Debates of 30 Oct 2020

MR SPEAKER
PRAYERS 11:29 a.m.
VOTES AND PROCEEDINGS AND THE OFFICIAL REPORT 11:29 a.m.
Mr Speaker 11:29 a.m.
Hon Members, Correction of Votes and Proceedings of Thursday, 29th October, 2020.
Mr Speaker 11:29 a.m.
Item listed 3 - Business Statement, by the Hon Chairman of the Business Committee/ Hon Majority Leader.
BUSINESS OF THE HOUSE 11:29 a.m.
Chairman of the Business Committee/Majority Leader (Mr Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu) 11:29 a.m.
Mr Speaker, the Committee met on Thursday, 29th October 2020 and
arranged Business of the House for the Fifth Week ending Saturday, 7th November 2020.
Mr Speaker, the Committee accordingly submits its report as follows 11:29 a.m.
Arrangement of Business
Formal Communications by the Speaker
Mr Speaker, you may read any available communication to the House.
Questions
Mr Speaker, having regard to the tall order of business scheduled for the week under consideration, the Business Committee has not programmed any Hon Minister to respond to Questions during the period.
Statements
Mr Speaker, pursuant to Standing Order 70(2), Hon Ministers of State may be permitted to make Statements of Government policy. Statements duly admitted by Mr Speaker may be made in the House by Hon Members in accordance with Order 72.
Bills, Papers and Reports
Mr Speaker, Bills may be presented to the House for First Reading in accordance with Standing Order 120. However, those of urgent nature may be taken through the various stages in one day in accordance with Order 119.
Pursuant to Standing Order 75, Papers for presentation to the House may be placed on the Order Paper for laying. Committee reports may also be presented to the House for consideration.
Motions and Resolutions
Mr Speaker, Motions may be debated and their consequential Resolutions, if any, taken during the week.
Sitting of the House on Monday/ Extended Sittings
Mr Speaker, the House is scheduled to Sit on Monday, 2nd November 2020. Sittings of the House may also be extended beyond the 2:00 p.m. stipulated in Standing Order 40(2) to enable the completion of scheduled business for each day of the week under consideration.
Furthermore, Committees with referrals which require parliamentary consideration within the week under consideration are entreated to expedite work on same and report to plenary as soon as practicable.
Adjournment for the General Elections
Mr Speaker, as Hon Members may already be aware, the House was scheduled to break on Friday, 6th November 2020, for the General Elections. However, in view of the volume of outstanding Business which requires consideration and approval prior to the break, the Business Committee appeals to Hon Members for sittings of the House to be extended by one day, to Saturday, 7th November 2020. This recommen- dation, if adopted, is expected to enable the completion of scheduled business for the week under consideration. Consequently, the House is expected to adjourn sine die on Saturday, 7th November 2020.
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.
Mr Speaker, the Committee accordingly submits its report as follows 11:29 a.m.


Statements

Presentation of Papers --

(a)Report of the Finance Committee on the Anti- Money Laundering Bill,

2020.

(b) Report of the Finance Committee on the Borrowers and Lenders Bill, 2020.

Motions--

(a) Third Reading of Bills

Ghana Enterprises Agency Bill, 2020.

(b) Adoption of the Report of the Committee on Environment, Science and Technology on the Budget Performance Report in Respect of the Ministry of Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation for the Period January to December,

2019.

(c) Adoption of the Report of the Committee on Food, Agriculture and Cocoa Affairs on the Budget Performance Report in Respect of the Ministry of Food and

Agriculture for the Period January to December, 2019.

(d) Adoption of the Report of the Committee on Food, Agriculture and Cocoa Affairs on the Budget Performance Report in Respect of the Ministry of Fisheries and Aquaculture Development for the period January to December, 2019.

Consideration Stage of Bills --

Plant Variety Protection Bill,

2020.

Ghana Enterprises Agency Bill,

2020.

Committee Sittings --

Statements

Presentation of Papers --

(a) Report of the Finance Committee on the Foreign Travel Allowances and Classes of Air Travel by Public Service Office holders.

(b) Report of the Finance Committee on the Request for waiver of Import Duties, Import VAT, GETFund Levy, NHIL,

EXIM Levy, Special Import Levy and Domestic VAT amounting to the Ghana cedi equivalent of thirty-one million, nine hundred and forty-seven thousand, six hundred and seventy-six United States dollars twenty-five cents (US$31,947,676.25 [made up of US$31,611,020.00 on imports and US$336,656.25 on local purchases]) on materials and equipment to be procured in respect of the supply of Armoured Vehicles to the Government of Ghana by Elbit Systems Land Limited of Israel.

(c) Report of the Finance Committee on the Request for waiver of Import Duties, Import VAT, GETFund Levy, NHIL, EXIM Levy and Special Import Levy amounting to the Ghana cedi equivalent of one million, two hundred and forty-four thousand, four hundred and eight United States dollars (US$1,244,408.00) on materials and equipment to be procured in respect of the Development and Integration of Educational Information & Communication Technologies (ICT) Into Early Childhood Educational System under the Contract Agreement between
Mr Speaker, the Committee accordingly submits its report as follows 11:29 a.m.
(d) Report of the Finance Committee on the Request for waiver of Import Duties, Import VAT, GETFund Levy, NHIL, EXIM Levy, Special Import Levy and Domestic VAT amounting to the Ghana cedi equivalent of eight million, sixty- five thousand, three hundred and forty-seven United States dollars twenty-five cents (US$8,065,347.25 [made up of US$2,712,015.00 on imports and US$5,353,332.00 on local purchases]) on materials and equipment to be procured in respect of the Supply and Erection of Electrical Materials and Equipment for the Electri- fication of 234 Communities in the North East, Savannah, and Northern Regions by Tropical Cable & Conductor Limited.
Motions --
Second Reading of Bills --
Anti-Money Laundering Bill,
2020.

Borrowers and Lenders Bill,

2020.

Consideration Stage of Bills --

Plant Variety Protection Bill,

2020.

National Blood Service Bill,

2020.

National Ambulance Service Bill, 2020.

Committee sittings.

Statements

Presentation of Papers --

(a) Report of the Finance Committee on the Request for waiver of Import Duty, Import VAT, GETFund Levy, NHIL, and EXIM Levy on machinery, equipment and raw materials to be procured by the following entities under the One District One Factory (1D1F) programme:

(i) Keda Ghana Ceramics Company Limited;

(ii)Sunda Ghana Limited;

(iii) Happy Sunshine Company Ghana Limited;

(iv) Sinostone Alcohol Manufacturing Limited;

(v)Appah Farms Limited;

(vi) Western Deedew Group Limited;

(vii) Koudjis Ghana Limited;

(viii) Sunda Ghana Investment Limited;

(ix) Zonda Sinotruk Assembly Plant Limited;

(x)Brompton Portfolio Limited;

(xi) Golden Africa Consumer Products Ghana Limited;

(xii) Golden Africa Soap Industries Ghana Limited;

(xiii) GB Pharma Ghana Limited;

(xiv) Beatex Enterprise Limited; and

(xv) Narubiz Limited.

(b) Report of the Committee on Communications on the Commercial Contract Agreement between the Government of the

Republic of Ghana (represented by the Ministry of Communica- tions) and Rayzone Group Ltd. of Israel for an amount of fifty- eight million, seven hundred and ten thousand, three hundred and twenty-six United States dollars (US$58,710,326.00) for the Design, Development and Implementation of a Critical National Infrastructure Protection Solution, Digital Forensics Laboratory Infrastructure, Cyber Intelligence System, National Cyber Emergency Response Team (CERT-GH) infra- structure, as well as the Design of a Child Protection Solution, Cybersecurity Research & Development (R&D) Roadmap for Ghana and the construction of a facility to host the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC).

(c) Report of the Committee on Communications on the Cyber security Bill, 2020.

Motions --

Third Reading of Bills --

Plant Variety Protection Bill,

2020.

(b) Adoption of the Report of the Finance Committee on the Foreign Travel Allowances and Classes of Air Travel by Public Service Office holders.

Consequential Resolution

(c) Adoption of the Report of the Finance Committee on the Request for waiver of Import Duties, Import VAT, GETFund Levy, NHIL, EXIM Levy, Special Import Levy and Domestic VAT amounting to the Ghana Cedi equivalent of thirty- one million, nine hundred and forty-seven thousand, six hundred and seventy-six United States dollars twenty-five cents (US$31,947,676.25 [made up of US$31,611,020.00 on imports and US$336,656.25 on local purchases]) on materials and equipment to be procured in respect of the supply of Armoured Vehicles to the Government of Ghana by Elbit Systems Land Limited of Israel.

Consequential Resolution

(d) Adoption of the Report of the Finance Committee on the Request for waiver of Import Duties, Import VAT, GETFund Levy, NHIL, EXIM Levy and Special Import Levy amounting
Mr Speaker, the Committee accordingly submits its report as follows 11:29 a.m.


to the Ghana cedi equivalent of one million, two hundred and forty-four thousand, four hundred and eight United States dollars (US$1,244,408.00) on materials and equipment to be procured in respect of the Development and Integration of Educational Information & Communication Technologies (ICT) Into Early Childhood Educational System under the Contract Agreement between the Government of the Republic of Ghana (represented by the Ministry of Education) and BSW International Limited of Gibraltar.

Consequential Resolution

(e) Adoption of the Report of the Finance Committee on the Request for waiver of Import Duties, Import VAT, GETFund Levy, NHIL, EXIM Levy, Special Import Levy and Domestic VAT amounting to the Ghana cedi equivalent of eight million, sixty-five thousand, three hundred and forty-seven United States dollars twenty-five cents (US$8,065,347.00 [made up of US$2,712,015.00 on imports and US$5,353,332.00 on local purchases]) on materials and

equipment to be procured in respect of the Supply and Erection of Electrical Materials and Equipment for the Electrifi- cation of 234 Communities in the North East, Savannah, and Northern Regions by Tropical Cable & Conductor Limited.

Consequential Resolution

Consideration Stage of Bills --

National Blood Service Bill,

2020.

National Ambulance Service Bill, 2020.

