Debates of 4 Nov 2020

MR SPEAKER
PRAYERS 10:46 a.m.
VOTES AND PROCEEDINGS AND THE OFFICIAL REPORT 10:46 a.m.
Mr Speaker 10:46 a.m.
Hon Members, we have the Votes and Proceedings of Tuesday, 3rd November, 2020, for correction.
Mr Speaker 10:46 a.m.
Hon Members, notwithstanding the pack of work this morning, we would nevertheless accommodate a very short Statement by the Hon Rev Ntim Fordjour which we just received this morning against our procedures and rules. In view of the fact that there are some clergymen also here, we would accommodate the Statement, and have one contribution from each Side. Hon Member, you have 10 minutes. [Pause]
Hon Members, we will make a little variation by laying a few Papers as the Hon Majority Leader suggests, and then, we would have time to proceed with the Statement.
The following Papers are to be presented. Item 4(a) by the Minister for Lands and Natural Resources.
Mr Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 10:56 a.m.
Mr Speaker, if you would indulge me, I may want to present these Papers on behalf of the Hon Minister for Lands and Natural Resources and the Hon Finance Minister for Finance. The Hon Minister for Lands and Natural Resources has a very important meeting at his office now. He thought that he would be able to finish early enough to be with us, but he has not concluded. The Hon Minister for Finance is also having a meeting with Hon Members of the Finance Committee.

Mr Speaker, so if you would indulge me, I would present the Paper on behalf of these two Ministers in respect of item numbered 4(a) and (b).
Mr Speaker 10:56 a.m.
Very well.
Mr James K. Avedzi 10:56 a.m.
Mr Speaker, we do not have any Hon
Minister here apart from the Hon Leader himself. We have the Hon Minister for Finance who is supposed to lay a number of Agreements, the Hon Minister for Lands and Natural Resources and the Hon Minister for Education. I am not sure whether the Hon Majority Leader is asking to lay all these Papers on their behalf?
Mr Speaker, it is becoming worrying. We have said it over and over again. I do not know when they would stop this? If these Agreements are important to the Hon Ministers, they should be here. We are here every day trying to do the job for Government. The Hon Ministers who are bringing these Agreements do not come here. It is becoming worrying. I do not know what we should do because we complain and complain, but we are not getting the solution.
So Mr Speaker, I just want to register another concern that the Hon Ministers do not take the work of the House serious.
Mr Speaker 10:56 a.m.
Hon Majority Leader, you may proceed?
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 10:56 a.m.
Mr Speaker, I do not know the point been raised by my Hon Colleague. I have explained what is going on now. Unfortunately, the Hon Minister for Lands and Natural Resources has
even dispatched an Hon Deputy Minister to be with us here.
Mr Speaker, the Hon Minister for Finance is at a meeting at the Ministry with the Finance Committee as we speak. So for him to say that we do not take the House seriously, I do not even understand where he is coming from?
So Mr Speaker, this is the point. All the Hon Deputy Ministers are there. In fact, they just sent the Hon Vice Chairman of the Committee to come down and present the Papers that the Hon Chairman should be presenting on behalf of the Committee. We have a tall order of Papers to be presented to this House by the Committee. There are about 16 of them, which is why they have dispatched the Hon Vice Chairman to be here.
Mr Speaker, the level of accusation of not being serious really is not tenable.
Mr Speaker; Hon Majority Leader, please present the Paper.
PAPERS 10:56 a.m.
Mr Speaker 10:56 a.m.
Item listed as 4(d), by the Hon Chairman of the Finance Committee.
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 10:56 a.m.
Mr Speaker, the Hon Vice Chairman of the Committee is here and would present the Papers on behalf of the Committee.
By the Vice Chairman on behalf of the (Chairman of the Committee)
(i) Report of the Finance Committee on the Anti- Money Laundering Bill,
2020.
(ii)Report of the Finance Committee on the Request for waiver of Import Duty, Import VAT, GETFund Levy, NHIL, and EXIM Levy amounting to the Ghana cedi equivalent of thirteen million, five hundred and ten thousand, eight hundred and eighty-eight United States dollars (US$13,510,881.00) on machinery, equipment and raw materials to be procured by Keda Ghana Ceramics Company Limited under the One District One Factory (1D1F) programme.
(iii) Report of the Finance Committee on the Request for waiver of Import Duty, Import VAT, GETFund Levy, NHIL, and EXIM Levy amounting to the Ghana cedi equivalent of six million, seven hundred and ninety-nine thousand, one hundred and eighty-three United States dollars (US$6,799,183.00) on machinery, equipment and raw materials to be procured by Sunda Ghana Limited under the One District One Factory (1D1F) programme.
(iv) Report of the Finance Committee on the Request
for waiver of Import Duty, Import VAT, GETFund Levy, NHIL, and EXIM Levy amounting to the Ghana cedi equivalent of two million, seven hundred and seventy thousand, one hundred and ninety-one United States dollars (US$2,770,191.00) on machinery, equipment and raw materials to be procured by Happy Sunshine Com- pany Ghana Limited under the One District One Factory (1D1F) programme.
(v)Report of the Finance Committee on the Request for waiver of Import Duty, Import VAT, GETFund Levy, NHIL, and EXIM Levy amounting to the Ghana cedi equivalent of five hundred and seventy-three thousand, five hundred and twenty United States dollars (US$573,520.00) on machinery, equipment and raw materials to be procured by Sinostone Alcohol Manufacturing Limited under the One District One Factory (1D1F) programme.
(vi) Report of the Finance Committee on the Request for waiver of Import Duty,
Import VAT, GETFund Levy, NHIL, and EXIM Levy amounting to the Ghana cedi equivalent of two hundred and seventy-eight thousand, four hundred and twenty-nine United States dollars (US$278,429.00) on machinery, equipment and raw materials to be procured by Appah Farms Limited under the One District One Factory (1D1F) programme.
(vii) Report of the Finance Committee on the Request for waiver of Import Duty, Import VAT, GETFund Levy, NHIL, and EXIM Levy amounting to the Ghana cedi equivalent of thirty-six thousand, six hundred and forty-five United States dollars (US$36,645.00) on equipment to be procured by Western Deedew Group Limited under the One District One Factory (1D1F) programme.
(viii) Report of the Finance Committee on the Request for waiver of Import Duty, Import VAT, GETFund Levy, NHIL, and EXIM Levy amounting to the Ghana cedi equivalent of thirty-two thousand, two hundred and
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 11:16 a.m.
twenty-two United States dollars (US$32,222.00) on equipment to be imported by Koudjis Ghana Limited under the One District One Factory (1D1F) programme.
(ix) Report of the Finance Committee on the Request for waiver of Import Duty, NHIL, GETFund Levy, Import VAT, EXIM Levy amounting to the Ghana cedi equivalent of five million, five hundred and fifty-nine thousand, nineteen United States dollars (US$5,559,019.00) on machinery, equipment and raw materials to be procured by Sunda Ghana Investment Limited under the One District One Factory (1D1F) programme.

(x) Report of the Finance Committee on the Request for waiver of Import Duty, Import NHIL, Import GETFund Levy, Import VAT, EXIM Levy amounting to the Ghana cedi equivalent of five million, one hundred and nine thousand, six hundred and

seventy-five United States dollars (US$5,109,675.00) on machinery, equipment and raw materials to be procured by Zonda Sinotruk Assembly Plant Limited under the One District One Factory (1D1F) programme.

(xi) Report of the Finance Committee on the Request for waiver of Import Duty, Import VAT, GETFund Levy, NHIL, and EXIM Levy amounting to the Ghana cedi equivalent of four million, nine hundred and ninety-six thousand, one hundred and seventy United States dollars (US$4,996,170.00) on machinery, equipment and raw materials to be procured by Brompton Portfolio Limited under the One District One Factory (1D1F) programme.

(xii) Report of the Finance Committee on the Request for waiver of Import Duty, Import VAT, GETFund Levy, NHIL, and EXIM Levy amounting to the Ghana cedi equivalent of three million, ninety-one thousand, one hundred and twenty-six United States dollars (US$3,091,126.00) on machinery, equipment and

raw materials to be procured by Golden Africa Consumer Products Ghana Limited under the One District One Factory (1D1F) programme.

(xiii) Report of the Finance Committee on the Request for waiver of Import Duty, Import VAT, GETFund Levy, NHIL, and EXIM Levy amounting to the Ghana cedi equivalent of two million, five hundred and sixty-one thousand, six hundred and sixty-four United States dollars (US$2,561,664.00) on machinery, equipment and raw materials to be procured by Golden Africa Soap Industries Ghana Limited under the One District One Factory (1D1F) programme.

(xiv) Report of the Finance Committee on the Request for waiver of Import Duty, Import VAT, GETFund Levy, NHIL, and EXIM Levy amounting to the Ghana cedi equivalent of two million, one hundred and ninety-nine thousand, fifty-two United States dollars (US$2,199,052.00) on machinery, equipment and

raw materials to be procured by GB Pharma Ghana Limited under the One District One Factory (1D1F) programme.

(xv) Report of the Finance Committee on the Request for waiver of Import Duty, Import VAT, GETFund Levy, NHIL, and EXIM Levy amounting to the Ghana cedi equivalent of two hundred thousand, six hundred and twenty-six United States dollars (US$200,626.00) on machinery, equipment and raw materials to be procured by Beatex Enterprise Limited under the One District One Factory (1D1F) programme.

