Debates of 6 Oct 2020

MR SPEAKER
PRAYERS 12:28 p.m.
ANNOUNCEMENTS 12:28 p.m.
Mr Speaker 12:28 p.m.
Hon Members, whiles we were away, there were two brief visits abroad by His Excellency. A letter dated 4th September, 2020 - - the President visiting Niamey on African Union matters. It would be tabled accordingly.
OPENING REMARKS 12:28 p.m.
Mr Haruna Iddrisu 12:38 p.m.
Mr Speaker, let me also use this opportunity to welcome you back personally as Speaker of the House. We are glad that you are in good health and back to transact business with the Parliament of Ghana. I will also use the opportunity to welcome our Hon Colleague Members of Parliament.
Mr Speaker, I would just touch on one major issue you raised that we do have a mandate which has not
Mr Speaker 12:38 p.m.
I thank you very much: Hon Minority Leader?
Hon Majority Leader, go ahead, please?
Mr Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 12:48 p.m.
Mr Speaker, let me also add my voice to welcome you as the Rt. Hon. Speaker to this House did and also, of course, the other Leaders who with you constitute the Speakership of the
House. I would also want to welcome my Colleagues in Leadership. In the course of the adjournment Sine die, some of us kept working around the clock just to sustain Parliament as an institution. I also welcome Colleague Members to the House.
Mr Speaker, this Meeting indeed, will be a very challenging one. We are beginning this Meeting today, the 6th of October, 2020. It is intended for us to work up to the 6th of November, 2020. That then would mean that we would Sit for five weeks ordinarily containing 20 Sitting days. Instruments would be laid today and we would have to have some additional Sitting days in order for us to see to those instruments maturing.
Already, there is a tall order of instruments that would be laid today. We expect to have close to 20 instruments. It means that the Committee on Subsidiary Legislation would have a lot on its shoulders. Unfortunately, many of the Members of the Committee are contesting -- [Interruption] -- Fortunately and unfortunately -- [Laughter] -- That means that they would have to mix space and time for the consideration of these referrals that would be given to them.
Mr Speaker, I hope the House can count on them. I know many of them at the Committee are very diligent Members of this House and they take the work of the Committee very seriously. I take further to this that the Committee would have to be appropriately resourced in order for them to discharge their responsibility.

Mr Speaker, the Committee on Finance would also have over 40 referrals because, already from the Ministry of Finance, we would have over 20 tax waivers and 20 Agreements referred to them.

So again, just as I have done with respect to the Subsidiary Legislation Committee, I entreat the Finance Committee whose Chairman; the Hon Dr Assibey-Yeboah is known for his diligence and indeed, prying eyes into every referral that is laid to the Committee.

Mr Speaker, at least, 40 referrals to the Committee to be done within the space of five weeks. Indeed, this first week, we are going to be very weak because of the fact that Hon Members would have to migrate to their respective constituencies to file their nominations.

The final week which is the fifth week is also going to be dedicated to the events on accounts which then means that effectively, we are going to have three weeks to transact business on all these major Businesses that the House will have to discharge.

Mr Speaker, the Committee on Constitutional, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs is also going to have several referrals and even though we are not in normal times, we expect them to discharge the functions that will be assigned them diligently.

As I said, we have five weeks to confront the huge number of referrals that are going to go to the various Committees. The other day when we acted ourselves, we said that we were able to pass 13 major Bills but we had 13 weeks and today, we are going to have four weeks to deal with about 10 major Bills. This means that the House, with a short time at its disposal, would have to Sit beyond the normal Sitting hours to do these Businesses.

Mr Speaker, that being revealed, because at the same time, we would have to engage in one area and also be firing ammunitions and so on; it would mean that we would have to scheme to have some kind of rotation in the House and assume quorum in all those times that we shall be here.
Mr Speaker 12:48 p.m.
Thank you very much, Hon Majority Leader.
Hon Members, for our further information, I have received a letter from the Auditor-General which I would appropriately refer to the two readers which refers to certain delays in submitting two audited accounts to Parliament which have been subjects of some comments.
It states in clear terms that the name is not deliberate in any way whatsoever, with the arrival of the COVID-19 pandemic, several institutions, including their office, were
adversely affected as known to the public and that the office will continue to fulfil its constitutional duties. Copies have been made available to the Hon Majority and Minority Leaders accordingly and we will take note.
VOTES AND PROCEEDINGS AND THE OFFICIAL REPORT 12:58 p.m.
Mr Speaker 12:58 p.m.
Hon Members, correction of the Votes and Proceedings of Friday, 14th August,
2020.
Page 1, 2, …8 --
Page 6, 7, 8 … 49 --
Mr Bernard Ahiafor 12:58 p.m.
Mr Speaker, on item numbered 37 at page 47, I recall that the Hon Majority Leader proffered an amendment to the Motion consequent upon which the Speaker directed as captured on page 50 that the Motion should be amended to read that “the agreement should take effect after His Excellency the President has assented to the Amendment Bill”.
However, his amendment has not been captured by the Motion.
Mr Speaker 12:58 p.m.
Very well.
Page 50, 51, 52 …
Dr Mark Assibey-Yeboah 12:58 p.m.
On page 46, there was a new amendment to the Communication Service Tax and the Hon Minority Leader would recall that the amendment deleted 20 per cent of six per cent of the tax.
Mr Speaker, I effected an amendment but it has not been captured. I have asked for the Report to be delivered to me and if I receive it I would rise again on this issue to ensure that we make the correction.
Mr Speaker 12:58 p.m.
Very well.
Page 53, 54, 55 … 63 --
Mr Haruna Iddrisu 12:58 p.m.
Mr Speaker, Hon Ahiafor raised a very substantial issue and we expect that the Hon Majority Leader as well as the Table Office would be guided. On the Motion relating to the Agyapa Royalties, the Hon Majority Leader proffered an amendment to the Motion before it was adopted by the House. Therefore, it should be captured as part of the record to reflect the words that the Hon Majority Leader used and this is in addition to what the Hon Chairman of the Finance Committee said in relation to the Communication Service Tax.
Mr Speaker, before the Question was put on this particular matter, the Hon Majority Leader amended the
Motion as was advertised on the Order Paper.
Mr Speaker 12:58 p.m.
Thank you very much.
Dr Anthony A. Osei 12:58 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I noticed vividly that both the Hon Minority Leader and Hon Ahiafor were not available so I do not know where they got this from. [Laughter]
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 12:58 p.m.
Mr Speaker, both the Hon Minority Leader and Hon Ahiafor have indicated to us that indeed we have Jehovah's witnesses. They were not here but they were witnesses to the prowess of Jesus Christ and, indeed, Jehovah. [Laughter]
Mr Speaker, however, the issue they raised about the amendment is important. It had to do with the operationalisation of the law and I predicated it on article 106(11) that we have to wait until the President assents to the Minerals Income Investment Fund (Amendment) Bill before that agreement could be operationalised. This is indeed fundamental and I agree with Hon Ahiafor that this should register in the
Votes and Proceedings. Mr Speaker, he is a Jehovah's Witness and he bears witness to what he does not believe.
Mr Speaker 1:08 p.m.
Very well.
Page 53, 54, 55 --
Page 55… 66?
In the absence of any further corrections, the Votes and Proceedings of Friday, 14th August, 2020 as corrected is hereby adopted as the true record of proceedings.
Hon Members, Official Report of 3rd August, 2020. Any corrections, please?

