Debates of 15 Jan 2021

MR SPEAKER
PRAYERS 12:28 p.m.
Mr Speaker 12:28 p.m.
Hon Members, before I proceed, let me acknowledge with great appreciation, the patience and comportment of Hon Members. I am grateful to you for having taken a
long time in trying to sort out a few things before the commencement of Business today. Please, I urge you to continue this way, and I am sure that the good Lord himself would be pleased with us.
Hon Members, I would move on to the items on the Order Paper for today. I would take the item numbered 2 -- Formal Communication by the Speaker.
Hon Members, I have received a communication from His Excellency the President, which is dated 14th January, 2021, and addressed to me, for the attention of the House.
ANNOUNCEMENTS 12:28 p.m.
Mr Haruna Iddrisu (NDC -- Tamale South) 1:18 p.m.
Rt Hon Speaker of the Eighth Parliament, Hon Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin, I am pleased and heartily want to congratulate you on the assumption of the high office of the Speaker of Parliament of the Eighth Parliament. I wish you well and I wish you every success.
Mr Speaker, permit me to paraphrase one of your own words and three from President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo. In your submission, you quoted him, contributing to advance the progress of our country. That should be our collective challenge as a people. How do we contribute to advance the progress of our country? How do you contribute as the Rt Hon Speaker and how do I contribute as an Hon Member of Parliament to advancing the progress of Ghana? Naturally, this should be contingent to ensure peace and stability in our country and working tirelessly to better the lot and improve the quality of life of the Ghanaian.
Mr Speaker, you have come to this House with enormous and perhaps, unparalleled experience as a legislator and law maker of our Republic. The passion with which you served the people of Nadowli/Kaleo for those long years, is now equalled by the Hon Member for Suame, Mr Osei Kyei- Mensah-Bonsu, if he completes his eighth term.
Mr Speaker, you have come to it with enormous experience and I trust that the Parliament of Ghana would be stronger, more transparent, more accountable and more importantly, more responsive to the needs and aspirations of the Ghanaian people.
Mr Speaker, now, I want to quote you. You have a duty to lead this House to end that consternation you referred to and you need the support of Members of this House to do that. So, whiles I congratulate you, I would urge you and our Hon Colleagues to note that collectively, we have a duty. A duty to repair the reputation of this Parliament. To borrow another word, perhaps a duty to polish that which has been tarnished in terms of how we conducted ourselves in the process which led to your election as the Rt Hon Speaker.
However, what must be respected is that the sanctity of the secrecy of
the ballot which is a requirement under the 1992 Constitution and also borrowed in our Standing Orders, must at all times be respected and upheld by all of us in the promotion of deeper democratic ethos and values.

Understandably, I am informed that the distinguished Member for Fomena has decided to do business with the NPP Caucus. Doing business, in my view, does not represent joining a political party and I say so within the context of article 97 and guided by that authoritative statement of rules and interpretation where he says:

‘‘expressio unius est exclusio alterius'' rule;

independent is independent and political party is political party.

Mr Speaker, while congratulating you, permit me to say that, the Hon
Mr Haruna Iddrisu (NDC -- Tamale South) 1:18 p.m.
Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu, in the Seventh Parliament had it easy because he had comfort of numbers. This time, he does not -- [Hear! Hear!] And he cannot procure nor add to it other than the cooperation and support from the Member for Fomena. There is nothing more.
Mr Speaker, so, what he must understand is that he would need this Side, however we are referred to, going forward. I need not even reference portions of the Constitution but any of them can read articles 11, 268 and 174; they would require two-thirds majority. They do not have that and they would need us going forward! [Hear! Hear!] That is why they must tolerate and respect us going forward no matter what. I can mention ten more articles from the Constitution.

Mr Speaker, on matters relating to whoever invited the military into the Chamber, going forward, we would demand an inquiry into it in order that it never ever happens again as you

have assured. [Hear! Hear!] It is only democracies that have Parliaments and we have a duty to jealously protect and grow our democracy.

Mr Speaker, as I have repeatedly said, Parliament remains the forum where right versus wrong is debated. The Ghanaian people voted in December that when we debate right and wrong, let right prevail and not partisanship and that they would want to see an end to the divisiveness in our country. They would want to see an end to the polarisation in our country; they would want to see an end to the extensive partisanship in our country; and that we hold strong together our democratic values and ethos.

Mr Speaker, I can only wish you well, success and trust that you would moderate debates impartially and neutrally as you indicated and rule on matters of procedure. I cannot conclude without saying that this House, and I am probably sure my Hon Colleague would touch it, would have to take a rapid action on our rules of procedure and Standing Orders.

I must admit that we are almost at the concluding stages of adopting the new Standing Orders for ourselves, thanks to the Hon Osei Kyei- Mensah-Bonsu as Majority Leader

and Prof. Oquaye as Speaker of the Seventh Parliament. I recall the last meeting chaired by the First Deputy Speaker of Parliament. But I wish to to assure my Colleague that we disagreed only on a matter of procedure. While it was his argument that we could adopt it merely by resolution, I reminded him, and I am compelled to quote article 11 (7) of the 1992 Constitution with your indulgence. Article 11 (7) is on the hierarchy of laws and with your permission, I quote:

“Any order, rule or regulation made by a person or authority under a power conferred by the Constitution or any other law shall --

(a)be laid before Parliament;

(b) be published in the Gazette on the day it is laid before Parliament; and

(c) come into force at the expiration of twenty-one sitting days…”

So, there is a matter of procedure and I assure him that I have no objection; neither do Colleagues on my side have any objection towards adopting improved Standing Orders

for this House. So, we should pursue it with rapid action. The disagreement was with the procedure for its adoption; whether it should go through the requirement in article 11 (7) or by resolution.

Mr Speaker, so once again, I would want to congratulate you. I have faith in you. I have known and worked with you and I trust that at the end of January 2025, if God gives you good health and long life and you serve this country with wisdom and experience, our Parliament and good governance architecture would only be the beneficiary of your enormous and unparalleled experience. You owe it to the President and the people of Ghana to work to advance the progress of Ghana.Once again, congratulations!
Mr Speaker 1:18 p.m.
Hon Members, may we now listen to the Hon Member for Suame, Mr Osei Kyei- Mensah-Bonsu.
Mr Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu (NPP -- Suame) 1:18 p.m.
Mr Speaker, on the occasion of your coronation as the Speaker of the Eighth Parliament, I beg on behalf of the Majority Caucus, soon to be declared majority caucus- [Uproar]
Mr Speaker 1:18 p.m.
Order! Order!
Mr Speaker 1:18 p.m.
Hon Members, let me repeat, the ability to catch the eye of the Speaker includes good behaviour. [Laughter] So, I am taking notes of the happenings in the House. The House would soon be broadcast live and your families, your kinsmen and children would all be observing you on the Floor and then we would see whether you would continue not to exhibit parliamentary behaviour. So, Hon Members, let us listen to the Hon Member for Suame in silence.
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 1:28 p.m.
Mr Speaker, as I began by indicating, on the occasion of your coronation as the Speaker of the Eighth Parliament, I rise on behalf of the Caucus that is soon to be cleared as the Majority Caucus, and on my own part, to express our congratulations to you.
Mr Speaker, for 28 continuous years of your adult life, you have rendered service as an Hon Member of Parliament to this country. You hold the record that is going to be extremely difficult to break -- that is, 28 years of continuous good service to this country.
I know that some Hon Members who began with you got their stay in this House truncated but they have recycled themselves. I do not know whether they would have the good fortune to match your record, much more to break it.
Mr Speaker, you are not one of the Hon Members of Parliament who have just walked through Parliament for all these years. You have positively impacted the development of Parliamentary democracy since entering Parliament. From your days as Hon Chairman of the Constitu- tional, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs Committee through your position as the Hon Minority Leader for eight years, Majority Leader for a total of four years, Minister of State for two ministries and Hon Second Deputy Speaker in the Seventh Parliament and now by the Mighty Hand of Divine Providence to experience a second transmogrification in your life.
Mr Speaker 1:28 p.m.
I am still a human being.
[Laughter] --
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 1:28 p.m.
Mr Speaker, it is most unfortunate as you related to, that the processes leading to your ascension to the High Office of the third Citizen of this country was
characterised by unfortunate, regrettable and indeed, reprehensible incidents. This House must work together to ensure that these unfortunate events do not recur in any form or shape. These events and conduct must not be accorded space for any further procreation.
Mr Speaker, it is my considered opinion is that this House must move strictly to overcome this initial misstep and focus on partnering government to develop the country in unity and tranquillity and indeed, secure for ourselves and posterity, the blessings of liberty, equality of opportunity and prosperity as contained in the preamble of the 1992 Constitution.
The closeness of the numbers of the caucuses imposes an obligation to deepen consultation in our pursuit of good democratic governance that is foundationed on probity and accountability.
Mr Speaker, on behalf of the caucus that I lead, I assure you of our commitment in honesty and sincerity to work diligently with you to realise the policy objectives contained in the directive principles of state policy, in particular the realisation of basic human rights, a healthy economy, the right to work, the right to good health
care and the right to education. The people of Ghana deserve nothing less.
Let me also congratulate your two Hon Deputy Speakers on their election as your First and Second Deputies. I believe that together, this Parliament can and indeed, must set new standards in our national development agenda.
I would also afford myself the opportunity to congratulate all continuing Hon Members and new entrants, who, on 7th of January, were sworn-in as Members of the Eighth Parliament. I believe that the Hon Members will apply themselves to the duties and functions of Members of Parliament including, in particular, as you have once again related to, the duties of representation, deliberation, information dissemination, legislation, power of persuasion, oversight, conflict resolution, ratification of treaties, protocols and conventions.
Mr Speaker, I believe that Hon Members of Parliament will come to appreciate that we are not agents of development. Accordingly, many of the Hon Members of Parliament herein assembled, may have to go back and edit the messages on their billboards and commit themselves to the functions of Parliament and Parliamentarians which does not
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 1:38 p.m.
include development; that is acting as agents of developments.
This is your maiden Statement in the House and in the spirit of cooperation and collaboration, it will be inappropriate to attempt to litigate even portions of the Statement that you made, in particular relating to the figures that you quoted as having supported your election.
Mr Speaker, with respect, I may disagree with that. However, as I said, in the spirit of providing ourselves a new beginning, I would not want to further comment on that even though as I have said, I disagree with the figures you stated.
In the Seventh Parliament, even with the huge numbers that we had; 169 as opposed to 106, the then Majority Side on any typical day, needed the cooperation and indeed, collaboration of the Minority Side, especially the Leadership of the Minority, and we did just that.
Mr Speaker, in the history of this Parliament, I am not aware of any Leader in this House who has reached out to the other Side as I have done --[Uproar] -- and my Hon Colleague -- Mr Cletus Avoka is here as well as your good self and you will testify that in the history of
this Parliament, you opened our eyes wide and we made consultations - my Hon Colleague; Haruna Iddrisu would attest to that fact , notwithstanding whatever people say outside.
The Caucus that I lead and indeed, the Hon Member for Fomena is not oblivious of the constitutional provision relating to this doing business with the NPP Caucus. That is why he was very careful in his choice of words and it does not amount to cross carpet but doing business with the NPP Caucus. That understandably gave the NPP Caucus one more additional seat in the conduct of Business in this House. -- [Interruption] --
Mr Speaker, therefore, without any equivocation, we would constitute the Majority Caucus in this House -- [Uproar] -- I agree with the Hon Minority Leader on this issue about the approval of the new Standing Orders.