(xvi) Report of the Finance Committee on the Request for waiver of Import Duty, Import VAT, GETFund Levy, NHIL, and EXIM Levy amounting to the Ghana Cedi equivalent of twenty-five thousand, nine hundred and thirty-three United States dollars (US$25,933.00) on machinery, equipment and raw materials to be procured by Narubiz Limited under the One District One Factory (1D1F) programme.
Mr Speaker 11:16 a.m.
Hon Member, item numbered 4 (f), by the Hon Chairman of the Committee on Judiciary --
Hon Majority Leader, please may I proceed?
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 11:16 a.m.
Mr Speaker, I understand the Report is ready, but the Hon Members of the Committee are not here, so we will wait until they come and then we will present the Report. That should be in respect of items numbered (f), (g), (h) and (i). So, we will wait until --
Mr Speaker 11:16 a.m.
So, we will stand the rest of them down.
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 11:16 a.m.
Mr Speaker, I believe we can now take Statements, but before then, if you would indulge me. Last Friday, when we presented the Business Statement the Hon Minority Leader made a request in respect of the briefing of this House by the Electoral Commission in respect of their state of preparedness towards the December 7, 2020 Elections.
Mr Speaker, as well, there was another request for the involvement of the security operatives relating to their state of preparedness in the conduct of the Elections and other connected matters. We have contacted almost all of them. The Electoral Commission is in the process of re-adjusting their own programme for tomorrow and possibly, we shall see all these major stakeholders come
to the House tomorrow to brief us, and also the country.
Mr Speaker, the arrangement would be for the Hon Minister for National Security to give us a briefing, and then we shall recline into the Committee of the Whole to listen to all those other major players, including the National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE) and the National Media Commission (NMC). So this is just by way of announcement. We hope it will be at 11.00 a.m.
Mr Speaker 11:16 a.m.
Yes, Hon Minority Leader?
Minority Leader (Mr Haruna Iddrisu) 11:16 a.m.
Mr Speaker, thank you very much. We look forward to hearing from the Electoral Commission tomorrow, but it appears that the Hon Majority Leader has added others. He mentioned the NMC and NCCE. Our request was specific to the Electoral Commission to brief us on their preparedness for the Presidential and Parliamentary Elections, because we need to ascertain the Biometric Verification Devices (BVDs) that we procured for them. We have moved beyond registration, and now, we would need to understand verification. They procured 75,000 BVDs, what is their
state? This is in order that we understand that on Election Day, we would not go manual knowing that those equipment are in place. But if he has invited NMC and NCCE, all the better.
In respect of the security agencies, we would want the Hon Minister for the Interior to support the Minister for National Security, and this time, the Inspector General of Police must be in attendance. We want to understand what the deployment of the police service will be to every polling station and every constituency across the country. We would need to know who goes where?
We appreciate it. We look forward to tomorrow when they come to give us the brief. To the Whips, this is a matter which affects all of us, so you heard the Hon Majority Leader, you should get Hon Members to show commitment and interest in these matters for the future good of our country.
Mr Speaker 11:26 a.m.
Hon Member, did you talk about the need to who goes where by way of a list of postings? -- I did not understand you.
Mr Iddrisu 11:26 a.m.
Mr Speaker, for instance in Tamale South, I would
Mr Speaker 11:26 a.m.
So, you would want to know which police officer goes to a particular station?
Mr Iddrisu 11:26 a.m.
Yes, Mr Speaker.
Mr Speaker 11:26 a.m.
I do not think that anybody has ever legitimately made this kind of demand. It could be part of the strategy and operation decision of the Police. Do you want them to tell people where the police would go in advance so that people can start to deal with them in advance or what?
Yes, Hon Majority Leader?
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 11:26 a.m.
Mr Speaker, it is not as if anything is being done that is untoward. Last Friday, the request that was made by the Hon Minority Leader indeed related pointedly to the Electoral Commission.
Mr Speaker, he is however not the only person who spoke to it. Other persons also spoke to it, and requested that we include these other persons. So, it should not be that he makes a request and nobody else can make a contribution to that. I have listened to them, and on account of that, we are inviting all these other people. This is because as I indicated,
my Ministry had already organised this, and initially, the information that came to us was that they were even going to exclude the media on the day of the holding of the elections. Those of us who were there, including the Hon Inusah Fuseini who represented the Hon Minority Leader, did not think that it was proper to cut the media off, and I reiterated the point.
Mr Speaker, therefore, we just want transparency and accountability on the part of the major stakeholders, and once we have the assurance, all of us would be very clear in our minds as to the direction of the conduct of the elections.
Mr Speaker, the Hon Minority Leader is making another demand that he wants to know who goes where, and that is a legitimate request. If it does not offend any national security considerations and the matter has to be laid bare, then I believe that the operators know what is best for this country, and in particular, for the conduct of the elections.
Mr Speaker 11:26 a.m.
Hon Members, we would go back to Statements.
Yes, Hon Ntim Fordjour? You have ten minutes to read your Statement, after which we would take two contributions for five minutes each.
STATEMENTS 11:26 a.m.
Mr John Ntim Fordjour (Rev) (NPP -- Assin South) 11:26 a.m.
Mr Speaker, I thank you for the priviledge granted me to make this Statement on strengthening Ghana-Israel diplomatic relations.
Mr Speaker, nearly 82 years ago, on November 9, 1938 in Kristallnacht was the sad and regrettable phenomena of the night of broken glass. The disruption of over 1,400 synagogues and Jewish establish- ments commenced. This was a critical moment that systematically triggered the Nazi holocaust, which sadly claimed the lives of 6 million Jewish people. Without a doubt, the holocaust was an event which indelibly grieved and threatened the narrative of the Jewish people as a race, and thus, its wide condemnation cannot be overemphasised. Such a horrific and horrendous phenomenon must never again be countenanced in any part of the world, without prejudice to our geological, race, religion or geo- political considerations.
Mr Speaker, parliamentary diplomacy in our contemporary era has proven cogent in driving successful and sustainable bilateral and
multilateral relations, and hence, my persuasion that an enhanced collaboration between the Parliament of Ghana and the Knesset, (the Parliament of the State of Israel), shall prove instrumental in the deepening of the spiritual and religious connection, and on mutual interest of the two countries.
Mr Speaker, the bond of friendship between Ghana and Israel extends beyond spiritual and religious connection, and transcends deeper into tourism, trade, agriculture and economic interest. The history of Ghana-Israel ties predates our independence. Ghana is acclaimed as the first country in sub-Saharan Africa to establish diplomatic relations with the State of Israel in 1956.
Mr Speaker 11:26 a.m.
Hon Member, no one is within your close proximity, so, you may lower your mask, so that we can hear you. I did not however say that you should remove it.
You may please proceed.
Rev. Fordjour: Thank you very much, Mr Speaker.
Mr Speaker, Ghana-Israel relations was enhanced post-independence by the visit of Israeli Prime Minister, Golda Meir to Ghana at the instance of Prime Minister Kwame Nkrumah in 1958.

[REV. FORDJOUR][REV. FORDJOUR]

Mr Speaker, just when Ghana- Israel ties began to blossom on mutual respect and mutual interest, the 1961 Casablanca Conference, the 1973 Organisation of African Unity (OAU) Resolution and other notable events in international system occasioned strained relationship.

Indeed, over the years, despite setbacks, Ghana-Israel relations by and large triumphed and culminated into a renewed direct diplomatic ties.

It is worthy of note that this resilience exhibited by both Ghana and Israel clearly resonates with admonishes profited by the then young and prolific legislature in Ghana's Second Parliament of the fourth Republic, Hon Osei Kyei- Mensah-Bonsu, the Hon Member for Old Tafo/Suame Constituency in March 1998.

In a commemorative Statement on the occasion of the 50th Anniversary of the founding of the State of Israel, as precisely captured by the Hansard, he says, and I quote:

“In international diplomacy, it has become axiomatic that nations must maintain permanent interest, not permanent enemies”. This can be seen in the fourth series of the Hansard, column 349, 21st March, 1998.

Furthermore, during the period of strained relations, the Israeli people

beyond doubt demonstrated benevolence and openness, in that without hesitation, they shared with other countries, in particular Ghana, their renowned and peculiar knowledge and technology of turning their dessert land into a land flowing of milk and honey. Of course, Israel, through the Israeli International Development and Cooperation Agency, Mashav, did not withhold from Ghana, development assistance and technology transfer in key areas.

Mr Speaker, indeed, with reference to the institutional memory of Parliament, and lending prudence to the veracity of Parliament as a House of records, 22 years ago, in the Second Parliament of the Fourth Republic, the venerable and seasoned legislator and current Leader of the House, the Hon Osei Kyei-Mensah- Bonsu, the Hon Member for Suame, on the 21st of March, 1998 stood boldly on this very floor of Parliament and prayed the House for Ghana to renew direct diplomatic ties with the State of Israel as a matter of urgency. He says, and I quote:

“Whiles congratulating Israel on attaining 50 years, let us use the occasion to reflect on our relations with that country and move quickly to normalise relations for the mutual interest of the two countries.”

Mr Speaker, consequent upon this noble call by the Hon Member, Ghana and Israel renewed direct diplomatic ties in September 2011, with the reopening of Israel's embassy in Accra, and the opening of Ghana's embassy in Ramat Gan Tel, Aviv in reciprocity.

Presently, Ghana-Israel diplomatic ties has blossomed to result in the recent trend of rapid growth in patronage of Ghanaian pilgrims and tourists traveling to Israel with the vast majority of those travellers, visiting and sojourning in Jerusalem. The Temple Mount in Jerusalem, the city of truth, continues to be the principal tourist and religious attraction, as it is believed to be among the top most sacred and prestigious holy sites for the estimated 2.3 billion Christians, and the 1.8 billion Muslims across the world.

Mr Speaker, the rapid growth in patronage of Ghanaian pilgrims and tourists who visit Jerusalem in particular, may have meritoriously informed the laudable initiative of the Government of Ghana to increase sponsorship and patronage of Ghanaian pilgrims to Israel, as spearheaded by the Ministry for Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs in

2019.

11. 36 a. m.

Mr Speaker, undisputedly, the rising patronage of Ghanaian pilgrims and tourist to Jerusalem in the past few decades has occasioned the necessity to ensure that the welfare and constant needs of our citizens who visit Jerusalem for economic, religious and tourism pursuits are catered for sufficiently and in close proximity. This urgent need must be brought to the attention of the House.

Mr Speaker, while exploring avenues for strengthening Ghana- Israel diplomatic ties, let us consider the opening of a Consulate-General in Jerusalem in order to serve the tenable welfare of consular needs of our citizens in close proximity. The opening of a Consulate-General in Jerusalem to complement the objectives and functions of Ghana's Embassy in Tel Aviv, the capital of Israel, is a tenable call and may not be viewed as a novel venture.

As a matter of fact premised on the same principle, it shall be in line with the worthy precedent set as in the opening of the Consulate-General in Jordan to be in close proximity to Mecca as a complement to Ghana's Embassy in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

Mr Speaker, cognisant of it is our antecedent both in ancient records of world religions and in contemporary

[REV. FORDJOUR] [MR QUASHIGAH]

political history; the State of Israel is clothed with great significance. Given the steady blossoming of the Ghana- Israel ties in the past decade, it would be worth while to re-position Ghana's foreign policy decisions concerning the State of Israel both locally in Parliament and internationally at the US to reflect the enhanced diplomatic ties creditably nurtured through the years by both States.

Mr Speaker, thank you for indulging me.
Mr Speaker 11:26 a.m.
Thank you very much, Hon Rev. Fordjour.
Hon Member for Keta? As I said, one from each Side.
Mr Richard Mawuli Koku Quashigah (NDC -- Keta) 11:26 a.m.
Mr Speaker, I thank you for the opportunity to contribute to the Statement made by the Hon Rev. John Ntim Fordjour, the Hon Member for Assin South Constituency on the Ghana-Israeli diplomatic relations.
Mr Speaker, indeed, it is true that south of the Sahara here in Africa, Ghana obviously tends out to be one of the first to have a blossoming relations with Israel as a nation. Unfortunately, after three years, that
relationship was severed as a result of what the Hon Member referred to as the 1961 Casablanca Conference where Ghana also took part in sharply condemning Israel for some of its activities or relations with neighbouring countries.
Mr Speaker, it is also true that in this House, as was aptly captured, there has been Members who fervently called for normalisation of relations with Israel with the call for a mission being established in Israel. Notably, the Majority today was referenced as one of the champions of this call. In 2011, this culminated in the establishment of this relationship. Mr Speaker, indeed, it is also true that over the years, there has been a bond between the people of Ghana and the people of Israel, some because of religious and spiritual reasons.
Mr Speaker, over the period that many of us have believed in Israel as a State and as a survivor in the midst of turbulent waters, I ask myself, to what extent has this yearning of having a solid relationship with Israel impacted on us as a nation? We talk about Israel's economic prosperity in the midst of virtually nothing; we talk about Israel's resilience; we talk about their economic power and individual prosperity and all that. But how and to what extent have we as a people, over the period that we have had good
relationship with them, really imbibed some of these things?
If we have had closer relation with them, for our people travel to Israel on pilgrimage and all that, have we learnt anything from Israel which should impact on our lives? Is our economic life transforming as theirs? Has the Israeli culture led to the resilience that we see the people of Israel demonstrate?
Mr Speaker, if this is a nation in the midst of other nations that we could refer to as hostile, and yet they survive - we in Ghana, even within, not without, cannot hold our roll. We are enemies within; tearing each other apart for political reasons. There is greed; talk about all these things which are not making our nation grow.
Today, people talk about two different “Ghanas”. In Israel, it is not so; even though it may be an allegation or an allusion, it bears semblance of the truth where we can say that others feel alienated, and others feel completely a part; but it ought not to be so. So, if we have relations with Israel, that relationship must actually translate into some valuable lessons that we should learn; some valuable lessons that would transform our lives as a people, that would transform our
way of thinking and our way of doing things.
Mr Speaker, today, we are faced with elections; very soon, we would go to the polls and there would be all kinds of suspicions and allegations. When we go to Israel, is that the same atmosphere we experience during their elections period? Is it the case that we, ourselves have created situations that warrant these suspicions and then we are scared that there is going to be an implosion? It ought not to be so. We must be able to have confidence in our institutions.
In Israel, I am sure that they have gotten their institutions as a result of their culture and mind-set to the extent that voters do not have apprehension about institutions doing what is right and proper. Can we say same of our own country? Can we say same about us as people who claimed to be learning from Israel as a result of the relationship that we are building with them?
Mr Speaker, seriously, if we are talking about having relations with Israel, it must not just be rhetoric; it must not be an issue on the surface that we are promoting pilgrimage -- Ghanaians should go on pilgrimage;
Mr Speaker 11:46 a.m.
Thank you very much, Hon Member, for your contribution.

