Debates of 6 Jan 2021

MR SPEAKER
PRAYERS 12:24 p.m.
VOTES AND PROCEEDINGS AND THE OFFICIAL REPORT 12:24 p.m.
Mr Speaker 12:24 p.m.
Hon Members, Correction of Votes and Proceedings and the Official Report of Tuesday, 5th January, 2021.
Page 1….10 --
rose
Dr Assibey-Yeboah 12:24 p.m.
Mr Speaker, on page 8, paragraph 4, it reads: “Correction of the Votes and Proceedings of the Thirty-first Sitting held on Monday 4th January, 2021.
Mr Speaker, yesterday, we did not correct any Votes and Proceedings.
Mr Speaker 12:24 p.m.
We did and we adopted the formula.
Dr Assibey-Yeboah 12:24 p.m.
Mr Speaker, yesterday, we did not; we were at the State of the Nation Address.
Mr Speaker 12:24 p.m.
Hon Member, we adopted another strategy.
Dr Assibey-Yeboah 12:24 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I have corrections that I want to effect in that Votes and Proceedings -- [Laughter] -- No, we did not correct the Votes and Proceedings. So, what has been captured here is incorrect.
Mr Speaker 12:24 p.m.
Hon Member, is it a correction you caused to be effected?
Dr Assibey-Yeboah 12:24 p.m.
Mr Speaker, no, I did not get the opportunity to do that. So, I think space has to be created for the Votes and Proceedings.
Mr Speaker 12:24 p.m.
Hon Member, well noted.
rose
Mr Speaker 12:24 p.m.
Yes, Hon Member?
Mr Boamah 12:24 p.m.
Mr Speaker, back to page 8, paragraph 5, the Chief Justice, Mr Kwesi Anin Yeboah. “Anin Yeboah” is hyphenated.
Mr Speaker, on page 9, paragraph 8 (i), His Excellency John Agyekum Kuffuor. “Kuffuor” has been wrongly spelt. It is “K-u-f-u-o-r”.
Mr Speaker 12:24 p.m.
It is “Ku-fu-or”, let this be known. We cannot keep spelling the name of a former Head of State wrongly. So Table Office, please take notice of it. I have made that mistake before and I was charged. I will not forget again.
Yes, Hon Members, any other correction?
Page 10 -- 12.
Hon Members, the Votes and Proceedings of Tuesday, 5th January, 2021 as corrected has been admitted as the true record of proceedings.
Hon Members, at the Commencement of Public Business - Presentation of Papers. Item numbered 4 (a).
Yes, Hon Chairman of the Finance Committee?
PAPERS 12:24 p.m.
Mr Speaker 12:24 p.m.
Hon Members, we would move on to the item numbered 4 (b).
Yes, Hon Majority Leader?
By the Chairman of the Committee --
Report of the Committee of the Whole on the Report of the Presidential Committee on Emoluments for Article 71 office Holders (2017-2021) in respect of the Executive.
Mr Speaker 12:24 p.m.
Hon Members, we would move on to the item numbered 5 -- Motion.
Hon Leaders, are we in the position to take it?
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 12:24 p.m.
Mr Speaker, a whisper has come to me in respect of the item numbered 4 (b) that I am purported to have submitted to the House.
Mr Speaker, the Hon Chairman of the Committee of the Whole is the one who should submit this. However, the Hon Chairman of the Committee of the Whole, on that occasion, sat in the Chair as the Hon First Deputy Speaker.
Mr Speaker, let me therefore undo what I did by bowing. [Laughter]. I have bowed, but the Hon Chairman for the Committee of the Whole would do what is appropriate, considering the circumstance.
Mr Speaker 12:24 p.m.
Very well, the Hon First Deputy Speaker may bow to it.
The Paper is duly submitted, and it is for distribution to Hon Members, and for consideration at the Committee of the Whole's Closed Sitting, presided over by the Hon First Deputy Speaker.
Hon Members, we would now move on to the item numbered 5 -- Motion.
Yes, Hon Majority Leader, shall we stand that down?
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 12:24 p.m.
Mr Speaker, at the Business Committee, the Hon Minority Leader, who is the Hon Ranking Member of the Committee indicated that many people have come to raise some issues with that Motion. So, he wanted us to run it through the constitutional provisions, with respect to article 11 (7) of the Constitution.
Mr Speaker, I drew the attention to the fact that since 1993, that vehicle has never been used, but if the Hon Minority Leader insists for us to apply it because that ordinarily should be the route, then the House would have to apply itself to it. So, that is where we are.
Mr Speaker 12:24 p.m.
Are you building consensus?
Mr Iddrisu 12:24 p.m.
Mr Speaker, rightly so.
Mr Speaker, therefore, the Motion on the Standing Orders could be stood down for further consultation, so that we would get the buy-in of Parliament as an institution, in particular, the very future Eighth Parliament.
Mr Speaker, this is because the combined effect of article 110 and 11 would be significant in this regard. Article 11 (7) reads, which with your permission I quote, it says:
“Any Order, Rule or Regulation made by a person or authority under a power conferred by this Constitution or any other law shall…”
The “authority” being talked about here is Parliament. The process would be to run a budgetary --
Mr Speaker 12:24 p.m.
Hon Leaders, you know that we are not going to deal with it, so shall we please move on with other matters?
Mr Iddrisu 12:24 p.m.
Thank you, Mr Speaker.
Mr Speaker 12:24 p.m.
Hon Majority Leader, can we therefore move on to take the item numbered 6?
Mr Speaker 12:24 p.m.


Speaker, the Hon Chairman of the Finance Committee is here, so --
Mr Speaker 12:24 p.m.
Hon Chairman of the Finance Committee, are you ready? If you are, then you could please go on.
Dr Mark Assibey-Yeboah 12:24 p.m.
Mr Speaker, the Report before the House combines the Motions numbered 7 and 10, so, I would move the procedural Motions 6 and 9 together.
Mr Speaker 12:24 p.m.
Please, you may go ahead.
Mr Speaker 12:24 p.m.
Thank you very much.
Who seconds?
Mr Kwame Governs Agbodza (NDC -- Adaklu) 12:24 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I beg to second the Motion.
Question put and Motion agreed to.
Resolved accordingly.
Mr Speaker 12:24 p.m.
Hon Chairman of the Finance Committee, you may now go ahead and move the substantive Motions numbered 7 and 10.
MOTIONS 12:24 p.m.
Chairman of the Committee (Dr Mark Assibey-Yeboah) 12:24 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I beg to move, that this honourable House adopts the Report of the Finance Committee on the Amendment Agreements to the ECGD Loan Agreement between the Government of the Republic of Ghana, Barclays Bank PLC (as Coordinating MLA) and Her Britannic Majesty's Secretary of State acting by the Export Credits Guarantee Department (ECGD) for sums amounting to the aggregate of one hundred and sixty-two million, nine hundred and thirty-one thousand,
AND 12:24 p.m.
Mr Agbodza 12:44 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I beg to second the Motion, and by so doing, make these few comments of my own.
Mr Speaker, indeed, these Projects were approved in 2012 to build six new district hospitals, and to also build a housing project in Takoradi. The Report tells us that since we made this approval, Government has been unable to fulfil
part of its obligations in terms of the provision of electricity, potable water and other things, which were not part of the initial cost. We were also told that some of the sites that were designated for this Project were not handed over to the developer for a period of two years. If one would want a developer to put up a facility within 36 months, and after two years, the site has not been given to him, then obviously, the developer would not be able to deliver on schedule.
Mr Speaker, as a result, the developer could only complete the Dodowa Hospital, which the World Health Organisation regarded as one of the best examples of what a district hospital should be. We are told in the Report that the Fomena Housing Project and the Takoradi Housing Project were all 85 per cent completed, and the rest followed.
Mr Speaker, what we are doing basically, is to give the Ministry the opportunity to reactivate this Project, and to complete the Fomena, Kumawu and Takoradi housing projects.

The Committee has been told that the Ministry would have to find other ways of funding the rest especially Abetifi and Garu. It is expected that

the Sekondi project, as the Hon Chairman said, since other projects have been scheduled for that area, may not necessarily come on. M r Speaker, we are not taking any new loan; the Committee is just requesting that the Ministry is given the opportunity to utilise the remaining US$38.8 million to complete three of the ongoing projects for the benefit of our people.

Mr Speaker, with regard to the tax waivers as well, we have added a schedule of assessment on what they wanted the waivers on. We were told at the Committee that the developer was granted a temporary reprieve in terms of not paying certain levels of tax. This approval today would actually confirm that they would make sure that we do what we normally do, which is to give waivers on the ten key projects approved by this House.

Mr Speaker, I recommend this to Hon Colleagues to approve, and for us to complete the next three projects for the benefit of our people.