Official Report of 5th August, 2020. Any corrections, please?

Hon Members, At the Commencement of Public Business; item numbered 5, Presentation of Papers.
rose
Mr Speaker 1:08 p.m.
Yes, Hon Minority Leader?
Mr Iddrisu 1:08 p.m.
Mr Speaker, with respect, I was drawing the Hon Majority Leader's attention that because today is our first Sitting of the Third Meeting of Parliament, he ought to share the Business Statement with us as was agreed at the Business Committee meeting before we go to the commencement of public business in order that we understand what business it is that we have scheduled to do.
Thank you, Mr Speaker.
Mr Speaker 1:08 p.m.
Hon Majority Leader?
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 1:08 p.m.
Mr Speaker, thank you very much for the opportunity.
Mr Speaker, I believe this is a legitimate slip and it is the reason we want to create space for Business Statement. In the rules of procedure that we used today in the Standing Orders, there is no place for the presentation of Business Statement. So we need to formalise it.
BUSINESS OF THE HOUSE 1:08 p.m.
Majority Leader/Chairman of the Business Committee (Mr Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu) 1:08 p.m.
Mr Speaker, the Committee met today, Tuesday, 6th October 2020 and arranged Business of the House for the First Week ending Friday, 9th October 2020.
Mr Speaker, the Committee accordingly submits its report as follows 1:08 p.m.
Arrangement of Business
Formal Communications by the Speaker
Mr Speaker, you may read any available communication to the House.
Questions
Mr Speaker, the Business Committee has not scheduled any
Mr Speaker, the Committee accordingly submits its report as follows 1:18 p.m.
6. Corporate Insolvency and Restructuring (Amendment) Bill, 2020;
7. Anti-Money Laundering Bill,
2020;
8. Borrowers and Lenders Bill,
2020;
9. Petroleum Hub Development Corporation Bill, 2020; and
10.Criminal Offences (Amend- ment) Bill
It is our expectation that with the fullest cooperation and support of Hon Members, the House would be able to pass these ten (10) Bills on or before the 7th of November 2020, when the House would hopefully adjourn for the electioneering campaign.
Mr Speaker, as I said, we proposed that we adjourn on the 6th of November, 2020, but not 7th of November, 2020.
Mr Speaker, again, as I indicated, there is a tall order of instruments to be laid in the House and the appropriate committee would consider the referrals appropriately.

Conclusion

Mr Speaker, in accordance with Standing Order 160(2) and subject to Standing Order 53, the Committee submits to this honourable House the order in which the Business of the House shall be taken during the week under consideration.

Statements

Presentation of Papers --

(a)Ghana Armed Forces (Amendment) Regulations,

2020.

(b)Local Government (Guan District Assembly) (Establishment) Instrument,

2020.

(c)Local Government (Jasikan District Assembly) (Establishment) Instrument,

2020.

(d)Local Government (Krachi West Municipal Assembly) (Establishment) Instrument,

2020.

(e)Local Government (Kwahu South Municipal Assembly) (Establishment) Instrument,

2020.

(f) Local Government (Akatsi South Municipal Assembly) (Establishment) Instrument,

2020.

(g)Local Government (Asante Akim North Municipal Assembly) (Establishment) Instrument, 2020.

(h)Local Government (Builsa North Municipal Assembly) (Establishment) Instrument,

2020.

(i) Ghana International Trade Commission (Subsidy and Countervailing Measures) Regulations, 2020.

(j) Ghana International Trade Commission (Safeguard Measures) Regulations,

2020.

(k) Supreme Court (Amendment) Rules, 2020.

(l) Court of Appeal (Amendment) Rules, 2020.

(m)High Court (Civil Procedure) (Amendment) Rules, 2020.

(n)District Court (Amendment) Rules, 2020.

(o)Legal Profession (Professional Conduct and Etiquette) (Amendment) Regulations,

2020.

(p)Legal Profession (Discipli- nary Committee) Rules,

2020.

(q) Judicial Service Regulations,

2020.

(r) Ghana Police Service (Amendment) Regulations,

2020.

(s)Ghan a National Fire Service (General Administration) Regulations.

(t) United Nations Convention on International Settlement Agreements Resulting from Mediation, 2018.

(u) Annual Report of the Public Interest and Accountability Committee (PIAC) on the Management and Use of Petroleum Revenues for the Period January to December

2019.
Mr Speaker, the Committee accordingly submits its report as follows 1:18 p.m.
(d)Institute of Chartered Accountants, Ghana Bill,
2020.
(e) Corporate Insolvency and Restructuring (Amendment) Bill, 2020.
Committee sittings.
There is one glaring omission in the Presentation of Papers and I believe the Addendum that has been served, would take care of that.
Mr Speaker, it is about the Legal Profession (Professional and Post- Call Law Course) (Amendment) Regulations, 2020. Even though it is on the Agenda, inadvertently, it is missing on today's programme, so it has to be included.

Statements

Presentation of Papers --

(a) National Road Safety Regulations, 2020.

(b) Report of the Committee on Works and Housing on the Commercial Contract Agreement between the Government of the Republic
Mr Speaker, the Committee accordingly submits its report as follows 1:18 p.m.
(c) Report of the Committee on Constitutional, Legal and Parliament Affairs on the Corporate Insolvency and Restructuring (Amendment) Bill, 2020.
Motions --
Second Reading of Bills --
Ghana Cocoa Board (Amendment) Bill, 2017.
(b)Adoption of the Report of the Special Budget Committee on the First Quarter Budgetary Performance of the Electoral Commission and the Road Map to Election 2020.
Consideration Stage of Bills --
Complementary Education Agency Bill, 2019.
Committee sittings.

Statements --

Motions --

Second Reading of Bills --

Petroleum Hub Development Corporation Bill, 2020.

(b) Adoption of the Report of the Committee on Works and Housing on the Budget Performance Report in respect of the Ministry of Sanitation and Water Resources for the period January to December, 2019.

(c) Adoption of the Report of the Committee on Works and Housing on the Budget Performance Report in respect of the Ministry of Works and Housing for the period January to December,

2019.

(d) Adoption of the Report of the Finance Committee on the Supplier's Credit Agreement between the Government of the Republic of Ghana (represented by the Ministry

of Finance) and Messrs. Dongfang Electric Inter- national Corporation for an amount of two hundred and forty-three million, six hundred thousand United States dollars (US$243, 600,000.00) for the procurement of standard gauge rolling stock.

-- Consequential Resolution

(e) Adoption of the Report of the Finance Committee on the EKN-Backed Facility Agreement between the Government of the Republic of Ghana (represented by the Ministry of Finance) and Standard Chartered Bank for an amount of one hundred and thirty-eight million, two hundred and twenty-one thousand fifteen euros sixty- three Cents (€138,221, 015.63 [including EKN insurance premium]) to finance the Sunyani Water Supply Expansion Project (Phase I).

