council. So for ceasing to be a member of the Council, one could only be fired by the President.
Mr Quaittoo 12:59 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I beg to move, subclause (1), paragraph (b), line 1, delete “not participate in the deliberation” and insert “be recused and not participate in the deliberation or determination.”
Mr Speaker, the new rendition would read 12:59 p.m.
“…Be recused and not participate in the deliberation or determination of the Council in respect of that matter.”
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 12:59 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I think that we have been struggling with the proper construction of this in many instances, but ultimately, I do not know the phraseology that we have adopted. This is because we have said to ourselves that if we have a construction this way, that “a member of the Council who has an interest in a matter for consideration shall be recused…”
Mr Speaker, who would recuse him? It is that person who should recuse himself or herself. That is how it should be. It should not read that the person shall be recused. Who would recuse him? That person on his or her own volition shall recuse himself or herself and not participate. So we should have the proper construct because what the Hon Chairman has read is not right.
Mr Quaittoo 12:59 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I think that I agree with the new rendition.
Mr First Deputy Speaker 12:59 p.m.
So, you should formulate the appropriate amendment for me to put the Question on it.
Mr Quaittoo 12:59 p.m.
Mr Speaker, therefore the new rendition would read: “… shall recuse himself or herself and not participate in the deliberation or determination of the Council in respect of that matter.”
Mr Avedzi 1:09 p.m.
Mr Speaker, to recuse one's self means that one would not participate. So it should rather read: “… shall recuse himself or herself from the deliberations …”
Question put and amendment agreed to.
Clause 9 as amended ordered to stand part of the Bill.
Clause 10 -- Establishment of Committees
Mr Quaittoo 1:09 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I beg to move, subclause (2), delete and insert the following: “A committee of the Council may be chaired by a member or non-member of the Council.”
Question put and amendment agreed to.
Mr Avedzi 1:09 p.m.
Mr Speaker, this amendment is significant because the original clause says that:
“A committee of the Council consisting of members and non- members shall be chaired by a member of the Council.”
There is a reason for that. Now, if we change it to “A committee of the Council may be chaired by a member or a non-member” it is different from the original one so the Committee must give us reason for the amendment.
If the committee is made up of members and non-members, the original rendition says that a member of the Council shall be the chair, but with the new rendition, if that committee is made up of members and non-members, non-members could chair. Mr Speaker, the Hon Chairman should give us a reason.
Mr Quaittoo 1:09 p.m.
The reason here is that their association is such that they may bring in experts to deliberate on issues and they may make them chair to the committee -- whether they are members or not. That is from the association.
Look at where the Committees are formed. It says:
“The Council may establish committees consisting of members of the Council or non- members or both to perform a function of the Council.”
In forming that adhoc committee, they can choose somebody to chair, and the person may be a member or not.
Question put and amendment agreed to.
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 1:09 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I am making a proposal, except that if it is found favourable, we can leave it to the draftspersons. It is not really material. Clause 10(1) reads:
“The Council may establish committees consisting of members of the Council or non- members or both to perform a function of the Council.”
It seems to me that the word “Council” in line 2 has to come after “non-members” so that it reads:
“The Council may establish committees consisting of members or non-members of the Council or both to perform a function of the Council.”
As I said, we can leave that to the draftspersons.
Mr Bagbin 1:09 p.m.
Mr Speaker, what clause 10(1) has done is to give us the opportunity through the Council to be able to establish three types of sub-committees. The first can be
Mr First Deputy Speaker 1:09 p.m.
Is that the case? It does not mean so.
Mr Bagbin 1:09 p.m.
No. Now, if really it is made up of both members and non- members, and your position is that a non-member should chair the committee -- [Interruption] -- It says “may chair”.
Mr Speaker, this is a departure from what we have been doing. Usually, for good reason, non- members do not chair a committee of a Board or Council when there are members. The members may know more of the policy direction and the strategic goals of the Board or Council than non-members. So usually, members chair.
If the intention is for us to depart from that and allow non-members to chair a committee made up of members and non-members, there must be a good reason. I do not see that good reason. I still insist that we go by a situation where, if we have members and non-members, a member chairs than a non-member chairing; but where the committee is made up of only non-members, automatically, it is a non-member who would chair.
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 1:09 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I believe this matter has been settled long ago. Increasingly these days we have allowed for this fluidity. The reason is that reports from committees are to be given to the entire membership of the Council for them to consider, so whatever they do is only advisory to the Council.
Mr Speaker, as the Hon Chairman alluded to, if we have a committee comprising members and non-
members, given the issue before that committee, perhaps it requires some technical expertise. The committee members could allow a non-member to chair, acknowledging that whatever is determined by the committee in any event would go to Council for it to be ratified, adopted or rejected.
Increasingly these days, we have allowed for that fluidity that committees comprising members and non-members could be chaired by non-members. Let us not forget that the committee members would be there and they themselves would allow one person to chair. That is why we have adopted that position, and it is not quite long that we adopted this position as a House.
Mr Quaittoo 1:09 p.m.
Mr Speaker, apart from that, specifically, the members of the Institute were present and when this question was posed to them, they said this is how they wanted it. They could appoint anybody to chair any committee meeting of theirs. That is why we couched it this way. We advised them that this was how it was.
It is a number of private people who have come together to form an association, and they want some legal backing. That is how they put it.
Question put and amendment agreed to.
Clause 10 as amended ordered to stand part of the Bill.
Clause 11 to 13 ordered to stand part of the Bill …
Clauses 13 and 14 ordered to stand part of the Bill.
Clause 15 -- Qualification for enrolment as a Fellow
Mr Quaittoo 1:19 a.m.
Mr Speaker, I beg to move, clause 15, subclause (1), paragraph (c), line 2, delete “twelve” and insert “six”.
The new rendition would read: “a Full Member who has served on the Council for more than six years; or”.
Question put and amendment agreed to.
Clause 15 as amended ordered to stand part of the Bill.
Clause 16 to 23 ordered to stand part of the Bill.
Clause 24 -- Qualification for registration as a member of the Institute
Mr Quaittoo 1:19 a.m.
Mr Speaker, I beg to move, clause 24 add the following
Mr Quaittoo 1:19 a.m.