Thank you very much for the opportunity.
Mr Speaker 12:44 p.m.
Leadership will make comments. Our order is tall.
Mr Haruna Iddrisu (NDC -- Tamale South) 12:44 p.m.
Mr Speaker, thank
Mr Speaker, if you read page 6, with your permmission it says 12:44 p.m.
“The instant amendment is aimed at extending the utilization of the facility to 30th November, 2022 and to ensure the successful completion of four (4) out of the original seven (7) intended projects.”
In reading this Report, I struggle to know the four projects. Which hospitals are the four? For purposes of oversight tomorrow, we would want to know that this facility is being extended to complete these four. The Hon Kwame Agbodza attempted. I heard Kumawu and Abetifi. What happens to the Garu Hospital? We heard the explanation regarding the one in Sekondi-Takoradi so we should know which four hospitals would be completed with this.
Mr Speaker, my second issue is in paragraph 5.3 of the Report. It is on factors that caused the suspension of the project. One of them is:
“Non-fulfilment of Government of Ghana's obligations to
provide electricity, potable water supply, access roads and internet …”
Mr Speaker, if this is not done, how functional and effective would this hospital be? What is the commitment of Government to honour its obligations as we extend the tenor of the contract that is captured in the Committee's Report?
Finally, Mr Speaker, reference is made to the Isofoton case which was ruled on by the Supreme Court on article 181(5) of the Constitution. It is about time that we do the proper and necessary consultation and do the right modification because article 181 is in respect of loans.
Mr Speaker, article 181(5) of the Constitution deals with international economic transactions and it reads:
“This article shall, with the necessary modifications by Parliament, apply to an international business or economic transaction to which the Government is a party as it applies to a loan.”
We would have to examine the ruling of the Supreme Court in respect of all those cases, and Parliament has an obligation to reform and consult with the office of the Attorney-General
to get the necessary modification so that we fully give effect to article 181(5) of the Constitution apart from the article 181(1) which is restricted to loans.
Mr Speaker, I support the Motion, but I need the Hon Chairman of the Finance Committee to speak to me with clarity. Which four district hospitals are expected to be completed with the extension of the tenor?
Thank you, Mr Speaker.
Mr Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu (NPP -- Suame) 12:44 p.m.
Mr Speaker, the Hon Minority Leader has raised a constitutional issue, and as he is aware, Nana Dr S. K. Asante himself, a constitutional lawyer, has proffered a professional opinion about this. It is within the circles of Parliament, it is for us to consider same and if we have to adopt it, perhaps, with the necessary modifications ourselves, we would do so, but now, the ball is firmly in our court, and what he has submitted to us is most relevant for our own consideration and determination.
Mr Speaker, I just wanted to relate to that. For the others, in terms of response, the Hon Darko-Mensah would do so on my behalf.
Mr Kwabena Okyere Darko- Mensah (NPP -- Takoradi) 12:44 p.m.
Thank you, Mr Speaker, for the opportunity to support the Motion on the Report of the Finance Committee for the amendment agreement to the ECGD loan agreement between the Government of the Republic of Ghana, Barclays Bank Plc and others.
Mr Speaker, it is very important that we all support this Motion because health is wealth. If you take the Report of the Committee, it talks about the ability to use the outstanding US$38,841,352 for the completion of the projects in Fomena, Kumawu and Takoradi. I am particularly happy that the Takoradi project has been included in this particular phase. Moreso when we have only 15 per cent of works that is outstanding.
Mr Speaker, these projects, especially the one in Takoradi, had become a major political contention during the run up to the elections because a lot of people felt that it was a deliberate plan by the new Administration not to complete them. If you look at the facts here, clearly, it shows that there was a difficulty, and I am very happy that the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Health have come to some agreement that today we are all supporting for the projects to be done.
Mr Speaker 12:44 p.m.
At the conclusion of the debate, all those in favour of the Motions listed 9 and 10 --
Mr Iddrisu 12:44 p.m.
Mr Speaker, if you could allow the Hon Chairman to give me clarity. I said I wanted to know the four beneficiary district hospitals for the purpose of oversight.
Dr Assibey-Yeboah 12:54 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I refer the Hon Minority Leader to paragraph 5.5 on page 10 of the Report and it reads with permmission:
“Currently, the average physical progress achieved on the three sites namely Fomena, Kumawu and Takoradi Housing is over 70 per cent. These projects can therefore be completed with the remaining and available funds from the original credit facility.”
Mind you, the Dodowa Hospital is already up and running so, it would
be Dodowa, Fomena, Kumawu and the Takoradi housing project.

Those would be the four that would be covered under the original funding. For Garu and Abetifi, the Report says in paragraph 5.6 that the Ministry is in the process of securing funding to complete the Garu and Abetifi ones. As the Minister for the Western Region indicated, the Sekondi one is off the table because of other projects that are in the offing in the region.
Mr Iddrisu 12:54 p.m.
Mr Speaker, can the Chairman of the Finance Committee just clarify the paragraph on page 6 which reads as follows:
“The instant amendment is aimed at extending the utilisation of the facility to 30th November, 2022 and to ensure the successful completion of four out of the original seven intended projects”.
Now when we come to the paragraph that the Chairman just quoted, for our purposes, it reads:
“The Committee was informed that the following viability check by Government, the Ministry of
Health, through consulting with the Ministry of Finance and the Attorney-General's Department and the Economic Management Team, has decided to resuscitate the project and to use the remaining US$38.8 to complete three of the projects”.
So, I read “three” and I read “four”.
Dr Assibey-Yeboah 12:54 p.m.
Mr Speaker, the Dodowa one would be the fourth. And if we go back to the table on pages 7 and 8, we would see that Dodowa has one hundred per cent so; from the original seven, the four referenced to are Dodowa, Fomena, Takoradi and Kumawu.
Mr Speaker 12:54 p.m.
Thank you very much, Hon Chairman.
I will put the Question.
Question put and Motion agreed to.
Mr Speaker 12:54 p.m.
Hon Members, the items listed as 8 and 11; Resolutions. Hon Deputy Minister for Finance, you may move it. --[Pause] -- Sorry, we have the Hon Minister for Finance in attendance. Hon Minister for Finance, you may please move the Resolution.
Minister for Finance (Mr Ken Ofori-Atta) 12:54 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I beg to move, that
1. WHEREAS By the provisions of article 181 of the Constitution and sections 55 and 56 of the Public Financial Management Act, 2016 (Act
921), the terms and conditions of all government borrowings shall be laid before Parliament and shall not come into operation unless the terms and conditions are approved by a resolution of Parliament in accordance with article 181 of the Constitution;
2. PURSUANT to the provisions of the said article 181 of the Constitution and sections 55 and 56 of the Public Financial Management Act, 2016 (Act 921), at the request of the Government of the Republic Ghana acting through the Minister responsible for Finance, there has been laid before Parliament Amendment Agreements to the ECGD Loan Agreement between the Government of the Republic of Ghana, Barclays Bank PLC (as Coordinating MLA) and Her Britannic Majesty's Secretary of State acting by the Export Credits Guarantee Department (ECGD) for sums amounting to the aggregate of one hundred and sixty-two million, nine hundred and thirty-one thousand, five hundred and sixty-three United States dollars twenty-seven cents (US$162,931,563.27) for financing the design, construction and furnishing of
seven (7) District Hospitals and the provision of an integrated IT systems by NMS Infrastructure Limited as amended by amendment agreement dated 30 th November 2012 and amendment letters dated 26th March 2013, 10th April 2013, 17th October 2014, and 11th September 2015.
THIS HONOURABLE 12:54 p.m.
HOUSE HEREBY REOLVES 12:54 p.m.
Mr Agbodza 12:54 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I beg to second the Motion.
Question put and Motions agreed to.
Resolved accordingly.
Mr Speaker 12:54 p.m.
Yes, Majority Front Bench, what item next?
Prof Gyan-Baffour 12:54 p.m.
Mr Speaker, we could take the item listed as 13. -- [Pause] -- Mr Speaker, the item listed as 14 rather than 13.
Mr Speaker 12:54 p.m.
The item listed 13; we shall take the item listed as 13 later and that will be at a special Sitting.
Alhaji Mohammed-Mubarak Muntaka (NDC -- Asawase) 12:54 p.m.
Mr Speaker, why now reading a Bill a Second time? One of the major reasons why we are Sitting today is today is the item listed as 13. I would like to plead that this is a very important business that has to be completed today because if today ends without
a definite conclusion on it, it could take us back to what happened in 2009; the bantam between the new Administration and Parliament that it was done and it was not done. So, Mr Speaker, let us go to the item listed as 13 and get it done because we all agreed at the Business Committee that we are not doing any new business.
Mr Speaker, let us deal with this; if we are done and we still have some time -- Mr Speaker, remember, we have to be here tonight especially the newly elected Members of Parliament so let us deal with the one that we must try to finish today. If we are done and we still have some time, we could look at the other things that we all said we are not doing today but we cannot prioritise a new business over something that we must try to do today when we know Hon Members would have to go home and come back for the evening programme.
Mr Speaker, I would want to urge the Hon Majority Leader to let us stick to our programme; what we have agreed on at the Business Committee. We cannot come and start a new business.
Mr Speaker 12:54 p.m.
Thank you very much.
Dr Assibey-Yeboah 12:54 p.m.
Mr Speaker, on the item listed as 14, we had the debate and the debate was to continue but essentially, I think you could put the Question on the Second Reading. There i s no i ssue -- [Interruptions] --
Mr Speaker 12:54 p.m.
Securities Industry (Amendment Bill), 2020 to be read a Second time. And it is clearly written there, “Debate to continue” so; wherever we got with the debate, shall we refresh our minds and conclude now or if there is nothing more to say, we can say that it ends the Second Reading.
Dr Assibey-Yeboah 12:54 p.m.
Mr Speaker, as far as the Chairman is concerned, I presented the Committee's Report, a few debates ensued and Mr First Deputy Speaker who is in the Chair at the time raised an issue—
Mr Speaker 12:54 p.m.
Hon Chairman, so, are we satisfied with the state of the debate?
Dr Assibey-Yeboah 12:54 p.m.
Mr Speaker, if anybody has a contribution—
Mr Speaker 12:54 p.m.
Please, do not talk about “if anybody”. Respectfully, I am asking from you as Chairman of the Committee, if you are satisfied, then at this moment, the debate is concluded and we can move further.
Dr Assibey-Yeboah 12:54 p.m.
Mr Speaker, to all intents and purposes, the debate concluded.
Mr Speaker 12:54 p.m.
And we can move further? If there are any Hon Members who are of the view that the debate is not completed, let us not argue about complete or not complete, you have the opportunity now to please contribute.
Please go on with your contribution.
Alhaji Muntaka 12:54 p.m.
Mr Speaker, it was just not about whether there were other issues to be raised, this was a new business that was trying to amend a law. People that have taken people's deposits, we want to amend a law to give them a window of opportunity to give them administrative punishment and we say this is a -- [Inaudible] -- and should not be done now.
Mr Speaker 1:04 a.m.
Hon Member, please, I have given the opportunity; if any Hon Member is of the view that there is more to say on this matter, let that Hon Member simply make that contribution. We know the essence of Second Reading.
If you have any more to say about the principles of the Bill or anything else, please let it not be a matter of contention at all.