Committee sittings.

Statements

Presentation of Papers --

(a)Report of the Committee on Foreign Affairs on the Memorandum of Under- standing between the Government of the Republic of Ghana (represented by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration) and the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Commission

relating to the implementation of the National Early Warning and Response Mechanism Centre in Accra, Ghana.

(b) Report of the Committee on National Centre for the Coordination of Early Warning and Response Mechanism Bill, 2020.

Motions --

(a) Adoption of the Report of the Finance Committee on the Request for waiver of Import Duty, Import VAT, GETFund Levy, NHIL, and EXIM Levy on machinery, equipment and raw materials to be procured by the following entities under the One District One Factory (1D1F) programme:

(i) Keda Ghana Ceramics Company Limited;

(ii)Sunda Ghana Limited;

(iii) Happy Sunshine Company Ghana Limited;

(iv) Sinostone Alcohol Manufac- turing Limited;

(v) Appah Farms Limited;

(vi) Western Deedew Group Limited;

(vii) Koudjis Ghana Limited;

(viii) Sunda Ghana Investment Limited;

(ix) Zonda Sinotruk Assembly Plant Limited;

(x)Brompton Portfolio Limited;

(xi) Golden Africa Consumer Products Ghana Limited;

(xii) Golden Africa Soap Industries Ghana Limited;

(xiii) GB Pharma Ghana Limited;

(xiv) Beatex Enterprise Limited; and

(xv) Narubiz Limited.

Consequential Resolutions

(b) Adoption of the Report of the Committee on Communications on the Commercial Contract Agreement between the Government of the Republic of Ghana (represented by the Ministry of Communications) and Rayzone Group Ltd. of Israel for an amount of fifty-eight million, seven hundred and ten
Mr Speaker, the Committee accordingly submits its report as follows 11:29 a.m.
thousand, three hundred and twenty-six United States dollars (US$58,710,326.00) for the Design, Development and Implementation of a Critical National Infrastructure Protec- tion Solution, Digital Forensics Laboratory Infrastructure, Cyber Intelligence System, National Cyber Emergency Response Team (CERT-GH) infrastructure, as well as the Design of a Child Protec- tion Solution, Cyber Security Research & Development (R&D) Roadmap for Ghana and the construction of a facility to host the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC).
Consequential Resolution
(c) Second Reading of Bills Cyber Security Bill, 2020.
Consideration Stage of Bills --
National Blood Service Bill, 2020.
National Ambulance Service Bill,
2020.
Anti-Money Laundering Bill,
2020.
Borrowers and Lenders Bill, 2020.
Committee sittings

Statements

Motions --

(a)Second Reading of Bills

National Centre for the Coordination of Early Warning and Response Mechanism Bill,

2020.

(b) Third Reading of Bills

National Blood Service Bill,

2020.

National Ambulance Service Bill, 2020.

(c) Adoption of the Report of the Committee on Foreign Affairs on the Memorandum of Understanding between the Government of the Republic of Ghana (represented by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration) and the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Commission relating to the implementation of the National Early Warning and Response

Mechanism Centre in Accra, Ghana.

Consequential Resolution

Consideration Stage of Bills --

Cyber Security Bill, 2020.

National Centre for the Coordination of Early Warning and Response Mechanism Bill,

2020.

Anti-Money Laundering Bill,

2020.

Borrowers and Lenders Bill,

2020.

Committee sittings

Statements

Motions --

Third Reading of Bills --

Anti-Money Laundering Bill,

2020.

Borrowers and Lenders Bill,

2020.

Cyber Security Bill, 2020.

National Centre for the Coordination of Early Warning and Response Mechanism Bill,

2020.

Consideration Stage of Bills Cyber Security Bill, 2020.

National Centre for the Coordination of Early Warning and Response Mechanism Bill,

2020.

Committee Sittings
THE HOUSE EXPECTED TO 11:29 a.m.
Mr Ras Mubarak (NDC-- Kumbungu) 11:39 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I thank you and I have three brief issues. One, the performance audit report of the Ministry of Special Development Initiatives for 2019 has not been brought to the House up till now and I think it is crucial that we get that and that of the Ministry for Zongo and Inner City Development.
Mr Speaker, secondly, the Standing Orders -- I recalled vividly
that you gave directives last Friday. Indeed, the Hon Majority Leader gave assurance that it would be programmed for this week so that we bring finality to it. A lot of time, effort and resources have gone into putting the Standing Orders together and I am hoping that it can find expression in the ensuing week.
Mr Speaker, finally, Private Members' Bills, again, a small but monumental pet project of yours which Hon Members are equally excited about: It would be so sad that with all the enthusiasm that you have put and pushed for Members to have Private Members' Bills, this Seventh Parliament would rise without any Private Members' Bills. So, I am hoping that the Leader of the House would find space. Some of them are just minor amendments to existing Bills, so they are not controversial and we should be able to deal with them within a space of half an hour if they were to be brought to the House. I hope that this time around, the Hon Majority Leader would have us deal with it in the ensuing week. I thank you very much.
Mr Rockson-Nelson E. K. Dafeamekpor (NDC-South Dayi) 11:39 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I have two comments.
The first one is that, from the Business Statement presented, it appears we have been billed to consider lots of Bills within next week. If we look at the Bills we are being called upon to consider they are very important legislation but the circumstances of the House now is such that we would need to have the majority of Members to be around to be able to participate in some of these Bills. I fear the skeletal membership of the House now and the fact that we are being pushed to pass these Bills into legislation, I would want to urge the Hon Majority Leader to prioritise one or two so that when we return, then we can come back and deal with some of these very important legislations.
Secondly, I know for a fact that when we go on break next week, we would not come back until after the elections, so I was hoping that from this last Business Statement for this time of our Meeting, there would have been an arrangement for the Hon Minister of the Interior to come and brief the House regarding security arrangements towards the elections and other arrangements that the House is presently making for Hon Members. I do not see it featuring and so if the Hon Majority Leader can
speak to these matters, I would be very grateful?
I thank you.
Mr Patrick Y. Boamah (NPP -- Okaikwei Central) 11:39 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I have seen about seven very important Bills in this last Business Statement read by the Hon Leader of Government Business.
Mr Speaker, I am positing the Business Statement in conjunction with Order 168(3) which mandates the House Committee to at all material times provide certain facilities for Hon Members. We are going to be dealing with a lot of Business within a short spate of time. I would want to know from the Hon Leader of Government Business and his Colleague, the Hon Minority Leader, whether they are ready to provide all the necessary facilities including catering to assist Hon Members undertake this rigorous exercise beginning Monday before the House adjourns sine die?
I thank you very much.
Minority Leader (Mr Haruna Iddrisu) 11:39 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I thank you for the opportunity and I thank the Leader of Government Business.
Mr Speaker, as he rightly noted, you are not to be responsible for the
Minority Leader (Mr Haruna Iddrisu) 11:49 a.m.
lack of punctuality to start Business at 10.00 a.m. but we, leadership and Hon Members. You come early religiously; the problem, as we all observe from our offices is that the Chamber remains empty. So the Hon Leader must do that which would motivate Hon Members to want to leave their constituencies to be in the Chamber.

Now, the priority is survival as I have indicated.

Mr Speaker, mine just has to do with three issues for the attention of the Hon Majority Leader. The first one is that the chairperson of the Electoral Commission (EC) will have to brief the Committee on the Whole on her preparations so far for the 2020 presidential and parliamentary elections. She has to indicate the extent to which she is complying with the laws passed by Parliament, in particular, the issue of making available certified copies of the voters register to political parties as required by law.

Secondly, the Hon Majority Leader makes mention of the word; ‘priority' and by this, he is becoming too ambitious. He said, one day, one bill that is one Bill will be considered every day. So, in converting this arithmetically, between now and next

week Saturday, it will be seven Bills. Unless, he is adding today. So, he should look through his Bills -- we admire his ambition but he should not overstretch the House. This does not have to do with the two of us but some of our Hon Colleagues are in distress in their constituencies. It is mandatory they are at home to safeguard the little they have in order to survive the elections to make it to the Eigth Parliament. As to who wins the 7th December elections -- my response is that if wishes were horses, beggars shall ride and what I know is that the character, form and nature of this Parliament will change.

Mr Speaker, also, because the expenditure of the Ministry for Special Development Initiatives affects us as Hon Members of Parliament in terms of the US$1 million per constituency, whether this money was to be used to build a toilet or a borehole, we need their Report in order to understand how much has been expended in our various constituencies over the period, particularly the year 2019.

As the Hon Majority Leader observed, probably, no one has a problem with the building of a hospital in the Western Region as and when it is available. Additionally, I am sure that he knows that even there are matters of Sinohydro which will come

to Parliament through him. We are ready to consider some of those matters. Mr Speaker, however, the Hon Majority Leader should prioritise the Bills.

Then with the Hon Chairman of the Finance Committee, this referral of tax exemptions, on behalf of this House, the Committee must do a thorough scrutiny of it to appreciate what it is that the State is losing out of that. This is a loss of revenue to the State and therefore we need to probe to understand.