We have already defined the parameters, that one contribution from each Side, including Leadership. That is what I said and it was holistic. Your Colleagues would tell you. So, Hon Majority Leader, please if you want to contribute, kindly do so.
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 11:46 a.m.
Mr Speaker, I indeed want to contribute but respectfully, if you could allow my Hon Colleague just about two minutes to make a contribution.
Mr Speaker 11:46 a.m.
Hon Member, do you want to contribute? If you are on your feet on my right, then that is it. I do not change my rules when we are at sea. Yes, Hon Member, you may.
Ms Joyce Adwoa Akoh Dei (NPP -- Bosome-Freho) 11:46 a.m.
Thank you, Mr Speaker, for allowing me to contribute to this lovely Statement made by Hon Rev. John Ntim Fordjour.
As the Chairperson for the Israel- Ghana Initiative, when we first got the opportunity to go to Israel, it was Hon Fordjour I nominated to accompany me and one other Hon Member from the other Side. I am not going to speak for too long on this because he has said most of the necessary things that have to be said. All I can say is that
since Golda Meir came to Ghana to agree with Nkrumah on this issue, we have gone a long way even though I think that we need to do more.
One time, I went to the African Parliamentary Union meeting and Israel built a case that they wanted to join the sub-Saharan African Parliament but Jordan and other countries like Egypt refused. I was then wondering why because Israel has been through a lot all these years, for example, the holocausts. It is a small country situated in the middle of “enemies” but they have done extremely well. If it is not the Almighty God who is keeping Israel, I do not know whether they would still be standing.
Ghana is in a position to help Israel and we should. As for the consulate, I am in favour of us creating something in Jerusalem because that is the capital. At the moment, it is in Tel Aviv but the Israelites wish to have it moved to Jerusalem. I think that we should help them. Also, I have noticed that any nation that joins with Israel all through the years even in the Bible years does not fall. Any nation that stands with Israel, stands with God and is uplifted, so we should do that.
Mr Speaker, Israel was the country that helped us to put up a headstone
for the big church building that we are putting up across the road. Once it is built, it would be a magnificent piece in Ghana. I know that the Islamic nations would also say that we should not agree with Israel, but to cut everything short, I think that we should stand with Israel in truth and in spirit and know that in the long run, we would bring Ghana to a better place.
Thank you very much, Mr Speaker, for allowing me to add my voice to this Statement.
Mr Speaker 11:46 a.m.
I said one from each Side at the very beginning. Those who came late may not have heard the establishment of the rules, so their Colleagues would tell them. Thank you very much for your contributions. It has been a very useful Statement, reinforcing the traditional good relationship between Ghana and Israel.
Hon Majority Leader, where do we move from here in our tall order? We have the Hon Minister for Defence in the House.
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 11:46 a.m.
Mr Speaker, item numbered 4 (f) on page 10 of the Order Paper. Hon Inusah Fuseini, the Hon Member for Tamale Central and the Ranking Member of the Committee on Judiciary could, on
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 11:46 a.m.


behalf of the Committee, present the Paper.
PAPERS 11:46 a.m.
Mr Speaker 11:46 a.m.
Hon Majority Leader, are we able to do work for the Committee on Constitutional, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs?
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 11:46 a.m.
Mr Speaker, the Report of the Committee on Constitutional, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs on the Patents (Amendment) Bill, 2018 is ready. Hon Inusah Fuseini, the Hon Member for Wa Central who is a member of the Committee could present the Report on behalf of the Committee -- [Interruption] -- Sorry, he is the Hon Member for Tamale Central. The two are Centrals. [Laughter]
By Alhaji Inusah Abdulai Bistav Fuseini on behalf of the (Chairman of the Committee) --
Report of the Committee on Constitutional, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs on the Patents (Amendment) Bill,
2018.
Mr Speaker 11:46 a.m.
If you describe a Senior Senator with an area that is not his constituency, it could be a very serious problem in the United States of America (USA), like referring to Kennedy coming from somewhere outside Massachusetts. Hon Member, you are a Senior Senator.
Shall we continue; where are those ones that are available?
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 11:46 a.m.
Mr Speaker, we could now deal with item numbered 9 on page 12 of the Order Paper.
Mr Speaker 11:46 a.m.
Item numbered 9, page 12, Motion. The Hon Learned Attorney-General and Minister for Justice?
BILLS -- THIRD READING 11:46 a.m.
Mr Speaker 11:56 a.m.
Hon Majority Leader, where do we move from here?
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 11:56 a.m.
Mr Speaker, we can take item numbered 7, on page 11 of the Order Paper.
Mr Speaker 11:56 a.m.
Hon Members, item numbered 7.
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 11:56 a.m.
Mr Speaker, on the 3rd of November, 2020, the House passed the Air Navigation Services Agency Bill, 2020. However, going through the Bill, it appears there was some dissonance in some of the provisions and our attention has been drawn to it, so if we do not effect the necessary corrections, we may encounter some problems in its implementation. In the circumstance, it has become necessary for this House to rescind the decision that we took on the Bill, yesterday.
MOTIONS 11:56 a.m.
Majority Leader (Mr Osei Kyei- Mensah-Bonsu) 11:56 a.m.
Mr Speaker, I beg
to move, that this honourable House rescinds its decision taken on the 3rd day of November 2020 in respect of the third reading of the Air Navigation Services Agency Bill, 2020.
Mr Iddrisu 11:56 a.m.
Mr Speaker, it would have been useful if the Hon Majority Leader elucidated further on “why” he wants to withdraw the Bill, because as we may recall, even during the Second Reading we drew attention to a section of workers who had petitioned your good self and the leadership of Parliament that we take this particular Bill through cautiously. It can be very costly even for domestic flight, because when we hear that workers at the airport have gone on strike, everything would go bad.
Mr Speaker, we want to know the reasons. We had insisted that some hearing be given to those concerned workers group that petitioned your Office. A Bill to provide navigation services consistent with the Canada declaration, we have no objection but we want to know from the Hon Minister what the problem is?
Mr Speaker 11:56 a.m.
Hon Majority Leader and Minister for Parliamentary Affairs?
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 11:56 a.m.
Mr Speaker, the issue raised by the Hon Minority Leader had nothing to do with what we now have to do. We passed this Bill through Consideration Stage and at the Consideration Stage, we do not debate principles. What really is outstanding is the funding; some percentage allocations - that is the only thing.
Mr Speaker, for clause 20, we had 40 per cent of what was supposed to be allocated but it really must not go beyond 30 per cent. Our attention was drawn to it and we did further consultations and the Committee came to inform us that they thought it was 40 per cent, which is what we clung to.
Later on, our attention has been drawn to the fact that it is not supposed to be 40 per cent but rather 30 per cent.
For clause 20 again, we related to 100 per cent allocation but it is supposed to be 90 per cent allocation. These are the minor things that we have to deal with - it has nothing to do with the other matter about the substance. If the person would go on strike, how does that relate to the Bill? What we would do now has to do with the funding.
Mr Speaker 11:56 a.m.
Hon Leaders, so where do we go from here? Do we put this in a limbo?
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 11:56 a.m.
Mr Speaker, it is a Motion for rescission of the decision that the House has taken, so we must put it to vote to rescind the decision that has already been taken.
Mr Speaker 11:56 a.m.
Hon Minority Leader, at this stage you have to second the Motion.
Mr Iddrisu 11:56 a.m.
Mr Speaker, I beg to second the Motion.
Question put and Motion agreed to.
Resolved accordingly.
Mr Speaker 11:56 a.m.
Hon Majority Leader, where do we move from here?
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 11:56 a.m.
Mr Speaker, I beg to move, that the House takes this Bill through a Second Consideration Stage in respect of clauses 20 and 29. The reason for this is what I have already alluded to in respect of the levels of allocation that for clause 20, subclause 1, paragraph (c), we have to delete “40” and insert
“30”.
Mr Iddrisu 12:06 p.m.
Mr Speaker, that is why the framers of the Constitution wisely said that we are masters of our own procedure. Other than that, I would have subjected the Hon Majority Leader to some procedural questions on what article 106 provides when Parliament passes a Bill through Third Reading. It is to remit the Bill to the President for accent and when he wants to accent it or not, he gives reasons to the Council of State.

However, the Hon Majority Leader has moved a Motion for rescission which I seconded, therefore, I do not intend to litigate on procedural matters but let him be informed adequately that we raised the matter of the sharing formulae even during the Second Reading. The Hon Minister is here; we said that.

I said that if we do not get it right, the consequence may be a strike action at the Airport. I was not saying that a strike action could affect this if we do not get the concerns addressed properly.

Mr Speaker, I support the Motion that we bring it to 30 per cent and I even insisted that the Minister gives us assurance that the meteorological services would not be affected adversely with this sharing formulae

because weather and its surveillance also aid air navigation.