Just say it because I do not intend to open a debate to do or not to do whether it has been completed or not, so that I would have a tirade possibly, not having gotten anywhere. Those who want to contribute with the presumption that debate continues, please, I will give you every opportunity to contribute.

Yes, Hon First Deputy Speaker?
Mr Joseph Osei-Owusu 1:04 a.m.
Mr Speaker, the proposed amendment in the Order Paper advertised as item numbered 16 (v), is to substitute new set of provisions in place of the existing clause 4, subsection 5 to subsection
10.
The essence of the provisions intended to substitute the existing one
is to remove criminal offences and place them under administrative punishment to, give people the opportunity to pay compensations and get away with practically the wrong things that otherwise would constitute crime.
Mr Speaker, already, even with this Act we are complaining about, people who are managing financial institutions have so misconducted themselves. As H. E. the President said yesterday, they were practically operating glorified Ponzi schemes. Even with the threat of criminal prosecution, if they were not afraid, what would happen, if we substituted the criminal provisions and brought in administrative punishment and the call for compensation and so on?
I am opposed to the entire proposed amendment contained in item 16 (v) and I suggest that the House vote against the proposed amendment.
Mr Speaker 1:04 a.m.
We are on the Second Reading. If any Hon Member has any contribution on the principles of the Bill, which is the essence of our Second Reading, please let him or her kindly proceed.
Mr J. Osei-Owusu 1:04 a.m.
Sorry Mr Speaker. I thought we had finished with the Second Reading and were
Alhaji Mohammed-Mubarak Muntaka (NDC -- Asawase) 1:04 a.m.
Mr Speaker, I rise to oppose the Motion to take this Bill into a Second Consideration Stage. The simple reason in addition to what the Hon First Deputy Speaker said is that this regulates a very fragile industry in our country. Many people lost their jobs as a result of mismanagement of this sector and we have an existing law that is really supposed to be biting.
We are now however, coming to Parliament to amend this law that is biting enough, to allow administrative punishment, yet we have not done the normal consultation that those in this House are supposed to do. That is, when a Bill is presented to this House, Memoranda are sought from the general public, to hear their views about the law we intend to pass, so that they can make their contributions. Their contributions would inform the House to be able to take a definite decision. We are trying to bypass all these.
Mr Speaker, you would notice that after Motion 14, they would come with Motion 15 to stand down the Standing Order 128 so, that we would take it through all the other Stages in a day. We are rushing it yet many people have lost their livelihoods and lives because of the huge indebtedness they are going
through as a result of the crisis in the banking sector and the security and exchanges sector. Now, we are coming in with a law that is going to propose making their criminal actions and inactions into administrative punishments without consulting the general public. This is an important Bill we cannot pass on the last Sitting day of Parliament.
I make reference to something the former New Patriotic Party (NPP) Chairman, Mr Dan Botwe said. He said, after elections, Parliament should not take major decisions in relation to business of the House because after an election, many people would have lost their seats. As we speak, the 91 Members on the Majority side are not coming back and the about 33 on the Minority side are not coming. About half of the Members of the House are not coming back and we can see from the empty seats, that Parliament naturally becomes lame. This is not the time for us to take major decisions.
Mr Speaker, I would want to plead with the sponsors of this Bill that next week gives them an opportunity in a new administration to go through the Motions. They can advertise, let people bring their Memoranda and let their views be reflected in what we want to do. Many people including some Members of Parliament (MP)
have lost their livelihoods and their moneys are locked up. They trusted those institutions and deposited their moneys there but they cannot have access to their moneys.
Now, we are here in a hurry to amend the laws to change the criminality into administrative crimes. I urge this House to reject this and allow this Bill to come back and take its time to go through the process, so that enough consultation would be done. If those amendments are accepted by the generality of Ghanaians, they can come back but not that they would come on the last day and try to rush through this very important amendment with more than half of the Members of the House not interested.
Mr Speaker, with this, I would want to urge Hon Members to -
Mr Speaker 1:04 a.m.
Hon Muntaka, let us talk about the principles of the Bill. Any more contributions on the principles of the Bill? I know that the Winnowing Committee has been working on this, so it is not that it just came up.
Yes, Hon Dafeamekpor?
Mr Rockson-Nelson E. K. Dafeamekpor (NDC -- South Dayi) 1:04 a.m.
Mr Speaker, I am in support
Alhaji Muntaka 1:04 a.m.
Mr Speaker, I was on the Floor and because you spoke, I had to sit down.
Mr Speaker 1:04 a.m.
I am sorry, please continue.
Alhaji Muntaka 1:14 p.m.
Mr Speaker, in conclusion, you mentioned winnowing and unfortunately, it is not recognised within our Standing Orders because it is our private arrangement.

In this instance, I could assure us that there was no winnowing on this Bill, so let us not rush it and in conclusion to just say --
rose
Mr Speaker 1:14 p.m.
Hon Chairman of the Finance Committee, do you stand on a point of order?
Dr Assibey-Yeboah 1:14 p.m.
Mr Speaker, this Bill was introduced in this House sometime in November, 2020 and the Finance Committee and other associated friends had a
workshop in Koforidua. There is nothing controversial about this Bill. As a matter of fact, the memorandum says that the purpose of the Bill is to amend section 929 to provide for the conduct of our investigation by the Commission on what the Commission is assisting other domestic or foreign regulatory authorities and the procedure for dealing with request for assistance from a foreign securities regulatory authority. The controversial part is the last bit which could even be dropped. That aside, there is nothing controversial -- for the exchange of information between for example, the Security and the Exchange Commission (SEC) and the Bank of Ghana, between the SEC and the United States of America's SEC. That is all we seek to do.
Mr Speaker, respectfully, with the provision that the Hon First Deputy Speaker intimated that for criminal offences we want to make proper administrative penalties, that is not the case. This only affects civil breeches that are also criminal in nature but if we think we should drop that bit, the sponsors of the Bill are all right with that. We could go ahead with the other provisions which are minor in nature.
Mr Speaker, at the Second Reading, we were told that the debate was not concluded but suddenly
invitation of memoranda and other tangential issues have been brought to the fore. This is a financial Bill and our Standing Orders are clear that such Bills could be taken through all the stages of consideration in a day. So, we could conclude the debate and proceed.
Mr Speaker 1:14 p.m.
Hon Members, we have a Business before us and I want to proceed with that. If any Hon Member has a contribution to make strictly within the parameters of the Second Reading of the Bill, he or she may stand and say so. Any other to go or not to go approach we be out of order. We would do the Business before us and then move into a close Sitting et cetera and do other Businesses. However, if we would sit and say whether to go or not to go - - before we know an hour has gone and we would achieve nothing. I want to plead with you.
I saw the Hon Member for South Dayi, Mr Dafeamekpor but the Hon Minority Leader is on his feet, so -
Mr Iddrisu 1:14 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I would speak after he has finished speaking.
Mr Dafeamekpor 1:14 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I listened to the Hon Chairman of the Committee and I have also seen the advertised amendments for the
Securities Industry (Amendment) Bill, 2020 in the Order Paper --
Mr Speaker 1:14 p.m.
Hon Member, with all respect, we have not reached “advertised amendments''. I want us to restrict ourselves strictly within the parameters of what is before us.
Mr Dafeamekpor 1:14 p.m.
Mr Speaker, very well. I am guided.
Mr Speaker, I support the position of the Hon Minority Chief Whip in this matter that the Motion in respect of the Second Reading should not be taken today, so that in the next Parliament, we would have the opportunity to be able to --
Mr Speaker 1:14 p.m.
Hon Member, the matter is now before the House. If you have a contribution to make, please do so or you may resume your seat.
Mr Dafeamekpor 1:14 p.m.
Mr Speaker, my humble position is that the Motion should not be taken.
Mr Speaker 1:14 p.m.
Hon Members, it is not part of parliamentary process nor procedure, otherwise you are telling me I should not continue to do my work. My duty is to call the items and ask that the work should be done. Otherwise, anytime any Hon Member feels that a particular work should not go on and he or she gets up to say
Mr Iddrisu 1:14 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I am guided by your words and I am further guided by the fact that we would lose the erudite experience of the Hon Chairman of the Finance Committee into the Eighth Parliament so, probably he wants to perform his November role. This might be his last important Motion to move, so I am persuaded.
However, to convey to the concern of the Hon Minority Chief Whip, respectfully, I want to refer to Standing Order 128 and before I continue I am only guided and persuaded by the fact that the Hon Chairman would not be in the House tomorrow.
Mr Speaker, with your permission, I beg to quote Standing Order 128, which says 1:14 p.m.
“When a Bill has been read a Second Time it shall pass through the Consideration Stage in the House which shall not be taken until at least forty eight hours have elapsed (this period not including days on which the House does not sit).''
Mr Speaker, in forty-eight hours, the Hon Chairman of the Finance Committee, would have no mandate
to lead us through this process. If he wants to persuade us on the basis of that we could understand but the security industry is such an important industry. Nobody has a problem with the principles but it is not for nothing that article 106 says that the Bill should be gazetted to solicit public views. We are representatives of the people. The private sector and the security sector -- as we were even told by the President yesterday that the financial sector has had crisis, we must amend the law whiles we understand and respect their legitimate and genuine concerns as industry players.
The suspension of the rule as the Hon Minority Chief Whip observed, would not give us that opportunity because Parliament would rise through the process today, without an opportunity given to the players and the stakeholders in the security industry and as Hon Members, we have the duty to reach out to them. What is the impact of this amendment on their activities and operations? We could understand - in addition to what the Hon First Deputy Speaker raised, we have his assurance. So, the Hon Chairman should persuade us that he wants to perform this valedictory role because forty-eight hours -- if we insist and that is what the rules provide we would not have the advantage of his personal availability, experience
and understanding. Apart from that would he be in the House after forty- eight hours? [Interruption] -- Anyway, I quoted from the Standing Orders -- I did not quote “Dr Assibey-Yeboah''.
Mr Speaker, he should persuade us that it is important that we do what the Hon First Deputy Speaker said. I referred to the Standing Orders, so let someone quote a superior Standing Order or the Constitution and I would be guided.
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 1:24 p.m.
Mr Speaker, what the House is supposed to do is to debate the principles which underpin the amendment Bill before us.
Mr Speaker, the Hon Minority Leader has drawn your attention to the regular processes that Bills should be subjected to. Financial Bills come under different provisions and he related to article 106. Mr Speaker, with your permission, I beg to quote article 106 (2), which provides:
“No bill other than such a bill! as is referred to in paragraph (a) of article 108 of this Constitution, shall be introduced in Parliament unless --
(a)it is accompanied by an explanatory memorandum…
(b)it has been published in a Gazette…''