I would like to thank the Hon Majority Leader and Leader of Government Business. He must do what is right -- sometimes, lunch has to be provided if there is extended Sitting for Hon Members. [Interruption] --
Mr Speaker 11:49 a.m.
Hon Majority Leader?
Dr Anthony Akoto Osei 11:49 a.m.
Mr Speaker, I noticed conspicuously missing on the Business for next week, the issue of emoluments for article 71 holders. Presumably, it is being programmed for, after the elections but this is a very important constitutional matter that this Parliament must attend to deal with.
Mr Speaker, I am wondering if the Hon Majority Leader and Leader of Government Business has some indication as to when that might happen; it will be useful since it involves every Hon Member of this House whether they are outgoing or maybe, retaining their seats.
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 11:49 a.m.
Mr Speaker, the Hon Ras Mubarak's enquiry in respect of the performance of this Report relating to the Ministries of Special Development Initiatives and the Zongo and Inner City Development.
Mr Speaker, it is just a re-hash of the issue raised by the Hon Minority Leader last week and since the Hon Minority Leader is here, I did not know that he would want to assume the role of a sympathiser who wants to weep more than the bereaved.
Also, I believe that we need to attend to them. Not only with the two but I think there are about five or six others remaining and so, we would have to bang doors to ensure that they come to the House in the fullness of time. The year, though, is not yet ended but if we are able to have them before we exit, I believe it will be all the better for us.
Mr Speaker, with the status of the Standing Orders, we have about
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 11:59 a.m.
concluded and it is just one outstanding matter that we need clearance from the Speaker. He has given the indication to me but I need to have further discussion with the Hon Minority Leader on this. That is why we did not programme it.
However, certainly, we must bring that matter to a closure next week and so, when we finish with it, we will programme same into the Business of next week.
Mr Speaker, again, with the Private Members' Bills, immediately we finish with this, they would follow after. Indeed, there are three Bills that we
have already agreed on including the Criminal Offences (Amendment) Act, Road Traffic Act and the Public Health Act (Amendment). These are the three that we have made tremendous progress on, and once we get through this, we will certainly relate to them.
Additionally, the Hon Dafeamekpor is worried about the participation of Hon Members in respect of Bills that come before the House. I want to believe that he has not forgotten his notes; he knows the regular people in this Chamber who attend to the passage of Bills. I do not know which other Hon Members he would want us to forcefully conjoin
to the process. We cannot force Hon Members to participate in the passage of Bills, those who are interested are those who are interested and they are here anytime that we are crafting these Bills. To me, that is the joy for us.
Mr Speaker, unfortunately, as you do know, three of our key Hon Members are not coming back and how we are going to make use of them, I guess, we would have to sit and programme something. Perhaps, we may have to constitute them into a group of consultants to assist this House in the passage of Bills. That is where we are coming to and this is the reason I always appeal to the political parties to do serious introspection. What so-called, democratic engagements they are having on intra-party, is neither helping the parties, Parliament nor growing our democracy.
So we must admit that we are going down a slope as a House and arguably, the greatest function of every Parliament is legislation. If we cannot have Hon Members being present in the House to participate in legislation, what does that Parliament exist for?
Mr Speaker, so we really need to talk to the political parties. What has happened yesterday, has already happened. Going forward, all of us;
both the Majority and Minority will have to conjoin and address this to the various parties in order to have serious introspection into how they work out their internal dynamics to select parliamentary candidates.

We must admit that what is happening is not the best. It does not happen anywhere in the established democracies and we are wasting our efforts.

Mr Speaker, the other issue was raised by Hon Dafeamekpor about the security arrangements towards the elections and he asked that we invite the Hon Minister for the Interior to brief us about what security arrangements the Ministry of Interior is putting together.

Mr Speaker, in the beginning of this week, my Ministry organised a forum involving not only the Ministry of the Interior, but the Ministry of Defence also have a role to play in this, and other major stakeholders including political parties and the media. Perhaps it may be necessary to have a Committee of the Whole and invite these people to brief us. I was really happy when we listened to them on the efforts that they have put in place.

However, indeed as a matter and a measure of assurance, if all of us should hear them I guess it would be reassuring to the entirety of the nation. Even though what we did is out there, I guess Hon Dafeamekpor perhaps did not hear much from that forum. We are the stakeholders; all the parties and Hon Members of Parliament were present, but it becomes necessary to invite them to repeat same in the House, I guess it would give us some comfort.

Mr Speaker, the Hon Member also related to the rigorous activities we are having in these last days and whether the House Committee is minded to put in place measures to assure the comfort and also ease the transaction of business in the House. Mr Speaker, that is being done and if it has to be reinforced that would be done.

The Hon Minority Leader related to a request made to the EC to appear before us to talk about their preparedness towards the elections. Mr Speaker, I think that this is a worthy request and I know that they are busy these days but we would engage them to find space to be here. The Hon Minority Leader related to a particular issue of availing a certified register to political parties in due time

before the conduct of the elections. Mr Speaker, the law provides for the EC to avail a certified copy of the voters register to political parties at least two clear months before the conduct of elections. Unfortunately, no EC since 1992 has been able to conform; starting from the period of Dr Afari Gyan. Sometimes it is one week before the elections. The last election Dr Afari Gyan supervised in 2012, he submitted a certified copy a week before the elections to the political parties. Madam Charlotte Osei also submitted a copy 10 days before the conduct of the elections.

Mr Speaker, this is not good enough and we should encourage the current Commission to break that jinx but it should not be said anywhere that this has not happened and it is a mortal sin on the part of the EC for not having availed certified copies of the register to political parties yet. This is incorrect and it is palpable falsehood.

Mr Speaker, having said so, if it was not good yesterday then it cannot be good today. That is why I have said that the EC should be urged to break that jinx and avail the certified register to the parties as early as possible.

Finally, the Hon Minority Leader requested that we prioritise the Bills.

We are doing just that and if he counted well, he would know that the principle of One Day One Bill still holds.

Mr Speaker, I responded to the question by Dr A. A. Osei last week Friday. The question is intended to bring us back and it appears he was not in the Chamber when I gave a response to that, but to rehash, the House has agreed that we would take the consideration of that Report after the elections.

Mr Speaker, thank you very much.
Mr Speaker 11:59 a.m.
Thank you very much.
In the absence of any further comments, the Business Statement as presented is hereby admitted.
At the Commencement of Public Business - item numbered 5. Presentation of Papers. Can the Papers be presented on behalf of the Hon Minister for Finance?
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 11:59 a.m.
Mr Speaker, I crave the indulgence of the House to allow the Hon Minister responsible for Planning to present the item numbered 5(a) on behalf of the Hon Minister for Finance.
Mr Speaker 11:59 a.m.
Item numbered (a).
PAPERS 11:59 a.m.
Mr Speaker 11:59 a.m.
Item numbered 5(b). Hon Chairman of the Finance Committee?
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 11:59 a.m.
Mr Speaker, the Hon Minister for Finance is also supposed to present some Papers that have been captured on the Order Paper Addendum. So, we can take those Papers as well.
Mr Speaker 11:59 a.m.
Very well.
Item numbered 1 on the Order Paper Addendum.
By the Minister for Planning (Prof George Yaw Gyan-Baffour) on behalf of the (Minister for Finance) --
Additional Financing Agreement between the Government of the Republic of Ghana (represented by the Ministry of Finance) and the International Development Association (IDA) for an amount of one hundred and thirty million United States dollars (US$130,000,000.00 million) to finance the Ghana COVID-19 Emergency Pre- paredness and Response Project.
Referred to the Finance Committee.
Mr Speaker 12:09 p.m.
Item 2 on the Addendum?
Prof. George Yaw Gyan- Baffour 12:09 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I seek your leave and the indulgence of the House to withdraw the Borrowers and Lenders Bill, 2020, which was laid in this House on 19th May, 2020.
Mr Speaker, if permission is granted, I shall present the Bill anew.
Mr Speaker 12:09 p.m.
You have the alternative. You may do so.
BILLS -- FIRST READING 12:09 p.m.
Mr Speaker 12:09 p.m.
Yes, Hon Chairman of the Finance Committee?
Lenders Bill, 2020 was presented the first time on 19th May, 2020, you joined the leadership of the Committee on Constitutional, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs to the Finance Committee, and we considered it together with them. So, if you could join them to use this time around too.
Mr Speaker 12:09 p.m.
Very well. They are accordingly joined.
Hon Majority Leader?
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 12:09 p.m.
Mr Speaker, so we would go back to the original Order Paper, item numbered 5(b) (i).
PAPERS 12:09 p.m.
Mr Speaker 12:09 p.m.
Item numbered 5(b) (ii)?
Dr Assibey-Yeboah 12:09 p.m.
Mr Speaker, item numbered 5(b) (ii) is not ready.
Mr Speaker 12:09 p.m.
Thank you.
Item numbered 5(c), Chairman of the Committee on Environment, Science and Technology?
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 12:09 p.m.
Mr Speaker, both the Chairman and the Vice-Chairman and indeed the Ranking Member are not here, in respect of item listed as 5(c). Perhaps, we can go to item numbered 5(d).
By the Chairman of the Committee --
(i) Report of the Committee on Food, Agriculture and Cocoa Affairs on the Budget Performance Report in Respect of the Ministry of Food and Agriculture for the Period January to December, 2019.
(ii) Report of the Committee on Food, Agriculture and Cocoa Affairs on the Budget Performance Report in Respect of the Ministry of Fisheries and Aquaculture Development for the period January to December,
2019.
Mr Speaker 12:09 p.m.
Item numbered 5(e), Chairman of the Committee?
Mr Chireh 12:09 p.m.
Mr Speaker, the Hon Chairman and Vice-Chairman are not
here. So I would like to lay the Paper on their behalf. I am a member of the Committee.
By Mr Joseph Y. Chireh on behalf of the Chairman of the Committee --
Report of the Committee on Subsidiary Legislation on the Public Financial Management (Public Investment Manage- ment) Regulations, 2020 (L.I.
2411).
Mr Speaker 12:09 p.m.
Are we able to move on to item 6?
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 12:09 p.m.
Yes, Mr Speaker.
Mr Speaker 12:09 p.m.
Item numbered 6, Chairman of the Committee?
MOTIONS 12:09 p.m.
Chairman of the Committee (Dr Mark Assibey-Yeboah) 12:09 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I beg to move, that this honourable House adopts the Report of the Finance Committee on the
Mr Speaker 12:09 p.m.
Thank you very much, Hon Chairman.
Yes, Hon Member?
Mr Ras Mubarak (NDC -- Kumbungu) 12:19 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I beg to second the Motion and to encourage Hon Colleagues to lend their support for the approval of the project as it has monumental benefits as far as our educational sector is concerned.
However, Mr Speaker, there is an issue on paragraph 3, page 4. The
Committee is seeking for the House to approve a tax waiver. This is the request before the House. However, if we look at the paragraph that I am going to make reference to, it says:
“The provisions of Sections II, General Conditions of Contract, Clause 63 allows for the contract to be modified upon the written agreement of the parties. In line with this provision, the Central Tender Review Committee reviewed the request for a Contract Amendment between the Ministry of Education and the Contractor, Robo Group and revised the original contract sum to
GH¢174,701,986.06 …”
Mr Speaker, it would have been useful for the Committee to indicate to the House how much the original contract was. This is because what they have given is the revised contract and not every Hon Member belongs to the Committee so as we speak, we do not know how much the original contract sum is. They have only indicated the revised figure.
Mr Speaker, I am at a loss as to whether or not we can use the vehicle or the channel of a tax waiver to approve an amendment to a contract sum and I would be very grateful for some education on that in this respect.
This is because this is a request for a tax waiver but there is also a request to approve an amendment to the -- [Interruptions] -- Mr Speaker, if the Chairman would allow for a minute --?
Mr Speaker 12:19 p.m.
Please, satisfy the House.
Mr Ras Mubarak 12:19 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I just read to the House that a request is made for a revision of the original contract sum to the tune of -- [Interruptions] --
Mr Speaker 12:19 p.m.
Does the title agree with the content? If there is some mistake up there, then point that one out because this is what I am beginning to suspect. You are referring to something which is not in the substance of the document but it appears you are referring to it with reference to the heading. I am not getting you at this stage.
Mr Ras Mubarak 12:19 p.m.
Mr Speaker, if I may, on the Committee's Report, paragraph 3.0 says:
“The provisions of Sections II, General Conditions of Contract, Clause 63 allows for the contract to be modified upon the written agreement of the parties. In line with this provision, the
Central Tender Review Committee reviewed the request for a Contract Amendment between the Ministry of Education and the Contractor, Robo Group and revised the original contract sum to
GH¢174,701,986.06 …”
So, why have they encapsulated it in the Report?
Mr Speaker 12:19 p.m.
Hon Chairman, you would not sit and respond.
Hon Mubarak, make your point to the fullest then I would ask the Chairman to respond.
Mr Ras Mubarak 12:19 p.m.
Mr Speaker, my worry is whether what has been approved by the Central Tender Committee has come to the House for approval? As it is in the Report, there is lack of clarity and the Committee has even not given the amount in the original contract as approved by this House. They are seeking to revise the figure to GH¢174 million. How much was the originally approved figure by this House? It is important that the Chairman of the Committee gives the House this indication.
Mr Speaker 12:19 p.m.
Hon Chairman, it is a matter of patience and presentation.
Dr Assibey-Yeboah 12:19 p.m.
Mr Speaker, he stated categorically that we were going through the back door to approve an amendment to the original contract. Now, he is changing his position and saying that the Chairman should explain --
Mr Speaker 12:19 p.m.
Please, answer both statements whether the positions are being changed or not.
Dr Assibey-Yeboah 12:19 p.m.
Mr Speaker, the request before the House is for a tax waiver. Originally, the Ministry of Education signed a contract with Robo Group to construct 10 STEAM centres. In the agreement, there was a provision that the contract could be amended and then after receiving Cabinet approval, the Ministry again entered into agreement following an approval of the request by the Central Tender Review Committee to extend the original contract from 10 to 20 STEAM centres.
Mr Speaker, with the original 10 STEAM centres, the contract went to the Committee on Education. The tax waiver came to the House and we already approved that. The present tax waiver is for the second component, which is the other 10. So we are not by the approval being done right now amending the contract. The contract has already been
approved between the Ministry of Education and Robo Group. What is before us is for the waiver of the taxes on the additional 10 STEAM centres that are being built.
Mr Speaker 12:19 p.m.
Please, if there is any explanation from my right, I want it to be fully presented and then responded to.
Hon Dr Akoto Osei, I saw you earlier.
Dr A. A. Osei 12:19 p.m.
Mr Speaker, when the first contract came to Parliament, this Parliament approved it subject to section (2) of the General Conditions. This Parliament allowed for modification of the contract so we have given them that approval to modify. As the Chairman said, for the first 10 STEAM projects, the tax waiver has already been approved. The request before this House is only for a tax waiver for the additional 10 that were not done ton he first 10. But this Parliament approved for the contract to be modified earlier when we approved it.
Mr Speaker, I do not recall the sum of the first 10 but it is in the public record. It is the tax waiver for the additional 10 that is being requested, which is to the tune of US$7 million.
Thank you, Mr Speaker.
Mr Speaker 12:19 p.m.
Thank you. We get the presentation that this is basically with regard to the subsequent demand.
Mr Joseph Y. Chireh (NDC -- Wa West) 12:29 p.m.
Mr Speaker, thank you for the opportunity. Mr Speaker, first of all, the Chairman introduces a Motion, somebody seconds it and wants to make comment and he (Chairman) is always jumping up on a point of order when he has the last say as per our debate rules. If there are issues that were raised by Hon Members, he would be given the opportunity to clarify them.