I thank you, Mr Speaker.
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 12:06 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I do not intend to go back to what my Hon Colleague has said in respect of procedure. When the House has passed the Bill and it is presented to the President for his assent, the President has a number of days to assent to the Bill. If he does not assent because there is a problem, he comes back to this House.
Mr Speaker, the Constitution is silent on the number of days between when we pass the Bill and when we have to submit to the President. So, in terms of maybe emergency, when we do so, with due alacrity, it should be presented to the President, otherwise --
Mr Speaker, as I have said, the Constitution is silent on the day of passage and the day of transmission. There is no provision in the Constitution and anybody can prove me wrong. That is why if we have our own officers who would peruse what we have done and draw our attention to any error, Parliament then could do a Motion of Rescission to correct whatever is wrong and pass it through
Alhaji I. A. B. Fuseini 12:06 p.m.
Mr Speaker, the amendment is proper. I remember clearly that when we got to the “Funding” and it was indicated in the formulae for funding the activities of the Authority we sought to establish, our attention was drawn to the fact that 10 per cent of the revenue generated from the services of the Airport was assigned to the meteorological services department and that it was no longer 100 per cent.
The only reason the amendment was not effected is that at that time we did not have any evidence pointing conclusively that 10 per cent of the revenue had been attached. So, the decision was to step it down, but like all human endeavour, we stepped it down and forgot about it; but our attention was drawn to the fact that 10 per cent was no longer available. So, I support the amendment that it should be 90 per cent and not 100 per cent of the revenue.
Mr Speaker, then, the second amendment is consequential upon the amendment that we have done to the 100 per cent. So, if the Hon Speaker is minded to take both together, then,
it would have effected the necessary changes in the law.
I think that is the only thing that is outstanding. I support the amendment.
Mr Speaker 12:06 p.m.
Very well, Hon Members, for the avoidance of doubt, the Motion for us to go backwards by way of second Consideration has been moved and seconded. I will put the Question.
Question put and Motion agreed to.
Resolved accordingly.
Mr Speaker 12:06 p.m.
Hon Members, we shall have a second Consideration and for the Hon Majority Leader to now formally move what he proposes so we proceed.
BILLS -- SECOND 12:06 p.m.
CONSIDERATION STAGE 12:06 p.m.
Mr Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 12:06 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I beg to move, clause 20, subclause (1), paragraph (c), delete “forty” and insert “thirty”. This relates to the percentage allocation.
Also, as a sequel, I beg to move, clause 20, subclause (1), paragraph (d), delete “one hundred” and insert “ninety”. Again, they relate to percentage allocations.
Then, on account of what we have done, I beg to move, clause 29, subclause (5), delete.
Also, it is intended to delete the entirety of the third row of the Schedule.
Alhaji I. A. B. Fuseini 12:06 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I support the amendment. It is just to right what ought to have been done, so this is a proper amendment. As I said, our attention was drawn to the fact that 10 per cent of the revenue indicated as revenue accruing to the authority had already encumbered. We decided to step the matter down but we never went back to it and that is the reason we passed it without effecting the change.
Mr Speaker, so this is a necessary change that has to be done. I support the amendment.
Question put and amendment agreed to.
Clauses 20, 29 and the Schedule as amended ordered to stand part of the Bill.
Mr Speaker 12:16 p.m.
This ends the Second Consideration Stage then.
[Pause] --
Hon Members, we shall therefore move forward regarding the Motion numbered 8 and ask the Hon Minister for Aviation to move it.
BILLS -- THIRD READING 12:16 p.m.
Mr Speaker 12:16 p.m.
Yes, Hon Majority Leader?
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 12:16 p.m.
Mr Speaker, we can now deal with item numbered 10.
Mr Speaker 12:16 p.m.
Item numbered 10 by the Hon Chairman of the Committee on Environment, Science and Technology.
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 12:16 p.m.
Mr Speaker, item numbered 10 is the Second Reading of the National Blood Service Bill, 2020 to be done by the Hon Deputy Minister for
Health on behalf of the Hon Minister for Health.
Mr Speaker 12:16 p.m.
Very well.
BILLS -- SECOND READING 12:16 p.m.
Chairman of the Committee (Dr Kwabena Twum-Nuamah) 12:16 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I beg to support the Motion on the Floor and in so doing, I beg to present the Committee's Report.
1. Introduction
Mr Speaker, on Tuesday, 11th August, 2020, the “National Blood Service Bill, 2020” was presented in Parliament by the Hon Deputy Minister responsible for Health, Dr Benard Okoe Boye, on behalf of the Hon Minister responsible for Health, Mr Kwaku Agyeman-Manu. The Bill was referred to the Committee on Health for consideration and report in accordance with Article 106 of the
Constitution and Standing Order 178 of the Standing Orders of the House.
1.0 Stakeholder Engagement And Acknowledgement
1.1 Officials from the Ministry of Health and the National Blood Service were invited to come and assist in the scrutiny of the Bill. Other interested key stakeholders who submitted Memoranda on the Bill were also invited to participate in the deliberations of the Committee.
1.2 The Committee expresses gratitude to all the Officials of the Ministry of Health and the other stakeholders who participated in its deliberations.
2.0 Reference Documents
2.1 The Committee, during its deliberations, referred to the following documents:
i. The 1992 Constitution of the Republic of Ghana.
ii. The Standing Orders of Parliament.
iii. Public Health Act, of 2012 (Act 851).
iv. The National Blood Policy,
2006.
Mr Speaker 12:16 p.m.
Thank you very much, Hon Chairman.
Mr Joseph Y. Chireh (NDC -- Wa West) 12:26 p.m.
Mr Speaker, thank you very much for the opportunity.
I support this Motion and I would urge my Hon Colleagues to do so because this is an outstanding matter. As we know, blood is vital for life. Therefore, if there is a service which was dependent on a policy only and not law, then we have to regulate or
create institutions necessary for safe blood collection and transfusion. Therefore, this Bill is very important and I would urge that we look at it critically. Some of the issues are: how safe the blood could be; from whom should we collect blood? How can the professionals who handle blood transfusion do so? Mr Speaker, this is what the Committee considered.
Some interesting issues were raised. Firstly, we are behind in terms of establishing more stations and institutions that can collect blood nationwide. Currently, what is happening in various hospitals must be regulated. Firstly, blood transfusion is supposed to be free, but the blood needs to be processed after it has been collected and so there is a cost element in this. Also, if many people donate voluntarily, then there would always be blood at the blood bank. Unfortunately, this does not happen often. So sometimes there is a critical need for others to come in.
Mr Speaker, what happens in the hospitals and other health facilities is that when a person gets there in a critical condition, the person would be asked to come along with an individual who would donate to replace the blood that would be taken from the blood bank. Mr Speaker, we must understand these things properly.
If we regulate it by establishing the Blood Services then the regulations would also outline all these. Fortunately, we now have very advanced training in terms of laboratory services and other professionals in that category. That is why we have to make sure that these things are properly regulated. Fortunately, the Committee was blessed with attendance and support from. Mr Speaker, once again, this is one such issue that we should agree on because blood transfusion is important and we have to regulate it.
The other aspect has to do with those who do not accept blood transfusion. There are some people who refuse to accept blood transfusions because of religious reasons. This means that in Ghana we have to expedite action in terms of the production of blood products that can help those people who cannot accept blood transfusion due to religious reasons.
Mr Speaker, blood transfusion could be done through products that are prepared from chemicals and other things without blood so that such people can also benefit. The Pharmaceutical Society of Ghana and other medical producers would need to look at this issue critically so that the market could be satisfied.
Alhaji Mohammed-Mubarak Muntaka (NDC -- Asawase) 12:36 p.m.
Mr Speaker, thank you. I beg to support the Motion on the Floor and to say that this Bill is long overdue because this should have been done some 10 years ago. We started this policy since 2006 and it is sad that we are still operating with the three centres that, we used to start it. These centres are in Tamale, Kumasi and Accra.
Mr Speaker, the other sad aspect just as Hon Chireh said is that, when this policy was started, a lot of people volunteered to donate blood but it dwindled because of the habit of some of the health professionals when we visit the hospitals. The frustration people go through when they try to access blood when a relative is hospitalised in very critical condition. They are either told to pay a standby- volunteer to donate or produce two family members to donate blood before the patient could be attended to.
Mr Speaker, indirectly, this started to kill the spirit of volunteering and willingness to donate blood. So, I think that there is an opportunity for us at the Consideration Stage of the Bill, to look at measures that we can put in to prevent these things from
happening, especially when people are involved in accidents or in critical conditions. Mr Speaker, I believe that the hospitals can give the blood and urge that patients bring people to support the hospital. For me, this is a more humane approach than to say that regardless of a patient's condition, the patient must bring people to donate before the hospital would give the blood they have at the bank.
Mr Speaker, the second issue that is very critical is that, apart from the three centres, we have over 150 facilities that collect blood. Sometimes, the way they treat the blood varies, but safety is very crucial in blood transfusion. The blood group and so many other factors have to be determined rightly before blood transfusion is carried out. I have a sad example to share where 25 years ago in my constituency, blood transfusion was done on a young man who was anaemic at the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH), but the blood used was HIV-infested. The guy remained sick for a period and when this was detected there was nothing that could be done and the young man lost his life. This tells us the importance of the treatment of blood at the facilities.
Mr Speaker, the 150 facilities are located in very strategic places all over the country but they are all trying to keep their blood. So, in promulgating this law, we have to
address our minds on how to support them so that they would not necessarily have to go about and collect blood.There would now be a regulation that states that this service that is being created would have the mandate to collect the blood.
Mr Speaker, on this blood service issue, when I was the Hon Chairman of the Committee on Health between 2010 and 2012, we travelled to London to see how it was done. They had a huge facility and also used helicopters to ensure that they accessed almost every facility within the jurisdiction. It was faster than the ambulance because they claimed that their service was more critical than the provision of ambulances; if a patient who needs blood does not get it in about five minutes, the patient would die.
Mr Speaker, we may not have the facilities to operate as in the United Kingdom, but if we have a proper arrangement through this Act, then we would be able to ensure that all these other facilities that require blood would have enough blood and also keep them well. So that there would be no need for them to collect and treat blood - and maybe not treat it well.
Lastly, because the provision of blood at the facilities are supposed to be free, I believe that at the
Consideration Stage, we need to consider funding sources. Mr Speaker, for instance, 275 Hon Members of Parliament and staff of the Parliamentary Service could provide maybe 1000 pints of blood, but this must be treated; if the blood is not treated after sometime, all would go bad. Mr Speaker, so, if they do not have adequate funding - they may go on outreaches to collect a lot of blood.

Once they do not treat it well, it becomes waste, and unavailable when any of us finds himself in the hospitals. Mr Speaker, I believe that when we get to the Consideration Stage, we would need to look at the nitty-gritty, tighten the loose ends, and make sure that when this Service is in operation, we would have a very efficient service even with our inability to place centres all around. With the right connections and framework, I am sure that we should be able to operate a very good National Blood Service. With these few words, I thank you very much for the opportunity to contribute to the Motion.
Mr Speaker 12:36 p.m.
Any contribution from the Majority?
Question put and Motion agreed to.
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 12:36 p.m.
Mr Speaker, we will move to the item numbered 11.
Mr Speaker 12:36 p.m.
Item listed 11 -- Hon Minister for Health.
BILLS -- SECOND READING 12:36 p.m.
Chairman of the Committee (Dr Kwabena Twum-Nuamah) 12:36 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I beg to support the Motion and in so doing, present your Committee's Report.
1.0 Introduction
1.1 On Tuesday, 11th August, 2020, the “National Ambulance Service Bill, 2020” was presented in Parliament by the Hon Deputy Minister responsible for Health, Dr Benard Okoe Boye,
on behalf of the Hon Minister responsible for Health, Mr Kwaku Agyeman-Manu. The Bill was referred to the Committee on Health for consideration and report in accordance with article 106 of the Constitution and Order 178 of the Standing Orders of the House.
2.0 Stakeholder Engagement and Acknowledgement
2.1 Officials from the Ministry of Health and the National Ambulance Service were invited to come and assist in the scrutiny of the Bill. Other interested key stakeholders who submitted Memoranda on the Bill were also invited to participate in the deliberations of the Committee.
2.2 The Committee expresses gratitude to all the Officials of the Ministry of Health and the other key stakeholders for their assistance.
3.0 Reference Documents
3.1 The Committee, during its deliberations, referred to the following documents:
i. The 1992 Constitution of the Republic of Ghana.
ii. The Standing Orders of Parliament.
iii. St. John Ambulance Act, 1959, (Act 57).
iii. Factories, Offices and Shops Act of, 1970 (Act 328).
iv. Public Health Act, 2012 (Act
851).
11.0 Background Information
11.1 The National Ambulance Service was established in 2001 by the Ministry of Health as the country's national emergency medical service body. The Service was established as a result of the reviews into patient transport services and medical retrieval services in the Country after the then Accra Sports Stadium tragedy on 9th May, 2001 where one hundred and twenty-seven (127) sports enthusiasts lost their lives.
11.2 The Government of Ghana as a result of the Stadium tragedy instituted a five-member Presidential Commission of Enquiry to investigate the causes of the disaster and factors that led to the high number of casualties. The main recommendation of the Commission was for the establishment of a nationwide emergency response system in the form of the National Ambulance Service as the Country did not have
Mr Joseph Yieleh Chireh (NDC -- Wa West) 12:46 p.m.
Mr Speaker, thank you very much for the opportunity to support this Motion too.
Mr Speaker, the emergency services in Ghana need to be properly coordinated. In each of the institutions, there is a department that handles emergencies, but the National
Ambulance Service provides the services to be able to first save anybody who has been injured or has an emergency on hand before they go to the hospital for treatment. It is important that we train people to do this. Mr Speaker, an ambulance is not just the vehicle that everybody enters and moves along; it must have equipment and people who are trained to resuscitate a person even before he gets to the point of treatment. Once again, if we just leave things as they are without regulation, it would not be appropriate. Therefore, this Bill seeks to regularise all these things.
During the consideration of the Bill, St Johns Ambulance, which has been in existence for a long time, raised an issue, and I do not know how the Ministry has resolved the matter. Mr Speaker, they have petitioned you Mr Speaker about absolving them into National Ambulance Service without prior consultation, and I believe that, in a matter like this, they have existed for a long time and have international connection so, it is important that we resolve the matter amicably.
If we do not provide adequately for the running and equipping of the many vehicles that we consider as ambulances and make sure that we repair them, they will always rest and therefore, would not help anybody
who needs the services of ambulances.

Mr Speaker, the Government recently brought in a number of ambulances, but there is no system as such at the district or the lower levels to manage this. So this Bill also now attempts to create institutions within the system to manage them. Until we are able to establish this, it would be haphazard. I know there is a training for emergency professionals in Nkenkaasu in the Ashanti Region. And I believe that if we enact this law and make sure that the institutions are properly demarcated in terms of their responsibilities, we would make sure that we benefit more from this.