Mr Speaker, I was clear in my mind on what we ought to do .Indeed, all the processes that we have adopted in approving Standing Orders in this House, beginning 1993, never came to be subjected to article 11(7) of the Constitution. It was for a good reason and it is the reason all the Standing

Orders were approved by Motion in plenary. If we have to go that route and apply ourselves to that vehicle then we would not have a problem.

Mr Speaker, the reason is that that route quoted by my Hon Colleague would suggest to us that there must be a parent Act from which would ensue Regulations, Instruments and Orders. That Parent Act of 1965 has no provision for the introduction of Standing Orders and it would mean that if we have to go that route, we may have to amend that Parent Act. I thought that if we apply ourselves to the process that we had done, it would even shorten the route for us.

Mr Speaker, I believe that if we apply ourselves to that route, then within a maximum of two weeks , we should be able to adopt the new Standing Orders, but if Hon Members insist that we should go the route of article 11(7), then we would run into turbulence. That is why I have always advised that we need to really apply ourselves to a Motion so that we

would circumvent the process as has always been done so that we move forward to adopt the new Standing Orders, which in my view would reposition Parliament in the conduct of business in the House. I have no inhibitions as to the direction to go in this regard.

Mr Speaker, once again, I congratulate you and your deputies on your elevation and because we are all beginning a new term, I wish all Hon Members a good and healthy stay in this Parliament. Mr Speaker, I thank you most enormously for the space accorded me. Thank you very much.
Mr Speaker 1:38 p.m.
Hon Members, I received a letter from one of your Hon Colleagues, Mr Andrew Asiamah Amoako, the Hon Member for Fomena Constituency and he is the Hon Member who is holding the balance in this House. Hon Members, I would proceed to read the content of the letter to all of you.
Following is the letter attached:
ANNOUNCEMENTS 1:38 p.m.
Mr Speaker 1:38 p.m.
Hon Members, with this official declaration to the House, the House would accord him the space to do as he has stated. Whatever the Hon Member had said outside was of no effect so far as the business of the House is concerned. Therefore, he had to do it officially for it to be read and captured in the Hansard.
So, we now have the New Patriotic Party Caucus in Parliament together with the Independent Member of Parliament for Fomena Constituency constituting the Majority group.
An Hon Member 1:38 p.m.
Ah! You are desperate for a win indeed. Is that all?
‘E be desperation do you so'.
Some NPP Caucus Members: Father O' Father! Father O' Father!!
An Hon Member 1:38 p.m.
Every win is a win.
An Hon Member 1:38 p.m.
You are just a majority group and not caucus. Premature ejaculation.
Mr Speaker 1:48 p.m.
Hon Members, shouts of this nature would not be
tolerated. When you speak in this House, you are speaking to the Speaker or addressing the Speaker.

When you want to speak to an Hon Colleague of this House, you whisper so that others who are not close to you would not hear what you are saying.

You are permitted to signal each other and move to the corridors of the House to have private conversations, but on the floor of the House, it is not permitted to shout, particularly when we use unparlia- mentary words. Please, I would not repeat what I stated this morning, but let us conduct ourselves with decency, decorum and dignity.

We are not called Hon Members for nothing. I would by all means give you all the latitude to debate. That, I would not constrain, but I would not entertain the use of words which are unbecoming of the dignity of this House. I am not the one using the term; it is in the Constitution. We are in early days yet. Sometimes we allow these to pass, but please, discontinue it.