So, all those ones listed under article 106 (2) apply to all those, other than financial Bills. If we want the processes that must apply to just financial Bills, it is in article 108.

Mr Speaker, in terms of the relative importance of the two documents, the Standing Orders and the Constitution, the Hon Minority Leader knows that the Standing Orders is a subordinate document to the Constitution. He knows that it is an inferior document to the Constitution. It cannot be elevated over and above the Constitution. Let him apply himself to article 108.

Mr Speaker, but having said so, I think the issue before us is captured in the first paragraph of the memorandum. with Permmission It says:

“The purpose of the Bill is to amend the Securities Industry Act to provide for the conduct of an investigation by the Commission when the Commission is assisting other domestic or foreign regulatory
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 1:24 p.m.


authorities and a procedure for dealing with a request for assistance from a foreign securities regulatory authority.”

Mr Speaker, that indeed is just the purpose of the amendment. Appropriately, the Hon First Deputy Speaker and, indeed, the gravamen of the issues raised by the Hon Minority Chief Whip relates to what we see as an advertised amendment in clause 4; that is item numbered (v). I agree with the Hon First Deputy Speaker that when we come to that, juxtaposing that against the principle as established in paragraph (1) of the memorandum would run counter to it, in which case, we may have to drop some of the amendments proposed.

Mr Speaker, I would suggest that all those amendments proposed on page 11 of the Order Paper would have to be dropped because that would be inconsistent with the principle as captured in paragraph (1) of the memorandum.

Mr Speaker, in that regard, I would agree with the Hon First Deputy Speaker and, indeed, as I said, the gravamen of the discourse as given by the Hon Minority Chief Whip.

What he is saying to us further that it has not been subjected to winnowing and so on, as far as I am concerned, to the extent that it would not offend the principle, I am not too sure that that could be raised.

Mr Speaker, the additional matter; have other stakeholders been involved? We would have to listen to the Committee. If they have been involved and indeed, as I am saying that all those advertised amendments contained on page 11 would then not be in order, then, we would have to deal with them. I guess where we are now is the principle; if we agree to the principle, we can close the debate on that.

If we come to the consideration of the Bill and we believe that what is here goes against the principle as espoused in the memorandum, then if we would have to shoot it down, we would do so. For now, do we agree with the principle or not? I think that the House would stand united in agreeing to the principle.

Mr Speaker, can we move forward? That would be when we come to the Consideration stage. So that is what I would say for now. I think we can agree on the principle espoused but beyond that if we come to the Consideration stage, then, we would see what is appropriate to be done.

Mr Speaker, I thank you very much.
Mr Haruna Iddrisu 1:24 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I do not intend to litigate further on this matter. We are a Parliament and we have a mandate. There is expiration of our mandate. I am holding the Committee's Report which I just requested from the Table Office and it reads in paragraph 1.1 of Page 1;
“1.1 Urgency of the Bill
The Committee determined that the Bill is of an urgent nature and, therefore, is satisfied that it must be taken through all the stages of passage in one day in accordance with the 1992 Constitution and Order 119 of the Standing Orders.”
Mr Speaker, if we take a copy of the Bill, the date of gazette notification is 23rd of November, 2020. So, how do we say that we are subjecting it to article 106? It does not sit with it.
Mr Speaker, Bills that come under article 106, we are to forgive the requirement because of article 106 (13) but with this one, we have gazetted it. The Report for the amendment of the Bill was presented on 18th December, 2020. Now, what were they doing from 18th December
to yesterday? Today, they are creating an emergency for us to pass it.
Mr Speaker, we would look at the merits of it but I said that procedurally, we would have to suspend the Standing Orders which does not allow us to engage the industry players to appreciate the remit of this Bill. This is what we are saying.
Mr Speaker, when he moves for the Second Reading and we say, all right, it cannot go through Consideration stage today; it must go through the forty-eight hours, what happens to the process?
Question put and Motion agreed to.
The Securities Industry (Amendment) Bill, 2020 accordingly read a Second time.
Mr Speaker 1:24 p.m.
Hon Members, item listed 15; procedural Motion by the Hon Minister for Finance.
SUSPENSION OF 1:24 p.m.
Minister for Finance (Mr Ken Ofori-Atta) 1:24 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I beg to move, that notwithstanding the provisions of Standing Order 128(1) which requires that when a bill has been read a second time it shall pass
Dr Mark Assibey-Yeboah 1:24 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I beg to second the Motion.
Question put and Motion agreed to.
Resolved accordingly.
Alhaji Mohammed-Mubarak Muntaka 1:24 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I rise to oppose the Motion under Order 113 (2) that I believe the “Noes” have it and so I am calling for a head count.
Mr Speaker 1:24 p.m.
Just a moment please --
Let me also refer to it; Order 113?
Alhaji Muntaka 1:34 p.m.
Mr Speaker, Standing Order 113(2) --