Mr Speaker, sometimes, when you have crisis, the people who manned the ambulances ask you to pay money. It is also because they are not properly funded. Should they be charging people who are in crisis? Therefore, with the link between the National Ambulance and the National Health Insurance Authority in terms of people benefiting since when a person is in crisis, he might not be in the position to provide money, there must be some support. I believe that we must raise funds to support people as they are taken care of during crisis and emergencies.
Mr Speaker 12:46 p.m.
Thank you very much. Yes, Minority?
Alhaji Inusah A. B. Fuseini (NDC -- Tamale Central) 12:46 p.m.
Thank you, Mr Speaker.
Mr Speaker, your Committee on Health invited some of us to be part of the consideration of the National Ambulance Service Bill. We got to know that the journey to the establishment of the National Ambulance Service started in 2001, consequent upon the Accra Stadium disaster and the recommendation of the five-member presidential committee set up to look into the disaster. They recommended that we pool together all our national resources for a national emergency response system.
Mr Speaker, since 2004, the National Ambulance Service has
been operating without any structure or legislative backing. Indeed, it has been operating more like a policy. The National Ambulance Service is just like a social insurance. Everybody and all of us sitting in this House could be victims of disaster who would require the service of the National Ambulance Service. It does not matter where a person is, even if in one's house. That is why during the committee's meeting, we came to one definitive conclusion, that because all of us could potentially use the National Ambulance Service in an emergency, we must find a way to create a sustainable funding regime for it.
We must pool together our resources and insulate the National Ambulance Service from want because they have operational cost. Mr Speaker, it came out clearly that because they have no legislative backing and they have no budgetary item, sometimes when they are providing the service, victims are compelled to make contributions. This should not be acceptable.
So Mr Speaker, when we come to the funding, we discussed with the Hon Chairman and the National Insurance Commission that it is important that all the people of this country make a commitment towards putting aside some money for the operations of the National Ambulance
Service since everybody could be a beneficiary of the services of the National Ambulance Service.
Mr Speaker, this is the time for us to support such a critical national institution that has the propensity to serve all of us irrespective of one's social standing in society. Mr Speaker, with these few words, I support the Motion. Thank you.
Mr Speaker 12:46 p.m.
I would put the Question.
Question put and Motion agreed to.
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 12:46 p.m.
Mr Speaker, the Deputy Minister in charge of Energy is here. He is ready to move the Second Reading of the Renewable Energy (Amendment) Bill and also do same for the Bui Power Authority (Amendment) Bill. [Pause]
Unfortunately, we are told the Reports of the Committee are being printed now. It appears that we might have to take suspension of Sitting for a short while and come to deal with the outstanding Business. Mr Speaker, consequently, I plead that we take a suspension for 30 minutes and come
to deal with the two Reports of the Committee and then suspend Sitting in the afternoon possibly at 3.00 pm and come back for an hour to finish with the programme for the day.
So we would take suspension of Sitting now.
Mr Speaker 12:56 p.m.
Hon Members, Sitting is suspended for thirty minutes. The Hon First Deputy Speaker should get ready to take over.
12.57 p.m. - Sitting suspended.
5.31 p.m. - Sitting resumed.
MR FIRST DEPUTY SPEAKER
Mr First Deputy Speaker 12:56 p.m.
Yes, Hon Majority Leader, where do we start from?
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 12:56 p.m.
Mr Speaker, we can deal with item numbered 16.
Mr First Deputy Speaker 12:56 p.m.
Hon Members, item numbered 16 - Motion by the Hon Minister for Energy. Yes, Hon Deputy Minister?
Minority Leader (Mr Haruna Iddrisu) 12:56 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I beg to second the Motion.
Question put and Motion agreed to.
Resolved accordingly.
Mr First Deputy Speaker 12:56 p.m.
Hon Members, item numbered 17, by the Hon Deputy Minister for Energy.
BILLS -- SECOND READING 12:56 p.m.
Mr First Deputy Speaker 12:56 p.m.
Hon Deputy Minister, you could go the conclusion to save us time.
Mr J. Cudjoe 12:56 p.m.
Mr Speaker, finally, the Bill amends section 53 of the Act to transfer the mandate of the Ministry of Energy to any public entity designated by the Minister for Energy to execute and manage renewable energy projects by the State or projects in which the State has interest.
Mr Speaker, with these few comments, I so move.
Mr First Deputy Speaker 12:56 p.m.
Yes, Hon Chairman of the Committee?
Mr Mahama Ayariga (NDC -- Bawku Central) 12:56 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I beg to support the Hon Member who moved the Motion.
Mr Speaker, I served at the Ministry of Environment, Science and Technology, and was actively involved in the negotiation of the Paris Climate Change Agreement, where the world set standards to cut down on their emissions. There was a commitment by all countries to try as much as possible to diversify and increasingly shift energy generation to renewable resources, and reduce the use of fossil fuels.
Mr Speaker, certain structural obstacles have stood in the way of the shift towards renewable energy sources. One has been technology, and the second has been cost. Increasingly, a lot of investment is leading into a reduction in the cost, as the technology becomes very common. Therefore, as a country, this is a bold strategic and smart move to amend our legislation, in order to take advantage of the reduced cost of producing energy through renewable
Mr First Deputy Speaker 12:56 p.m.
Does the Leadership wish to comment on this one?
Yes, Hon Minority Leader?
Minority Leader (Mr Haruna Iddrisu) 12:56 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I thank you for the opportunity to contribute to the Motion. I support it, but with some reservations. First, to note that I hope that the amendment would not constrain the market development of renewable energy in Ghana as captured in the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Ghana Renewable Energy Development Master Plan.
Mr Speaker, on my second concern, I would like to respectively refer you to page 3 of the Committee's Report. Paragraph 6.4, which reads: Clause 7 seeks to amend section 51 of Act 832 to provide for the interpretation of key terminologies. The Hon Minister responsible for Energy is empowered by amending section 53 of the Act, to designate any public entity..” So, where is the competitiveness? Where
is the value for money? They just gave power to a Minister to designate a public entity to execute renewable energy projects. They said that they wanted it to go through a competitive process, so, they should have allowed it to go through that competitive process. I am not aware that Ministers are responsible for policing competitive processes in procurement, so, I have concern with the power that they would want to give to a Minister. We need transparency, and we need guarantees for value for money.
Mr Speaker, next time, the Committee must do a thorough work. What is Ghana's energy mix as at today, in terms of thermal, hydro and renewable? When we are working towards 20 per cent renewable as I read a few years ago, whether that has changed or not, we need to know. So, what is the current contribution of renewable energy to our energy mix? When I read this Report, I did not see it. This is because sometimes when we have disruptions of gas, then the contribution of thermal suffers. When we have those seasonal challenges with water, hydro also suffers. There is a particular reason this was done, and to quote their words, they said that when they raised objections to “the feed-in tariff”, it was to achieve a certain purpose.
Therefore, the Committee should tell us whether we are there. Why do they say that when we connect from renewable energy, we must benefit from it?
Mr Speaker, truth be told, the cost of energy in Ghana is because of the taxes on energy - nothing more! It is not about what they are attributing it to. There is some research -- I am quoting from a source because I have been reading, and I am told that taxes on the sector contributes to the cost, and I stand by my comment. I say that I have read. I just did not read their Report, and that is why I can make reference to biomass, solar, wind and the others. So, we should not blame the wrong culprits, just because we would want to amend a law.
Mr Speaker, I am hesitant in giving power to a Minister to just determine any entity, for the purpose of those provision. Also, as I have indicated, on paragraph 5, we are told that the purpose of the Bill is to amend the Renewable Energy Act of 2011, to establish a competitive procurement scheme. However, they end by saying that they would want a Minister to designate a public scheme, but that is in conflict with a competitive process. They want a Minister to designate, but at the same time, they want a competitive process. So, what are they choosing?
Majority Leader (Mr Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu) 12:56 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I thank you for the opportunity to also make a few comments. First, to acknowledge that in 2011, after we discovered crude in the country and had started pumping up petroleum, that indeed was the year
we enacted the Renewable Energy Act.
Mr Speaker, I believe that was really forward looking, when even though we had discovered petroleum, and had started pumping up crude oil, for the first in the history of the Country, we decided, alongside the new discovery to enact the Renewable Energy Act.
5. 51 p. m.
Mr Speaker, there are three main reasons why we did that 12:56 p.m.
first, that fossil fuel could burn out. Even though we have discovered, we knew that it was not ultimately sustainable to depend on fossil fuel so; in the wisdom of the technical people and indeed, of Government, it was decided that we should resort to other much more sustainable means of generating energy for use.
Mr Speaker, secondly, it was to provide the country with a variety of sources so that our dependence on fossil fuel and indeed, on hydro power could be improved.
Thirdly, it was also to assist us in cutting down the cost of generating energy. Mr Speaker, the various sources as the Minority Leader has indicated, include not only hydro and thermal but now, gas and bio gas. And
we have introduced solar power generation.
Mr Speaker, the current generation of energy from solar power is enabling us to access power at a cost of 8.8 cents per kilowatt-per hour. That is a significant drop in the cost of power generation, however -- and if we compare it to the current production cost of the thermal plant averagely, between 13 and 15 Cents per kilowatt-hour, one would say that we have climbed down significantly, however if we compare the solar power generation to the cost of generating hydro power, it still means that we have not done much in the area of solar power generation.
Mr Speaker, averagely at the world level, solar power generation is in the region of between 4.0 and 4.5 cents so; if we are producing at 8.8 cents, it still means that the cost of production is still high, and that, we should have a second look at what we are doing.
I know that with time, technology in solar power generation is improving and ultimately, I believe it would further come down but we should be able to read from what is happening elsewhere. When elsewhere they are generating solar power at the cost of 4.5 cents and we are generating it at 8.8 cents, certainly, it is not the best. Even though if we match it against the
thermal power generation, one could say that we have made some savings.
Mr Speaker, we started with the recent Power Agreement producing thermal power at the cost of between 16 and 17 cents. Now, the last one that we did; Amandi, has climbed down significantly and Amandi power generation is in the region11.5 cents per kilowatt-hour. That means even in the thermal power generation, we are climbing down significantly, which is right. I insist that the 8.8 cents per kilowatt-hour in solar power generation is still very high.
Mr Speaker, all I would like to say is I support the Amendment Bill before us, but I still think that we have not done sufficiently well enough in this field. We must probe further and I believe that we are capable of further scaling down the cost of production in the solar sector.
Mr Speaker, with this observations, I would like to support the Amendment Bill and the Report of the Committee. I thank you very much.
Question put and Motion agreed to.
The Renewable Energy (Amendment) Bill, 2020 accordingly read a Second time.
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 12:56 p.m.
Mr Speaker, if we could deal with the item listed as 22.
Mr First Deputy Speaker 12:56 p.m.
Very well, the item listed as 22, Hon Deputy Minister for Energy?
Suspension of Standing Order 80(1)
Mr J. Cudjoe 12:56 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I beg to move, that notwithstanding the provisions of Standing Order 80(1) which requires that no Motion shall be debated until at least forty-eight 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 second reading of the Bui Power Authority (Amendment) Bill, 2020 may be moved today.
Mr Iddrisu 12:56 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I beg to second the Motion.
Question put and Motion agreed to.
Mr First Deputy Speaker 12:56 p.m.
Hon Members, the item listed as 23?
BILLS -- SECOND READING 12:56 p.m.
Mr J. Cudjoe 6:01 a.m.
Mr Speaker, I beg to move, that the Bui Power Authority (Amendment) Bill, 2020 be now read a Second time.
Mr Speaker, the object of the Bui Power Authority (Amendment) Bill is to amend the Bui Power Authority Act 2007, (Act 740) to provide for the Bui Power Authority to develop renewable energy and other keen energy alternatives in the country.
Mr Speaker, the Bui Power Authority Act, 2007, (Act 740) was enacted in 2007 to establish an authority with the mandate to develop a hydro-electric power project in the Black Volta River at Bui and any other potential hydro-electric power sites on the Black Volta River.
Mr Speaker, following the establishment of the Bui Power Authority pursuant to this Act, the authority has, over the years, demonstrated that it has institutional capacity to be relied on to deliver the expected results of Government especially in the area of renewable energy project.
The Bui Hydro-electric project was commissioned in 2013 and has been in operation up to date.
The Authority, also, over the years, under the direction of the Ministry of energy, undertaken several activities on behalf of the State, especially in the area of renewable energy.