new paragraph:”(#) a Corporate Member under section 22".

Question put and amendment agreed to.

Clause 24 as amended ordered to stand part of the Bill.

Clause 25 -- Application for registration
Mr Quaittoo 1:19 a.m.
Mr Speaker, I beg to move, clause 25, subclause (5), line 1, delete “six” and insert “three”. It shall read:
“The institute shall, not later than three months after the receipt of an application, communicate the acceptance or refusal of the application to the applicant.”
Question put and amendment agreed to.
Clause 25 as amended ordered to stand part of the Bill.
Clause 26 to 33 ordered to stand part of the Bill.
Clause 34 -- President of the Institute
Mr Quaittoo 1:19 a.m.
Mr Speaker, I beg to move, clause 34, subclause (3), delete.
Mr Avedzi 1:29 p.m.
Mr Speaker, the Hon Chairman should give us the rationale behind the deletion of that subclause which says that:
“The President shall hold office for a period of three years and is eligible for re-appointment for another term only”.
He is saying we should delete it without giving us any reason. I would want to know the rationale behind the deletion.
Mr Quaittoo 1:29 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I really cannot assign a reason for its deletion because it has escaped me. However, we had a long term deliberation with the members of the Institute before doing this amendment.
Mr First Deputy Speaker 1:29 p.m.
Per the amendment, it means that the President could be re-elected as many times and that is how they want it.
Mr Quaittoo 1:29 p.m.
Mr Speaker, maybe, we should withdraw the amendment for now because I have to confer and get back to the House.
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 1:29 p.m.
Mr Speaker, the President is a member of the Council and the tenure of membership has been provided for in clause 7, which says:
“A member of the Council shall hold office for a period of three years and is eligible for appointment for another term only''.
If it is brought to clause 34, it would amount to repeating it, perhaps that may be the reason for the deletion because it has already been captured. The governing Council comprise the President and the Vice President and the tenure of the members is three years as in clause 7(1) and then another term.
Mr Quaittoo 1:29 p.m.
He is an automatic member.
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 1:29 p.m.
Yes. So if we have it again in clause 34, it may be superfluous and I guess that is the reason the Hon Chairman has called for its deletion.
Mr Avedzi 1:29 p.m.
Mr Speaker, the appointment to the Council is completely different from being the President of the Institute because the
appointing authorities are different. Being a President of the Institute qualifies the person to be appointed as a member of the Council but it has been said that the President has a term of three years and is eligible for another three years but the Hon Chairman wants that one deleted.
What does he mean that when a person is appointed the President of the Institute, he or she is appointed for life? Is that what it means? This is because there is nothing that says that there is three years, another three years or a number of times. It means that once a President is appointed he or she is appointed for life. So it should be made clear.
Mr First Deputy Speaker 1:29 p.m.
No, the person is not to be appointed for life but could be re-elected as many times.
Mr Avedzi 1:29 p.m.
Mr Speaker, what number of times? By the deletion of this subclause, it means that the President can continue. It is like my friend the Hon Member for Adansi Asokwa, Mr K. T. Hammond, who wants to become an Hon Member for Parliament again and his people are worrying him. If we had a number of terms, he should by now be taking care of his grandchildren. [Laughter]
Mr First Deputy Speaker 1:29 p.m.
The Hon Second Deputy Speaker would take the Chair.
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 1:29 p.m.
Mr Speaker, what has been captured in clause 7 would render clause 34 (3), superfluous. However, clause 5 says:
“The governing body of the Institute is a Council consisting of
(a) the President of the Institute, elected in accordance with section 34''.
Who is the Chairperson? So in that regard, we have to maintain the clause
34 (3).
Mr First Deputy Speaker 1:29 p.m.
Hon Chairman, kindly withdraw your proposed amendment so that I could put the Question.
Mr Quaittoo 1:29 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I withdraw the amendment.