My point is, the issue that the Hon Member has raised was the amendment and the additional money that was given. Was that approved by this House? This is the information that should have been given by the Committee, which indicates that the amendment made by the Central Tender Review Committee has finally been approved by this House, and based on that, the tax waiver should also be considered by this House again.

So, if basic information like this is not contained in the Report, nobody can say that we do not have the right

to know. We do not know the original sum; do we? -- [Interruption] -- So, has it been stated or should we remember the one we did earlier? It is important for purposes of records that these things are clearly done, but not to jump anytime somebody raises an issue on a report.

The Hon Member is not talking outside of the Report. The Report did not indicate all those things.

Mr Speaker, thank you very much.
Minority Leader (Mr Haruna Iddrisu) 12:29 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I rise to contribute to the Motion. Mr Speaker, in doing so, I would like to emphasise the same issues. Parliament has an obligation. Our first obligation is in respect of article 181, which is to approve terms and conditions of a loan. That is what the Constitution obliges us to do as a House in the exercise of our oversight responsibility.
Mr Speaker, with your permission, I beg to read article 181 (3) 12:29 p.m.
“No loans shall be raised by the Government on behalf of itself or any other public institution or authority otherwise than by or under the authority of an Act of Parliament...”.
Mr Speaker, as I said, my emphasis is on section (2) 12:29 p.m.
“174(2) Where an Act, enacted in accordance with clause (1) of this article, confers power on any person or authority to waive or vary a tax imposed by that Act, the exercise of the power of waiver or variation, in favour of any person or authority, shall be subject to the prior approval of Parliament by resolution”.
This is what we are currently doing. We are exercising our power within the meaning of article 174.
Mr Speaker, what Hon Ras Mubarak has referred to, with your indulgence, may I refer you to page 4 of your Committee's Report? I would want to capture it and ask for further elucidation.
“The provisions of Sections II, General Conditions of Contract, Clause 63 allows for the contract to be modified upon the written agreement of the parties. In line with this provision, the Central Tender Review Committee reviewed the request for a Contract Amendment between the Ministry of Education and the Contractor, Robo Group and revised the original contract sum to
GH¢174,701,986.06...”
Mr Speaker, all we are asking is that, was this GH¢174 million laid before Parliament in accordance with article 181, because so long as it will be a loan, then we must come within the meaning of article 181? If it is not a loan, let us know.
Mr Speaker, it says that it was 12:29 p.m.
“…to extend the scope of the project from ten (10) to twenty (20) to cover areas which were hitherto excluded”.
Mr Speaker, that is about 100 per cent increase in the areas to be covered which were hitherto excluded.
Mr Speaker, from my records, on 25th June, 2019, we approved a contract agreement of
GH¢88,795,645.00 for the 10 projects; we did not approve GH¢174 million. Then on 21st December, 2019, we granted tax waiver amounting to the cedi equivalent of US$5.3 million; we did not approve GH¢174 million. We are now being called upon to grant a tax waiver. Is this tax waiver on the original GH¢88 million or on GH¢174 million? This is what we are demanding better particulars for. We want to satisfy ourselves.
If it is not being financed from loan, then we have no obligation. If the additional 10 STEAM would be done with a loan, then the Central Tender Board and the Hon Minister for Finance ought to have come back to Parliament for consequential approval of the expanded figure from GH¢88 million to GH¢174 million.
Mr Speaker, in computing the tax exemption -- [Interruption] -- we are given a list of items on which to waive. Is the tax waiver now covering 10 or 20 STEAM centres, and are all the 20 STEAM centres being financed from a loan or not? If we have this satisfactory explanation, I support the Motion, but failure to satisfy the request made by the Hon Member for Kunbumgu, then we may have to stand this down for the Central Tender
Review Report to be brought to this House for the purpose of our scrutiny.
So, Hon Minister for Finance, we want the Central Tender Review Report on this particular contract. We want to satisfy ourselves that this is not being financed from a loan, and two, so that we would understand on what we are granting the tax waiver? Would it be on the 10 STEAM centres or 20 STEAM centres?
Mr Speaker 12:29 p.m.
Hon Member, it is just a matter of a little patience, so that the Chairman of the Committee would apprise us of prior developments. What are we handling at the moment? Is it the original sum or the subsequent or the total thereof? -- Please, I ask the Table Office to give you the document.
Dr Assibey-Yeboah 12:29 p.m.
Mr Speaker, this House approved the contract agreement between the Government and Robo Group. No loan was sourced for on the original amount. It is being funded by GETFund.
Mr Speaker 12:29 p.m.
Hon Member, was there no loan on the original amount?
Dr Assibey-Yeboah 12:29 p.m.
Mr Speaker, the contract agreement, as a matter of fact, went to the Committee on Education. The Finance Committee
Mr Speaker 12:29 p.m.
Hon Member, please proceed, I am listening carefully.
Dr Assibey-Yeboah 12:29 p.m.
Mr Speaker, the original contract sum approved by the Committee on Education was GH¢88 million. So clearly, the GH¢174 million relates to 20 STEAM centres.
Mr Speaker, after this House approved the original agreement, there was a provision that the agreement could be amended and that was sent to the Central Tender Review Committee. So the agreement has been amended and now an additional 10 STEAM centres are being built. The present tax waiver of US$7 million is in respect of the additional 10 STEAM centres. As a matter of fact, the tax waiver for the first 10 was to the tune of US$5.3 million on GH¢88 million. The current one is US$7 million on the additional.
12. 39 p.m.
Mr Speaker, this is the request before the House. So, there was no
financing agreement presented before the House. All of the 20 are being funded by GETFund.
Mr Speaker 12:29 p.m.
Thank you very much.
Hon Members, that clarifies our initial difficulty. However, Hon Chairman, you must now concede that you owed this to the House; to give us the antecedence. It helps because it gives us little difficulty.
Yes, any other contribution?
Majority Leader (Mr Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu) 12:29 p.m.
Mr Speaker, as has been explained by the Hon Chairman of the Finance Committee, I think that the issues are clear. However, as requested by the Hon Ras Mubarak, perhaps, if the Committee's Report had taken us back to the original date of the Contract Agreement, when it came to be laid in Parliament on the 12th of June, 2019, perhaps the issue raised by my Hon Colleague, the Hon Ras Mubarak, would not have been raised.
Mr Speaker, however, it amounts to nothing much because as we all do know, our Standing Orders provides that if a matter is served to us, and it exists in an official publication, then it is for us to fish for the information. This is because that information is
already in the House. But I agree with him that maybe for the purposes of elucidation and clarification, if they had stated the original, then it would have been clearer, but nothing untoward has been done by this Report that is before us.
In respect of Standing Order 76 and 67, I agree that the request by the Hon Minority Leader is predicated on article 174 (2). However, our Standing Orders also provide, and for the avoidance of doubt, I would read Standing Order 67. Standing Order 67 (1) (c) provides that Questions must comply with the following conditions - subclause (1) (c ) says:
“No Question shall be asked which raises an issue already decided, or which has been answered substantially, during the current Session…”
Mr Speaker, again, Standing Order 67 (1) (h) also reads 12:29 p.m.
“A Question shall not be asked the answer to which is readily available in official publications…” What has come before us here, the answer that he seeks, already exists in an official publication that has been served to this House. The information has already been served to this House, so, it is for him to look for the information -- yes!
Mr Speaker, therefore, I am saying that no offence has been committed. However, I agree with him that for the purposes of clarity, if maybe, the Committee had gone back, then perhaps these issues would not have arisen, but the fact that they did not provide it does not mean that the Report is deficient in any manner; it is not. It does not even have to come to the Committee because that information has already been given to us; it is already in the House.
Mr Speaker, the conclusion of the Report is also abundantly clear that this is not in respect of the 20 Regional Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics Centres -- [Interruption] --
Mr Speaker 12:29 p.m.
Hon Members, order!
An Hon Member -- rose --
Mr Speaker 12:29 p.m.
Hon Member, I have not called you.
The Hon Majority Leader is on his feet, so please, you should take your seat.
Hon Majority Leader, you may continue?
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 12:29 p.m.
Mr Speaker, to the specific question
Mr Iddrisu 12:29 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I have listened to the Hon Majority Leader, and nobody has raised any issue of an offence. The issue to which we demand clarity, and still demand the clarity, is that on 12th June, a Contract Agreement for an amount of US$88. 7 million was before the Committee on Education. Today, we are being told that, that amount has now been reduced to an amount of US$ 174, 700,000, and reference is being made to the work done by the Central Tender Review Committee, but the Central Tender Review Committee is not Parliament. So, what is before us officially, is the amount of US$ 88 million.
However, the Central Tender Review Committee is now working
with a figure of US$174 million, as captured in the Report. The amount of US$174 million can only be something added to the amount of US$ 88 million. So, we are asking that when the Central Tender Review Committee reviewed this matter, was Parliament apprised of it?
I made references that we exercised the mandate of tax waiver under article 174, so, the amount of US$174 million is in the Committee's Report. Parliament is aware of an amount of US$ 88 million as the Hon Majority Leader referred us to, and its consequential waiver. So, we are simply demanding clarity, and not for the Hon Majority Leader to say that because there is reference to an amount of US$ 88 million - there is no reference to the amount of US$174 million.
Mr Speaker 12:29 p.m.
Hon Minority Leader, you are not to respond to the Hon Majority Leader. You are to respond to me.
Yes, Hon Dr Akoto Osei?
Hon Dr A. A. Osei, I would want you to be mindful of, or, address one thing. An Hon Member may want clarity, or something may not be clear to his or her mind because to his or her mind, this was done some time ago and so on and so forth. So, when