Additionally, the Ministry of Energy has instructed the Authority to execute and manage on behalf of the State, certain renewable energy projects assigned by the Minister for Energy as well as undertake renewable energy projects and other clean energy alternatives.

Mr Speaker, in concluding, the Bill is thus intended to amend Act 740 to enable the Authority perform the functions assigned by the Minister for Energy in the area of renewable energy and any other green energy alternatives.
Chairman of the Committee (Mr Emmanuel Akwasi Gyamfi) 6:01 a.m.
Mr Speaker, I beg to support the Motion and in so doing, present the Committee's Report.
1.0 Introduction
1.1 The Bui Power Authority (Amendment) Bill, 2020 was laid in Parliament on Friday, 30th October, 2020 by the Hon Deputy Minister for Energy, Mr Joseph Cudjoe on behalf of the Hon Minister for Energy, Mr John Peter Amewu pursuant to article 106 of the 1992 Constitution.
1.2 The Bill was thereafter referred by the Rt Hon Speaker to the Select Committee on Mines and Energy for consideration and in accordance with article 106 (4) of the 1992 Constitution and Order 188 of the Standing Orders of Parliament.
2.0 Deliberations
2.1 The Committee met on Tuesday, 3rd November and considered the Bill. In attendance at the meeting were the Hon Deputy Minister for Energy, Mr Joseph Cudjoe and a technical team comprising Officials from the Ministry, Bui Power Authority and Energy Commission.
2.2 The Committee expresses its appreciation to the Hon Deputy Minister and his Technical Team for attending the meeting and providing clarifications to the amendments.
Minority Leader (Mr Haruna Iddrisu) 6:01 a.m.
Mr Speaker, I would like to make a few comments and observations on this Motion. I am certainly not encouraged to support it. This suggests that they just amended the Renewable Energy Act so that they would amend the Bui Power Authority Act of 2007 and give Bui the power to do renewable energy. That is not consistent with Government policy and that is not consistent with our quest as a country to use an energy mix of thermal hydro renewable energy for increased energy access in the country.
Today, Ghana can pride itself as one of the best in the world in terms of access to electricity which is around 82 per cent. If you would recall, I raised an issue that that Minister shall appoint a public entity, so this is the
public entity. This is all we are doing, that is amending the law.
Mr Speaker, may I go to Act 740 and read the Long Title of the Bui Power Authority Act, 2007 as I point out some inconsistencies even in the Committee's Report.
“AN ACT to provide for the establishment of an Authority charged with the development of a hydroelectric power project on the Black Volta River at Bui and any other potential hydroelectric power sites on the Black Volta River and for related matters.”
The Bui Dam was not created for renewable energy. Investors have come into Ghana to invest in renewable energy. We cannot take their business away and go and add it to Bui. In 2007, I was in this Parliament when Bui was to be established and I would go to the Hansard. I nostalgically recall the late Baah Wiredu, walk across to come and convince us on why he thought that Ghana must accept taking away hydropower from even the Volta River Authority (VRA).
Then they give Bui the power to produce hydroelectric power and are now coming to say that they want to empower Bui to produce renewable
energy. I am sorry but I do not think that this is consistent with even the (NPP) Government's policy on the energy sector. I am not too sure about. They are just amending the Renewable Energy Act so as to give power to a Minister for Energy to designate a public entity.
Mr Speaker, I have just asked for a copy of the Bill and pardon me to go further. On the establishment of the Authority, when you go to your Committee's Report, it says, “Western River of the Republic of Ghana”. What is “Western River of the Republic of Ghana”? I have read, “Black Volta River at Bui” and that is what is in the Bui Power Authority Act of 2007. When you come to the Committee's Report, in paragraph 4.3, we have
“initiatives on the Western River of the Republic of Ghana”.
What is “Western River of the Republic of Ghana”?
In principle, I find this policy incongruent with this. I do not think that was the intention of those who thought at the time under former President Kufuor to establish the Bui Power to produce renewable energy. It is a wrong policy initiative and for the record, I do not support it. We should leave Bui to produce hydroelectric power. Juale and Bimbilla are still underdeveloped.
Mr First Deputy Speaker 6:01 a.m.
Does the Hon Majority Leader wish to comment on this?
Majority Leader (Mr Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu) 6:11 p.m.
Mr Speaker, the Volta River Authority was initially created to generate hydroelectric power. At the time of the creation of the Authority, the nation had not thought about renewable energy. Indeed, when Ghana came to think about generating power from nuclear sources, record has it that at the time, a suggestion was made to have VRA generate nuclear power.
So, I do not see what is fundamentally wrong with encouraging investors and stakeholders who are already in power generation to go into other sources of cheaper energy. Power is generated from petroleum and if I am to be specific, from diesel,
crude oil. Those in it go backwards and integrate into gas production to generate power.

Mr Speaker, times were in this country where companies that were supposed to generate electricity went into the production of salt. They went into the production and cultivation of cocoa and coffee and those ones had nothing to do with power generation. An attention was forced and focused on them to refocus on their core areas of functionality. That is something that we should work towards.

Mr Speaker, we have produced power and migrating it into salt, coffee or cocoa production has nothing to do with power generation, but if we have the capacity to go into renewable energy production, I do not see what is fundamentally wrong with it, except perhaps to say that - but it is not part of their function as defined by the Act to do that. We could have requested it but if indeed, we could amend the Act because already, Bui Power Authority was stoned at and the auditors raised issues that they cannot be done because it is not part of their remit and if they think they have the capacity to do that, the Act should be amended. which is what we want to do.

Mr Speaker, if it is a matter of there not being any connection - there

is a disconnect between the production of one source of power and the other, that is something different.

If Bui Power Authority decided that the forest reserves or the resources in the northern part of the country were being depleted because people harvested the few timber resources in the area and then converted them into coal and they decide to go into tree crop plantation to feed the mechanism I would not see anything fundamentally wrong especially if their Act enables them to do so.

If the harvesting of it is to produce charcoal which is also another form of fuel, I do not see anything wrong with that. However, one could question the Authority if the Act which establishes them made no such provision, then we could go after them to say that it is not part of their remit because their defined functions do not allow them to venture into these areas. If their defined functions allow them as we know and open them to do, what is fundamentally wrong with that?

Mr Speaker, that is my position and what has been done is not anything untoward. If it would add to some cost escalation and their overhead cost, then we should question it that they have no efficiency

in it so they should abandon it. That is another matter altogether but if they prove to be efficient because they are already in the field of energy generation and they should be encouraged to do that I do not see anything fundamentally wrong.

Mr Speaker, with that I would support the amendment and urge all of us to be supportive of this course which is a noble one.

Question put and Motion agreed to.

The Bui Power Authority (Amendment) Bill, 2020 accordingly read a Second time.
Mr First Deputy Speaker 6:11 p.m.
Hon Majority Leader?
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 6:11 p.m.
Mr Speaker, if we could take item numbered 24.
Mr First Deputy Speaker 6:11 p.m.
Hon Members, item numbered 24.
MOTIONS 6:11 p.m.
Chairman of the Committee (Mr Emmanuel Akwasi Gyamfi) 6:11 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I beg to second the Motion.
Question put and Motion agreed to
Resolved accordingly
Mr First Deputy Speaker 6:11 p.m.
Hon Majority Leader, we are to do item numbered 25?
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 6:11 p.m.
Mr Speaker, that is rightly so.
Mr First Deputy Speaker 6:11 p.m.
Very well.
Hon Members, item numbered 25 -- the Bui Power Authority (Amendment) Bill, 2020 at the Consideration Stage.
BILLS -- CONSIDERATION 6:11 p.m.
STAGE 6:11 p.m.
Mr Haruna Iddrisu 6:21 p.m.
Mr Speaker, the clause 2 seeks to amend section 11 of Act 740 by the deletion of the phrase “the Electricity Company of Ghana or any public utility licence under the Energy Commission Act, 1997 (Act 541) and to empower the Minister responsible for Energy to task the Authority to undertake renewable energy projects''
Mr Speaker, I want to know the justification for this. They do not want Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) and they do not want public utility licenced under the Energy Commission Act, yet that is the mandate we gave the Energy Commission.
Mr Speaker, since I am on clause 2, I would restrict myself to it but when we consider it further, it is even the intention to remove the off- taker restrictions of selling power to ECG.

I do not think that it is good enough and in the public interest of Ghana's electricity generation and its distribution and transmission. So, the Chairman of the Committee should give us justification why he wants it to be power given to the Minister and not the public entities as established.
Chairman of the Committee Mr (Emmanuel A. Gyamfi) 6:21 p.m.
Mr Speaker, the amendment is not to take away the powers from ECG as a utility distribution company but to allow Bui Power Authority to engage other utility distribution companies to supply power to them. Bui Power Authority has a power purchase agreement with ECG. We cannot touch that one but Bui Power Authority in going into renewable energy generation would definitely produce more power.
Hence, if ECG decides not to get the power from the Bui Power Authority, where again can the Authority sell the power which has been generated? This is to give other utility distribution companies the opportunity to buy power which in this case would be quite cheaper for Bui Power Authority if they so desire.
Mr Speaker, I thank you.
Mr Iddrisu 6:21 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I understand the rationale. We would want to introduce competitiveness. That is what we were told.
Mr Speaker, now, on subclause (2), paragraph (b) -- I have had the opportunity to thoroughly study this and file my amendments. The paragraph (b) reads:
“manage on behalf of the State assets in the renewable energy sector.”
Mr Speaker, are we assigning the assets of person in renewable energy sector for the Minister for Energy to dedicate it to Bui Power Authority. That is not good enough but that is what they are saying:
“manage on behalf of the State assets in the renewable energy sector.”
There is a problem.
Mr Speaker, then secondly, if we say “execute on behalf of the State renewable energy projects…” We can end there, but “assigned by the authority of the Minister”.
If one comes in and would want to invest in renewable energy, the existing law is to go through a process of being licensed at the Energy Commission to generate renewable
Mr First Deputy Speaker 6:21 p.m.
I am waiting for any proposed amendment, otherwise, I am putting the Question.
Mr Haruna Iddrisu 6:21 p.m.
Mr Speaker, wherever you find “assigned by the authority of the Minister”, I propose that we delete those and then I do not think that the Minister for Energy should manage the assets of every renewable energy entity. But let me restrict myself to subclause (2), paragraph (a):
“execute on behalf of the State renewable energy projects.”
Mr Speaker, is it even “projects”? We just want Bui Power Authority to undertake renewable energy initiative or projects. As Hon Majority Leader observed, there was a wrong and they are now trying to correct that wrong with a law. At the time they did the wrong, it was wrong in law. So, we should propose:
“undertake renewable energy initiatives” -- [Interruption] --
Mr Speaker, I do not mind the “projects” but the words, “authority of the Minister” should be taken away
so that the Energy Commission can still be a functional institution of State.
Alhaji I. A. B. Fuseini 6:21 p.m.
Mr Speaker, it is important to give Bui Power Authority the power to undertake renewable energy projects because the Authority must be a responsible player. Even though they are already engaged in producing clean energy, because hydroelectric power is clean energy, most producers of power want to be seen as good corporate citizens and they harness the potential of the sun to complement their activities. But we should not subject the power to do that to the discretion of the Minister.
Mr Speaker, if we want to remedy the defect that has been seen, yes, Bui Power Authority is already investing in renewable energy but it appears from their Act 740 that they do not have that power. It means they are spending public resources on activities for which they have no power. That could cause problems under the Public Financial Management Act for them. If we would want to remedy that defect, just give them the power to undertake renewable energy projects.
Mr Speaker, so, I support the Hon Minority Leader that we do not need assign that power to the Minister. We should delete the part that deals with
the assignment to the Minister and just give them the power to undertake renewable energy projects as part of their functions.
Mr First Deputy Speaker 6:21 p.m.
Now, Hon Members, I would want to understand the complaints as it is linked to the Energy Commission. The Energy Commission is a regulator. This Bill says that property belonging to government can be given to this Authority to manage. How does that affect the regulators role? This is an asset which ownership can be transferred to another government Agency.
How does the regulator come in?
Mr Iddrisu 6:21 p.m.
Mr Speaker, as you said, Energy Commission is the regulator. The Minister is a policy maker. So, if we ask the policy maker now to assign renewable energy initiative and processes, we are taking away the regulatory to the Minister.
Mr Speaker, as an example, National Communications Authority (NCA) was a regulator. If we allow the Minister for Communications just to wake up every other time to interfere with the industry, we would have problems. So, we would leave
them as regulator separate and distinct --
Mr First Deputy Speaker 6:21 p.m.
How would the Minister interfere with NCA by giving its assets, for example, giving its shares in Vodafone to another company to manage? Licensing does not come in and he has not given you the power to do anything. This asset belongs to me and I may give this company part of that. I cannot see where the regulation comes in.
Mr Mahama Ayariga 6:31 p.m.
Mr Speaker, my understanding of the amendment is that the Authority which is already involved in hydro-energy generation may be assigned the responsibility to carry out renewable energy generation on behalf of the State by the Minister for Energy.
Mr Speaker, the Authority is not a regulator; it is an executor of an existing project which is a hydroelectric one. The Minister now wants them to add on the task of executing another project which is a renewable energy one.