I see Hon Armah-Kofi Buah itching to say a word. Are we out of order? Yes, Hon Member?
Mr Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah 1:48 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I have nothing to say. Thank you.
Mr Speaker 1:48 p.m.
Hon Members, we now move to item numbered 3 on the Order Paper; Correction of Votes and Proceedings and Official Report. We would start with correction of Votes and Proceedings. We would be looking at the Votes and Proceedings of Thursday, 7th January, 2021.
VOTES AND PROCEEDINGS AND THE OFFICIAL REPORT 1:48 p.m.
rose
Mr Adjei 1:48 p.m.
Mr Speaker, on page
3 --
Mr Speaker 1:48 p.m.
Hon Member, I would want to plead with you that since this is our first time, when you are able to catch my eye, kindly mention your name and constituency. I think that would be a good beginning, for us to know each other. Yes, Hon Member?
Mr Kwasi Boateng Adjei 1:48 p.m.
Thank you, Mr Speaker.
Mr Speaker, my name is Kwasi Boateng Adjei, the Hon Member of Parliament for New Juaben North. The “Adjei” is spelt wrongly as “Agyei”. Mine is “A-D-J-E-I”. I drew the Table Office's attention to it the last time.
Mr Speaker 1:48 p.m.
Table Office to take note.
Page 3 -- 4 …
Mr Andrew Asiamah Amoako 1:48 p.m.
Mr Speaker, on item numbered 79, the name has appeared with “Asiamah” as the surname instead of “Amoako”. I pray that it is addressed.
Thank you, Mr Speaker.
Mr Speaker 1:48 p.m.
You said the “Asiamah” is not the surname? What is the surname?
Mr Amoako 1:48 p.m.
Mr Speaker, the surname is “Amoako”, but it appeared as “Asiamah”, and I would want it to be corrected.
Mr Speaker 1:48 p.m.
The Table Office to take note.
Mr Benjamin Narteh Ayiku 1:48 p.m.
Mr Speaker, on page 5, item numbered 196, my surname is rather “Ayiku” and not “Nartey”. The Narteh is spelt
“N-A-R-T-E-H”.
Mr Speaker 1:48 p.m.
The Table Office to take note.
Page 4 --
Hon Members, I have so many of you on your feet.
Mr Abednego Azumah Bandim 1:48 p.m.
Mr Speaker, with reference to item numbered 93 , my surname is “Bandim” and not “Azumah”. So the surname should be “Bandim” and not “Azumah”.
Mr Speaker 1:48 p.m.
Table Office, take note of the correction.
Yes, Hon Member?
Mr Joseph Frempong 1:48 p.m.
Mr Speaker, with reference to item numbered 138 on page 4, my surname is “Frempong” and not “Frimpong”.
Mr Speaker 1:48 p.m.
Yes, Hon Member?
Mr Stephen Jalulah 1:48 p.m.
Mr Speaker, my name is Stephen Jalulah but on item numbered 159, the name is wrongly spelt as “Jawula”. The right spelling is “J-A-L-U-L-A-H”.
Mr Speaker 1:48 p.m.
Table Office, please take note of the correction.
Yes, Hon Member?
Ms Zuwera Mohammed Ibrahimah 1:48 p.m.
My surname is “Ibrahimah”. It is item numbered
“191”.
Mr Speaker 1:48 p.m.
The Table Office to take note of the correction.
Ms Ibrahimah 1:48 p.m.
Mr Speaker, the “Mohammed” is wrongly spelt. It is spelt “M-O-H-A-M-M-E-D”.
Mr Speaker 1:48 p.m.
That is in respect of item numbered 191.
Yes, Hon Member for Effutu, Hon Afenyo-Markin?
Mr Alexander K. Afenyo- Markin 1:48 p.m.
Mr Speaker, it is my humble prayer that you consider directing that Hon Members, especially the new entrants who are in possession of the Votes the Proceedings do effect the necessary corrections and hand same to the Table Office for the appropriate steps to be taken for the Hansard because of time constraints.
Mr Speaker 1:58 p.m.
Hon Members, having regard to the state of business of the House, I direct that Sitting be held outside the prescribed period.
Hon Member for Effutu, I am aware of that. I am simply encouraging, particularly, the new Members to develop the courage to stand on their feet and address the Chair. So we would soon finish. Let them take advantage and start learning the rules.
Mr John K. Ampontuah 1:58 p.m.
Mr Speaker, number 169, there is “n” in the spelling of my surname, “Ampontuah”.
Mr Akwasi O. Afrifa-Mensa 1:58 p.m.
Mr Speaker, number 29, there is no “h” at the end of my surname, “Afrifa- Mensa”.
Mr Speaker 1:58 p.m.
Hon Members, I do not want to close the heaven's gate but I encourage you not to take us backwards. In situations such as this, just approach the Table Office quietly and get that done. So do not take us backwards.
Dr Dickson A. Kissi 1:58 p.m.
Mr Speaker, the title, “Dr”, is missing before my name.
Mr Speaker 1:58 p.m.
Table Office, it is not easy to acquire that title, please, give it to him.
Page 6?
Mr John K. A. A. Sanie 1:58 p.m.
Mr Speaker, item 240, the surname is “Sanie” not “Sannie”. Then the “Abban” should rather end with “m” to read “Abbam”. “Kwabena” was also omitted and therefore must be inserted.
Mr Asei Seini Mahama 1:58 p.m.
Mr Speaker, my surname is “Mahama” not “Seini” as captured in item 247.
Mr Joseph A. Tettey 1:58 p.m.
Mr Speaker, my surname is “Tettey” not “Akuertey” as captured as number 50 on page 2.
Mr Speaker 1:58 p.m.
Hon Member, the gate has been shut and so approach the Table Office later to get that correction done.
Mrs Elizabeth Ofosu-Adjare 1:58 p.m.
Mr Speaker, my surname is “Ofosu- Adjare”, not “Ofosu-Agyare”.
Dr Minta K. Nyarku 1:58 p.m.
Mr Speaker, page 6, number 210, my title, “Dr” was omitted.
Mr Albert T. Nyakotey 1:58 p.m.
Mr Speaker, number 209, my surname is spelt “Nyakotey”, without an “r”.
Mr Alhassan S. Sayibu 1:58 p.m.
Mr Speaker, on page 7, your name has been spelt wrongly under paragraph 5. Instead of “Kingsford”, we have “Kingford”. I know how you would appreciate your name being spelt correctly and so I appeal to the Table Office to take note.
Mr Speaker 1:58 p.m.
You are already at page 7. Some of your Hon Colleagues took us back to page 6. But you are right.
Dr Isaac Y. Opoku 1:58 p.m.
Mr Speaker, number 219, the title “Dr” was not captured.
Mr Abdul-Razak Tahidu 1:58 p.m.
Mr Speaker, number 258, my surname is spelt “Tahidu” not “Tanidu”.
Mr Speaker 1:58 p.m.
Table Office, kindly take note.
Mr Bede A. Ziedeng 1:58 p.m.
Mr Speaker, number 275, my middle name is “Anwataazumo” not “Anwa Taazumo”. It is one name.
Mr Speaker 2:08 p.m.
Table Office, take note.
Hon Members, page 8 --
rose
Mr Speaker 2:08 p.m.
Yes, Hon Member?
Mr Cletus Avoka 2:08 p.m.
Mr Speaker, with reference to pages 7 and 8, items numbered 5 and 6, which deals with the Motion and the follow-up --
Mr Speaker, my intervention is that after your good self was nominated by the Hon Member for Tamale South, the Hon Member for Asawase seconded the Motion, but before he finished seconding the Motion, there was an intervention by the Hon Member for Effutu.
Mr Speaker, after moving the intervention and making the arguments, there was an opposition to the intervention. The Hon Member raised a preliminary objection, and I remember about four or five people gallantly opposed the intervention that is the preliminary objection that he raised. They raised some legal arguments. The
rose
Mr Afenyo-Markin 2:08 p.m.
Mr Speaker, perhaps, I may seek your guidance. My understanding is that the concerns so expressed by my respected Senior Colleague would be fully captured in the Official Report - - [Interruption] -- That is why we may need, Mr Speaker's guidance on this matter. But I hold the view that the matters the Hon Member has raised would definitely be captured in the Hansard, so he has no fears at all.
Mr Avoka 2:08 p.m.
Mr Speaker, this is a summary of the proceedings of that day. So, just like how the Hon Member's intervention has been captured -- [Interruption] -- You raised a preliminary objection on that day -- [Mr Afenyo-Markin: Preliminary enquiry] -- What enquiry? Objection to the Hon Member being sworn-in and participating.
Mr Speaker, they should have just indicated that when the preliminary objection was raised, there was opposition to it; people raised objection to it and not the details, just the summary.
Mr Speaker 2:08 p.m.
Hon Members, I will leave this to the Table Office. I was not present, so I cannot attest to what took place. Table Office, kindly look at the issue and do the right thing.
Several Hon Members -- rose --
Mr Speaker 2:08 p.m.
Is that Hon Dafeamekpor?
Mr Rockson-Nelson E. K. Dafeamekpor 2:08 p.m.
Mr Speaker, thank you for the opportunity.
May I refer the House to page 8, paragraph 3, something has been captured and labelled as “writ of injunction”. I believe that is not the proper nomenclature. It has to be “an order of injunction” and I expect the Table Office to specify whether it is a provisional order, which would be interlocutory or interim, or it is a permanent injunctive order? So, the Table Office has to clarify. It cannot be a “writ of an injunction”.
Two, if I may further refer the House to item numbered 9 on page 8, again the Table Office has employed a euphemism that is an unfortunate incident. This is a House of records, and the duty of the Table Office is to capture events verbatim, and so I expect to see that. If there was an unfortunate incident, at least, there should be brief description of that. I am not saying it should be captured at it would in the Hansard. So, for the records, if somebody picks this Votes and Proceedings, he would not know what the unfortunate
incident was. There should be one or two words description of what took place.
Mr Speaker, it is my humble opinion. So, if it was an unlawful interference in the ballot counting, that should be specifically stated. [Interruption] - By so and so.
rose
Mr Speaker 2:08 p.m.
Yes, Hon Member?
Mr Samuel Nartey George 2:08 p.m.
Thank you very much, Mr Speaker. In furtherance of the last point made by Hon Dafeamekpor, I would want to suggest that the Table Office captures the incident referred to in paragraph 9 in this manner:
“Following the snatching of ballot papers by the Hon Member of Parliament for Tema West, Carlos Ahenkora, the Clerk to Parliament in consultation with Leadership declared Hon Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin as the Speaker-elect”.
rose
Mr Speaker 2:08 p.m.
Hon Members, it is quite difficult for me, but let me listen to the former Minister for Communications.
Mrs Owusu-Ekuful 2:08 p.m.
Mr Speaker, in my recollection of the event of that day -- I am referring to page 8, paragraph 9, these were the exact words that the Clerk to Parliament used in the declaration that he made on that day, and so it is captured in the Votes and Proceedings exactly as the Clerk to Parliament said it. So, I do not think there is any mistake as to the record that has been presented before us today.
Mr Speaker, on the same page, paragraph 4, my recollection is that the Clerk to Parliament initially made an order that the Hon Member-elect in question could not take part in the proceedings of the day, and subsequently, came back after a long delay and amended the order that he made initially. So, the rendition in the Votes and Proceedings is not exactly an accurate reflection of what happened on the day. But I believe the Official Report would capture the events of the day, so that can be left as it is.
Mr Speaker, thank you.
Mr Speaker 2:18 p.m.
Hon Members, as I stated earlier, I was not here. But these issues you have raised are legal issues. This is not a court of law.

I would plead with the Clerk to Parliament and the Table Office to capture exactly what took place that day.

Hon Members, we would move on to page 9.