he raises that point, to my interpretation, he is not stopped by any rule in this honourable House, even though a rule may then be referred to, to show him that his position is not right, and that would be the end of the matter. So, in fact, in law, we say that some of these things are more of a shield rather than a sword. So, please, assist us.
Dr A. A. Osei 12:49 p.m.
Mr Speaker, the important thing that I would want to remind the Hon Minority Leader of, is the reference to Parliament. He, as an Hon Member of Parliament and all of us, back in May last year, approved a Contract between Robocop and the Ministry of Education. In that Contract, we read, and with your permission I quote: “Session (2) of the general conditions of the contract, clause 63, which we in Parliament approved allowed for a modification of the contract sum”.
We had given them prior approval. Now, if he is saying that there was a clause in there that said that they should come back and inform us, then there is no such clause. So, it is only fair to go by what we approved. I agree with him that because it is a year ago, it would have been useful to make reference to the fact that even though we said that they could modify it, we did not ask them to come back.

And it is not the loan as you said earlier. This has nothing to do with the loan as the Hon Chairman said. So maybe, what we should have done in that approval was to have asked them to come back and inform us when it was modified. But we did not do that so; in future, perhaps, when we make that approval, we should keep that in mind and say, when you modify, come back and inform us but not for further approval because we gave the prior approval.
Mr Speaker 12:49 p.m.
My attention has been drawn to the fact that the provisions of section 2; General conditions of contract, clause 63 allows for the contract to be modified upon the rating agreement of the parties. In line with this provision, the Central Tender Review Committee reviewed the request for a contract amendment between the Ministry of Education and the contractor, and it went on.
Hon Members, I would end this by simply saying that in future, the Hon Chairman of the Finance Committee or a Chairman in such circumstances, must give us a recital of the antecedents; whereas, so, so and so and whereas on a subsequent occasion this happened -- Hon Members, you are not listening to me when I am speaking.
Mr Speaker 12:49 p.m.
Hon Member, I have not called you, and you may take your seat. I would like us to end this because we have a lot of business ahead of us. Before it has been cleared that nothing has been done wrong, except also that we are all not able to carry all our data with us all the time as to antecedents. So, I am saying that in a Report like this, a Chairman should refer to the antecedents, and that is why we use a lot of this word, “whereas”, and then, we all have been immediately apprised with what had happened earlier and in fact, all these would therefore not have happened at all.
Thank you very much.
Dr A. A. Osei 12:49 p.m.
You may want to know that Hon Ras Mubarak —
Mr Speaker 12:49 p.m.
No, Hon Member, I would not allow any more contributions.
Dr A. A. Osei 12:49 p.m.
Mr Speaker, it is information.
Mr Speaker 12:49 p.m.
No, it is not information. I rule you out of order. In fact, we do not need any rule on this; it must be a tool of practice that when you want to refer to something that has taken place in a long
chronology of events, you refer to them howbeit, quite briefly. Everything has been well explained; there is no difficulty but if his mind was itching him a bit as to, is it really the fact of the matter? He is entitled to ask as a Member of Parliament in a discussion. Then, it is the duty of the Chairman to refer, and he has referred to this appropriately with the very good cooperation of the Table Office. And I must thank the Table Office for referring to the data and then, leading us on to understand this.
Let me put the Question.
Question put and Motion agreed to.
Mr Speaker 12:49 p.m.
Hon Members, the item listed 7, the Resolution; Hon Minister for Finance?
RESOLUTIONS 12:49 p.m.
Minister for Finance (Mr Ken Ofori Atta) 12:49 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I beg to move,
BY THE PROVISIONS of article 174 (2) of the 1992 Constitution, Parliament is empowered to confer power on any person or authority to waive or vary a tax imposed by an Act of Parliament;
THE EXERCISE of any power conferred on any person or authority to waive or vary a tax in favour of any person or authority is by the said provisions made subject to the prior approval of Parliament by resolution;
BY THE COMBINED 12:49 p.m.
Dr Assibey-Yeboah 12:49 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I beg to second the Motion.
Question put and Motion agreed to.
Resolved accordingly.
Mr Speaker 12:49 p.m.
Hon Majority Leader, where do we now move to especially that if the Hon Minister for Finance is in the House?
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 12:49 p.m.
Mr Speaker, we could do the item listed as 8.
Mr Speaker 12:49 p.m.
Hon Members, the item listed 8?
MOTIONS 12:49 p.m.
Chairman of the Committee (Dr Assibey-Yeboah) 12:49 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I beg to move, that notwithstanding the provisions of Standing Order 80(1) which require that no Motion shall be debated until at least forty-hours have elapsed between the date on which notice of the Motion is given and the date on which the Motion is moved,
the Motion for the adoption of the Report of the Finance Committee on the Expenditure in Advance of Appropriation for January to March 2021 may be moved today.
Mr Iddrisu 12:49 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I beg to second the Motion.
Question put and amendment agreed to.
Expenditure in Advance of Appropriation for January to
March, 2021.
Chairman of the Committee (Dr Assibey-Yeboah) 12:49 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I beg to move, that this honourable House adopts the Report of the Finance Committee on the Expenditure in Advance of Appropriation for January to March
2021.
And in so doing, I present your Committee's Report:
1.0 Introduction
The Expenditure in Advance of Appropriation for January to March 2021 was laid in the House on Wednesday 28th October, 2020 and referred to the Finance Committee for consideration and report pursuant to article 180 of the 1992 Constitution and the Standing Orders of the House.
To consider the referral, the Committee met with the Minister for Finance, Hon Ken Ofori-Atta and his Deputies Hon Kwaku Kwarteng, Hon Abena Osei-Asare and Hon. Charles Adu Boahen as well as the Chief Director and other officials from the Ministry of Finance. Also in attendance was the Controller and Accountant-General, Mr Kwasi Kwaning-Bosompem.
The Committee is grateful to the Hon Minister for Finance, the Hon Deputy Ministers for Finance, the Chief Director and the other officials of the Ministry of Finance for attending upon the Committee. The Committee is equally grateful to the Controller and Accountant-General for attending upon the Committee.
2.0 References
The Committee referred to and/or was guided by the following documents in its deliberations on the Expenditure in Advance of Appropriation for the 2021 Financial Year:
The 1992 Constitution of the Republic of Ghana;
Estimates of the Revenues and Expenditure of the Government of Ghana for the 2021 financial year;
Mr Anthony Effah (NPP -- Asikuma/Odoben/Brakwa) 12:59 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I beg to second the Motion that the vote on account be approved.
The Report has given us sufficient details regarding how the moneys would be utilised. There seems to be a recurrent structure of our expenditure. Compensation alone is taking about 28 per cent of the proposed figures for spending in the first quarter of 2021. Interest payments account for about 25 per cent of the proposed amount and amortisation is 12 per cent.
Mr Speaker, when we put all these together and also add the grants to other Government institutions, it tells us that there is nothing left in our hands
for capital projects. That is why we see about GH¢1.9 billion, which constitutes just six per cent of the entire proposed figure.
We need to find out how these amounts would be financed, and given the Report before us, you would realise that net financing would be about GH¢28.9 billion. This has to come through borrowings and also some domestic financing. All together, the success of this allocation for spending in 2021 would depend on the issuance of the sovereign bond, granted that it would contribute about GH¢31.2 billion of the total financing requirement for the first quarter of
2021.
My request is that when there is this request for the issuance of the bond, this House would take it with all the seriousness that it deserves so that we can get the bonds passed and then we can raise this money to meet the GH¢27,434,180,520 that has been proposed for spending in the first quarter of 2021.
Mr Speaker, with these few words, I second the Motion, that we approve the proposed amount. Thank you very much.
Mr Kojo Oppong-Nkrumah (NPP -- Ofoase/Ayirebi) 12:59 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I speak in support of the
Motion as well and I would like to very quickly, make three points in my contribution.
First is the fact that in the total sum of GH¢27,434,180,520, there has already been a lot of talk about the arrears clearance of GH¢350 million, the interest payment of GH¢7,002,221,941 and the amortisation of GH¢3,419,583,605. I think that it is important that the Official Report captures some specifics so that the records are laid bare.
Mr Speaker, you would recall that at the beginning of 2017, there was a quantum of arrears that was announced to us by the Hon Minister for Finance, subsequently audited by the Auditor-General and a programme put in place to play it down. This GH¢350 million that you find on this table is an allocation that goes to pay down part of those arrears accrued prior to December 2016.
Secondly, on the matter of interest payments of GH¢7,002,221,941, it is not as though this interest payment accrues to liabilities incurred between 2017 and now. This interest payment of GH¢7,002,221,941 accrues to all of our outstanding liabilities for which interest is due.
We would recall that two major items have contributed to the growth in our debt stock in addition to our already existent GH¢122 billion. These include the energy sector payment of about US$1 billion a year. The cedi equivalent of that in current terms is somewhere around over GH¢5 billion, therefore the interest associated with that, as well as the about GH¢21 billion that has had to be borrowed to finance the financial sector bailout also comes with interest payment --
Mr Speaker, so it is important that as we approve this, some of these considerations and qualifications are borne in mind, so that posterity knows what the facts are.
Thank you for the opportunity.
Minority Leader (Mr Haruna Iddrisu) 12:59 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I rise to speak in support of the Motion.
We listened to the Hon Minister for Finance, and conspicuously lost in his presentation and what he failed to share with the people of Ghana through their elected representatives to Parliament was what the performance of the economy has been in the first quarter, second quarter and third quarter. This would enable Ghanaians understand the true state of the economy and we would
Minority Leader (Mr Haruna Iddrisu) 1:09 p.m.