-- Consequential Resolution

(f) Adoption of the Report of the Finance Committee on the Facility Agreement between the Government of the
Mr Speaker, the Committee accordingly submits its report as follows 1:18 p.m.
Republic of Ghana (represented by the Ministry of Finance) and Standard Chartered Bank for an amount of fifteen million, six hundred and seventy-eight thousand, seven hundred and seventy-one euros fifty Cents (€15,678,771.50) to finance the Sunyani Water Supply Expansion Project (Phase I).
-- Consequential Resolution
Consideration Stage of Bills --
Conduct of Public Officers Bill,
2018.
Committee sittings.

Statements --

Motions --

(a)Adoption of the Report of the Committee on Works and Housing on the Commercial Contract Agreement between the Government of the Republic of Ghana (represented by the Ministry of Sanitation and Water Resources [Ghana Water Company Limited]) and LR

Group for an amount of one hundred and thirty three million, three hundred and thirty-two thousand, five hundred euros (€133,332, 500.00) for the Sunyani Water Supply Expansion Project (Phase I).

-- Consequential Resolution

(b) Adoption of the Report of the Committee on Roads and Transport on the Supply Contract Agreement between the Government of the Republic of Ghana (represented by the Ministry of Railways Development) and Messrs. Dongfang Electric International Corporation for an amount of two hundred and forty-three million, six hundred thousand United States dollars (US$243,600,000.00) for the procurement of standard gauge rolling stock.

Consideration Stage of Bills --

Real Estate Authority Bill, 2020.

Committee sittings.

Mr Speaker, as I indicated, there are other Bills that are knocking on the doors of Parliament. We have the

Affirmative Action, the Spousal Rights, Intestate Succession and Creative Arts Bills and because of the regime that we find ourselves in, as a middle income country, we really need to pass these Bills on public- private partnership. I think it is something that we have to turn to. I do not think time and space would allow us to do that.

Mr Speaker, we certainly have to look at these ten Bills and see what we can do about them, time and space permitting.

Mr Speaker, I thank you and I thank Hon Members for their indulgence.
Mr Speaker 1:18 p.m.
Thank you very much, Hon Majority Leader.
rose
Mr Speaker 1:18 p.m.
Yes, Hon Member for Adaklu?
Mr Agbodza 1:18 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I thank the Hon Leader of the House for the Business Statement.
Mr Speaker, I entirely agree with him when he gave details of how much time we have and the extent of business we have to do. We cannot
change much, but I would only encourage leadership and Hon Colleagues that the limited time that we have --
Many a times, you have told us that provided we can come to the House on time, at least, we can manage the limited time we have to do whatever is possible. It only becomes a problem when we cannot even maximise the limited time we have. So I would encourage Hon Colleagues; now that we do not have enough time but we have a lot of responsibilities, could we all make a commitment so that those who would come, would do so on time?
Mr Speaker, we must be realistic. The House will not be as populated as it used to be within the period and we all know why. But those who would come should come on time, so that we can do what is needful.
Mr Speaker, since Hon Majority Leader said that we may be working beyond required times, it is also necessary for leadership to take all necessary steps to make sure that the house keeps matters to help support those who will be here and their needs are addressed fully, so that people would not have reasons not to be here and be elsewhere.
Mr Speaker 1:18 p.m.
Thank you very much.
Yes, Hon Minority Leader?
Mr Haruna Iddrisu 1:18 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I thank you and I thank the Hon Majority Leader. I was drawing his attention to page 3 of the Business Statement; it appears that he did not see.
Mr Speaker, are you introducing a Judicial Service Bill or a Judicial Service Regulations? -- [Interruption] -- Is it a completely new Bill for the Judicial Service? - I understand.
Mr Speaker, as you have advised the Hon Majority Leader, the Dagombas say that, “You must have your head to chew corn”. Hon Members of Parliament must survive to be here. This is an election year. If I do not have my head on, I cannot chew corn. If we do not keep our constituencies safe, we will not be here thereafter. Therefore, we would have to speed our presence here and to
subsequently have our presence in the constituencies which is also a matter of necessity and to hold ourselves politically accountable.
Mr Speaker, therefore we must heed your advice. He should prioritise. He should not come and give too many Bills which are urgent in the national interest that will keep me here. There is destruction back home. For the political candidates in Manhyia, there are people going round this morning working against them. The same applies to the candidates in Tamale South and Ketu North.
Mr Speaker, prioritising is important. The Hon Majority Leader read many Bills, and we would sacrifice to work on four or five of them, but we would sacrifice at the peril of our survival in the constituencies, so that we
can return to this august House. The Hon Majority Leader must know that. What is so compelling? So that we can limit ourselves. If he comes to list some many businesses - Mr Speaker, you know what it means to consider a Bill.
The other day, when I said it, he misconstrued me. When we passed the Companies Bill, 2019 and the Insolvency Bill, 2019, does he see we
are back with the Insolvency Bill for correction? -- The speed with which we go sometimes does not allow us to do a more diligent work in dotting the i's and that was what I wanted to convey.
Mr Speaker, he is the Hon Majority Leader and the Hon Chairman of the winnowing committee. The committee will go and come back to go over everything. Jack of all trade -- [Laughter] -- But he is master of all. [Laughter]
Mr Speaker, he cannot be holding committees works. When committees work and bring their report, they go to winnowing and set aside what the committee has done. It is not right per our Standing Orders, but we will support him to do Government Business, but we will not support him at the peril of our survival as Hon Members of Parliament. We would hold on to our constituencies and ensure that we are part of the Eighth Parliament of Ghana. He should be mindful of that.
Mr Speaker, as for the Private Member's Bills, I am studying something on some presidential commission in the United States of America (USA) and together with the Hon Majority Leader, sponsor a bill on a nature of entry of Private
Member's Bill, so that this Parliament will work with you as part of your endearing legacy that, at least, you led the way and that a Private Member's Bill saw the light of day under the 7th Parliament under your guidance.
Mr Speaker, I thank you.
Mr Speaker 1:18 p.m.
Thank you very much, Hon Minority Leader.
Hon Majority Leader, any concluding remarks?
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 1:28 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I agree with Hon Kwame Governs Agbodza that we have very limited time, and in that regard, we should be very timeous in our attendance at parliamentary business -- all of us.
Mr Speaker, in respect to some matters that he clothed in “housekeeping”, I entirely agree. I wanted to say in my earlier intervention when we were relating to the welcome of Hon Members to the House.
So, I do not intend to repeat it, except to say that I would seriously touch base with the relevant Ministers
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 1:28 p.m.


who are sponsoring the relevant pieces of legislation in the House in order to do what is needful.

Mr Speaker, the Hon Minority Leader has re-echoed the issue that I raised, which has to do with the fact that we need to split turns between parliamentary work and constituency work. I agree with him that we must survive first in order for us to be referred to as Hon Members of Parliament. If we do not survive, we would become “ex”, and I do not think that any of us here would want to be described as an “ex parliamentarian”.

This is in relation to those of them that are contesting. Those of them who would not contest, which include the Hon Fifi Kwetey, very soon, they would become extinct, and we shall refer to them as “former Hon Members of Parliament”.