An Hon Member -- rose --
Mr Speaker 2:18 p.m.
Yes, Hon Member?
Alhaji (Dr) Abdul-Rashid Hassan Pelpuo 2:18 p.m.
Mr Speaker, we all know how the Hon Member for Suame spells his name. On page 9, on the Motion numbered 15, to use his own word, his name has suddenly “transmogrified” into a name that is all hyphenated. He is here, and I am sure this is not his name. Every single piece of his name has been hyphenated, which I think is wrong.
Mr Speaker 2:18 p.m.
Surely, that is true, so, the Table Office should please correct the spelling of his name, and how it has been arranged.
Hon Members, we would move on to page 10.
Rev John Ntim Fordjour: Mr Speaker, I would like to draw the attention to an error contained on page 10, paragraph 22. It is an error that relates to the name of the Chief Justice. The correct name of the Chief Justice is “Justice Kwesi Anin- Yeboah”. The name “Anin” and the name “Yeboah” are hyphenated. It is important that the name of a notable public officer of such a stature be correctly captured in our records. Therefore, I respectfully request the Table Office to effect the necessary correction.
Thank you.
Mr Speaker 2:18 p.m.
The Table Office should kindly take note.
Page 11…13 --
Mr Edwin Nii Lantey Vanderpuye 2:18 p.m.
Mr Speaker, on page 12, on the item numbered 15, I believe I heard you correctly when on that day you mentioned the name “Hajia Ramatu Bawumia''. On the page, I see the name being spelt as “Hajia Samira Bawumia”, so, I would want to know whether you were correctly captured or there is a mistake.
[Pause] --
Mr Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa 2:18 p.m.
Mr Speaker, on the item numbered
(xvi), Nana Otuo Serebour has been captured as being “the Chairman of the Council of State”, but as at the 7th of January, he became the “former Chairman of the Council of State”. Therefore, the word “former” should be inserted, in accordance with article 89 (5) of the Constitution. Again, the proper rendition of the name “Nana Otuo Serebour” should be “Nana Otuo Serebour (II)”. The name “Serebour” has been captured wrongly because the “(II)” has been omitted.
Mr Speaker, also on the item numbered (xxi), we have the name of the Deputy Prime Minister for Cape Verde being spelt as “H. E. Rui Figueiredo Soares”, which should rather be captured as “H. E. Rui Alberto de Figueiredo Soares.”
Mr Speaker 2:18 p.m.
The Table Office should please take note.
Hon Members, we would move on to page 14.
Mr Ablakwa 2:18 p.m.
Mr Speaker, on page 13, the item numbered (xxvii), the Hon Jean-Yves Le Drain is said to be the Minister for Foreign Affairs of France, but he is rather the Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs of France. The word “Europe” has been omitted.
Mr Speaker 2:18 p.m.
The Table Office should please take note.
Mr Kwame Twumasi Ampofo 2:18 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I would like to take us back to page 11, number (viii), we have the name of the Liberian President being captured as “H. E. George Manneh Weah”, but I rather know the name to be “H. E. George Oppong Weah”. I wanted to know if the name “Oppong” should not be part of his name?
Mr Speaker 2:18 p.m.
Hon Member, we would cross-check from the document that was given to us. The Table Office should please kindly follow up on this issue.
Hon Members, we would move on to page 14.
Mr Ablakwa 2:18 p.m.
Mr Speaker, on page 14, the first item reads “Ambassador J. Peter Pharm”. The
name “Pharm” has been captured with the letter “r”, but it is spelt without an ‘r' so, it could be corrected accordingly.
Mr Speaker, again, the name of the Moroccan Ambassador to Ghana has been spelt as “H. E. Ms Imane Quaadil”. The name “Quaadil”, which begins with a “Q”, should rather begin with an “O”, so, it should rather be captured as “Ouaadil”, and not “Quaadil”.
Also, the Republic of Zambia has a High Commissioner and not an Ambassador. It is a commonwealth country, so, it should be corrected accordingly.
Mr Speaker 2:18 p.m.
Thank you, Hon Member.
Hon Members, in the absence of any further corrections, the Votes and Proceedings of the First Sitting of the First Meeting of the First Session held on Thursday, 7th January, 2021 be adopted as the true record of proceedings for that day. We do not have copies of the Official Report. I am informed that it is not yet ready, so, we would move on to the item numbered 4 -- Statements.
Mr Iddrisu 2:18 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I just want clarity on a particular subject. Our Hon Colleagues on the other Side were dancing and responding to you when you said “Majority group”.
When you said “Majority group”, they immediately bounced into dancing. Pursuant to our Standing Orders and per the records available to you, I am aware that officially, the New Patriotic Party (NPP) won 137 seats, and the National Democratic Congress (NDC) also won 137 seats. It is therefore a tie.
Mr Speaker 2:28 p.m.
Hon Members, coming from the high office of the personality of the Leader of the NDC wing in Parliament, sometimes referred to as “caucus”, instead of wing, I will try to clarify what I stated.
The word “group” means more than one, and before I used that phrase, I stated that no party had advantage over the other in terms of numbers, -- [Hear! Hear!] -- but since the independent Hon Member decided to associate in the conduct of business on the floor of this House with the NPP wing or caucus in Parliament, the two put together now constitute the majority parliamentary group -- [Hear! Hear!]. I have not stated that the NPP has a majority in

Hon Members, please, time will tell, so, hold your guns. We are aware that the good people of Ghana, have not finally decided on some of you -- [Laughter] -- but so far as you have been sworn in, you are Hon MPs, and so, let us give ourselves a few more months. We will see who would form Majority or Minority.

You do not get any additional benefit from being on Majority or Minority except a few peps that definitely you know. Let us go on. The
STATEMENTS 2:28 p.m.
Mr Kwabena Mintah Akandoh (NDC -- Juaboso) 2:38 a.m.
Mr Speaker, I am grateful for the opportunity to make this Statement and to also congratulate you on your election as the Rt Hon Speaker of the Eighth Parliament of the Republic of Ghana.
Mr Speaker, the Covid-19 situation in Ghana has returned to the forefront of public attention due to the
recent surge in new infections and hospitalisation in the wake of the political and holiday seasons. As of 11th January, 2021, Ghana had recorded or confirmed 56,981 cases and some 1,404 active infections. As many as 44 of these are in severe or critical condition.
Mr Speaker, it must be noted, however, that this figure represents a tip of a large and destructive iceberg. Thanks to the work of the dedicated scientists at the West African Centre for Cell Biology of Infectious Pathogens, we now know from the recent seroprevalence study that at least 1.2 million Ghanaians have previously been infected.
Mr Speaker, risky behaviours have been on the rise for the last few months during which time compliance with preventive guidelines such as mask wearing and physical distancing has plummeted to dangerous lows.
Mr Speaker, the overall picture at this moment is of a notion operating on the false security of case numbers that are more reflective of the inadequacy of testing than the true situation on the ground. This is skewing risk perception among the public, a large proportion of which does not believe the virus is real, that
it exists in Ghana or that it has killed their fellow citizens.
Mr Speaker, public testing data published by the Disease Surveillance Department of the Ghana Health Service (GHS) indicates that Ghana's Covid-19 positivity rate is currently over 10 per cent. That is more than twice the five per cent level that the World Health Organisation (WHO) recommends as a benchmark for reopening society, including academic institutions.
Additionally, the surge in infections are in apparent severity - with GHS reporting a record number of severe and critical cases on January 8, 2021 - is cause for concern about the risk of new or imported strains transmitting undetected.
Mr Speaker, this state of affairs reflects the continuing failures with risk communication, public engagement and pandemic management, and it is at this time when infections are rising, the health systems overwhelmed and public compliance is at its very lowest, that schools are reopening.
Mr Speaker, while I acknowledge the efforts made by the Ghana Education Service (GES), GHS and their respective Ministries, early signs
from tertiary institutions suggest that a great deal more must be done to reduce the risk of transmission on campuses. Very little has been done practically to facilitate physical distancing in residential facilities. Mask wearing has been inadequate, and the risk perception among students also appears gloomy.
Mr Speaker, regular screening of students for Covid-19 would be a major tool for infection control by allowing early detection of clusters across campuses. Unfortunately, Ghana continues to underutilise other cheaper and faster diagnostic options such as antigen tests, the availability of which is bottlenecked by the approval process at the Food and Drugs Authority (FDA).
Mr Speaker, it is worth noting that AFIAS Covid-19 antigen system the FDA approved for use at the Kotoka International Airport has no exceptional sensitivity or speed when compared to other Immuno- fluorescence Antigen tests.