We know that we would inherit a fractured and fragile economy recovering from COVID-19. He should have also shared with us what has been the economic impact of COVID-19 on employment, revenue and expenditure. He did not share those adequately with us but was happily talking about Planting for Food and free Senior High School education. He should have happily spoken about the performance of the economy to just give us an update.

Mr Speaker, respectfully, may I refer you to page 8 and that will be my significant contribution. Under Total Public Debt, the Hon Minister indicated 69.7 per cent of GDP. That is almost at the threshold of debt distress which is 70 per cent. Indeed, the IMF quotes 74.6 per cent or 76.4 per cent.

Are we to believe that the Hon Minister for Finance gives different data to Parliament and different data to the IMF? How come the IMF has projected Ghana's debt to be 76.4 per cent? This is not new because it is an official record from the IMF and

we need an explanation. We were told that the IMF has annualised the public debt, so the Hon Minister for Finance must also annualise his public debt -- [Laughter.] -- Indeed, he must annualise for us to know the kind of economy that we are likely to inherit.

Mr Speaker, Ghana risks being a debt distress country because when a country gets to 70 per cent that is its classification. What is worrying is that if we do not get the statistics right for debt as a percentage of GDP, we would not get the other figures right -- not even inflation.

The Hon Minister for Finance treated the banking sector clean up as a footnote when he came to the House with the mid-year review. That is not appropriate -- that is an expenditure of GH¢21 billion committed. We need to know. They should not spend money and hide it as footnote. The banking sector clean-up is an expenditure, so they should add it to their expenditure in order to compute accurately, their fiscal deficit as a percentage of GDP. This is because there is a relationship between revenue and expenditure that would be used as our basic denominator to be able to calculate. The Hon Minister for Monitoring and Evaluation taught me economics, so now I have improved.

Mr Speaker, at what exchange rate are we looking at? The Hon Minister for Finance came to Parliament and his pride and joy was to announce that he wants to borrow. Few years ago, they basterdised the National Democratic Congress (NDC) Party and former President John Dramani Mahama for borrowing but today, they want to ride 2021 on borrowing.

Borrowing does not lead to the prosperity that nations deserve. If it is not done responsibly and invested properly to generate growth and employment -- now they hold a calabash above borrowing. What they said was not right and appropriate - - but they want to borrow today.

In January 2017, they inherited a total debt stock of US$120 billion but today, by the words of the Hon Minister, it is US$267 billion. So, within three and half years, they should look at how much money they have borrowed. It was US$120 billion but is now US$267 billion. The IMF does not even agree to that.

Mr Speaker, in conclusion - the Controller and Accountant General's Department does not have any authority. It acts on the authority and mandate of the Ministry for Finance, so when they put in the Report that he should not except with prior approval from the Hon Minister for

Finance, what does it mean? The Controller and Accountant Generals Department cannot suo motu on its own to authorise any expenditure.
Mr Speaker, I beg to read paragraph 5.0 in the Report which with permission says 1:09 p.m.
“…should funds be vired from the Compensation of Employees to cover expenditure items for goods and services or capital expenditure except with the prior approval from the Ministry of Finance''.
As for the Controller and Accountant General's Department, it is just a diligent public official -- what the Hon Minister for Finance authorises is what they would do.
Mr Speaker, on the table on a page of the Report with regard to “interest payment'' it is GH¢7, 002,221,941. We could only understand this amount relative to knowing our actual public debt, which is domestic and external. Again, the IMF estimates it at US$23 billion and US$20 billion respectively for external and domestic debt. With regard to “subsidies'', it is GH¢259, 087,194, and “social benefits'', is GH¢41, 271,000. This discrepancy is not acceptable. With regard to “subsidies'', the President made provision for the supply of free water and electricity during the COVID-19
Mr Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu (NPP--Suame) 1:19 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I thank you for the opportunity to make a few remarks about the request before us to approve the Report of the Committee on Finance on the expenditure in advance of appropriation for January to March
2021.
Mr Speaker, I would want to continue from where the Hon Minority Leader left off and I am quoting his exact words. He says to us that it was indeed heart-warming to listen to the Minister for Finance. Heart-warming! Then he makes a contrivance to debunk what he himself had said.
Mr Speaker, he told us that the Minister for Finance was not exactly forthcoming in indicating to us the real
state of the economy. Unless the Hon Minority Leader, again by sheer contrivance, wants to depart from the path of truthfulness. Mr Speaker, the data that the Minister for Finance sent to us and read from it on page 3, he gave us all these indications. To remind the Hon Minority Leader, he said, “growing the economy at an average rate of seven per cent between 2017 and 2019 as compared to 2.8 per cent between 2014 and 2016” is the worst three year growth rate in this country for 30 years.
Mr Speaker, again, the Minister for Finance told us that the administration that he superintended reduced inflation from 15.4 per cent at end of December, 2016 to 7.9 per cent by the end of December 2019, the lowest since the Fourth Republic in
1992.
Mr Speaker, I may add that the span of period that we have had single digit inflation is the longest period since the Fourth Republic and for this Republic, they have superintended it for 16 years.
Mr Speaker, the Minister for Finance told us that they maintained an average fiscal balance below a five per cent threshold between 2017 and 2019 as compared to 6.2 per cent in 2014 to 2016. These are hard facts and I believe Ghanaians would know
the truth and go for the best; not the better of the administrators but the best.
Mr Speaker, the Minister for Finance indicated to us that they improved the gross international reserves including oil funds to reach GH¢8.3 billion or about four months of import cover by February, 2020 as compared to 2.5 months of import cover in 2016. The gross international reserves that reached 8.4 per cent and indeed in 2019 at GH¢8.7 billion is unprecedented in the annals of Ghanaian history.
At their time, the net import cover got to as low as two and half weeks under the NDC. To be charitable to them, the Chairman of the Committee on Finance says that I should grant them three weeks and they have the courage to question the administrative skills for managing this economy.
Mr Speaker, the GDP growth rate and the interest rates and inflation and the gross international reserves and the public debt he talks about are making so much noise about that. Yes, indeed, it rose from GH¢120 billion to, as the Minister admitted, GH¢260 billion but we do not borrow in cedis. We borrow in hard currency. Mr Speaker, if we let what they borrowed in eight years out in dollar terms, it is US$49 billion. The increase they are
talking about is just US$21 billion. If they are truthful to themselves, they would know that their records do not compare.
Mr Speaker, they should not forget that when they assumed office, the exchange rate was GH¢1.1 to US$1. So, when you trim it out, it gives you the figure that I have spoken about. Their total borrowings was US$49 billion.
Mr Speaker, the US$10 billion Big Push that they talk about, if Ghanaians have the misfortune of bringing them back, perish the thought indeed, ab initio, they are going to borrow US$10 billion again.
Mr Speaker, I do not know where this inspiration is coming from. If people want to be truthful to themselves and talk to the facts as the Minister for Finance said, I am quoting the words of the Minister for Finance:
“It is trite knowledge that data speaks for itself. Permit me to use the data to separate facts from opinions, [may I say, to separate facts from fiction], even if these opinions emanate from persons or may I say, fathers who should know better”?
These are the words of the Minister for Finance. We all heard him:
Mr Speaker 1:19 p.m.
Hon Members, I do not know whether the Hon Minister for Finance may want to say a word?
Minister for Finance (Mr Ken Ofori-Atta) 1:29 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I thank
you very much indeed for this and I really would like to thank the Rt Hon Speaker and the House for the incredible experience realised these four years. Certainly, the Hon Majority Leader has said most of what I would like to say and just to cast our minds back that in year 2000, we inherited a Debt to GDP ratio of 180 per cent from the other Side and that made us Highly Indebted Poor Country (HIPC). So, those are the type of numbers that they may be used to.
Mr Speaker, in talking about our debt for this season, I think we need to recognise that there was GH¢23 billion of debt that was hidden and unearthed to be able to sort the financial services sector programme. Then also, we had our take or pay obligations which was a billion dollars a year all on the back of what the government left for us.