Mr Speaker, I believe that he would take that in his stride because he has offered and has indeed being elected to do that. Having said so, in this House, some of us in the conduct of Business are prone to raising issues of quorum. The Hon Agbodza is laughing. He knows what I mean. We should understand that these are not normal times and -- well, the Hon Fifi Kwetey is volunteering, and he says

that there should be a moratorium on quorum issues, and again, I see the Hon Agbodza nodding his head profusely. Therefore, I take that as a pledge from him that he would commit to ensuring that he does not raise any issues of quorum. We shall assume virtual quorum and deal with the Business that is required of us.

Mr Speaker, we have prioritised the Bills. As I indicated, there were over 40 of them, but we have brought the number down to ten. As we move on, we would see which ones we would be able to deal with. It is difficult to overly stretch Hon Members. So, we would deal with what is humanly possible.

Mr Speaker, the Hon Kpodo says that we should restrict ourselves to only two Bills, but I would want to assure him that we would not do that. We would do what is needful.

Mr Speaker, the Hon Minority Leader made a profound Statement. He did so the other time, and I responded to that. He came out to say that the Winnowing Committee is always setting aside work that has been done by Committees, but that is not so. The Hon Minority Leader should himself be at the Winnowing Committee. He has elected not to

attend the Winnowing Committee meetings. The Winnowing Committee only works to reconcile the various amendments proffered, and indeed, to improve on legislation.

That is what we do at the Winnowing Committee. Once we have done so, we also then engender some speed in the transaction of Business on the Committee work on the Consideration of the Bills. That is all that we have been doing.

Any time the Winnowing Committee had done that, we were able to move very fast at the Consideration Stage, and that is what our charge is. The Hon Minority Leader should therefore himself be there to appreciate what we do.

Often times, the Hon Minority Leader has this uncanny tendency of developing a boil any time the Winnowing Committee has to meet. He develops a boil at his backside, and is never able to attend the Winnowing Meetings. -- [Laughter]-- He should therefore cure the boils that affect his behind. However, we would do the needful.

Mr Speaker, I thank you very much.
Mr Speaker 1:28 p.m.
Thank you very much, Hon Majority Leader.
Hon Members, the Business Statement as presented is admitted accordingly.
Hon Members, at the Commencement of Public Business - - Presentation of Papers. We would take the Paper numbered 5 (a), by the Hon Majority Leader.
PAPERS 1:28 p.m.
Mr Speaker 1:28 p.m.
Hon Members, we would move on to the Paper numbered 5 (b) (i), by the Hon Minister for Defence.
By the Minister for Defence --
Ghana Armed Forces (Amendment) Regulations,
2020.
Mr Speaker 1:28 p.m.


Referred to the Subsidiary Legislation Committee.
Mr Speaker 1:28 p.m.
Hon Members, we would move on to the Paper numbered 5 (b) (ii).
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 1:28 p.m.
Mr Speaker, with the Paper numbered 5 (b) (ii), inadvertently, the amount has to do with the financing agreement, and the amount inadvertently was left out of the original Order Paper. It is however contained in the Addendum Order Paper. So, the Hon Minister in laying it would have to refer to what obtains on the Order Paper Addendum, which has the amount that is specified for that purpose. [Interruption]
Mr Speaker, the Hon Minister would therefore do so on behalf of the Hon Minister for Finance.
Mr Speaker 1:28 p.m.
Hon Majority Leader, so, shall we take the Paper numbered 5 (a) on the Order Paper Addendum in place of the Paper numbered 5 (b) in the original?
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 1:28 p.m.
Mr Speaker, the issue that I would want to clear is that the Paper numbered 5 (b) has to do with the Contract Agreement, which is on the original Order Paper. However, what appears
on the Order Paper Addendum as the Paper numbered 1(a) is the Credit Agreement. The figures may not be the same; the Contract Agreement figure, which is the amount, and the Credit Agreement figure may not be the same.
I am therefore only just referring to us that the amount in the Paper numbered 5 (b) (ii) is not indicated, but it ought to have been indicated. Therefore, it is for the Hon Minister to touch space to know the exact amount, which would then follow. That amount may not necessarily be the 19 million, and that is the point I seek to make.
Mr Dominic B. A. Nitiwul 1:28 p.m.
Mr Speaker, we are laying the one which has to do with the Credit Agreement, and it has to be laid by the Minister for Finance. We are doing the Addendum Number 4, which is asking for an extra 19 million to top up to finish the Project.
This Project was laid and was approved in 2008, on the 20th of November. The Contract Agreement and the financials were done, so, what we are doing now is just to ask for an Addendum Number 4. So, it is a Credit Agreement that is being asked to be added to it.
Mr Speaker, the original sum was US$180 million so, if you want the total sum today, it is US$180 million plus US$19,305,179. That is the final amount. So, it would be US$199 million.
Mr Speaker 1:38 p.m.
Shall we please move to the Order Paper Addendum then if that would help bring some clarity?
Dr Anthony Akoto Osei 1:38 p.m.
Mr Speaker, the Hon Minister for Defence said that the new contract sum will amount to about US$199 million which would imply that the credit agreement would fully be added on to the old sum. That may not necessarily be the case because of insurance premium and others. However, I believe that if we replace item numbered 5(b)(ii) by 5(1)(a) and say “up to”, then we would have taken care of both the amount on the Order Paper Addendum and the financing agreement.
Mr Speaker 1:38 p.m.
Shall we continue from the original Order Paper or from the Order Paper Addendum?
Alhaji I.A.B. Fuseini 1:38 p.m.
Mr Speaker, the original Order Paper and the Addendum talks on two different
Dr Osei 1:38 p.m.
Mr Speaker, if you would recall, back in 2008, the Euroget agreement was for turnkey design, construction and supply. Now, my understanding is that the Ministry of Defence has asked for an installation of equipment and provision of technical assistance amounting to that sum to complete the project. So, the rendition in the Order Paper Addendum should not include “Turnkey Design, Construction”. That part no longer exists; it is done.
Mr Nitiwul 1:38 p.m.
Mr Speaker, on 20th November, 2008, there was an agreement that came to Parliament for the turnkey design, construction, supply and installation of equipment and provision of technical assistance in the form of training and a two-year maintenance for the 500-bed military hospital at Afari in the Ashanti Region. That is what came in.
Mr Speaker, from 2008 till now, there have been four different changes to the site to the extent that the actual
construction began six years after the project was signed off. So, the contractor came to us to argue that he had lost out completely, and that the US$180 million which we gave him could not complete the project including the turnkey design, the construction, the supply and provision of technical assistance and even training for the original project.
The contractor asked for US$50 million and we said the country could not provide it; he asked for US$30 million and we sat down with him and beat it to US$19 million. He has agreed that if we give him US$19 million, he would be able to complete the project. I do not see the confusion -- [Interruption]. No, it is the same thing as the original wording that was done, but it is for the turnkey design, construction, supply, installation of equipment and provision of technical assistance in the form of training and two years' maintenance for the 500- bed military hospital. The wording is alright.
Mr Speaker, what the Hon Member said is true; the contract sum has changed from US$180 million to US$199 million. Maybe, we would have to lay that new agreement as well, but for the credit agreement, we are only asking for US$19, 305, 179.
If somebody were to ask what the contract sum for the military hospital is, it is no more US$188 million, but now US$199 million.
Maybe, I would have to lay the item numbered 5(b)(ii) and then just say US$199 million as part of it so that we would now have the two. In the records, it would be that we asked for an additional credit facility of US$19 million, but then, the contract sum has moved from US$180 million to US$199 million.
Mr Speaker 1:38 p.m.
Hon Minister, for the sake of putting all others at ease, and for us all to be ad idem, can we have from the original Order Paper, item numbered 5(d)(ii) and then from the Order Paper Addendum, item numbered 1(a) stood down?
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 1:38 p.m.
Mr Speaker, first of all, to clear the air about the issue raised by the Hon Member for Tamale Central -- the way he read the title that the addendum number 4, the contract --
“Addendum No. 4 to the Credit Agreement between the Government of the Republic of Ghana (represented by the Ministry of Finance) and Messrs Euroget De-Invest S.A. of Giza, Egypt for an amount of
nineteen million, three hundred and five thousand, one hundred and seventy-nine United States Dollars (US$19,305,179.00) for the Turnkey Design, Construction, Supply and Installation of Equipment and Provision of Technical Assistance in the form of Training and for the Two Years Maintenance of the 500-Bed Military Hospital at Afari, Ashanti Region.”
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 1:48 p.m.
Mr Speaker, his own emphasis was on the second leg; that is the provision of technical assistance in the form of training and the two years' maintenance of the five hundred bed Military Hospital at Afari. And by that reading, it implied that the US$19.3 million is just for the technical assistance. Mr Speaker, it is not that at all because the title was for the construction and the supply of equipment and training; so it is three- in-one. So, this amount is going to be added to the US$180, which is the original but it is supposed to serve the entire complement of the job description. It is not only for the last leg; so, that is one.
The second thing then is, what are we required to do? This is a Credit
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 1:48 p.m.