One example is the STANDARD Q Covid-19 Ag Test which is in use at airports across India. Despite outperforming Ghana's option on sensitivity, these tests are priced US$7 as compared to Ghana's US$150 charge.
Mr Speaker 2:38 a.m.
Hon Members, since it is a very important matter, I will recognise, I think four people to make comments. Let us listen to the Veteran medical professor; Hon Dr Kwaku Afriyie.
Dr Kwaku Afriyie (NPP -- Sefwi-Wiawso) 2:38 a.m.
Mr Speaker, thank
you very much for the opportunity. And let me also congratulate you on your elevation to the high office. I am indeed, very proud of you.
Mr Speaker, it is not for nothing that covid-19 has found its way to the league table, and the first topic to be raised on this Floor in the new year. I think it is just as well. But be it as it may, I wish to congratulate the maker of the Statement, for bringing it to the fore. There are certain issues that he has raised that I must correct before I make my substantive comment.
First of all, the weekend prevalent rate is 8.1 per cent, not over 10 per cent. If he is talking about routine surveillance, then, it is over 10 per cent but then, we have routine surveillance rate then, and even the surveillance that is done at the airport is about 0.7 per cent. So; when we put them together, the correct prevalent rate for covid-19 in Ghana is 8.1. per cent.
Secondly, I agree that we are talking about a surge. When we look at the figures, and as a public health person in relation to other countries, there has been a break but we are not yet there to call it a surge. In fact, in the Ghanaian situation, we never really got to the apex of the curve; the curve was flattened prematurely by the interventions made by the President and the compliance by the
good people of Ghana. So, we never really experienced a very huge upsurge in the covid-19 situation in Ghana, except to say that the potential for an upsurge has always been there, and I am not downplaying it. It is the virus which is transmitted through the respiratory passages and any letting off the guard can lead to catastrophic consequences.
Mr Speaker, I believe that with regard to the reopening of schools, and I must make a declaration that I am a member of the Covid-19 Task Force, everything has been put in place to ensure the safety of our children in schools.
Indeed, we had the opportunity so to speak, an operational research of some sort was forced on us when some schools were opened to write their examinations. Even though initially there was outbreak in one or two schools, in the end, it turned out that the schools were safer places than even the homes. So, we believe that we are living in a world populated with risks, and when we do all the risk analyses, we believe that the time is right to reopen schools especially when we do not even have an idea of when this pandemic is going to end.
The Covid-19 is evolving and so I agree with the maker of the Statement
that we should not let down our guards, and Ghanaians as a whole, should be compliant. I agree with the Hon Member who made the Statement that we have let down our guards especially in the countryside.
As I speak to you now, I am the Member of Parliament for Sefwi- Wiawso in the Western North Region; there has been an outbreak there now and my ears are on the ground. Sefwi- Wiawso, Bibiani and some other places; even people in rural settings are not spared hence it behoves on all of us to get our acts together to help the President, who I call the public health President because he has taken a very keen interest, and I believe that Ghana has been one of the countries which has got the act together, and even in spite of the recent setbacks, we are still not in the danger zone yet. We believe that we could roll this small bleak that has come back.
And indeed, over the past four or five days, the figures actually not been going up again, and we believe that with all the measures that we are up to, we believe that we can bring it down but we must all pray that we get the moneys to do the vaccines on the horizon and we should get our acts together as a Parliament, to help the Government so that we can get the vaccines to vaccinate our people.
But before the vaccines come, social distancing, wearing of masks
Ms Laadi Ayii Ayamba (NDC -- Pusiga) 2:48 p.m.
Thank you Mr Speaker, for the opportunity to comment on the Statement ably made by my Hon Colleague on Covid-19.
Mr Speaker, before I continue, I wish to congratulate you on your ascension to this noble and high office. May the Almighty Allah grant you that wisdom to undertake your work.
Mr Speaker, with reference to paragraph 2 of the Statement, it tells us the numbers as at January 11. And I am very happy to be reading numbers instead of percentages; the figures are always better than the percentages because the layman out there listens to the percentages and does not see the enormity of the problem at hand. So when we use figures, people tend to really understand it better and believe that we have a problem that is surging very fast.
Mr Speaker, to have a figure of 56,981cases, and going further to say 1,404 active infections, many a time, you would realise that even we need to ask ourselves questions.

We are saying “confirmed cases”, so can they not affect people? What is their effect on society and other citizens? We tend to make it look like that particular group is not that bad, but I believe that from the education that has been given, analyses that have been put out and discussions that have gone on, they are as high a risk group as the 1,404.

Mr Speaker, because of the weight that we put on the cases and the issues that come up, our people out there do not believe and agree with us. They think that it is not true and not a fact. I was happy to see one of TV3's reports at one of the lorry stations. He went to the extent of selling masks and some people did not care. A conductor who was shouting the loudest and probably spilling saliva, jumped into his car and continued shouting, while others were sitting in the car. He had no mask on.

This goes to tell us that we have a lot more to do than even just testing

and communicating the number of affected cases. The education needs to go down to let our people know that this is a very real and serious situation that we need to take up.

Mr Speaker, when you go to the villages, like my own village of Pusiga, I believe that on market days, if you are lucky, you would get about 10 people wearing masks. They are all in the market with so many people coming in. It is a border town with two different countries; Burkina Faso to the North and Togo to the East, yet there is no wearing of masks due to lack of education and lack of understanding.

We are talking about our educational system and schools reopening. I would not want to talk so much about the universities and senior high schools because they are a bit enlightened? What about the very young ones who would be going back to school? How many of them would have the opportunity to be catered for properly, so that they would wear their masks always, wash their hands and adhere to social distancing?

Mr Speaker, these little children move by association and contact. Some of them even go to the extent of biting one another. In the schools in our local communities, you might

find about 120 pupils in a class. What are we doing to ensure that these children would be properly catered for? If we are going to run a double track system in the Primary Schools, do we have enough teachers to ensure that it takes place?

Do we have enough masks for all schools and pupils, which is one of the most common things we are all using in this battle now? Have we sensitised out communities such that, all teachers and Parent Teacher Associations (PTA) would ensure that all children going to school would have masks? Are we giving them the opportunity to allow parents to sew masks for them?

Mr Speaker, there are so many things that we need to do in order to stop the disease. We might be of a certain age, but what about the little ones who do not know? If we give them the opportunity to sew masks, we should not compel them to sew white masks because white masks cannot be managed by these little children. They should be given the opportunity to sew it in different colours and even particular schools should be allowed to sew in particular colours they choose. This would help them.

Another great problem that has come up as schools reopen is the issue
Ms Laadi Ayii Ayamba (NDC -- Pusiga) 2:48 p.m.


of accommodation in our tertiary institutions. We have heard of the University of Ghana, where accommodation has become a problem because of adherence to the COVID-19 protocols. A room that used to contain six people might have to contain three people. What have we done to ensure that the other three who are leaving that accommodation would have a place? It is quite a dangerous situation and is not good enough.

Mr Speaker, before I end, I would want us to take our own seating in this Chamber into consideration. Although we might be wearing masks, many a time, we come into contact with one another. What are we doing to ensure that all these factors are catered for? Please, let us ensure that education is taken seriously, let us make our people understand.

I do not buy one particular measure that was used some time ago, that when you go to any public place and people are not using masks, arrest them, take them to the police station and let them pay. From which account? Where would they get the money? How many people can be arrested in the market and how many of them can pay?

Mr Speaker, many others have something to say and I wish that we

would relook, rethink, rejuvenate and ensure that the education goes down well and that every public place everywhere that education takes place, support is given, especially to the schools. Accommodation should be looked at for tertiary institutions to enable us fight this pandemic.

Mr Speaker, with these few words, I thank you for the opportunity.
Mr Speaker 2:48 p.m.
Yes, Hon Muhammed?
Mr Ibrahim Murtala Muhammed (NDC -- Tamale Central) 2:58 p.m.
Thank you Mr Speaker, for giving me the opportunity to contribute on the Statement made by Hon Akandoh in the matter of a challenge that confronts all of us. Before I do that, perhaps, on behalf of we the returnees, I would want to take the opportunity to congratulate you on having been elected as the Speaker of this august House.
Mr Speaker, the challenges confronting us are enormous and have no respect for NDC or NPP. It is a challenge that confronts us every single day and night, to the extent that people have lost their lives, children have become orphans and women have become widows as a result of this deadly pandemic that struck globally.
Shocking, as the number of those who have succumbed to this unfair pandemic may be, all those shocking figures we have may not be the true figures because we have stopped testing. If you need to test to be able to determine the number of people who are infected, then if you are not testing, how can you get accurate figures of those infected by this disease? That is why in looking at these challenges, we must confront them with sincerity and honesty, particularly, those of us tasked with responsibilities.

I do agree that it is not the responsibility of only Government but it is our collective responsibility as citizens and as a people, to ensure that the education is done properly. However, the group that have the uttermost responsibility to aid and facilitate the wider education is the Government and there is no denial of that fact. We must take the education aspect very serious.

Mr Speaker, we have gotten a vaccine for COVID-19 but the question is, how prepared are we to administer it? The President indicated that in two months' time, we may have it in Ghana but have we prepared ourselves to do a pre-test of it? This

vaccine was not developed in Africa or Ghana and I do not think that in it's development it was tested on people whose biological make-up are the same as ours.

Must we just get the vaccine to administer on the people of this country because it has been administered somewhere? The Ministry of Health and the Ghana Health Service (GHS) have to take this serious. We must not just administer any vaccine on Ghanaians without having a pre-test of it because the consequences of its administration on the citizens of this country may be more dangerous and deadly than we anticipate or expect.

Mr Speaker, I would want to challenge particularly, the GHS to do more to ensure that we have a dose of it, where people would be willing, to be administered to it before it would be administered nationwide.