Mr Speaker, I withdraw the request on Standing Order 113(2).
Mr Speaker 1:34 p.m.
Hon Members, item numbered 16 -- Securities Industry (Amendment) Bill, 2020 at the Consideration Stage.
BILLS -- CONSIDERATION 1:34 p.m.
STAGE 1:34 p.m.
Chairman of the Committee (Dr Mark Assibey-Yeboah) 1:34 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I beg to move, clause 1 Opening phrase, l ine 1, delete “(Act 926)” and insert “(Act 929)”.
Question put and amendment agreed to.
Clause 1 as amended ordered to stand part of the Bill.
Clause 2 ordered to stand part of the Bill.
Clause 3 -- Section 37(A) of Act 929 inserted.
Dr Assibey-Yeboah 1:34 p.m.
Mr Speaker, we would withdraw the proposed amendment advertised as item (ii).
Mr Speaker 1:34 p.m.
Item numbered (iii).
Dr Assibey-Yeboah 1:34 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I beg to move, clause 3 Section 37A, subsection (4), line 2, delete “institution” and in line 3, delete “assess” and insert “access”.
It would now read: “A provision of this Act shall not be construed to confer on the respondent in the capacity as apparent, a right to access the information contained within a request for assistance”.
Question put and amendment agreed to.
Clause 3 as amended ordered to stand part of the Bill.
Clause 4 - Section 209 of Act 929 amended.
Mr Speaker 1:34 p.m.
Item numbered (iv).
Dr Assibey-Yeboah 1:34 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I beg to move clause 4 Paragraph (a), subsection (4), line 1, after “person”, insert “breaches or”.
It would now read: “Where a person breaches or fails to comply
…”
Question put and amendment agreed to.
Mr Speaker 1:34 p.m.
Item numbered (v).
Dr Assibey-Yeboah 1:34 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I beg to move, clause 4 Paragraph (b), subsections (5) to (10), delete and insert the following:
“(5) The Commission may in addition to the actions taken in paragraphs (a), (b) or (c) of subsection (4), impose any other administrative penalty that the Commission considers necessary or take any other remedial action that the Commission considers appropriate in the interest of protecting investors and the integrity of the securities market.
(6) Where the non-compliance constitutes a criminal offence under any part of this Act or Regulations, and the accused voluntarily makes an offer of compensation or restitution and reparation in writing to the Commission, the Commission, may without instituting criminal proceedings under section 207 settle the offence in accordance with this Section:
(a)the Commission shall consider whether the offer is acceptable;
(b) where the offer is not acceptable to the Commission, the Commission shall initiate
Mr Speaker 1:44 a.m.
That is the completion of your amendment with regard to clause 4?
Dr Assibey-Yeboah 1:44 a.m.
Then we would delete all that is captured on page 11 --
Mr Speaker 1:44 a.m.
Hon Chairman, could you help me direct the House? We are amending clause 4 as in (iv) and clause 4, as in (v), duly reiterated by the Hon Chairman. The rest are abandoned?
Dr Assibey-Yeboah 1:44 a.m.
Mr Speaker, not necessarily. We would then go to page 12 and delete the first paragraph, all of (g). So, paragraphs (a) to (g) would go and then 7 would stay. In subclause 7, paragraph (b), in line 3, it would be “shall commence proceedings” and not “may”.
Mr Speaker 1:44 a.m.
Very well. Let us deal with clause 4 (5) and in the withdrawal of the cancellation of paragraph (a) to (g), all of that going up to page 12, the words ending with “(Amendment) Act, 2002 (Act 620).
Dr Assibey-Yeboah 1:44 a.m.
Rightly so Mr Speaker. Then we would continue with the --
Mr Speaker 1:44 a.m.
Let us put the Question on that and then we would proceed. We know where we stand now, so we would come to subclause 7 later.
Question put and amendment agreed to.
Mr Speaker 1:44 a.m.
Hon Chairman, you may move the amendment from subclause 7.
Dr Assibey-Yeboah 1:44 a.m.
Mr Speaker, in actual fact, subclause 7 continues and would also be subsections of clause 4. In paragraph (b), line 3, we are deleting “may” and inserting “shall”. That would be the only amendment in there. It would then read:
“b) does not pay the amount within 14 days of the demand to the Commission, the Commission shall commence proceedings against the person in relation to the offence under section 207 of Act 929.”
Question put and amendment agreed to.
Mr Speaker 1:44 a.m.
Hon Chairman, any further amendment?
Dr Assibey-Yeboah 1:44 a.m.
Mr Speaker, there is no further amendment.
Mr Speaker 1:44 a.m.
This means that subclauses 8 to 12 should stand part of the Bill?
Dr Assibey-Yeboah 1:44 a.m.
Rightly so Mr Speaker.
Question put and amendment agreed to.
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 1:44 a.m.
Mr Speaker, I would like to make just a minor consequential amendment. The Hon Chairman proffered under paragraph (iv), the insertion of “breaches of”. So, consequentially, when we came down to clause 4 (6), it should have appropriately read, in line 1: “Where the breach or non- compliance”.
Mr Speaker, it is just that one and I guess you can put the Question.
Question put and amendment agreed to.
Clause 4 as amended ordered to stand part of the Bill.
Dr Assibey-Yeboah 1:44 a.m.
Mr Speaker, I think that now, we can go to the long title.
The Long title ordered to stand part of the Bill.
Mr Speaker 1:44 a.m.
Hon Members, that brings us to the end of the Consideration Stage.
Item numbered 17, Motion by the Hon Minister for Finance.
MOTIONS 1:44 a.m.
Minister for Finance (Mr Ken Ofori-Atta) 1:44 a.m.
Mr Speaker, I beg to move, that notwithstanding the provisions of Standing Order 131(1) which requires that when a Bill has passed through the Consideration Stage, the Third Reading thereof shall not be taken until at least twenty-four hours have elapsed, the Motion for the Third Reading of the Securities Industry (Amendment) Bill, 2020 may be moved today.
Mr Joseph Yieleh Chireh 1:44 a.m.
Mr Speaker, I beg to second the Motion.
Question put and Motion agreed to.
Mr Speaker 1:44 a.m.
Item numbered 18, substantive Motion by the Minister for Finance.
BILLS -- THIRD READING 1:44 a.m.
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 1:54 p.m.
Mr Speaker, we would take item 13 now.
Mr Speaker 1:54 p.m.
Hon Member, you may please move item numbered 12 now.
Hon Members, in view of the business ahead of the House and the time at the moment, I direct that we sit beyond the regular hours.
Suspension of Order 80(1)
Majority Leader (Mr Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu) 1:54 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I beg to move, that notwithstanding the provisions of Standing Order 80(1) which require that no Motion shall be debated until at least forty-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 approval of the Report of the Committee of the Whole on the Report of the Presidential Committee on Emoluments for Article 71 Office Holders (2017-2021) in respect of the Executive may be moved today.
Mr Iddrisu 1:54 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I beg to second the Motion.
Question put and Motion agreed to.
Mr Speaker 1:54 p.m.
Hon Members, it is agreed by the Leadership that the House moves into Closed Sitting in considering items numbered 12 and 13 in accordance with Standing Order 44.
I accordingly direct the Clerk to cause the galleries to be cleared now.
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 1:54 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I think you have given the directive for the galleries to be cleared and when I move Motion numbered as item 13, you may direct that we move into a Closed Sitting. So whiles we are at that - I guess the media houses have not heard you so they are still there, glued to their seats. May I remind you that the Speaker just directed that the galleries be cleared? These galleries include the media gallery.
2.00 p.m. -- Sitting suspended.
3.37 p.m. -- Sitting resumed
CLOSING REMARKS 1:54 p.m.
Mr Speaker 1:54 p.m.
Hon Members, you are all welcome to the closing aspect of our programme. Hon Minority Leader, you may want to start, please.

Iddrisu): Mr Speaker, let me use this opportunity on the occasion of the adjournment of this House, which would naturally transit it into a dissolution of the Seventh Parliament of the Fourth Republic of Ghana to thank you for the opportunity you have provided. You have provided dedicated service to the Parliament of Ghana as Rt Hon Speaker, you have contributed enormously to reforming some aspects of our Parliament with the intension to make it stronger, more transparent and more accountable. I wish you well, and I am sure into midnight, we would know what fate has for all of us. I thank you for your service to Parliament.

Today, the Parliamentary Service is a better institution which has well motivated staff thanks to the revision of Constitutional Instrument (C.I.) 11 to 118 and to a new pay policy. There are efforts by you and the Board to get dedicated pension scheme, matters of long service and others.

Mr Speaker, Parliament as an institution has lived to some of the calling -- not all of it -- as a forum for debate, I maintain that Parliament has been a forum where right and wrong are debated, and right prevails, not partisanship. I want to believe that going forward, we should endeavour to reflect on issues and aspirations of

Ghanaian people, and the want to serve them well.

Mr Speaker, the New Patriotic Party (NPP) Government of President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo took Office on 7th January, 2017, having been voted into office based on his lofty promises of one million dollar one constituency. I am not sure Tamale South or Suame received US$1 million each. It would have been GH¢4 million multiplied by four years, some GH¢16 million.

In my constituency, apart from a borehole, a toilet facility and a warehouse, that promise was not met. They promised to grow the economy on double digits, but it never happened. They promised to improve and borrow responsibly. Today, we are closing the year with the highest debt ever for Ghana. The economy is in recession, and they are quiet about it. The economy have been struggling.

Mr Speaker, our public debt by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) is projected to be at GH¢297 billion, and this does not include payment of principal and amortisation. We are spending about GH¢24 billion on debt service and into 2021, it would even be worse. Their only justification would be because of COVID-19 in Ghana, but COVID- 19 itself have ravaged many economies including Ghana.

Mr Speaker, this Parliament has passed many important legislation including the Special Prosecutor Act and the Vigilantism Act. It still saw persons who were behaving like vigilantes who have not been punished. So, it is not enough passing the laws, but it is activating the law, and having the political will to effect them. There is still graft in Ghana. We saw the blacklisting of our country by the European Union (EU). We have not done enough to punish public officials who are corrupt with the passage of the OSP Act.

Mr Speaker, I would also thank the First and Second Deputy Speakers for their continuous support to you as Rt Hon Speaker of Parliament.

Mr Speaker, I cannot -- I am sure before you would close us, we would observe a minute silence in memory of one of the greatest of our countries presidents and leaders, former President Jerry John Rawlings, who passed on in November, 2020. Having served this Republic, we navigated the difficult waters of transition from military rule to constitutional democratic practice and ushered in the 4th Republic, which has become our main successive Republic. We are now working hard together to build variable and productive institutions. May his soul

rest in perfect peace. His contribution to our country's social, economic and political transformation - We would leave it for historians to write. He made a remarkable contribution to the State. He secured not just the democracy, but the stability and unity of our country. There were many who did not appreciate him, but who now appreciate him in death. These are lessons to learn going forward.

Mr Speaker, we also witnessed what happened in the Government of President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, the largest size of Government ever in this country. I look forward to him down-sizing his Government.

In my view, that elephant size of Government of over 125 ministers should be a thing of the past. That has some financial implication on the public purse, and we must endeavour to reduce the size of Government. This Parliament has an opportunity to do that.