Clause 34 ordered to stand part of the Bill.
MR SECOND DEPUTY SPEAKER
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 1:34 p.m.
None

Clauses 35 and 36 ordered to stand part of the Bill.

Clause 37 -- Treasure of the Institute
Mr Quaittoo 1:34 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I beg to move, clause 37, subclause 2, paragraph (a), line 2, delete “a sound'' and insert “an efficient and effective''.
The new rendition would read:
“Ensure the receipt and disbursement of the funds of the Institute in an efficient and effective financial manner in accordance with the decision of the Council''.
Question put and amendment agreed to.
Clause 37 as amended ordered to stand part of the Bill.
Clause 38 to 41 ordered to stand part of the Bill.
Clause 42 -- Funds of the Institute
Mr Avedzi 1:34 p.m.
Mr Speaker, under the “funds of the Institute'', there is nothing that refers to moneys approved by Parliament or money from Government to the Institute. If we link this with clause 12, which is “Allowances' -- it says that:
“Members of the Council and members of a committee of the Council shall be paid allowances determined by the Council and approved by the Minister in consultation with the Minister responsible for Finance''
Mr Speaker, my challenge is that while government is giving no money to the Institute, we would want the Minister for Finance to approve the allowances that should be paid to the members of the Council. I see it not to be right because here the contribution of government towards the funds of the Institute is nil, yet, the Minister for Finance must approve the allowances that are to be paid to the Council members.
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 1:39 p.m.
Hon Chairman of the Committee, yes, we need some clarification on this issue.
Mr Quaittoo 1:39 p.m.
Mr Speaker, if you go to the Annual Reports and other reports, the argument was that once this Bill is an Act of Parliament, they are required to report to the Auditor- General and therefore to Parliament and so such charges would have to be approved by Parliament. If you look at clause 47, their Annual Report
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 1:39 p.m.
Well, Hon Deputy Minority Leader, from the Bill before us, when you go to “Funds of the Institute”, there are provisions which give an indication that government could give some moneys to the Institute.
If you look at other moneys lawfully received by the Institute which also include donations, grants, gifts and moneys from other sources, these were all approved by the Council for some programmes or projects of the Institute. For example, government could even on lend some moneys to the Institute.
But the main issue actually is one that is constitutional because the Constitution talks about corporations and other bodies established by an Act of Parliament. So they fall under the ambit of the Auditor-General and also other public obligations.
So that may be the reason, but they do not want to specifically state that the government would give this and that amount to the Institute.
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 1:39 p.m.