What this Legislation seeks to do is to say that the Hon Minister can assign to the Authority, the responsibility to execute the project on behalf of government.
Mr Gyamfi 6:31 p.m.
Mr Speaker, if we take the Renewable Energy Act of 2011 (Act 832), section 53, the transitional provisions states and with your permission, I beg to quote:
“Until such time that a Renewable Energy Authority is established, the Renewable Energy Directorate under the Ministry of Energy, shall,
(a) oversee the implementation of renewable energy activities in the country;
(b) execute renewable energy projects initiated by the state or in which the State has an interest and;
(c)manage the assets in the renewable energy sector on behalf of the State”.
Mr Speaker, what is happening is that the renewable Energy Authority has, as of now, not been established and that the Renewable Energy Directorate within the Ministry of Energy, which was to take up this responsibility for the projects that are being given to Bui Power Authority, has become incapacitated in terms of its powers.
So, that is why we are proposing that the Hon Minister can do that until such a time that the Renewable Energy Authority is established and the Hon Minister will cease to implement the government's renewable energy policy.
Mr Speaker, I believe your explanation and understanding is correct and that is what we intend doing.
Alhaji I. A. B. Fuseini 6:31 p.m.
Mr Speaker, this does not capture what
he has read. The genesis of the establishment of the Renewable Energy Directorate at the Ministry of Energy was when government decided to harness the potential of renewable energy in this country to complement the energy sources we had. Before then, the Directorate did not exist, we had an officer for renewable energy.
When that Directorate was established, it was then to ensure working with those who wanted to invest in renewable energy by ensuring that we always got the energy mixed right. At that time, the cost of renewable energy was so high and if we allowed a free range, people would have invested in renewable energy and then scaled up the cost so that consumers could not have paid for power. That is why we said that, “The director of renewable energy shall manage the matters in the renewable energy sector”.
However, whatever be the case, anybody seeking to invest in renewable energy must, first of all, get approval from the Energy Commission and not the Hon Minister. So, the director of renewable energy working with the Minister agree that the investor in the renewable energy sector would not scale up the cost or the cost of investment -- plus his or her marginal
earnings will not scale it up and then the Energy Commission will give a permit.
Mr Speaker, it was contemplated that as we continue to invest in renewable energy, a time will come when we have a lot of renewable energy resources in this country and so we could establish an Authority to deal with renewable energy. That was the thinking but we are not there yet.
I agree with the amendment that we should give them the power - because the Volta River Authority (VRA) has done real energy at Navrongo and many others are investing in renewable energy but there is the need to regulate them. However, the way, we have captured subparagraph (b), we are indirectly traveling through the backdoor, constituting the Bui Power Authority into a renewable energy --
Mr First Deputy Speaker 6:31 p.m.
Hon Ranking Member, can I ask a question? By this law, if they take over any of the assets, can they do anything if it requires a regulatory power without going to the Energy Commission?
Hon Member, this is just assets and we take the assets in terms of the management, but if we have to do anything, we go to the regulatory
Mr First Deputy Speaker 6:31 p.m.


authority to get the licence. So, I cannot see where the conflict comes in at all.
Mr Iddrisu 6:31 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I have just one more comment and after that those who know drafting better will look at it.
Mr Speaker, when the Hon Chairman for the Committee on Mines and Energy referred us to the Act - unfortunately, I do not have a copy but as he read it, he said; “in which the State has an interest”.
So, if one is taking over the assets, he must qualify it. I am simply saying that there are people who have invested in renewable energy which assets are private.
Mr Speaker, because we are at the Consideration Stage, I do not want to take you through it. I was in The Hague in the Netherlands when a Ghanaian wanted to set up - In fact, he is Ghana's Ambassador to Cuba by name Napoleon. He was facilitating the establishment of a 20MW electricity in Gushie.
Now, the only reason he did not succeed at the time was the Ministry of Finance saying that they could not give him partial risk guarantee, but
some others got successful as private investors in renewable energy.
Mr Speaker, the Hon Chairman should read his words well and if he can use this to improve it. That is, “they can manage on behalf of the State, assets in renewable energy in which the State has an interest”. Then we have protected the investment of other persons.
However, we are compelled now to be reading through all this which is understandable; but “to manage on behalf of the State, assets in the renewable energy sector”, without any fear of rebuttal means that any investment in renewable energy, can, by the power of the Minister, be sent to Bui to manage. That is how I understand subparagraph (b).
Mr Speaker, I read it again 6:31 p.m.
“manage on behalf of the State, assets in the renewable energy sector” -- minus the words used by the Hon
Chairman which are 6:31 p.m.
“in which the State has an interest”. So, here, to qualify it, they can only manage assets in which the State has an interest. If we improve it that way, I will agree with him but if you do not mind, let him read the particular paragraph he read again so that we follow it since I do not have a copy.
Mr Chireh 6:41 p.m.
Mr Speaker, given the explanation by the Hon Chairman, he said that the Renewable Energy Authority has not yet been established and that is why the Hon Minister is doing this.
I think that because we are making a law which is of a permanent nature, we should maintain what is in the Act, but we know that in the absence of the Act, somebody is given the authority but we do not mention that person as replacing what has been created in the Act.

Mr Speaker, so if they will agree, we must leave the power with the Authority, the one who should do it, just because it has not been established. If the Hon Minister is currently authorising these or using the assets because the Board does not exist, then that is a different matter. Mr Speaker, we cannot have an Act and assign responsibility to a Minister. Why should we give it to a Minister in the first place? Let us suppose that after we establish this - would he come to amend this Act? We need to look at that as well.
Mr First Deputy Speaker 6:41 p.m.
Hon Member, it says that “the Hon Minister may assign”. It does not take it and it is the Minister who has the
power to either give it to this Authority or to somebody else. That is why if we want an amendment for the Minister not to give it at all then that is another assignment. However, if the Minister has the power to give it then whether he gives it to the Bui Power Authority or another person, I cannot see why there should be a disagreement.
Hon Majority Leader?
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 6:41 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I was listening to the Hon Minority Leader and I seemed to share in the issues that he raised. Let us not even talk about renewable energy, but the thermal plants like Karpower and so on. They generate energy and the State is the off-taker, but their assets are not to be managed by the State. So, I think that we should provide the distinction that where the State has interest then it should be managed by the State. If there are private investors who have their own assets and generate energy and the State is an off-taker, why should we compel the State to be the manager? I think we should leave that little distinction.
Mr First Deputy Speaker 6:41 p.m.
Let us read again to know if that is what the text suggests.
Alhaji I. A. B. Fuseini 6:41 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I said that it is an indirect
Mr First Deputy Speaker 6:41 p.m.
Hon Member, where in the text is this suggestion?
Alhaji I. A. B. Fuseini 6:41 p.m.
Mr Speaker, it is there; “Manage on behalf of the State, assets in the Renewable Energy Sector”. So, power producers have assets --
Mr First Deputy Speaker 6:41 p.m.
No, it refers to assets owned by government. It cannot be just any assets.
Alhaji I. A. B. Fuseini 6:41 p.m.
Mr Speaker, the VRA assets are government assets.
Mr First Deputy Speaker 6:41 p.m.
VRA is a State institution and it also has
personality. If there are assets, they belong to VRA. Does VRA not have a statutory personality?
Alhaji I. A. B. Fuseini 6:41 p.m.
Mr Speaker, what this amendment seeks to do is that the Minister can assign them.
Mr First Deputy Speaker 6:41 p.m.
I beg to differ with this --
Alhaji I. A. B. Fuseini 6:41 p.m.
Mr Speaker, we have made our point on the Floor because we do not want a Minister to assign those assets tomorrow and we would be told that it is Parliament that gave the Minister the power to do so.
Mr Ayariga 6:41 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I think that we must read the Bill as a whole. The subclauses are three; (a) reads: “execute on behalf of the State, renewable energy projects assigned to the Authority by the Minister”, and (b) says: “manage on behalf of the State, assets in the renewable energy sector assigned to the Authority by the Minister”.
In my ordinary understanding of this arrangement, it is the situation where the Minister would ask whether the Bui Power Authority can embark upon a renewable energy project on behalf of the State. Wherever the resources would come from is another matter; whether it is the income of the
Bui Power Authority that the State would say that instead of reinvesting in something else, they should invest it in renewable energy to increase the generation of renewable energy or the State would make a budgetary allocation for that project.
Now, when that project is executed, then the Hon Minister can ask that they manage that project on behalf of the State. This is what I think flows logically from subclause (a) of clause (2). However, if we separate it then we would be able to input into (b) an assumption that some other renewable energy assets that sit somewhere and belong to VRA, can be assigned to the Bui Power Authority by the Minister.
I think that we need to tidy up the construction in such a way that this mix up would not occur or this understanding would not arise in future in the minds of the people who would implement this legislation if it is passed as presently rendered. I think we can see that the understanding of the possibilities is across the two Sides; the Hon Majority Leader has just indicated that he seems to appreciate the concerns of the Hon Minority Leader and Hon Fuseini also appreciates the concerns of the Hon Minority Leader. Mr Speaker, I think
that I also appreciate the concerns of the Hon Minority Leader.
If we take (2)(b) as it stands alone, it can be read that way that any other asset somewhere can be assigned to the Authority to manage and that is what Hon Fuseini has objected to. Mr Speaker, so let us tidy up the rendition so that it would carry what I think is the rendition, that the Hon Minister would assign to the Authority the execution and management of the project on behalf of the State. I think that is what we want to say.
Mr Iddrisu 6:51 p.m.
Mr Speaker, you would recall that on a number of times, I have said that I want to be heard on the record and I indicated that I have always forgotten to cite the case. Mr Speaker, beyond Pepper v Hart, it has been domesticated in Ghana that Parliamentary Debate should be a guide to interpretation. So, we want to be guided that we are not giving the power to a Minister to direct that assets of renewable energy entities be assigned by the Minister.
Mr Speaker, when the Hon Chairman was on the Floor with the Hon Deputy Minister, they said that there is no renewable -- Mr Speaker, there is a Renewable Energy Act, 2011 (Act 832) which provides processes for matters that deal with renewable energy. So, they should not

give the impression as though a regulator does not exist. We know that there is a Renewable Energy Act and the Long Title reads:

“AN ACT to provide for the development, management, utilisation, sustainability and adequate supply of renewable energy for the generation of heat and power and for related matters”.