Agreement so, it is supposed to be laid the Hon Minister for Finance, not the Hon Minister for Defence, but the Minister for Finance is not available, which is why the Minister for Defence stood in and did it for the Minister for Finance.

Does it amend the original contract? It does not do so; that is why he is insisting that it is the Minister for Finance that ought to do have done it. If there should be any contract variation that would be a subject for the Minister to come in with a new amended contract agreement, but it is the same contract. That is the import of it. So, that is how it is supposed to be.
Mr Speaker 1:48 p.m.
Hon Dr Akoto Osei?
Dr Osei 1:48 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I agree with the Majority Leader; without the item numbered 1(a), we cannot even have the item numbered 5(b)(i); so, I suggest for now, we abandon the item numbered 5(b)(ii), lay the Paper for the Minister for Finance, then, tomorrow, he comes with the item numbered 5(b)(ii) and then, it would be alright for the contract.
Mr Speaker 1:48 p.m.
For the sake of clarity, let us go step by step so that now, we lay the item numbered 1(a) on the Order Paper Addendum.
The item numbered 1(a) on the Order Paper Addendum by the Minister for Finance?
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 1:48 p.m.
Mr Speaker, just for the avoidance of doubt, the Minister for Monitoring and Evaluation would lay the Paper on behalf of the Minister for Finance so that there is clarity.
Mr Speaker 1:48 p.m.
Very well, Addendum Order Paper 1(a), Hon Dr Akoto Osei, for, and on behalf of the Minister for Finance?
By the Minister for Monitoring and Evaluation (Dr Anthony Akoto Osei) on behalf of the Minister for Finance —
Addendum No. 4 to the Credit Agreement between the Government of the Republic of Ghana (represented by the Ministry of Finance) and Messrs Euroget De-Invest S.A. of Giza, Egypt for an amount of nineteen million, three hundred and five thousand, one hundred and seventy-nine United States dollars (US$19,305,179.00) for the Turnkey Design, Construction, Supply and Installation of Equipment and Provision of Technical Assistance in the form of Training and Two Years
Maintenance for the 500-Bed Military Hospital at Afari, Ashanti Region.
Referred to the Finance Committee.
Mr Speaker 1:48 p.m.
Hon Majority Leader, shall we proceed with the Addendum Order Paper?
rose
Mr Speaker 1:48 p.m.
Yes, Hon Member?
Mr Avedzi 1:48 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I would like to propose an amendment to the Agreement. It is an Addendum alright but this Addendum results in additional funding so; before we come to the amount after Egypt, we should insert “additional” between “and” and “an amount” so it would read:
“for an additional amount of…”
This is because the Addendum results into additional funding - [Interruption]- Mr Speaker, we are dealing with a finance issue here and therefore, it should be clear. This is a financial term.
Mr Speaker 1:48 p.m.
Hon Member, will this not be an appropriate matter for the Committee to consider, then the
Committee will come out with a Report and we shall take it from there? That is the essence of the Committee so; shall we please make progress?
Hon Majority Leader, shall we proceed with the original Order Paper or with the Addendum Order Paper?
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 1:48 p.m.
Mr Speaker, we could go to the original Order Paper now and take the item listed as 5(c).
Mr Speaker 1:48 p.m.
The items numbered 5(c)(i) and (ii) on the original Order Paper, Hon Minister for the Interior?
By the Minister for the Interior
—
(i) Ghana Police Service (Amendment) Regulations,
2020.
(ii)Ghana National Fire Service (General Administration) Regulations.
Referred to the Committee on Subsidiary Legislation.
Mr Speaker 1:48 p.m.
Hon Members, the item listed as 5(d)?
By the Minister for Local Government and Rural Development —
Mr Speaker 1:48 p.m.


(i) Local Government (Guan District Assembly) (Establishment) Instrument,

2020.

(ii) Local Government (Jasikan District Assembly) (Establishment) Instrument,

2020.

(iii) Local Government (Krachi West Municipal Assembly) (Establishment) Instrument,

2020.

(iv) Local Government (Kwahu South Municipal Assembly) (Establishment) Instrument,

2020.

(v) Local Government (Akatsi South Municipal Assembly) (Establishment) Instrument,

2020.

(vi) Local Government (Asante Akim North Municipal Assembly) (Establishment) Instrument, 2020.

(vii) Local Government (Builsa North Municipal Assembly) (Establishment) Instrument,

2020.

(viii) Annual Statement by the Audit Committee of the Ga

North Municipal Assembly for the year 2019.