Mr Speaker, however, we look ahead with a lot of confidence into the future and I think that the Obaatanpa Programme will lead to a much faster recovery as we are seeing in the numbers already. We assure them that we look forward to working with them on the other Side of the House.

Mr Speaker, thank you for this opportunity. We thank God for how

far He has brought us. Ebenezer, indeed.

[Hear!] [Hear!]
Mr Speaker 1:29 p.m.
Thank you very much, Hon Finance Minister.
Question put and Motion agreed to.
Hon Finance Minister, you may move the Resolution captured as item numbered 10 on page 6 of the Order Paper.
RESOLUTIONS 1:29 p.m.
Minister for Finance (Mr Ken Ofori-Atta) 1:29 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I beg to move, that
WHEREAS by the provisions of article 180 of the Constitution provides that where it appears to the President that the Appro- priation Act in respect of any financial year will not come into operation by the beginning of that financial year, he may with the prior approval of Parliament by a
resolution authorise the withdrawal of money from the Consolidated Fund for the purpose of meeting expen- diture necessary to carry on the services of the Government in respect of the period expiring three months from the beginning of the financial year or on the coming into operation of the Act whichever is earlier; and
It now appears to the President that the Appropriation Act in respect of the financial year commencing on the 1st day of January, 2021 will not come into operation by the beginning of the said financial year.
NOW THEREFORE, THIS 1:29 p.m.
HONOURABLE HOUSE 1:29 p.m.
Mr Iddrisu 1:29 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I beg to second the Motion.
Question put and Motion agreed to.
Resolved accordingly.
Mr Speaker 1:29 p.m.
Hon Majority Leader, where do we go from here?
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 1:29 p.m.
Mr Speaker, can we move to the Order Paper Addendum 2?
Mr Speaker 1:29 p.m.
Hon Members, Order Paper Addendum 2 -- Presentation of Papers 1 (a) by the Hon Minister for National Security?
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 1:29 p.m.
Mr Speaker, if you would indulge me, I will present the Paper numbered 1 (a) on behalf of the Hon Minister for National Security.
PAPERS 1:29 p.m.
Mr Speaker 1:29 p.m.
Item numbered 2 (a) on the Order Paper Addendum 2 -- Presentation and First Reading of Bills.
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 1:29 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I want to request that the Hon Deputy Minister for Energy who has just entered may present the Papers listed as items 2(a) and (b) on behalf of the Hon Minister for Energy.
Mr Speaker 1:29 p.m.
Very well.
BILLS -- FIRST READING 1:29 p.m.
Mr Speaker 1:29 p.m.
Hon Majority Chief Whip, where do we go from here? We have exhausted the Order Paper Addendum 2.
[Pause] --
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 1:29 p.m.
Mr Speaker, we could look at the Consideration of the Ghana Enterprises Agency Bill, 2020. We will just begin a few clauses and then - Mr Speaker, so, we will start the Ghana Enterprises Agency Bill, 2020. Let us begin with the initial clauses; item numbered 21.
Mr Kwasi Ameyaw-Cheremeh 1:29 p.m.
Mr Speaker, we may take item numbered 21 before we move to item numbered 22 for the Consideration Stage.
Mr Speaker 1:39 p.m.
The Hon First Deputy Speaker would take the Chair.
Item numbered 21?
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 1:39 p.m.
Mr Speaker, the Hon Deputy Minister for Trade and Industry would move the Motion on behalf of the substantive Hon Minister.
Suspension of Standing Order 80(1)
Deputy Minister for Trade and Industry (Mr Robert Ahomka- Lindsay) on behalf of the (Minister for Trade and Industry): Mr Speaker, I beg to move, that notwithstanding the provisions of Standing Order 128(1) which requires that when a bill has been read a second time it shall pass through a consideration stage which shall not be taken until at least forty-eight hours have elapsed, the consideration stage of the Ghana Enterprises Agency Bill, 2020 may be taken today.
Minority Leader (Mr Haruna Iddrisu) 1:39 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I beg to second the Motion.
Question put and Motion agreed to.
Mr Speaker 1:39 p.m.
Hon Members, we would effect a small correction that the referral of the item numbered 1(a) on the Order Paper Addendum 2 would be to the Committee on Defence and Interior because it is a Contract Agreement.
Hon Members, we would now move to the Consideration Stage of the Ghana Enterprises Agency Bill,
2020.
BILLS -- CONSIDERATION 1:39 p.m.
STAGE 1:39 p.m.
Mr Haruna Iddrisu 1:39 p.m.
Mr Speaker, clause 2(a) ends with “in the country” but if we have to be consistent, then “in the country” must join paragraphs (b) and (c) or it has to be deleted in (a). In fact, if we look at paragraphs (a) and (b) well, the
only words that have been added are “oversee and promote” so what is the difference with paragraph (a)? Mr Speaker, but my first objection is that if there is “in the country” in (a), then same must be repeated in paragraphs (b) and (c). Otherwise, we have to make it neutral by deleting “in the country”.
Mr Speaker 1:39 p.m.
Hon Chairman, what do you say to that?
Chairman of the Committee (Mr Ato Panford) 1:39 p.m.
Mr Speaker, we would take a cue from the Hon Minority Leader and delete “in the country” from paragraph (a).
MR FIRST DEPUTY SPEAKER
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 1:45 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I agree with the Hon Minority Leader that we do not need “in the country” .The Long Title provides:
“AN ACT to establish the Ghana Enterprises Agency to promote and develop micro, small and medium enterprises in the country and to provide for related matters”.
So, in the body of the Bill, we do not need to repeat it.
Mr Panford 1:45 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I agree perfectly with the Hon Leaders.
Mr First Deputy Speaker 1:45 p.m.
So, what is the agreed rendition?
Mr Panford 1:45 p.m.
Mr Speaker, the new rendition for clause 2(a) would then read ‘promote and develop micro, small and medium enterprises'.
Question put and amendment agreed to.
Mr Iddrisu 1:45 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I beg to further add a new paragraph (f) if the policy promoters would agree? We should add a new paragraph (f) to read: “provide credit support to micro, small and medium enterprises” because the head wing of the micro, small and medium enterprises is “access to credit and the cost of credit”.
So, in creating this institution, we must add to their object for the provision of support to micro, small and medium enterprises. Mr Speaker, I beg to move.
Mr First Deputy Speaker 1:45 p.m.
Hon Majority Leader?
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 1:45 p.m.
Mr Speaker, on the face of it, what the Hon Minority Leader has said is right. However, I believe that in clause (3)
Mr Iddrisu 1:49 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I would want to insist that we add that new paragraph. I am speaking from practical experience. Yesterday, I was sharing with you. During Ramadan, I visited Buipella, and a woman was preparing “kooshe”. Her minimum capital was not up to GH¢100. It is “kooshe” that Mr Speaker enjoys. If we do not clothe them, even today, the Hon Majority Leader should ask the people formulating the policy why they have brought this Bill. What mandate does the NBSSI have to distribute all the money they are distributing? They are providing credit, and so I am just saying that we should add a new subclause that
this institution could provide credit support to micro, medium, small enterprises. Mr Speaker, I think that this should be part of the provision. I would want it strengthened in the object of the Bill. Even if they would want to coin it in their way, I would want it to be part of their object.
Mr Speaker, I have supervised NBSSI before. For many businesses, when they go to them, they are helpless. They cannot help them. So we are saying that it should not just be Microfinance and Small Loans Centre (MASLOC). If we further develop this institution, those who would want to go to industry could be giving credit to them. Those who would want to sell spare parts, tyres, washing powder and tomatoes can also go to another entity. I feel strongly about this amendment.
Mr Panford 1:49 p.m.
Mr Speaker, it is well-taken from the Hon Minority Leader. However, clause 27(1) takes care of it in the creation of the fund.
Mr First Deputy Speaker 1:49 p.m.
Hon Deputy Minister?
Mr Ahomka-Lindsay 1:49 p.m.
Mr Speaker, thank you very much for that. I understand and sympathise exactly with what the Hon Minority Leader is coming with in terms of the importance of credit. But it is the object talk about the overall position
of what is being done. However, to pick just one subsection and specify it, I understand it is there, but that subsection is actually picked up in a whole different part that talks about the fund which specially is what is required.
So I think it is already accounted for. Otherwise, within the objective, we can put so many other subclauses about what would be done. But I believe we provided for that specifically under clause 27(1) by creating a fund specifically for that.
Mr Rockson-Nelson E. K. Dafeamekpor 1:49 p.m.
Mr Speaker, indeed, clause 27 rather underpins the Hon Minority Leader's proposed amendment.
This is because, we are saying that the new agency would set up a fund. And in setting up that fund, the functions would be to pursue the main object and functions of the agency. So clause 27 is rather the basis on why we should insert his proposed amendment under functions. And I agree with him.
Mr First Deputy Speaker 1:49 p.m.
Hon Members, this is an Act to establish an Enterprises Agency to promote and develop micro, small and medium enterprises so that they can access
credit themselves. If we are going to make the government agency also a credit giver, we would end up not getting anything, but the importance is to assist, prepare and stabilise them to be able to access credit themselves.
Yes, Hon Majority Leader?
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 1:49 p.m.
Mr Speaker, he would want to engender a pronounced role for the private sector in the economy. Indeed, as far as this Bill is concerned, it is meant to promote and develop micro, small and medium enterprises.
Mr Speaker, the development is not only by way of availing credit to them. When you come to clause 3, the functions of the Agency, it talks about promoting an enabling environment for the operations of the micro, small and medium enterprises, facilitating and fostering partnership with public and private institutions for the development --
Mr Speaker, all this is to help them attain a certain level of operations. I agree with the Hon Minority Leader that availing credit to them is also part of it. However, the object of any Bill rather encapsulate the global picture of the Bill. And so we cannot go into the various strands. The strands would be captured or expressed in the
Mr Iddrisu 1:49 p.m.
Mr Speaker, like I said, I did not have the opportunity to advertise my amendment, but I feel very strongly with it, and I would want to be defeated on the record. I so move, subclause (2), add a new paragraph to read:
provide credit support to micro, small and medium enterprises.
Question put and amendment negatived.
Clauses 2 as amended ordered to stand pat of the Bill.
Clause 3 -- Functions of the Agency
Mr First Deputy Speaker 1:49 p.m.
There is no advertised amendment to clause 3.
Mr Dafeamekpor 1:49 p.m.
Mr Speaker, indeed, there is no advertised amendment to clause 3, but I would want to draw the attention of the House to the manner of numbering of the paragraphs from clause 3 (a) to the last one which is 3(0). Mr Speaker, I know that by practice, we
do not cite paragraph (o). I know that when you get to (n), you gloss over (o). Otherwise, in citing the provision in the legal discourse, you would cite section 3, subsection (o).
Mr First Deputy Speaker 1:49 p.m.
That is a drafting matter. I would ask draftspersons to take care of it. If you have any substantive matter, I would deal with that now, but this is a drafting matter.
Mr Chireh 1:49 p.m.
Mr Speaker, he raised the issue with me, and I told him that when you have one clause and there are no other subclauses, you start with alphabets. When you reach the alphabet “o”, it is alphabet “o”. I am not aware of any drafting or legal position where “o” be cited.
In this case, it is section 3, paragraph (o). That is how it is. I am not aware of any legal principle that says that you cannot put “o” in there.
Mr First Deputy Speaker 1:49 p.m.
Hon Member for Wa West, do you have any substantive proposed amend- ment?
Clause 3 ordered to stand part of the Bill.
Clause 4 -- Governing body of the Agency
Mr Defeamekpor 1:49 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I beg to move, clause 4, subclause
(1), opening phrase, line 2, delete “at least”.
Mr Panford 1:49 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I have an objection to that amendment. At the Committee level, this was to ensure that we have gender issues prevalent in the whole Bill. So I humbly proposed that the clause stands as it is.
Question put and amendment negatived.
Mr Dafeamekpor 1:59 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I beg to move, subclause (1), paragraph (b), delete “Executive Director” and insert “Chief Executive Officer”.
Mr Speaker, at the Committee level, we came to the agreement that we are moving away from using “Executive Directors” to “Chief Executive Officers”.
This is a very important Agency that is going to work throughout the country and so we think that it is more preferable to give the Chief Executive Officer's position to the head of the Agency and not the “Executive Director”.
Mr First Deputy Speaker 1:59 p.m.
Hon Chairman, he said you agreed at the Committee level?
Mr Panford 1:59 p.m.
Rightly so, Mr Speaker. The rational is just for consistency in the way other agencies are.
Question put and amendment agreed to.
Mr First Deputy Speaker 1:59 p.m.
Hon Members, it is two o'clock, I do not intend to extend Sitting today.
Mr Dafeamekpor 1:59 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I beg to move, subclause (1), paragraph (c), lines 1 and 2, delete “nominated by the Association”.
Mr Speaker, my position is very simple. We are asking for a representative from the Association so for me, it is needless to say that that representative has to be nominated by the Association.
Mr Panford 1:59 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I think at the Committee, this was not really discussed but then the normal practice is that these are institutional seats and then normally, they would come with a nominated letter from the institution. So we believe that it must stand.
Mr Chireh 1:59 p.m.
Mr Speaker, the reason for the nomination by the Association is that anybody, including the Minister can nominate somebody who is a member of the Association.
Mr Panford 1:59 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I agree perfectly with my senior Hon Colleague.
Mr First Deputy Speaker 1:59 p.m.
Hon Member, are you withdrawing or I should move the motion?
Mr Dafeamekpor 1:59 p.m.
Mr Speaker, in this circumstance, I withdraw and it would mean that all the others that are consequential up to the item listed (vi) would have to be withdrawn.
Mr First Deputy Speaker 1:59 p.m.
Very well. All the proposed amendments up to (vi) are withdrawn.
Mr Dafeamekpor 1:59 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I beg to move, subclause (1), paragraph (g), subparagraph (i), lines 2 and 3, delete “responsible for Trade and Industry”.
Mr Speaker, I am making this proposal because the Minister in question in this Bill has already been defined in the Interpretation clause as Minister responsible for Trade and Industry so it is not necessary that when we say the Minister, we should
still add “Minister responsible for Trade and Industry”. That of Minister responsible for Finance is intact because in that case, we are not referring to the Minister as intended in the Bill.
Thank you, Mr Speaker.
Mr Panford 1:59 p.m.
Mr Speaker, the Committee agrees with our Colleague.
Question put and amendment agreed to.
Mr Dafeamekpor 1:59 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I beg to move, subclause (1), paragraph (g), subparagraphs (iii), (iv), and (v), delete.
Mr Speaker, if we are not careful and we load the Board with a lot of institutional representative bodies that are analogous in nature, we may trouble the Board. We are looking for representation from, for instance, the Council of Indigenous Business Association, Ministry responsible for Business Development, Ministry of Agriculture.
Mr Speaker, in my opinion, all these representatives are not needed. Once we have representatives of the Ministry of Trade and Industry and Finance and all the other well-recognised institutional representatives, these ones are not
necessary and their absence would not affect the issues the Memorandum seeks to use the Bill to address. That is why I think that the membership should be reduced by taking out these institutional representatives.
Mr Panford 1:59 p.m.
Mr Speaker, at the Committee level, we were trying to look at the size of the Board but then it came to bear that these Ministries are very important in the formative issues of the whole Agency. Then there must be that representation from these Ministries for proper inter- ministerial deliberations. I believe that from the policy direction of the Ministry, it is quite clear that they need to bring all of them on Board.
So, Mr Speaker, I humbly would request that those clauses stand.
Mr First Deputy Speaker 1:59 p.m.
So you oppose to the proposed amendments?
Mr Chireh 1:59 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I think that it is important these Ministerial representatives are included. This is because we are setting up this enterprise body and their operators are going to assist those who work directly under them. So the role of the Ministries would be key. In case they want to assist them, they would also know what areas there are. This is an
eleven-member Board. So there should be no reason why we would reduce it. The Ministries' representatives are going to help in policy development and strategic things. So I would plead with the Hon Member to withdraw the amendment.
Mr Dafeamekpor 1:59 p.m.
Mr Speaker, for instance, we were struggling to identify a body known as Council of Indigenous Business Association.
Mr First Deputy Speaker 1:59 p.m.
Who was struggling to identify them?
Mr Dafeamekpor 1:59 p.m.
Mr Speaker, they do not exist in the law. They are not registered.