It was assented to on 31st December, 2011 so let us hasten cautiously. I am not against the Bui Power Authority to undertake renewable energy as explained by the Hon Chairman and particularly by the Hon Majority Leader that their audit report reveals that they were engaged in some illegal renewable energy activity of a sort. However, I am not in support of the role of the Energy Commission being assigned to the Hon Minister, as I understand it.

Hon Ayariga has read it and I have also read from the Bui Power Authority (Amendment) Bill, 2020. This is my understanding. It says “manage on behalf of the State”. The Hon Chairman read a certain Act, and I heard him use words which I listened carefully to. If he repeats

those words, we could just use them to tidy the rendition up.
Mr Gyamfi 6:51 p.m.
Mr Speaker, if we add the amendment proposed by the Hon Minority Leader that what the State has an interest in -- it does not change the shape so much.
Mr First Deputy Speaker 6:51 p.m.
I am here; if you propose an amendment, I would put the Question on it.
Mr Iddrisu 6:51 p.m.
Mr Speaker, on clause 2, subclause (1) (a) “execute on behalf of the State renewable energy project”, my issue is for the Hon Chairman to choose whether he would want to use “project” or “activities” because if we come to clause (c), we are saying “undertake renewable energy activities”. Let us choose one of them. If he wants “project”, then let “project” run through.
So we would delete the words “assign to the Authority by the Minister”, and then in paragraph (b), “manage on behalf of the State assets in the renewable energy sector in which the State has interest”.
I have improved it. If he has no objection, we can let it go, but I would appreciate if he reads the Act and the particular section where he used those words, just for our records.
Mr First Deputy Speaker 6:51 p.m.
On which subclauses was the proposed amendment on?
Mr Iddrisu 6:51 p.m.
Mr Speaker, they are subclause (a) and (b), and on (c), I asked the Hon Chairman whether he wants to use “undertake renewable energy activities or projects” because he used “projects” in (a) and “project” in (b).
Mr Gyamfi 6:51 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I would prefer “renewable energy projects”.
Also, section 53 of the Renewable Energy Act of, 2011, reads:
“Execute renewable energy projects initiated by the State or in which the State has an interest.”
So we would deal with “in which the State has an interest”.
Mr First Deputy Speaker 6:51 p.m.
That is (a) and (b).
Mr Gyamfi 6:51 p.m.
Yes, Mr Speaker, (a) and (b).
Mr First Deputy Speaker 6:51 p.m.
We would take those first.
Mr Patrick Y. Boamah 6:51 p.m.
Mr Speaker, on paragraph (a), I have been listening the argument. There is
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 6:51 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I listened to the Hon Member for Bawku Central. I was trying to reconcile what he said with what the Hon Minority Leader also said.
Mr Speaker, as regards section 11 of Act 740 as amended, the paragraph (b) provides:
“(b) The Authority shall, in accordance with the Renewable Energy Act, of 2011, execute renewable energy projects assigned to the Authority by the Minister.”
Mr First Deputy Speaker 6:51 p.m.
This brings us to the end of the Consideration Stage of the Bui Power Authority (Amendment) Bill, 2020.
Yes, Hon Majority Leader, what is next?
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 6:51 p.m.
Mr Speaker, we would go to item listed as 4(h) on the original Order Paper.
Mr First Deputy Speaker 6:51 p.m.
Very well, item numbered 4(h), Presentation of Papers by the Chairman of the Committee?
BILLS -- FIRST READING 7:01 p.m.
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 7:01 p.m.
Mr Speaker, let us go to the Order Paper Addendum and the Hon Deputy Minister for Finance would present the Papers listed under 1(a).
PAPERS 7:01 p.m.
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 7:01 p.m.
Mr Speaker, may I present the Papers in respect of item numbered 1(b) on the Order Paper Addendum on behalf of the Minister for Transport?
Mr First Deputy Speaker 7:01 p.m.
Very well.
By the Majority Leader/Minister for Parliamentary Affairs (Mr Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu) on behalf of the Minister for Transport)
(i)Contract Agreement between the Government of the Republic of Ghana (repre- sented by the Ministry of Transport) and VDL Bus Roeselare N.V. of Belgium for an amount of twelve million, one hundred and eighty- two thousand, f i v e hundred euros (€12,182,500.00) for the Procurement of 45 Intercity VDL Buses for Public Transport, Spare Parts, Tools and Technical Assistance/ Training Services to the Ministry of Transport of the Republic of Ghana (Contract
1).
(ii)Contract Agreement between the Government of the Republic of Ghana (represented by the Ministry of Transport) and VDL Bus Roeselare N.V. of Belgium for an amount of eleven million, five hundred and ninety-four thousand, two hundred and three euros
(€11,594,203.00) for the Procurement and Delivery of 55 Intercity VDL Buses for Public Transport, Spare Parts, Tools and Technical Assistance/Training Services to the Ministry of Transport of the Republic of Ghana (Contract 2).
Referred to the Committee on Transport.
By the Chairman of the Committee --
(c) Report of the Committee on Youth, Sports and Culture on the Creative Arts Industry Bill, 2020.
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 7:01 p.m.
Mr Speaker, we would take Motion captured as item numbered 2 on page 3 of the Order Paper Addendum.
Suspension of Order 80(1)
Attorney-General and Minister for Justice (Ms Gloria Afua Akuffo): 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-eight hours have elapsed between the date on which notice of the Motion is given and the date on which the Motion is moved, the
Mr Chireh 7:01 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I beg to second the Motion.
Question put and Motion agreed to.
Mr First Deputy Speaker 7:01 p.m.
Hon Minister, we have already taken the decision on that one. We are to move Motion numbered 3.
Ms Akuffo 7:01 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I am sorry. I am tired.
BILLS -- SECOND READING 7:11 p.m.
Mr First Deputy Speaker 7:11 p.m.
Yes, Chairman of the Committee?
Chairman of the Committee (Mr Ben Abdallah Banda) 7:11 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I rise to support the Motion. In so doing, I present the Committee's Report.
1.0 Introduction
1.1 The Patents (Amendment) Bill, 2018 was laid in Parliament on 1st June, 2018 by the Hon Attorney- General and Minister for Justice, Miss Gloria Afua Akuffo in accordance with article 106 of the Constitution.
1.2 Consequently, the Rt Hon Speaker referred the Bill to the Committee on Constitutional, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs for consideration and report pursuant to the Order 179 of the Standing Orders of the House.
2.0 Deliberations
The Committee met with the Attorney-General and Minister for Justice, Officials of the Office of the Attorney-General and the Registrar- General's Department to discuss the Bill.
The Committee is grateful to the Hon. Attorney-General and the Officials for attending upon the Committee and for assisting in the deliberations.
3.0 Reference Documents
The Committee referred to the following documents during the deliberations:
i. The Constitution of the Republic, 1992;
ii. The Standing Orders of Parliament, 2000;
iii. The Patents Act, 2003 (Act
657);
iv. The World Trade Agreement on the Trade Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS);
v. The Paris Convention for Industrial Property; and
vi. The Patent Co-operation Treaty and the Harare Protocol.
4.0 Background Information
4.1 The Agreement on Trade Related Aspects of Intellectual Property
Rights (TRIPS Agreement) sets out minimum standards for the regulation by national governments of different forms of intellectual property (IP) as applied to nationals of other WTO member nations. Subsequently, some flexibilities were introduced in the TRIPS Agreement through the Doha Declaration in 2001 and 2003.
4.2 The Patents Act, 2003 (Act 657) was passed in December 2003, to establish the regime for the protection of inventions and related matters. Though this enactment incorporated some of the provisions of the TRIPS Agreement, some essential provisions of the Agreement were omitted. This situation has impacted negatively on both industry and research institutions as they are yet to fully maximize the opportunities contained in the TRIPS Agreement.
4.3 It has therefore become imperative for the Patents Act to deal with the above concern. Hence, the introduction of the Patents (Amendment) Bill, 2003 for its passage to achieve that effect.
5.0 Summary of Provisions of the Bill
5.1 The Bill contains seven (7) Clauses.
5.2 Clause 1 of the Bill intends to amend Section 2 of Act 657 to
Mr First Deputy Speaker 7:11 p.m.
Yes, Hon Ranking Member?
Alhaji I. A. B. Fuseini (NDC -- Tamale Central) 7:11 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I rise to contribute to the Motion on the Floor of the House and to support the Hon Chairman in the presentation of the Committee's Report.
Mr Speaker, you noticed that the Hon Attorney-General and Minister for Justice has initiated a process to bring up the laws of this country to
Alhaji I. A. B. Fuseini (NDC -- Tamale Central) 7:21 p.m.
standard at the international level, and to ensure that our laws are compliant with requirements of the WTO level.

Indeed, under TRIPS, Ghana has an obligation to set up minimum standards to guarantee the respect for rights acquired by persons who have patents.

Over the years, since the prorogation of the International Property Laws of this country, we have not taken steps to upgrade our laws to bring them at par with international standards. So, the Attorney-General is taking the challenge to make us compliant with the obligations of international law, and that is commendable. Ghana is a much - respected member in the comity of nations, so, we should be seen to be doing things that clearly would not undermine the respect that we enjoy at the international level.

Mr Speaker, it is also now providing for the possibility of foreign applications to be processed in this country. So that is also commendable. The fight between America and China is precisely because there is no avenue for the registration of patents in China. So anybody who is able to steal intellectual property from America and get into China can exploit the right without any fear of

being mulcted in damages. This is because China is not a member of the World Trade Organisation (WTO). So, we are providing for it because we do not want to be seen to be people who are exploiting the rights and innovation of others outside the country. So, we would want to extend our regime to cover foreign applicants who would want to take advantage of protecting their rights in this country.

Mr Speaker, without much ado, I would like to urge Hon Members of this House that this is a straightforward Bill, and the amendments here, are just amendments to bring them in conformity with international law. Therefore, I urge Hon Members of this House to support the passage of this Amendment Bill.

Mr Speaker, I thank you.
Mr Kwame Anyimadu-Antwi (NPP -- Asante Akim Central) 7:21 p.m.
Mr Speaker, when it comes to intellectual property rights, Ghana had been ahead of most nations. I would say that Ghana is even ahead of the United States of America, and I am very serious about that. I say this because when we adopted the international laws and protected moral rights in Ghana, America had never thought of it. It was for this reason that they actually pushed for the Uruguay Round Agreement to actually
come with the WTO Agreements that brought about the TRIPS Agreement.
Mr Speaker, for two years now, this Bill had been before this Parliament, and there are only about seven clauses that are being proposed by the Hon learned Gloria Afua Akuffo, the Attorney-General, to actually bring the law abreast with international standards.
Therefore, I would say that it is long overdue for us to adopt these few amendments to bring Ghana's Patent law. We have actually used this Act for some years now, having been passed since 2003, and I think that these amendments would bring the Act to measure up to any international standard. Mr Speaker, with these words, I support the Motion on the floor, thank you.
Mr Iddrisu 7:21 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I do not intend to contribute to the Motion. I support it, but I have an understanding that after this, we should be taking an adjournment, so that we could continue with the rest of the Business tomorrow.
Question put and Motion agreed to.
The Patent (Amendment) Bill, 2018 was accordingly read a Second time.
Mr First Deputy Speaker 7:21 p.m.
Hon Majority Leader, what next?
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 7:21 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I thought that the Report has already been distributed, but unfortunately, it is now being distributed, so, I would pray the House to maybe be given some time to go through the Report, then we could take it tomorrow. Unfortunately, the Hon Minister has been waiting for this long while, but the Hon Chairman did not ensure that the Report was distributed. [Interruption] -- The Hon Chairman is nodding in agreement that he did not ensure that the Report was distributed, so, I would pray that at this time, we take an adjournment and come to do it tomorrow.
Mr First Deputy Speaker 7:21 p.m.
Very well.
Hon Members, the House is accordingly adjourned till tomorrow, Thursday, 5th November, 2020 at 10.00 a.m in the forenoon.
ADJOURNMENT 7:21 p.m.
  • The House was adjourned at 7.28 p.m. till Thursday, 5th November, 2020, at 10.00 a.m. in the forenoon.