Mr Speaker, as I said, after the Ayawaso West Wuogon by-election, the President formed the Emile Short Commission of Enquiry to look into the matter. We are still in the shadows as to what happened to the Emile Short Commission's Report. No wonder the European Union has observed in the just ended 2020 elections that collation of results was not transparent. In many instances, it
Mr Speaker 1:54 p.m.
Thank you very much, Hon Minority Leader, for your wonderful address.
Hon Majority Leader, please, you may give your address.
Majority Leader (Mr Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu) 3:57 p.m.
Mr Speaker, Hon Colleagues, today marks the end of the Sittings, Meetings and Sessions of the Seventh Parliament of the Fourth Republic, which stands dissolved at midnight of this day, 6th January, 2020, after running its full four-year term. It has been four years of hard work geared towards rebuilding and revitalising the impoverished economy we inherited.
Mr Speaker, the last year of the four-year term of the Seventh Parliament was indeed a stressful one. The novel Coronavirus pandemic (COVID-19), which put countries all over the world in a distressing situation, surfaced in Ghana in March
2020. The COVID-19 pandemic, no doubt, impacted negatively on the discharge of the constitutional mandate of Parliament. Meetings of the House had to be suspended on three occasions - a situation which is unprecedented in the life of the Fourth Republican Parliament. The House, at a point, had to conduct its Sittings with only essential staff.
As Hon Members of Parliament, the discharge of our constitutional mandate requires that we interact physically as a collective body to transact Businesses of the House. We engaged with the citizenry in order to get acquainted, comprehend and represent their interests and needs, and with stakeholders on matters of national importance among others. In all these, contracting the COVID-19 disease was high, and rather disturbing. Notwithstanding, each of us had to brave through the storm to discharge the mandate of the parliamentarian.
Mr Speaker, as we may recall, prior to the 2020 elections, the Electoral Commission (EC) embarked on a mass voter registration exercise on 30th June, 2020 which lasted 36 days with additional two days for mop-up. This was upon the determination by the EC that the previous voters' register was not suitable for use as an electoral register
in the 2020 presidential and general elections, and also after the Supreme Court overruled petitions presented by some groups.
The appropriateness of that act was the demonstrable resilience of the new Data Centre, the functionality of a new Data Recovery Centre and the value-for-money and huge cost savings that the country made in the procurement of the more robust, more efficient and effective biometric registration devices as well as the biometric verification equipment.
Mr Speaker, of particular mention is the Third Meeting of the Fourth Session of the Seventh Parliament which turned out to be extremely stressful. The Meeting was characterised by intermittent suspensions and adjournments occasioned by the 2020 presidential and general elections. During the period, Hon Members had to combine parliamentary work with campaigning in their constituencies in their quest to ensure re-election. They made diligent efforts to ensure the effective execution of parliamentary business amid their electioneering campaigns.
Unfortunately, the difficulties imposed in balancing the business of the Chamber and the purely partisan
constituency activities exacted undeserved tolls on some Hon Members. That was tragic, to say the least. The House shall have to come together on this to save in particular, the brilliant and experienced Hon Members from such happenings in future.
Mr Speaker, the House was recalled from the break after a peaceful election that saw H.E. the President of the Republic, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, emerged victorious. Generally, the 2020 election exercise was a success, perhaps, more successful than had been anticipated. The elections did not witness the number of hitches which hitherto, had characterised elections in Ghana.
Permit me, Mr Speaker, to take this opportunity to commend the EC, political parties, civil society groups, security services, the media, all stakeholders and the people of Ghana for their efforts. I congratulate the citizenry for a generally peaceful and successful elections. Indeed, it is a victory for Ghana.
Mr Speaker, I am not oblivious of cases that have been filed at the courts. It is certainly better to allow due process to determine what the truth is rather than resorting to populism to demand justice from the streets.
Majority Leader (Mr Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu) 3:57 p.m.


many of them, watershed and landmark legislations, would further deepen our governance systems.

I am grateful to the Members of the Winnowing Committee - Hon Ben Abdallah Banda, Hon Inusah Fuseini, Hon Bernard Ahiafor, Hon Joseph Yieleh Chireh, Hon Kwame Anyimadu-Antwi and Hon Shaibu Mahama - for their invaluable contributions to the speedy and smooth passage of Bills during the Seventh Parliament.

Mr Speaker, it is most unfortunate that the next Parliament would no longer be populated by Hon Ben Abdallah Banda, Hon Inusah Fuseini, Hon Joseph Yieleh Chireh and Hon Shaibu Mahama. It would be extremely difficult to immediately find replacements for such persons of monumental industry, dexterity and demonstrable competence and efficiency in particular in the field of legislation.

Mr Speaker, mention must also be made of 199 Instruments, Rules and Regulations which were also introduced in the House and entered into force during the tenure of this Seventh Parliament.

Mr Speaker, as we may recall, on Wednesday, 31st May, 2017, the Hon

Minority Leader moved a half-hour Motion to prevail on the Hon Minister for Finance to provide detailed information on the two billion, two hundred and fifty million United States dollars (US$2.25 billion) bond issued by Government including the full complement of documentation related to the issuance, the participants, the utilisation of the proceeds and the currency in which the bonds were settled.

In response, the Hon Minister for Finance made a Statement on the floor of the House on 7th June, 2017, in which he provided detailed information on the issuance of the bonds. I must acknowledge that the contributions to the Statement by Hon Members is a clear indication that our democracy is evolving.

Mr Speaker, H. E. the President, in September 2018, declared and formally launched the “Year of Return, Ghana 2019” in Washington D.C, United States of America at a programme organised to commemorate 400 years of the arrival of the first enslaved Africans in Jamestown, Virginia, in the United States. The “Year of Return, Ghana 2019” sought to unite Africans in the diaspora with their African brothers and sisters on the continent.

Subsequently, the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture organised a number of programmes and activities which attracted dignitaries from across the World to Ghana. Worthy of mention is the Speaker of the United States House of Representatives, Nancy Patricia Pelosi, members of the United States Congressional Black Caucus, the Prime Minister of Barbados, Rt. Hon. Mia Amor Mottley, an American comedian and actor, Steve Harvey, and Danny Glover, also an American actor.

Mr Speaker, as most of us are aware, Ghana has had a very chequered history of parliamentary democracy. Parliamentary democracy was interrupted with the overthrow of the First Republican Government in a coup d'état on 24th February, 1966. Parliamentary democracy was restored in 1969 under the 1969 Constitution of the Second Republic.

The Second Republican Government was also overthrown on 13th January, 1972 through another coup d'état. Thereafter, Parliament was left in abeyance until 1979 when parliamentary democracy was again restored under the Third Republic. On 31st December, 1981, the Third Republican Parliament was truncated by yet another coup d'état.

Ghana retraced its steps back to constitutional rule on 7th January, 1993 at the instance of a multiple of factors (external and internal), and after the approval in a referendum of the 1992 Constitution. Since the restoration of parliamentary democracy in the Fourth Republic, Ghana has made remarkable strides in entrenching democratic governance. The country has gone through eight democratic elections in the years 1992, 1996, 2000, 2004, 2008, 2012, 2016 and, most recently, in the year 2020.

Mr Speaker, three of these elections -- 2000, 2008 and 2016 general elections -- witnessed a peaceful transition of power from one political party to the other. In any democracy, there are bound to be disagreements. However, Mr Speaker, in agreeing to disagree, the players must be guided by the fundamental consideration of the security and stability of the country.

Mr Speaker, in March 2018, Parliament celebrated 25 years of parliamentary democracy in Ghana. To commemorate this milestone, a number of activities were organised by the House. Notable among them were:

i. A symposium on the theme, “25 Years of Parliamentary Democracy in Ghana --
Majority Leader (Mr Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu) 3:57 p.m.


Challenges and Prospects” which was graced by H.E. the President of the Republic and the President of the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, H. E. Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki; and

ii. A symposium on the topic, “Enhancing Women Political Representation and Participation in the Search for Good Governance and Development in Africa -- Affirmative Action and Beyond” which was delivered by a Member of the East African Legislative Assembly, Hon. Oda Gasinzigwa. The Symposium was graced by the Speaker of the Ugandan Parliament, Rt. Hon. Dr. Rebecca A. Kadaga.

The symposia and other activities organised by Parliament presented us with the opportunity to reflect on our achievements as well as challenges confronting us as a country in our pursuit to deepen our own democratic governance.

Mr Speaker, may I draw attention to one of the challenges confronting Ghana's parliamentary democracy?

Article 78(1) of the 1992 Constitution provides that the majority of Ministers of State appointed by the President shall have to be from among Members of Parliament. There were genuine fears for this constitutional arrangement at the inception of the Fourth Republic.

That arrangement was supposed to stabilise the system, considering the fact that the overthrow of the Third Republic was driven by disagreements between the Hon MPs, for the then ruling party and the Executive and the Legislature of the same party. There is no doubt that that constitutional arrangement has served a useful purpose. However, it is becoming evident that the situation is tending to undermine Parliament's efforts at effectively holding the Executive accountable.