besides that, the Ghana Institute of Bankers Act and the Ghana Institute of Taxation Act all follow the same rendition. They are all Acts of Parliament and that is why we did that.
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 1:39 p.m.
Yes, because the definition of “public corporation means a corporation or any other bodies of persons established by an Act of Parliament or set up out of funds provided by Parliament or other public funds.” So the fact that we are establishing it by an Act of Parliament, they are caught by those provisions even though it might not be termed part of the public service properly so called but it is also recognised by article 190 (1).
There is no proposed amendment to clause 42, so I would go to clause
43.
Clause 43 - Borrowing powers of the Institute
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 1:39 p.m.
I have just been given a copy of Order Paper Addendum. There is a proposed amendment on the Order Paper Addendum to clause 43.
Mr Quaittoo 1:39 p.m.
Mr Speaker, no, the proposed amendment on the Order Paper Addendum is on the
Chartered Institute of Human Resource Bill which was done yesterday.
So we are to do that and then take the Third Reading.
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 1:39 p.m.
Alright, so there is no proposed amendment to clause 43.
Mr Quaittoo 1:39 p.m.
No, but within the financial provision, there is a proposed amendment in the main Order Paper on page 23.
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 1:49 p.m.
Hon Chairman of the Committee, I am still at clause 43.
Clause 42 to 48 ordered to stand part of the Bill.
Clause 49 -- Offences
Mr Quaittoo 1:49 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I beg to move, clause 49, subclause (1), closing phrase after paragraph (d), line 1, after “not”, insert “less than two hundred and fifty penalty units and not” and in line 3, before “more” insert “less than one year and not”.
Mr Speaker, the new rendition would be 1:49 p.m.
“commits an offence and is liable on summary conviction to a fine of not less than two hundred and fifty penalty units and not more than five hundred penalty units or to a term of imprisonment of not less than one year and not more than two years or to both and in the case of a continuing offence to a further fine of ten penalty units for each day during which the offence continues after written notice has been served on the offender by the Institute'.
Question put and amendment agreed to.
Clause 49 as amended ordered to stand part of the Bill.
Clauses 50 to 53 ordered to stand part of the Bill.
Mr Quaittoo 1:49 p.m.
Mr Speaker, there is a proposed new clause before we move to the Schedules.
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 1:49 p.m.
Hon Members, Roman numeral (xvi) on page 23 of the Order Paper.
Mr Quaittoo 1:49 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I beg to move, add the following clause:
“Internal Audit Unit
(1) The Institute shall have an Internal Audit Unit in accordance with section 83 of the Public Financial Management Act, 2016 (Act
921);
(2) The Internal Audit Unit shall be headed by an Internal Auditor who shall be appointed in accordance with the Internal Audit Agency Act, 2003 (Act 658);
(3) The Internal Auditor is responsible for the internal audit of the Institute;
(4) The Internal Auditor shall, subject to subsections (3) and (4) of section 16 of the Internal Audit Agency Act, 2003 (Act 658), at intervals of three months;
(a) prepare and submit to the Council, a report on the internal audit carried out during the period of three months immediately preceding the preparation of report; and
(b) make recommendations in each report, with respect to matters which appear to the Internal Auditor as
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 1:49 p.m.
We now move to the Schedules. First and Second Schedules ordered to stand part of the Bill.
Third Schedule -- Professional misconduct.
Mr Quaittoo 1:49 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I beg to move, paragraph (d), line 2, delete “that members custody” and insert “the custody of that member”.
Question put and amendment agreed to.
Third Schedule as amended ordered to stand part of the Bill.
Mr Avedzi 1:49 p.m.
Mr Speaker, sorry to bring you back. I was looking at the New Clause that we just considered. If we look at subclause (5), it says that: “The Internal Auditor shall, in accordance with subsection (4) of section 16 of the Internal Audit Agency Act, 2003 (Act 658), submit a copy of each report prepared under this section to the Chief Executive Officer and the chairperson of the Council”.
Mr Speaker, I was trying to look for where we use “Chief Executive Officer” in the Bill and I could not find it. So I do not know who exactly the “Chief Executive Officer” being referred to, in the New Clause is.
Mr Quaitoo 1:49 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I think it is the person who runs the Institute is referred to as a Registrar, not “Chief Executive Officer”.
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 1:49 p.m.
Is that the case?
Mr Quaittoo 1:49 p.m.
Mr Speaker, yes. If we look at the -- the Registrar is part of the Council and he is the only one who does not have a tenure of office.
Mr Speaker, if we go to clause 5 (e), “the Registrar” on page 6.
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 1:49 p.m.
So the “Chief Executive Officer” here is referring to “the Registrar”?
Mr Quaittoo 1:49 p.m.
Mr Speaker, yes, “the Registrar” and not “Chief Executive Officer”.
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 1:49 p.m.
Then is it not better to refer to him as “the Registrar” instead of the “Chief Executive Officer”?
Mr Quaitoo 1:49 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I propose that we amend the “Chief Executive Officer” to “Registrar”. The “Registrar`` is at clause 38, page 15 and it reads:
(1)“The Institute shall have a Full Member as a Registrar who shall be appointed by the Council.
(2) The Registrar shall hold office on the terms and conditions specified in the letter of appointment.”
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 1:49 p.m.
Hon Members, we are being called to take up the New Clause again. There is a proposed amendment to what we had taken which had already been agreed to, by Hon Members.
However, there is a proposed amendment to delete “Chief Executive Officer” and insert Registrar” .
Question put and amendment agreed to.
The New Clause as amended ordered to stand part of the Bill.
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 1:59 p.m.
The Long Title.
The Long Title ordered to stand part of the Bill.
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 1:59 p.m.
Hon Members, this brings us to the end of the Consideration Stage for the Chartered Institute of Marketing, Ghana Bill, 2019 for today.Hon Members, because we were just concluding the Consideration Stage, I did not extend the Sitting. It is now four minutes past 2.00 p.m. and so I want to adjourn the House.
Mr Quaittoo 1:59 p.m.
Mr Speaker, rightly so.
ADJOURNMENT 1:59 p.m.
  • The House was adjourned at 2.04 p.m. till Thursday, 4th June, 2020 at 10.00 a.m.