Mr Speaker, I have children who are very young and sometimes I have sleepless nights because schools have been asked to reopen. I bought a nose mask for my two-year-old son but it was extremely uncomfortable for him. When you wear it for him, he removes it after few minutes and throws it away. Yet that boy has to go to school. I may take the necessary measures
Mr Speaker 2:58 p.m.
Hon Member for Wa Central, after your contribution we would listen to the professionals.
Dr Abdul-Rashid Hassan Pelpuo (NDC -- Wa Central) 2:58 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I thank you for the opportunity to contribute to the Statement.
Mr Speaker, I would want to join my Hon Friends to congratulate you for your ascension to the third most important office in this country and coming from this House, we know your competencies and abilities and we are very confident that you would deliver to the best of your abilities.
Mr Speaker, since 12th March, 2020, Ghanaians have been on edge because of the first two cases of COVID-19 that were discovered in this country. We have had situations where very scary reports have been given about infections, and deaths et cetera. As I speak now, the
seriousness attached to the report on COVID-19 is raised to the level of the presidency and has come down at a critical moment when COVID- 19 is rising again in this country. We need to take it much serious than the ebb it has come down to for now.
Mr Speaker, because of COVID- 19, the world economy has suffered and Ghana has attracted a lot of attention. The World Bank has donated about US$100 million to Ghana, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) has donated more than US$1 billion, the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) has donated about US$20 million and our own Bank of Ghana (BoG), has donated close to GH¢10 billion to the Government of Ghana to fight COVID-19. This shows that the disease is not a child's play but about development and the fact that we are unable to kill it completely in Ghana, should still insist on our being careful and committed to fighting it.
Mr Speaker, I would want to urge you that when Cabinet is fully constituted, we would want a full report about how much money has been received, how COVID-19 has flogged and where we have gotten up to for now. This is important. We need
to be very committed in how much time and resources would be devoted to fight it. The present situation in which reports have come back to us that it is again on the rise is frightening.
In my own region, we have heard that about 16 people have been infected by it. We need to rise to the occasion and be determined about it. If we are serious about it, the economy of this country would come to normal but if we are not serious, we would have a more dangerous situation than we had in the previous months and year.
Mr Speaker, I would want to urge you to make a pronouncement and to invite Government as soon as possible to come to the House to make very concrete pronouncement as to what it is doing with the resources that are available to it. We do not expect any more resources than what has been given until there is a full account of what has happened and what has happened to the money and what the Government has done with it?
Mr Speaker, with these few words, I thank you for the opportunity but I would want to urge my Hon Colleagues to take note that your directive about an Hon Minister, supersedes questioning here - Mr Speaker could direct an Hon Minister
Mr Kwaku Agyeman Kwarteng (NPP -- Obuasi West) 3:08 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I identify with the sentiments that our Hon Colleagues on the other Side of the aisle have shared.

It is important that we review what we have done in the fight against the deadly disease and to see where improvements can be made and to perhaps, going forward, do it better than we have been doing.

Mr Speaker, but it is important that we correct some inaccurate pieces of information that have been mentioned on the Floor. It is not correct that the IMF and the World Bank have donated money to Ghana. It is completely incorrect. As I said, he can use the right instrument; he can file a Question and the Minister involved would come and answer but it is inaccurate to state that the World Bank has donated money to Ghana. They have not and the IMF has not donated any money to Ghana. These were facilities that were provided across for everybody. It is a loan which we would have to repay. So, to suggest on the Floor of an important forum like this that it was a donation

is not right and I hope that the records would be set straight.

I thank you, Mr Speaker.
Dr Mark Kurt Nawaane (NDC -- Nabdam) 3:08 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I thank you and I wish to commend the Hon Akandoh for making this important Statement on COVID-19.
Mr Speaker, I remember on January 29, 2020, I made the maiden statement on COVID-19 and since then a lot of water has gone under the bridge. Today, we still stand at the crossroads of COVID-19 becoming a much more serious disease than we thought. Indeed, we have been able to know that COVID-19 is not like the Ebola virus or the Buruli ulcer that we fought in the past. COVID-19 is quite different. As we speak now, new copy mutation is taking place. That is, the virus is stealing its nature such that drugs that were used to even fight it are not doing very well now. So, we have cases in Britain now and very high mortality almost approaching sometimes 2,000 deaths a day. That is in Britain.
Zillions are now in South Africa also causing the same havoc and we know that it is now of a very high public health concern all over the world.
Mr Speaker, the problem Ghana as a country faces is what to do now and we have got to take the decisions. If we take paragraph 6 of the Statement that was read out, you would realise that Ghana's COVID- 19 positivity rate is currently over 10 per cent and that is more than twice the five per cent level that the WHO recommends as a benchmark for reopening society including academic institutions. In other words, if we take this parameter, it would mean that Ghana is not qualified to even open our schools.
Mr Speaker, do we still continue as it used to be when we closed down the institutions or we try to move towards normalcy? When I say normalcy, I talk of having our education and recreational centres functioning and of course living normal lives. What do we do under such circumstances?
Mr Speaker, recreation is very important because it is also related to the management of stress, and when one manages his or her stress well, he or she would also have good immunity. All those things are part of it. So, as a nation, we need to sit down and look at these factor aspects very well and see which way we are going and how we are going to manage it.
Mr Speaker, of concern to me now is the cost of testing for COVID-19. We have reached a stage where people should be able to walk to any facility to check their COVID-19 status. I must tell you that the rates at which they quote these figures for testing for COVID-19 is very high. I went to one or two facilities and I believe that the figures they quoted were between GH¢400 to GH¢500. That is not good enough for us in our management of the COVID-19 disease.
Mr Speaker, at the same time, the issue of the vaccine -- I think that my Colleagues spoke a little bit on it. There are so many issues that are coming up. Are we using the attenuated virus -- that is the weak viruses that we used to inject people to get immune response or is, it true that there is actually a restructuring of our own DNA where these vaccines are introduced into us? We have to look at all these aspects before actually getting these vaccines into this country and administering them on our citizens.
Mr Speaker, I would want to thank you very much for this opportunity.
Mr Kwaku Agyeman-Manu (NPP -- Dormaa Central) 3:08 p.m.
Mr
Mr Kwaku Agyeman-Manu (NPP -- Dormaa Central) 3:18 p.m.
Speaker, I speak as a Member of the House but with massive privilege of having worked with the taskforce and still continue to be a member of the COVID-19 taskforce.
Mr Speaker, let me thank the maker of the Statement and my Hon Colleagues for showing concern on the high number of cases we are picking at the moment. It cuts across the country and a greater significant proportion is in Greater Accra, Ashanti, Western Regions and in the Upper West Region with numbers that are not as huge as we have in Accra. So, Accra continues to be as similar to what we were confronted with from the beginning of March,
2020.
Mr Speaker, Government has not closed any structure that was set up to battle COVID-19. The command centre still operates; the COVID-19 taskforce still meets; and the procurement of COVID-19 related commodities is ongoing and with privileged information, Government has actually procured close to about 20 million facemasks to be distributed to schools such that our children together with their teachers can have protection against COVID-19.
Mr Speaker, training by the Ghana Education Service (GES) for teachers
on how they would relate to these young people have all been done. We are working on trying not to keep them in school for very long hours but still get maximum value for the little time they would stay in school.
Mr Speaker, so, a lot of things are ongoing and I think at the appropriate time when Cabinet has actually been properly set up, I believe Government would send the Minister for Health, if it happens to be me again, to come here and give a Statement on the preparations that it has done.
Mr Speaker, from March 2020 coming, there were a lot of things the President talked about, most of which have been put in place. We have expanded our testing capacity to the extent that several places are now testing with gene expert machines and the appropriate PCR cartridges in a number of places in this country.

Veterinary services in Tamale are now doing some tests there. The traditional areas we started with; that is, the Kumasi Center for Collaborative Research (KCCR) and the Noguchi Medical Research Institute are all testing. So, these are in place and I believe we have quite a number of facilities that are now testing.

Mr Speaker, the infrastructure and systems put in place are all working and I am glad that my Hon Colleagues have noticed that what is left still continues to be with risk commu- nication and how we can get all our people to come along with us to adhere to the COVID-19 protocols.

Despite the fact that we have been talking over and again about what we should do; social distancing, use of sanitizers, hand washing with soap and wearing of face masks. You will agree with me as we have all seen what is happening across the country, a large number of us have stopped wearing face masks in the markets and wherever we find ourselves.

Mr Speaker, last two weeks, I had the privilege of visiting Fumbisi on a market day and I stood with my mouth wide as I could not believe what was going on.

One could easily count the number of people wearing face masks in the market and this is a similar situation in Accra and we have started beefing up the risk communication such that people will be aware that the disease is still with us.

As my Hon Colleagues have said, due to the interventions made by the

Government, we managed to curtail the spread and bring the numbers down to quite acceptable levels. Unfortunately, we are seeing an upsurge in the number of affected persons and we have started working seriously on this.

Mr Speaker, as I speak, we have just opened one of the cheapest centres in the heat of the battle at Pantang by the Electricity Corpora- tion of Ghana (ECG) just this week and the ECG have started handing over to the Ghana Health Service

(GHS).

We have started quarantining even those who have travelled from outside the country again and those who test positive, despite all arrangements made at the airport are now being put into quarantine facilities. We have started putting people into some hotels last week and the Ministry had to cough out money to make their stay a bit comfortable where they are.