Mr Speaker, although the 1992 Constitution vests legislative power in Parliament, over the years, Hon MPs have not been able to either introduce or pass any Private Member's Bill because of the supposed limitation of article 108 of the Constitution. Article 108 stipulates and I beg to quote:

“Parliament shall not, unless the bill is introduced or the motion is introduced by, or on behalf of, the President --

(a)proceed upon a bill including an amendment to a bill, that, in the opinion of the person presiding, makes provision for any of the following --

i. the imposition of taxation or the alteration of taxation otherwise than by reduction; or

ii. the imposition of a charge on the Consolidated Fund or other public funds of Ghana or the alteration of any such charge otherwise than by reduction; or

iii. the payment, issue or withdrawal from the Consolidated Fund or other public funds of Ghana of any moneys not charged on the Consolidated Fund or any increase in the amount of that payment, issue or withdrawal;

iv. the composition or remission of any debt due to the Government of Ghana; or

(b) proceed upon a motion, including an amendment to a motion, the effect of which,

in the opinion of the person presiding, would be to make provision for any of the purpose specified in paragraph (a) of this article.

The provision has been upheld by various Speakers as a limitation on the exercise of the legislative power of Parliament. Parliament's inability to introduce a Private Member's Bill, as envisaged under article 108 of the Constitution, has been persistent. The situation had plagued all the Parliaments since the inception of the 4th Republic of Ghana with the exception of the Seventh Parliament.

For the first time in the annals of our history, the Seventh Parliament of the 4th Republican Parliament passed two Private Member's Bills. They are:

i. Public Health (Amendment) Bill, 2020.

ii. Road Traffic (Amendment) Bill, 2020.

The Public Health (Amendment) Bill, 2020 was jointly sponsored by my humble self, the Hon Minority Leader, Hon Haruna Iddrissu, Hon Joseph Yieleh Chireh and Hon Alexander Kwamina Afenyo-Markin while the Road Traffic (Amendment) Bill, 2020 was also presented by myself, the Hon Minority Leader, Mr
Majority Leader (Mr Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu) 3:57 p.m.


Mr Speaker, on Thursday, 12th November, 2020, this country again woke up to the sad and shocking transition of the former President of the Republic, Flt. Lt. Jerry John Rawlings. May I, on behalf of the House, once again express our deepest condolences to the wife, children, the family and the entire country. I am certain that at the appropriate time, the 8th Parliament will pay a befitting tribute in his honour.

Mr Speaker, a good mind, they say, lives in a healthy body. It is therefore important that Hon MPs stay fit and healthy to discharge their mandate effectively. For this reason, a gymnasium with state-of-the-art equipment was inaugurated on Thursday, 20th December, 2018, to promote good health among Hon Members and staff of the Parliamentary Service. Unfortunately, not too many of us access the facilities in the gymnasium and I would want to plead that we submit ourselves. After all, we need to be healthy to perform our responsibilities.

Mr Speaker, office facilities under the Physical Infrastructural Enhancement Project of Parliament was inaugurated by H. E. the President of the Republic on Tuesday, 4th November, 2020. The Project comprises the construction of:

i. Job 600 Office Complex Annex.

ii. Chamber Support Services Block.

iii. Drivers' Waiting Centre.

iv. Visitors' Waiting Centre.

Once again, Government, your good self - Mr Speaker, and Hon Colleague members of the Leadership of the House deserve commendation for conceptualising and executing the projects toward addressing the office infrastructural needs of Parliament.

Mr Speaker, as part of the efforts geared towards taking Parliament closer to the people, the Seventh Parliament, through its Public Affairs Department, and in collaboration with GTV Govern, commenced a TV series dubbed “Parliament in its Own Words” and “The Speaker in his Own Words”. It is also worthy of mention that the Seventh Parliament introduced the simultaneous sign language interpretation in the Chamber in an effort at bringing Parliament closer to the people.

Mr Speaker, the high attrition that the Fourth Republican Parliament suffers is tragic and is a matter that should be of grave concern to all political parties. The attrition rate

proves to be detrimental to the work of the House. Permit me to reiterate that, there is nowhere in the world in entrenched democracies where at the end of the life of a Parliament, the sluice gates are opened for all and sundry. It does not exist anywhere in the world. Democracy everywhere is guided and guarded.

Mr Speaker, if this phenomenon is not dealt with, it may undermine political continuity, the achievement of long-term political goals and the robustness of public policies and programmes. It may also lead to erratic law making as Parliament is deprived of the accumulation of legislative skills and experience. Every four years, we witness the rather unfortunate exit of experienced Members of the House. As I have indicated on some platforms, practice, they say, makes perfect, and repetition is the mother of all learning.

For the next Parliament, the House will have as many as 123 new members. Of the 275 MPs today, more than one half already are fresh Members. The New Patriotic Party (NPP), the Majority group in the Seventh Parliament, with 169 membership had 89 new entrants. For the 137 that will be entering the 8th Parliament on the ticket of the New

Patriotic Party (NPP), 79 are continuing members and 58 are new members. Equally, for the 137 that will be part of the next Parliament on the ticket of the New Democratic Congress (NDC), 65 of them are new members. This definitely does not augur well for the growth of Parliament.

Building the capacity of Hon Members takes considerable time as competence usually comes with practice and experience. It is for this reason that I reiterate for the umpteenth time that the very high attrition rate of MPs does not help to build a strong legislature. Political parties, especially the NPP and NDC need to do serious introspection in their selection processes. Let those who have ears listen.

Mr Speaker, given how far we have come and the significant strides we have made as Parliament, the future definitely holds great prospects for us as we put the necessary systems in place to sustain our parliamentary democracy. In this regard, there is the need to pay critical attention to the following:

i. Strengthened Governance: For a parliamentary democratic system to persist and flourish, there is the need for both sides of the political
Mr Speaker 4:02 a.m.
The 1st Deputy Speaker, Hon Joseph Osei-Owusu, the 2nd Deputy Speaker, Hon. Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin, the Hon Majority Leader and Minister for Parliamentary Affairs, Dr. Nana Sompahene Osei Kyei-Mensah- Bonsu, the Hon Minority Leader, Alhaji Haruna Iddrisu Hon. Ministers of State herein present, the Clerk to Parliament, Senior Management and Staff of the Parliamentary Service, Members of the Parliamentary Press Corps, Distinguished Ladies and Gentlemen, an important statutory activity preceding the dissolution of the Seventh Parliament of the Fourth Republic took place in the House yesterday.
The President of the Republic, His Excellency, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo discharged the statutory
function required of him by article 67 of the 1992 Constitution to present to the House, his Message of the State of the Nation prior to the dissolution of this House. We thank the President for his commendation to this Parliament and I quote, “this Seventh Parliament has been the busiest ever, and, arguably the most productive in the history of our country.”
Pursuant to Article 113 of the Constitution, this House stands dissolved by the midnight of Wednesday, 6th January, 2021. Four years ago, Hon Members of this House, reposed trust in me and elected me to the high office as Speaker of the House. With humility, I accepted the stewardship which I deemed as “home coming'' after a two-term stint as the Hon Member for the Dome-Kwabenya Constituency and the Second Deputy Speaker. I have since lived the expectation of trailing the path pursued by another Osu “home boy'' and legal luminary, the Rt. Hon Emmanuel Charles Quist of blessed memory. The trail was followed thereafter by Rt. Hon. Justice Griffiths-Randolph.
I thank the Almighty God whose favour and mercies have brought me this far. The good Lord has endowed me with the needed strength, fortitude
Mr Speaker 4:02 a.m.


and guidance to serve this House to the best of my ability and I thank Him.

Hon. Members, my stewardship for the past years, I hope, has met the expectation of being fair and firm in the application of the rules and procedures of the House to all. I have had the privilege to superintend over a House which has generally been very supportive. Consultations and consensus have been resorted to in times of apparent tension. I have been spared the ordeal of overseeing a rancorous House and I would like to render my sincerest appreciation to the Leadership of the House and indeed, the backbench for managing to build bridges in times of need.

Together we banned catcalls, placards and allied activities which constituted an embarrassment to the House, especially during Presidential addresses. This should remain a prestigious legacy in this honourable House. I can only hope, this cordiality and conviviality could be maintained in advancing the course of deepening our parliamentary democracy.

Hon. Members, our ability to deepen the democratic practice is to forge ahead as a united people with a common destiny.

History teaches us that conflicts on the political turf neither inure to the

benefit of the vocal complainants nor the silent on-looking segment of the population. We owe it a duty to the present generation and generations yet unborn, to ensure that as a people, we eschew unguarded utterances, barefaced insults, individual whims and open vituperative attacks of anyone to divert the course and desire for the peace and development of our dear country.

Today, we seek the blessings of the Lord in the resolution of problems plaguing our country. We also need to adhere to democratic tenets, principles of good governance including accountability and the rule of law in spite of how difficult that choice will cost us. Since 7th January, 2017, we have collectively made it our duty to see to it that Parliament effectively performs its cardinal functions of representation, oversight of the Executive arm of Government and law making.

Hon Members, major achievements in the 7th Parliament include:

1. Standing orders.

The Standing Orders which are the basic operative manual of the rules and procedures of the House have been comprehensively reviewed. The review exercise was to remedy the

structural and procedural gaps for increased transparency and accountability for Parliament to improve its oversight of the Executive and other Constitutional bodies. The exercise which started since Rt. Hon Peter Ala Adjetey's time has now been completed under my tenure.

2. Private Members' Bills

The controversy relating to the interpretation of Article 108 of the Constitution which provides that once a bill has financial implications, it can only be introduced by the Executive has been resolved under my stewardship.

In my inaugural address, I bemoaned the shackles that have strangulated this very important tool for law-making and the socio- economic re-engineering of our society. My call for the broadening of our horizon in the law-making process to benefit our people has been realised.