Mr Speaker, there are three other institutions that indeed, if there is a Council of Indigenous Business Association it would have been a member of one of them. So why are we trying to have constitutional
Mr First Deputy Speaker 1:59 p.m.
Hon Member, that is all right. You do not know about them.
Mr Ahomka-Lindsay 2:09 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I think what we must be clear on is that we have a number of very important business associations that have presented their members and they rightly want their identity to be met and to be presented.
Secondly, it is also very important that this Bill we are putting forth, also addresses some of the issues we have had in the past, where some of these associations were not given the right ear or the ability to be represented. The Council of Indigenous Ghanaian Businesses is a critical stakeholder going forward.
Mr First Deputy Speaker 2:09 p.m.
So, is the proposed amendment to delete those three representatives?
Question put and amendment agreed to.
Mr Panford 2:09 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I beg to move, clause 4, subclause (2), line
2, before “members”, insert “Chairperson and other”.
Question put and amendment agreed to.
Clause 4 as amended ordered to stand part of the bill.
Clauses 5 and 6 ordered to stand part of the Bill.
Clause 7 -- Tenure of office of members of the Board
Mr Panford 2:09 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I beg to move, clause 7, subclause (1), line 2, delete “but a member shall not be appointed for more than two terms” and insert “for another term only”.
Question put and amendment agreed to.
Clause 7 as amended ordered to stand part of the Bill.
Mr First Deputy Speaker 2:09 p.m.
Hon Majority Chief Whip, you said we will do four clauses, but we have done seven.
Mr Ameyaw-Cheremeh 2:09 p.m.
Mr Speaker, it is past 2 o'clock, so we are in your hands.
Mr First Deputy Speaker 2:09 p.m.
Thank you very much. I do not intend
to extend Sitting today. Fridays, we all travel to our constituencies and it is critical.
Hon Members, that brings us to the end of consideration of the Ghana
Enterprise Agency Bill, 2020 for today.
ADJOURNMENT 2:09 p.m.
  • The House was adjourned at 2.14 p.m. till Monday, 2nd November, 2020 at 10.00 a.m.