Mr Speaker, we have started arranging with the Pentecost Convention Center again to open up capacity space for quarantining in case we continue to get very large numbers. We are remobilising our contact tracing method if we continue to get larger numbers of affected persons.
Dr Sebastian Sandaare (NDC -- Daffiama/Bussie/Issa) 3:18 p.m.
Mr Speaker, thank you for giving me the opportunity to also contribute to this very important Statement made by the Hon Kwabena Mintah Akandoh; Member of Parliament for Juaboso Constituency on the COVID-19 pandemic. I would also join Hon Colleagues to congratulate you on your Speakership.
A lot has been said on the Floor about this important topic on the COVID-19 pandemic and we have travelled far since March, 2020. We can say that the pandemic is no longer a new thing and we know the interventions as well as what to do.
Mr Speaker, globally, as we discuss this important topic, about two million people have died and in Ghana, about 341 people have died. What we need to do is to go beyond the numbers and sometimes, I am disappointed when I hear that the figures are not alarming, that not many people are dying and we are safe. Even when one person dies from a very infectious disease like the COVID-19 pandemic, that death cannot be underrated. Considering the 341 people that have died in Ghana, we all know the composition and nature of these people; family heads, breadwinners and many more.
The Ghana Health Service (GHS) has done well so far by trying to come out with updates but they are limited because one update they have not been able to give is the revenue- expenditure aspect of the COVID - -19 pandemic. We do not know how much revenue has come in and how much has been spent by the Government on the pandemic. We cannot win the fight against the pandemic if our interventions are not right, if we do not invest rightly and
Dr Sebastian Sandaare (NDC -- Daffiama/Bussie/Issa) 3:28 p.m.
be transparent with our investments on this infectious diseases. Therefore, the call to come up clearly on what has come into the coffers and on what the money in the coffers has been spent on is right. This is very critical to winning the fight.
Mr Speaker, what is happening globally is that, a strain of the disease has come up. In Ghana, we do not know if what we are battling with, is the old or the new variant of the disease. We need answers for that. What has contributed to the situation of cases going up is that during the heat of the campaign season, the discussions, interventions and almost all the preventive protocols were relaxed. Therefore, the people also relaxed; there is no water in our Veronica buckets, no soap, and sanitizers are for the rich.
So, once we relax the protocols then we are not surprised to see an increase in the numbers of affected persons in our health facilities. About two days ago, I heard the Director- General of the GHS saying that in some of the facilities, about 60 per cent of the beds are occupied, meaning our health facilities are overstretched and there is no debate about that.
This is the time to have transparent discussions on the management of the COVID-19 pandemic.

We should leave out partisanship because that would not help us to fight the pandemic. Other bodies such as the Ghana Medical Association have come out to say that there is the need to reinforce the safety protocols on COVID-19 because they believe that there is disregard for the protocols and there is no enforcement of the safety protocols.

Mr Speaker, people say that we are good at making laws in Ghana but our challenge is the enforcement of the laws. This is the same issue we are facing on the COVID-19 pandemic because we know what to do but the enforcement of same is the challenge. Therefore, I join Hon Colleagues who are asking for education and for us to obey and abide by the protocols to ensure that the fight is won together. Mr Speaker, more PPEs should be sent to all health facilities.

There is no Hon Minister for Health but I hope that very soon there would be a competent Hon Minister for Health. A very competent Hon Member. I do not know the person because I would not be the person to nominate, but I am calling for a
Dr Sebastian Sandaare (NDC -- Daffiama/Bussie/Issa) 3:28 p.m.


Mr Speaker, we need more PPEs because our facilities are overstretched; there are no PPEs and we also need to push more resources to our health facilities to be able to deliver and to help in this fight.

Mr Speaker, in conclusion, schools have reopened and many are asking whether we have prepared adequately for this reopening. This call is important --
rose
Mr Speaker 3:28 p.m.
Hon Deputy Leader?
Mr Afenyo-Markin 3:28 p.m.
Mr Speaker, respectfully, my Hon Colleague is making a very good contribution but there was an aspect where he said that there is lack of transparency in expenditure regarding the COVID-19 intervention.
Mr Speaker, factually, we have had the Hon Minister for Finance to report on this and the Hon Minister for Health has also been here. So, the terms of contribution under the item we are treating requires that we make good comments and not get into the arena of debate. Mr Speaker, if the
Hon Member is being speculative and talking about lack of transparency when we have Reports in this House. Unless the Hon Member's argument is to challenge the Report and the figures, if not, then I would humbly pray that Mr Speaker would order my Hon Colleague to get on to the path of righteousness and not continuously argue on that line because it is misleading and not anchored on facts.
Mr Speaker, thank you.
Mr Speaker 3:28 p.m.
Hon Member, you may continue and please wind up because we have an important item to take.
Dr Sandaare 3:28 p.m.
Mr Speaker, thank you.
In conclusion, I would emphasise that I said that the Director-General and his colleagues at the Ghana Health Service have been doing very well in giving updates, but what I find missing is the updates on revenue and expenditure on COVID-19, and there is the need for all of us to be transparent on the revenue and expenditure figures. In concluding on the reopening of schools, many people in this country doubt whether the schools are adequately prepared for the reopening. Mr Speaker, this call is right and the government must do
well to ensure that the necessary facilities and preparations are done in the schools before the reopening.
Mr Speaker, on the issue of vaccine, I would say that as a country, we should not be afraid and we should not be quick to say that the vaccines are good or bad. Let us rely on the necessary authorities to ensure that safe and efficacious vaccines are brought quickly to ensure that the fight against COVID-19 is won.
Mr Speaker, thank you very much for the opportunity.
Mr Speaker 3:28 p.m.
Hon Members, this brings us to the end of Statements.
We would now move to item numbered 4 -- Determination of the Formula for the Composition of Membership of Committees, Parliamentary Delegations and other Parliamentary Groups and Asso- ciations.
Is Leadership ready to make a Statement?
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 3:28 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I have been in consultation with my Hon Colleague in charge of the NDC Caucus in the House. In respect of the Formula for the Composition of Membership of
Committees, we have related to the prime Committees to be formed and not Parliamentary Groups and Associations for now because we would deal with those at the appropriate time. We have been in consultation and we have arrived at some conclusion. Unfortunately, I have just been informed that my Hon Colleague has had to travel to Tamale because of the transition of an uncle of his.
Mr Speaker, but this indeed represents the state of affairs and so if it is agreeable, then I could present the Paper that we have written to the House. But firstly, I guess “Discussions in plenary” is what they have written here as “Statements”. Mr Speaker, it really relates to the course of events with respect to the discussions that we have had relating to the Determination of the Formula for the Composition of Membership of Committees in the House.
Mr Speaker, thank you very much.
Mr Ahmed Ibrahim 3:38 p.m.
Mr Speaker, per the consultations of Leadership as I am aware, and looking at the numbers as we have now, I do not see the difficulty in the computation of the figures. Given the three Committees that have to be constituted as soon as possible,
Mr Speaker 3:38 p.m.
Hon Members, At the Commencement of Public Business, item numbered 5; laying of Papers by the Leaders of the House.
Item numbered 5(a) (i), Report of Leadership on the Formula for the Composition of Membership of Committees and the Committee of Selection.
Yes, Hon Member?
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 3:38 p.m.
Mr Speaker, as the Hon Deputy Whip for the Minority has indicated, we spoke about it and agreed on the formula which then informed us on the composition of membership of the committees, in particular the Committee of Selection.
So, Mr Speaker, I would bow to that as agreed upon. So I would submit that one and go to do item numbered 5(b). Item numbered 5(a) (ii) would not be attended to for now because the composition of parliamentary delegations and parliamentary groups and associations has not arisen yet.
This one affects item numbered 5(a) (i), and I would go on to do item numbered 5(b).
Mr Speaker 3:38 p.m.
Is item numbered 5(b) ready?
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 3:38 p.m.
Yes, Mr Speaker, both items 5(a) (i) and (5(b) are ready.
PAPERS 3:38 p.m.
Mr Speaker 3:38 p.m.
Hon Members, the Report of Leadership on the Formula for the Composition of Membership of Committees and the Committee of Selection duly presented to the House, and copies should be - [Interruption]
He did. He bowed.
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 3:38 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I thought I had laid the Report, but I guess some of our colleagues did not get the import of what I did. So I may want to do so again.
By the Leadership of the House --
(i) Report of Leadership on the Formula for Composition of Membership of Committees and the Committee of Selection.
Mr Speaker 3:38 p.m.
It is laid, and copies to be distributed to Hon Members.
Item numbered 5(b)?
By the Chairman of the Committee --
Report of the Committee of Selection on the Composition of the Appointments and Business Commi- ttees.
Mr Speaker 3:38 p.m.
Yes, Hon Member?
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 3:38 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I guess there is a bit of a mix up. I thought item numbered 5(b) related to the Committee on Selection. My attention has been drawn to the fact that it relates to the Appointments and Business Committees. So item numbered 5(b) is not right here to be laid in the House. So let me accordingly withdraw what I did.
So what I did had to do with just item numbered 5(a) (i).
Mr Speaker 3:38 p.m.
You are saying item numbered 5(b) --
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 3:38 p.m.
Mr Speaker, with item numbered 5(b), the time has not arrived yet with respect to laying the item numbered 5(b). When I saw “Committee of Selection”, I thought it was the Report on the Committee of Selection. Apparently, it is captured under item numberd 5(a) (i). So item numbered 5(b) should be considered undone.
Mr Speaker 3:38 p.m.
Hon Members, the Paper captured in item numbered 5(b) has accordingly been withdrawn.
I do not know the pleasure of the House now. If the House is minded to continue Business, I may have to suspend Sitting for some minutes.
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 3:38 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I believe we can quickly deal with items listed as 6 and 7 and conclude Business for the day. Item numbered 6 is procedural, but I know your difficulty and challenge. If you would want to suspend Sitting for about two to three minutes to do what needs to be done, I guess we wait patiently for you.
However, if you think you could resist and indeed tolerate us for about 10 minutes, I believe we can bring this to a closure.
Mr Speaker 3:48 p.m.
Hon Members, the Hon First Deputy Speaker to take the Chair. [Pause]

Hon Members, the First Deputy Speaker to take the Chair.