Referred to the Committee on Subsidiary Legislation.
Dr Ayine 1:58 p.m.
Mr Speaker, item numbered (d) (viii), should be referred to either the Finance Committee or the Committee on Local Government and Rural Development and not the Committee on Subsidiary Legislation -- [Interruption] -- I am not running away. It is just that if it is referred to the Committee on Subsidiary Legislation, it does not fall within the ambit of our work --
Mr Speaker 1:58 p.m.
Or rather to the Committee on Local Government and Rural Development?
Dr Assibey-Yeboah 1:58 p.m.
Mr Speaker, respectfully, it should be referred to the Finance Committee. [Interruption]
Mr Speaker 1:58 p.m.
Very well.
Referred to the Finance Committee.
Mr Speaker 1:58 p.m.
Hon Deputy Minority Leader?
Mr Speaker 1:58 p.m.
I have been advised it should be referred to the Committee on Local Government and Rural Development.
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 1:58 p.m.
Mr Speaker, these audit committee reports are the reports that we used to refer to as “Audit Implementation Committee Reports”. They are supposed to improve governance in the various sectors, so they should go to the respective sector -- in this case, the Committee on Local Government and Rural Development. That is how it is supposed to be.
Mr Speaker 1:58 p.m.
Very well.
Referred to the Committee on Local Government and Rural Development.
Mr Speaker 1:58 p.m.
Hon Members, if the Committee members find it very necessary, they may co-opt.
Item numbered (e), by the Hon Attorney-General and Minister for Justice.
By the Attorney-General and Minister for Justice --
(i) United Nations Convention on International Settlement Agreements Resulting from Mediation, 2018.
Referred to the Committee on Constitutional, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs
By the Attorney-General and Minister for Justice --
(ii)Supreme Court (Amendment) Rules, 2020.
(iii)Court of Appeal (Amendment) Rules, 2020.
(iv) High Court (Civil Procedure) (Amendment) Rules, 2020.
(v) District Court (Amend- pment) Rules, 2020.
(vi) Legal Profession (Pro- fessional Conduct and Etiquette) (Amendment) Regulations, 2020.
(vii)Legal Profession (Discipli- nary Committee) Rules,
2020.
Referred to the Committee on Subsidiary Legislation
Mr Speaker 1:58 p.m.
Finally, item numbered (viii) on the Order Paper.
Ms Gloria Akuffo 1:58 p.m.
Mr Speaker, item numbered (viii) on the Order Paper ought not to be on the list. It has been substituted with item numbered 1 (b) on the Order Paper Addendum.
Mr Speaker 1:58 p.m.
Hon Attorney- General and Minister for Justice, do you want to substitute item numbered (viii) on the Order Paper with what is on the Order Paper Addendum?
Ms Akuffo 1:58 p.m.
Mr Speaker, item numbered (viii) on the Order Paper has been abandoned.
Mr Speaker 1:58 p.m.
Hon Attorney- General and Minister for Justice, so in effect you respectfully want to withdraw what is on the original Order Paper and substitute it with what is on the Order Paper Addendum?
Ms Akuffo 1:58 p.m.
Mr Speaker, the two are different so, I would like to restate it. Item numbered (viii) on the original Order Paper is withdrawn.
Mr Speaker 1:58 p.m.
Very well. Item numbered (viii) on the original Order Paper is withdrawn accordingly.
We would take the Order Paper Addendum and I would respectfully ask the Hon Attorney-General and Minister for Justice to lay item numbered 1 (b).
By the Attorney-General and Minister for Justice --
Legal Profession (Professional and Post-Call Law Course) (Amendment) Regulations, 2020.
Referred to the Committee on Subsidiary Legislation
Mr Speaker 1:58 p.m.
Hon Members, in view of the Business ahead of us and the time, I direct that Sitting be extended beyond the stipulated hours.
Item listed (f), on page 4 on the original Order Paper.
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 2:08 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I seek your indulgence for us to move to item numbered 5 on page 6 on the original Order Paper.
Mr Speaker 2:08 p.m.
Hon Members, item listed 5 on page 6 of the original Order Paper; Presentation and First Reading of Bills. Item listed 5 (a).
BILLS -- FIRST READING 2:08 p.m.
Mr Speaker 2:08 p.m.
Hon Members, item listed 5 (e).
Dr Matthew Opoku Prempeh 2:08 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I come under Order 132 to seek the leave of the House to withdraw the Institute of Chartered Accountants, Ghana Bill, 2020 laid on the 20th May, 2020.
Mr Speaker 2:08 p.m.
Very well, is it with liberty to come back? [Interruption] -- Very well. It is withdrawn with liberty to come back accordingly.
Yes, Hon Majority Leader, where do we go from there? Now, we are on --[Interruption] -- Very well, you may go on with the new one.
Institute of Chartered Accountants, Ghana Bill, 2020
AN ACT to establish the Institute of Chartered Accountants, Ghana to promote the study of accountancy, to regulate the accountancy provision and practice and to provide for related matters.
Presented by the Minister for Education (Dr Matthew Opoku Prempeh), Read the First time; referred to the Committee on Education.
Mr Speaker 2:08 p.m.
Yes, Hon Majority Leader, where do we go from here?
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 2:08 p.m.
Mr Speaker, we would go back to the Order Paper Addendum to take the last item on it.
Mr Speaker 2:08 p.m.
Hon Members, item listed 2 on the Order Paper Addendum by the Hon Minister for Education?
Dr Prempeh 2:08 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I come by Standing Order 132, seeking the leave of the House, to withdraw the Ghana National Research Fund Bill laid on the 29th of May, 2019 and subsequently replace it with what has been tabled.
Mr Speaker 2:08 p.m.
Very well, you may proceed.
Ghana National Research Fund Bill, 2019
AN ACT to establish the Ghana National Research Fund to provide for funds to support research in all fields of national endeavour, to provide for the management of the Fund and for related matters.
Presented by the Minister for Education (Dr Matthew Opoku Prempeh), Read the First time; referred to the Committee on Education.
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 2:08 p.m.
Mr Speaker, before we come back to the original Order Paper, I will effect a little correction on the Paper that was just laid by the Minister for Education. It is Ghana National Research Fund Bill, 2020 and not 2019.
Mr Speaker 2:08 p.m.
It is corrected accordingly. Please, proceed.
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 2:08 p.m.
Mr Speaker, so we come back to the original Order Paper now to page 4, item 5 (f). We would continue from there.
Mr Speaker 2:08 p.m.
Hon Members, item listed 5 (f) by the Minister for Trade and Industry?
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 2:08 p.m.
Mr Speaker, may I crave your indulgence and indeed that of my Hon Colleagues to lay the Paper on behalf of the Minister for Trade and Industry?
Mr Speaker 2:08 p.m.
Very well.
PAPERS 2:08 p.m.
Mr Speaker 2:08 p.m.
Item listed 5 (g) by the Minister for Finance.
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 2:08 p.m.
Mr Speaker, the Minister for Monitoring and Evaluation would present the document in respect of 5 (g) on behalf of the Minister for Finance.
Mr Speaker 2:08 p.m.
Yes, you may, Hon Minister.
By the Minister for Monitoring and Evaluation (Dr Anthony Akoto Osei) on behalf of the (Minister for Finance) --
Annual Statement by the Audit Committee of the Office of the Head of Civil Service for the year 2019.
Referred to the Committee on Finance.
Mr Speaker 2:08 p.m.
Item listed (h)?
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 2:08 p.m.
Mr Speaker, the same Minister would do so on behalf of the Minister of State at the Presidency.
Mr Speaker 2:08 p.m.
Very well
By the Minister for Monitoring and Evaluation (Dr Anthony Akoto Osei) on behalf of the (Minister of State at the Presidency) --
Mr Speaker 2:08 p.m.
Item listed (h) (i) by the Minister for Youth and Sports?
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 2:18 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I will present item listed (i) on behalf of the Minister for Youth and Sports.
Mr Speaker 2:18 p.m.
Very well...
By the Majority Leader and Minister for Parliamentary Affairs
-- 2:18 p.m.
Mr Speaker 2:18 p.m.
Item numbered (j) by the Hon Minister for Health?
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 2:18 p.m.
Mr Speaker, before we come to item numbered as 5(j), I noticed the Hon Chairman of the Committee on Subsidiary Legislation wanted to exit and I asked him to wait for a while. Mr Speaker, there are 19 referrals to the Committee and if the Committee members led by the Hon Chairman do not really manage their affairs well, it would be difficult for them to report on all of them.
They cannot do the Report if they want to do the consideration as a whole; that is one every day. We have just 19 days with the exception of today, it will not be possible for the Committee meeting as a whole to deal with the referrals one per day.