On 18th December, 2020, the House passed the first ever Private Members' Bill, i.e. the Road Traffic (Amendment) Bill, 2020. This opens a big door for the public to participate in Parliamentary Business. It is my hope that more will be passed in the future.

I am grateful to both the Majority Leader, Hon Osei Kyei-Mensah- Bonsu and the Minority Leader, Hon Haruna Iddrisu, who played active roles in the adoption of the principle by Parliament that Private Members' Bills should be employed to fill in the gaping gaps in our Laws in order to reflect to the needs of the good people of Ghana. Hon. Ras Mubarak and Hon. Ben Abdallah Banda deserve credit in this regard.

I reckon with admiration, the support of all the Hon. Members who have initiated various Private Members' Bills on an array of subjects. I thank our sponsors STAR- Ghana Foundation, the active involvement of Think Tanks, some senior Editors of the Media ; Nana Dr. S. K. B. Asante ; the Hon Learned Deputy Attorney-General ; Lawyer Godfred Dame ; Former Director, Legislative Drafting Division of the Attorney-General's Office, Mrs. Sabina Ofori - Boateng ; the Executive Director of Ghana Centre for Democratic Development (CDD- Ghana) Professor Kwasi Prempeh, and other experts whom I invited to contribute to the process.

3. Business of the House.

The House presided over Six Hundred and Ninety-Nine (699) Plenary Sittings and accepted over
Mr Speaker 4:02 a.m.


Four Thousand, Two Hundred and Fifty-Nine (4,259) Papers. Debates in Plenary during the period were well researched. In total, One Hundred and Twenty-Three (123) Bills were passed into Law.

4. Institutional Reforms

Institutional reforms established to improve the work of the House during the 7th Parliament include:

Parliamentary Reforms Office,

Clinical Psychology Unit,

Legal Services Department with a unit dedicated to Legislative Drafting ; and

Budget and Fiscal Analysis Office.

5. Medical Equipment

The Parliament House Medical Centre received new medical equipment including:

Hematology analyzer;

Electrolyte analyzer;

Automated chemistry analyzer Glycated analyzer;

HB electrophoresis machine and

PSA analyzer

The centre became well-equipped thereafter to cater for existing MPs and Staff, former MPs and retired Staff of the Service. In the future, our Medical Centre will grow to become a full-fledged hospital.

6. Gymnasium

The institution also furnished the gymnasium with state of the art equipment.

7. Welfare

Welfare initiatives during the 7th Parliament include:

50 houses under a loan scheme for staff of the Parliamentary Service have been acquired by some staff at Rehoboth Knightsbridge Housing Facility at Kwabenya for the first time in the history of this Institution,

Staff promotions which had stagnated for over 15-20 years were resolved and now Staff morale is sky high.

End of Service benefits for staff have been implemented.

The introduction of special transportation allowances for categories of Middle to Junior Level Staff.

First ever institution-specific pension scheme has been implemented and

An award scheme for journalists of the Parliamentary Press Corps, also implemented.

8. Physical Infrastructure Enhancement Projects

With the able support of the Parliamentary Service Board, we constructed four (4) key buildings. They include:

Offices for additional MPs (Job 600 Annex),

Chamber Support Services Block;

Drivers' Waiting Centre;

Visitors' Waiting Centre;

9. Debt Cancellation Initiative & Advocacy

The Rt. Hon Speaker held a series of international engagements with development partners and diplomats
Mr Speaker 4:47 a.m.
Parliament of the Fourth Republic of Ghana.
With an increase in budgetary allocation of 56.6 per cent to the Seventh Parliament, I would like to use this opportunity the express my profound appreciation to President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo for his consistent support to Parliament, especially, on the issue of assisting the House to earmark the Parliamentary Enclave.
I am equally grateful to the entire Executive, the Judiciary and other Constitutional bodies for their support to the Seventh Parliament.
I also thank the Clerk to Parliament, Mr. Cyril Kwabena Oteng Nsiah and his Deputies, Senior Management and Staff of the Parliamentary Service, for their remarkable services rendered to the House.
To our friends from the Media and the Parliamentary Press Corps, we appreciate your hard-work and professionalism.
Hon Members, it is my utmost pleasure and privilege to have served you as the Speaker of the Seventh Parliament of the Fourth Republic.
God bless the Parliament of Ghana,
And make our nation great and strong!
God bless us all!
I thank you very much!

Hon Majority Leader, I am told that before we finally rise, you would want to correct a little defect in the Resolution numbered 8.
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 4:47 a.m.
Yes, Mr Speaker. It has to do with the Resolution that we adopted this morning, captured as item numbered 8 on pages 4 and 5 of today's Order Paper.
The amount, US$162,931,563.27 stated there makes it appear as if the a new facility is being procured for this enterprise which is not so. This loan facility and the outstanding amount which ought to have been captured is about US$38.8 million. The Hon Chairman of the Finance Committee is not here, but I think that in his absence, Hon Dr A. A. Osei
who was part of the consideration could provide some illumination. It is just for the record that we want to do this.
Mr Speaker 4:47 a.m.
They move that the Resolution should be amended to the sum stated.
Yes, Hon Minority Leader?
Mr Iddrisu 4:47 a.m.
Mr Speaker, I see on page 10 in the Committee's Report that the amount is US$38.8 million, so that should remind the Hon Minister for Monitoring and Evaluation that when we say we need time to thoroughly peruse documents and numbers, they should give us the opportunity to do so. When they stampede us, US$38.8 million becomes US$162 million. The correction can be done but this is the very reason we always ask for time.
Dr A. A. Osei 4:47 a.m.
Mr Speaker, the Hon Minority Leader has seen precisely where the mistake came from and I apologise. I was late earlier, and so I did not catch this until I came in. When you read the Resolution, it is as if somebody is going to borrow an addition US$162.8 million which is not true. The first loan that was taken was about US$175 million back in 2012. An amount of US$136 million has been
paid to the company. If those who have the Reports could make a reference to what the Hon Minority Leader was saying, it is very clear.
Mr Speaker 4:47 a.m.
Hon Minister, what figure are we resolving on now?
Dr A. A. Osei 4:47 a.m.
Mr Speaker, I want the Resolution on pages 4 and 5 of the Order Paper to be amended to reflect paragraph 5.5 as in the Committee's Report. The amount is US$38.8 million which is left over be used to complete the --
Mr Speaker 4:47 a.m.
Please read the entire amount for us.
Dr A. A. Osei 4:47 a.m.
Mr Speaker, it is US$38.8 million to complete the three projects. It is important that we add those three projects namely, Fomena, Kumawu and European Hospital in Takoradi Housing.
Alhaji I. A. B. Fuseini 4:47 a.m.
Mr Speaker, I am not sure about what we are doing in this House after your Closing Remarks and pronouncements. So, I am actually -
- 4:47 a.m.
Mr Speaker 4:47 a.m.
I gave the time it would be dissolved at midnight.
Alhaji I. A. B. Fuseini 4:47 a.m.
Mr Speaker, because you have --
Mr Speaker 4:47 a.m.
So, it does not stand dissolved yet.
Alhaji I. A. B. Fuseini 4:47 a.m.
Mr Speaker, if you could hear me, because you have made a pronouncement that the House stands adjourned - [Interruption] The pronouncement has been made.
Mr Speaker, what I am hearing is that you have not adjourned? [Interruption] Very well. If Mr Speaker has not said so, then I withdraw.
Mr Kpodo 4:47 a.m.
Mr Speaker, I second the Motion amending the Resolution.
Question put and Motion agreed to.
Resolved accordingly.
Mr Speaker 4:47 a.m.
Hon Members, we shall rise. The House stands adjourned sine die.
DISSOLUTION 4:47 a.m.
MINISTRY OF HEALTH 4:47 a.m.
Mr K. S. Acheampong 6:05 p.m.
Mr Speaker, there is no advertised amendment but I have a request from
-- 6:05 p.m.
Mr Speaker 6:05 p.m.
Hon Chairman, which clause are you talking about?
Mr K. S. Acheampong 6:05 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I am talking about clause 13. I want to add a new subclause of “paragraph (f)” after paragraph (e).
Mr Speaker 6:05 p.m.
Hon Chairman, you may have to make your mind up fast.
Mr K. S. Acheampong 6:05 p.m.
Mr Speaker, it is a further amendment.
Mr Speaker, I beg to move that clause 13, subclause 2, add the following new paragraph after paragraph (e):
(f) “Legal Directorate”.
Mr K. S. Acheampong 6:15 p.m.


National Signals Bureau Bill, 2020 - Consideration Stage

Mr Speaker, to allow a police officer of as low a rank as Superintendent -- even the Inspector General of Police (IGP) should not be allowed. Let the court do it so that we know that it is within the confines of the law. That is what we did in the Cybersecurity Bill, 2020.

Mr Speaker, let us be consistent. We must not allow that in the case of the Cybersecurity Bill, 2020 one would have to go to court but in the case of the National Signals Bureau Bill, 2020, a Police Superintendent could do it. [Interruption] -- That is what the paragraph (c) is saying. So, we should leave it at paragraphs (a) and (b). With that, one would have to go and apply to the Court and when the courts see that there is some justification, they could allow one to do it but not a police officer. We all know how they have been operating. Let us not allow that.

I thank you, Mr Speaker.
Mr Speaker 6:15 p.m.
Hon Chairman of the Committee, patiently, in