Hon Members, in the meantime, we could proceed to item numbered 6, which is a procedural Motion by Leadership of the House.
Majority Leader (Mr Osei Kyei- Mensah-Bonsu) 3:48 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 adoption of the Report of Leadership on the Formula for the Composition of Membership of Committees and the Committee of Selection may be moved today.
Mr A. Ibrahim (NDC -- Banda) 3:48 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I beg to second the Motion.
Mr Dafeamekpor 3:48 p.m.
Mr Speaker, if - [Interruption]
Mr Speaker 3:48 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I just wanted to hear him as to whether he was on a point of Order or not. This is a procedural Motion.
Question put and Motion agreed to.
MOTIONS 3:48 p.m.
Majority Leader (Mr Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu) 3:48 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I beg to move, that this honourable House adopts the Report of Leadership on the Formula for the Composition of Membership of Committees and the Committee of Selection.
Mr Speaker, in so doing, I submit the Report on Leadership and the Composition of Membership of the Committees and as I have indicated, the Membership of the Committee on Selection.
The Leadership of this House, pursuant to Orders 151 and 154 of the Standing Orders of Parliament, met on Tuesday, 12th January, 2021
and determined the Formula for the composition of the Membership of the Committee of Selection.
Mr Speaker, the Eighth Parliament of the Fourth Republic having commenced, it is imperative to compose the membership of the Committees. As provided in Standing Order 153, every Member of Parliament shall be appointed to at least one of the Standing Committees established by the House.
2. 0. Membership of Eighth Parliament
Membership of the Eighth Parliament is composed as follows: Majority Caucus [made up of the NPP (137 Members and an Independent Member)] - 138; Minority (made up of the NDC) - 137. This ratio of 138: 137 in the 275 Members of Parliament, for the time being, would be a guide in the composition of Committees. Furthermore, article 103(5) of the 1992 Constitution, reinforced by Order 154, requires the composition of the Committees to reflect shades of opinion in Parliament.
Accordingly, in the composition of the Committees, numerical strength of the Caucuses, consideration of regional and gender balance, among other relevant issues, would be taken into consideration.
Mr Speaker, if we read a ratio of 138 3:48 p.m.
137, it makes it easier for people to understand, we need to break it down so that Hon Members would clearly appreciate what is being communicated.
Mr Speaker, in the Seventh Parliament where we had a ratio of around 61 per cent and 39 per cent for NPP and NDC respectively, it was agreed that we round it off to 60:40. We did not use the numbers of the membership by 169:106.
Mr Speaker, we did not use that. We broke it down to make it simpler. So maybe, 60 3:58 p.m.
40. In this

Mr Speaker, I would want that to be clarified in the Report. So, instead of it reading 138:137, it should just read the ratio of 50:50. That is what I would want to draw the attention of the Leadership to, so that it makes it simpler.

In committees where we have an even number, it would be easier to share 50:50. But in committees where we have an odd number, for instance, the Finance Committee, where we have membership of 25, it means that we cannot have 12 and half Members from each Side.
Mr Speaker, I would want to propose -- because it is a ratio of 50 3:58 p.m.
50 -- that for the first two years, the NPP would have 13 members and we would have 12 members, and then in the third and fourth years, the NDC would have 13 members -- [Laughter] -- Mr Speaker that is the simple thing we should do. They cannot have 13 members from their Side for four years and we have 12 members for four years. No! It would not happen. That is my proposal and I would want everybody to support that, so that it is part of it before we approve the Report.
Mr First Deputy Speaker 3:58 p.m.
Hon Members, the Report of the --
rose
Mr First Deputy Speaker 3:58 p.m.
Yes, Hon Leader, do you want to respond?
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 3:58 p.m.
Mr Speaker, what the Hon Deputy Leader for the Minority Caucus is saying makes some sense on the face value, but every ratio is predicated on the actual numbers. So, it is 138 divided by 275 multiplied by whatever. That is it. When he does that, he would know the actuals. [Interruption]
Mr Speaker, I do not know why he is trying to circumvent whatever. [Laughter] -- So, there should not be any proposals that cannot be grounded in the rules. The rules are clear. The ratio is based on actual numbers. We do approximations and where there is doubt, we would relate to actual numbers. As simple as that.
Mr Speaker, thank you very much. Why should we have approximations where the actual numbers exist?
Mr Avedzi 3:58 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I think the Leader on the Side of the NPP - [Laughter] -- has completely misunderstood what I said. If he wants the name “the Leader of the Majority Group”, we can give it to him -- [Interruption] -- But he is not the Majority Leader. He is the Leader of the Majority Group and the Leader of Government Business, so he should accept that one. [Interruption] -- He is the Leader of Government Business, is he not?
Mr Speaker, the numbers are there 3:58 p.m.
138 and 137. But we used ratios to make it simpler for people to appreciate what we want to communicate. That is why ratios are most of the time 2:1 or maximum two figures. So, for instance, if the Hon Member has 1,200 from his Side and 1,300 from my Side, should we say 1200:1300? No! We would not say that. So, the simple thing is to do the ratio and approximate it. That is why I am saying that by approximation, the ratio is 50:50. So, he should not try to bulldoze his way; his usual way of doing business. He should change his way of doing business this time round.
Mr First Deputy Speaker 3:58 p.m.
Hon Members, the Report as I see it is signed by both Leaders. If there were simpler ways, the Leaders would have certainly come to that conclusion. So, I would put the Question --
Mr First Deputy Speaker 3:58 p.m.
Hon Deputy Whip, after your Leader has spoken, what more do you want to add?
Mr A. Ibrahim 3:58 p.m.
Thank you, Mr Speaker. I just needed some clarity and your guidance before we move on.
Mr Speaker, going through the Order Paper, there were a number of Motions. One of which was -- [Interruption] -- the Hon Leader is signalling that those Motions would not be taken today. I just want confirmation, so that we are specific and it would not be presumed that once Order 151 is complied with - [Interruption] If we take the Report that we want to adopt, that is on Order 154, it is the composition of the Committees, but in Order 151 of the Standing Orders, it says:
“At the first meeting of every session of Parliament there shall be appointed a Committee of Selection…”
So, the work we are doing now is predicated on Order 151. However, we have Order 154. My question is, if the formula for the composition
which was determined and which we are debating, which is different from the composition of the Committee of Selection would be taken at another time, then I have no difficulty --
Mr First Deputy Speaker 3:58 p.m.
Hon Member, you wanted my clarification on something? I think that makes your request --
Mr A. Ibrahim 3:58 p.m.
Mr Speaker, so is today just on Committee of Selection? -- [Interruption] -- I asked if the formula for the formation of delegations would be done later? [Interruption]
Mr First Deputy Speaker 3:58 p.m.
Hon Members, there is a Report before the House, which is to approve the formula for the composition of the Committee of Selection. That is all the matter before the House now.
Question put and Motion agreed to.
Mr First Deputy Speaker 3:58 p.m.
Yes, Hon Leaders, any indication, please?
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 3:58 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I believe we can take an adjournment today, because as I indicated earlier, items listed as 8, 9, 10 and 11 would not be taken today. So, we would end here. I guess when
we adjourn, perhaps, Leadership could meet and see the way forward in respect of those two Committees that we need to constitute as early as possible.
Mr A. Ibrahim 3:58 p.m.
Mr Speaker, it is already past 2 o'clock and we have no difficulty with what the Hon Leader said. So, we are in your hands.
Mr First Deputy Speaker 3:58 p.m.
Very well. But I would want to find out. Are we sticking to the agreement we reached with Rt Hon Speaker earlier this morning on adjourning to 2 o'clock on Tuesday? -- Very well.
rose
Mr First Deputy Speaker 3:58 p.m.
Yes, Leader?
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 4:08 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I noticed that you have indicated to Hon Members that when we have to adjourn, if the Hon Speaker is not up, the rest of us would have to sit down . Otherwise, it would appear that we would want to hurry the Rt. Hon Speaker out. That is the practice, so, we should wait until Mr Speaker rises, so that the rest of us would rise with him. If the Hon Speaker has not risen, we do not rise.
Mr Speaker, I thank you.
Mr First Deputy Speaker 4:08 p.m.
The House is accordingly adjourned to Tuesday, at 2.00 p. m. in the afternoon.
ADJOURNMENT 4:08 p.m.