So, I would want to strongly urge the Committee to apply themselves to the imperatives of Standing Order 194 which provides that:
“Any Committee may, if it deems fit, appoint a Sub- Committee and assign to it such of its functions as the Committee considers fit”.
If they do not do that it will be difficult for them to do that, that is, to cover the entirety of the referrals. I do know that two are coming back to them to add to the number to move to 21; it will not be possible if they want to do so collectively, every day. So, it is a humble request that I wanted to submit to him and that was why I asked him to please stay behind.
Mr Speaker, so, I believe that the appeal would be re-enforced by the Hon Chairman. However, I agree that given the volume of work, the Committee would have to be provided with additional resources to enable them work effectively and efficiently.
Mr Speaker 2:18 p.m.
Hon Majority Leader, you will see to it that they are well motivated. I am sure you are with me with regards to matters of motivating the Committee.Item numbered (j) by the Hon Minister for Health.
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 2:18 p.m.
Mr Speaker, before I lay the Paper, I think that we need to effect a minor
correction to the referral in respect of item numbered 5(h); that is, the Annual Report on the Staffing Position of the Office of the President.
Mr Speaker, I think that we have allowed the Finance Committee to deal with matters relating to the Presidency and I think in that regard, the staffing position Report should go back to the Finance Committee and not to the Committee on Constitutional, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs.
Mr Speaker 2:18 p.m.
Shall we proceed?
Item numbered (i) by the Hon Minister for Health?
Mr Joseph Yieleh Chireh 2:18 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I do not agree with the suggestion made by the Hon Majority Leader. It is actually -- [Interruption] -- I am saying that this particular thing is the requirement in the law that every year, Parliament should be given the presidential staffers who are in Office of the President- and that is by the Committee that oversees that. That is why it is the Committee on Constitutional, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs.
They come and the presidency comes under that and so, they are the ones to look at it and not the Finance Committee. This is not about finance
Mr Speaker 2:18 p.m.
Mr First Deputy Speaker to take the Chair.
[Pause] -- I am being advised that in the past, the Committee on Constitutional, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs had taken charge of matters relating to the Office of the President.
Dr Anthony Akoto Osei 2:18 p.m.
Mr Speaker, when the Finance Committee approves the Budget of the Office of the President, the item that talks about wages, comes with the listing of all the persons employed by the Office of the President. The names may not be there but the quantities are there and so, already, the Finance Committee knows the quantum, but the Report that comes just appends the names.
I think the Committee on Constitutional, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs may have it but that information has already been given to the Finance Committee to be approved by Parliament in terms of the quantities for personal wages and so on.
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 2:18 p.m.
Mr Speaker, Committees of Parliament are charged with the responsibility of inquiring into the activities and administration of the various sectors, departments and constitutional creatures.
This is administration and for it to be hyped from the sector committee that deals with it, as being proposed by my Colleague, the Hon Member for Wa West, Mr Yieleh Chireh is strange and no sector is placed under two or three Committees and he should know this.Mr Speaker, so, I do not think this proposal should be entertained. It is the Finance Committee and so shall it be.
Mr Chireh 2:28 p.m.
Mr Speaker, we have an Act on the staff of the office of the President. Every year, they are supposed to submit to us, a list of people who have been engaged and worked in that office over the past year. So, what I am saying is that unless this staffing position is an enquiry into how they are staffed, it is the report relating to 2019 and how many people were engaged and in what categories.
There are those who are seconded, those who are appointed and the staffers. Mr Speaker, it is the members of the Committee on
Constitutional, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs who looked at it and not the Finance Committee. We are not talking about finance.
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 2:28 p.m.
Mr Speaker, the emoluments of the staff covered under personnel emoluments comes with a budget and this is referred to the Finance Committee. So, I find the proposition by my Hon Colleague very strange and he insists and persists but he is totally wrong. Mr Speaker, we can progress because it should go to the Finance Committee.
Mr Alexander Afenyo Markin 2:28 p.m.
Mr Speaker, Hon Chireh was not debating the Hon Majority Leader, rather he was trying to challenge him on a matter that he knew that he was wrong about. The Hon Majority Leader is the leader of Government Business --
MR FIRST DEPUTY SPEAKER
Mr Afenyo-Markin 2:30 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I was on my feet drawing the attention of the Rt Hon Speaker to the issue that Hon Chireh was challenging the
Hon Majority Leader who is also the Leader of Government Business. It was not as though --
Mr First Deputy Speaker 2:30 p.m.
Hon Member for Effutu, kindly point me to the part of the Standing Orders that has been breached.
Mr Afenyo-Markin 2:30 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I am grateful and I would proceed in accord with your pleasure. The rule is that when a member is challenging a submission on the floor of the House, the Hon Member must grant same in the Standing Orders. Therefore, when the Leader of Government business - [Interruption] - Mr Speaker, Hon Kwame Agbodza has been in this House for some time and so he should allow me to speak and he can also - [Interruption]
Mr Speaker, the Hon Member was challenging the Hon Majority Leader and I want to say that even if there is no specific provision that so provides, the Hon Member cannot just challenge the Hon Majority Leader. This is the point I am making.
Mr First Deputy Speaker 2:30 p.m.
Hon Member, you have not pointed to anything.
Mr Afenyo-Markin 2:30 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I will point it out to you.
Mr Speaker, Standing order 93(2) reads 2:30 p.m.
“It shall be out of order to use offensive, abusive, insulting, blasphemous or unbecoming words or to impute improper motives to any Member or to make personal allusions”.
I am relying on the latter of referring to personal allusions by Hon Chireh, and interlocked with that is trying to impute improper motives. The Hon Majority Leader is the leader of Government Business and when it comes to the rules, he is nulli secundus to wit “second to none” and nobody can challenge him.
Not even an attempt from me or by me to sometimes make corrections would be successful, let alone trying to challenge him when he is on the right path.
Mr Speaker, all I am saying is that the Hon Member should not do that because what he did is wrong.
Mr First Deputy Speaker 2:30 p.m.
Very well. Your point is well made.
Mr Afenyo-Markin 2:30 p.m.
Mr Speaker, thank you.
Mr First Deputy Speaker 2:30 p.m.
Available Hon Leader, I would hear you but the Hon Ranking Member for the Committee on Constitutional, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs has been on his feet for a while.
Alhaji Inusah A. B. Fuseini 2:30 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I would not respond to his tarring except to say that he is improperly dressed. He is wearing a Tunic shirt and if he were in court it would have to be accompanied with a court bib. If he is outside the court then it must be accompanied with a bib collar. Mr Speaker, he cannot wear the Tunic shirt like that in this House and so he is totally improperly dressed.
Mr First Deputy Speaker 2:30 p.m.
Available Hon Leader, I would listen to you.
Mr Chireh 2:30 p.m.
Mr Speaker, thank you very much.
My Hon Colleague said that I was challenging the Hon Majority Leader and while he was raising the issue, I saw the Hon Chairman of the Finance Committee open the Standing Orders for him because he was accusing me of something that I did not do. I said that if this staffing report is as what I know it to be that every year the Office of the President should tell us the
officers and staffers at the Presidency. If it is so, then the appropriate Committee that handles this is the Committee on Constitutional, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs. This was the basis of my point and I was not just challenging him.

No matter who a person is, nobody can speak here and another person cannot raise an objection or observation to it. If it comes to a vote, then a decision would be made by a House. It is not as though once a person is a Leader of the House, nobody can say that he is not right.

Mr Speaker, so the Hon Member wanted to raise an issue when there was no issue; I was expressing my view and recollection of what happens in this House. I was not unnecessarily being rude to the leader of

Government Business. I was just pointing out what I thought was the correct position. Mr Speaker, thank you very much.
Mr First Deputy Speaker 2:30 p.m.
Thank you very much. The application is made under Standing Order 93(2) and under this Order, reference must be made to the words which are offensive, abusive, insulting, blasphemous or unbecoming. However, none has been put before us and so the objection is overruled.
Hon Majority Leader?
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 2:30 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I think that the issue that generated this controversy ensues from the Annual Report on the Staffing Position of the Office of the President for the Period of January to December 2019. The Speaker referred it to the Committee on Constitutional, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs and I intervened to say that I thought that appropriately, it should go to the Finance Committee, since this is a matter of administration.
It relates to the administration of the Presidency, and in the consideration of the Budget, it is referred to the Finance Committee and so any report ensuing from this consideration should go to the same Committee.
Mr First Deputy Speaker 2:38 p.m.
What has been the practice? In the past, which Committee had reported to the House on that Report? This is not the first time it is being brought to the House.
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 2:38 p.m.
Mr Speaker, my recollection is that it is the Finance Committee.
Mr First Deputy Speaker 2:38 p.m.
Right.

Hon Majority Leader, I am being advised differently. I am advised that from all our records, since 1993, that the Report had always gone to the Constitutional and Legal Committee.
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 2:38 p.m.
Very well, Mr Speaker. I said my recollection informs me that it is the Finance Committee. Notwithstanding, Mr Speaker, I am not aware of any sector Committee that deals with a particular constitutional creature or Ministry, Department or Agency when these matters come that they are referred to other Committees other than the Committee that superintends the affairs of that constitutional creature or Ministry, Department or Agency. So if indeed that is what we have been doing and it is wrong, we can change it. Clearly, if indeed that is what we have been doing, then it is wrong.
Mr Speaker, that is my position. We shall be dismembering the consideration of a particular Ministry, Department or Agency or constitutional creature‘s report to more than one Committee. It is not done under our rules. So if we have been doing that in the past, all that it means is that it is the wrong thing that we have been doing.
Mr First Deputy Speaker 2:38 p.m.
Well, the Rt Hon Speaker has already referred the matter to the Constitutional, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs Committee. I think we can consider it at the next Leadership meeting and if there is the need to review that order, I am sure the Rt Hon Speaker would give the appropriate directives.
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 2:38 p.m.
Mr Speaker, except to observe that the Speaker himself had almost been persuaded except the intrusion of the Hon Member of Wa Central -- [Laughter] -- But I agree that we can separate that one and further consult and confer on that.
Mr First Deputy Speaker 2:38 p.m.
What next please?
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 2:38 p.m.
Mr Speaker, we move to item numbered j on page 4.
Mr Speaker, the Hon Deputy Minister for Health is here to lay it on behalf of the Minister.
Mr First Deputy Speaker 2:38 p.m.
Very well.
By the (Deputy Minister for Health) on behalf of the (Minister for Health)
(i) Annual Statement by the Audit Committee of the
Health Facilities Regulatory Agency (HeFRA) for the year 2019.
(ii)Annual Statement by the Audit Committee of the Madina Polyclinic (Rawlings Circle) for the year 2019.
Referred to the Committee on Health.
By the (Deputy Minister for Communications) on behalf of the (Minister for Communications)
Annual Statement by the Audit Committee of the National Communications Authority for the year 2019.
Referred to the Committee on Communications.
By the Minister for Monitoring and Evaluation --
Annual Statement by the Audit Committee of the National Identification Authority for the year 2018.
Referred to the Finance Committee.
By the Minister for Parliamentary Affairs/Majority
Mr First Deputy Speaker 2:38 p.m.


Leader (on behalf of the Minister for Information)

(i) Annual Statement by the Audit Committee of the Ministry of Information for the year 2019.

(ii) Annual Statement by the Audit Committee of the Ghana News Agency for the year 2019.

(iv) Annual Statement by the Audit Committee of Ghana Broadcasting Corporation for the year 2019.

Referred to the Committee on Communications.

By the Chairman of the Committee

(i) Report of the Finance Committee on the Supplier's Credit Agreement between the Government of the Republic of Ghana (represented by the Ministry of Finance) and Messrs. Dongfang Electric International Corporation for an amount of two hundred and forty-three million, six

hundred thousand United States dollars (US$243, 600,000.00) for the procurement of standard gauge rolling stock.

(ii)Report of the Finance Committee on the EKN- Backed Facility Agreement between the Government of the Republic of Ghana (represented by the Ministry of Finance) and Standard Chartered Bank for an amount of one hundred and thirty-eight million, two hundred and twenty-one thousand, fifteen Euros sixty- three cents (€138,221, 015.63 [including EKN insurance premium]) to finance the Sunyani Water Supply Expansion Project (Phase I).

(v) Report of the Finance Committee on the Facility Agreement between the Government of the Republic of Ghana (represented by the Ministry of Finance) and Standard Chartered Bank for an amount of fifteen million, six hundred and seventy-eight thousand, seven hundred and

seventy-one Euros fifty cents (€15,678,771.50) to finance the Sunyani Water Supply Expansion Project (Phase I).
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 2:48 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I believe we have come to the end of today's business and we can adjourn till tomorrow at 10 o'clock in the forenoon.
Mr Joseph Yieleh Chireh 2:48 p.m.
Mr Speaker, we are in your hands.
Mr First Deputy Speaker 2:48 p.m.
Very well.
ADJOURNMENT 2:48 p.m.
  • The House was adjourned at 2.49 p.m. till Wednesday, 7th October, 2020 at 10.00 a.m.