Debates of 2 Feb 2021

MR SPEAKER
PRAYERS 2:41 a.m.
Mr Speaker 2:41 a.m.
Hon Members, I want to reiterate the issue of physical distancing. There is good reason we
ANNOUNCEMENTS 2:41 a.m.
Mr Haruna Iddrisu 2:41 a.m.
Mr Speaker, respectfully, before you move on to the item numbered 3, I presume that what you have read is essentially, correction to the Ministerial list of President Nana Addo Dankwa. It is the only official communication you have from the Office of the President.
Mr Speaker, with respect, may I refer you to article 89 of the 1992 Constitution because there is some publication in the media, particularly the social media, from the Communications Officer of the Office of the President, Mr Eugene Arhin, purporting to announce the appointment of members of the Council of State in accordance with article 89 of the Constitution.
Mr Speaker, ideally, he works for the Executive, but we would want to caution that Parliament must be the forum, indeed the first forum, where these formal announcements are made. Particularly so, with regard to article 89 (2), and with your indulgence I quote; it says:
“The Council of State shall consist of --
(a) the following persons appointed by the President in consultation with Parliament”.
Mr Speaker, it is a shared responsibility. It does not only vest in the President, the power to appoint, that he must do so in consultation with Parliament. As you have read today, there was no formal communication from the President, yet there is announcement in the air. We cannot follow those announcements in the air, so, the handlers of the President must
be put on alert that article 89 is a shared responsibility between the President as an Executive President, and Parliament as a House. Therefore, when we go through the detail, I see the President exercising his power under article 89 (d), which has to do with the 11 other members.
Mr Speaker, therefore, Mr Eugene Arhin and co., and the President's Secretary must make sure that before they go to the media, you are officially notified, for the purpose of this House, to know those important decisions that the President is taking, so that he can walk with us, and with Parliament as a House. I think that the rush to go to the media and social media to advertise and announce what is not formal is not helpful.
I am not interested in those who suffer heartbreaks and heart attacks when they do not see their names, but they must respect the institution of Parliament and your good self, so that we would not read from one Mr Eugene Arhin, but rather hear it formally from Mr Speaker as official correspondence from the President of the Republic because the Council of State has a role to counsel the President. We should know those who counsel the President, so that we
can assess whether they would give him good or bad advice.
Mr Speaker, I thank you.
Mr Patrick Yaw Boamah 2:41 a.m.
Mr Speaker, much as I share the plight of the Hon Minority Leader, the rules of the House are clear on communications to you and to the House as stipulated under Standing Order 51.
Mr Speaker, with your kind permission, I would like to read, and it says 2:41 a.m.
“Communications from the President to the House shall be made to Mr Speaker by written message signed by the President or, in the absence of the President, by the Vice- President or by a Minister acting by command of the President.”
Mr Speaker, the Hon Minority Leader, Mr Haruna Iddrisu, raised issues with regard to article 89, and there are three segments in that provision that are relevant to his apprehension. Article 89 (2) deals with category of persons that the President must appoint in consultation with your good self and the House. The names that have been released to the public by the President are in accordance with article 89 (2) (d), and they are
Mr Samuel O. Ablakwa 3:01 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I rise to draw the attention of the House, in particular, my Hon Colleague who just spoke, to the fact that a careful perusal of the statement issued by Mr Eugene Arhin includes the category that he just spoke about.
Mr Speaker, if you would permit me, in the second paragraph, after he had listed the eleven names under article 89 (2) (d), Mr Eugene Arhin proceeds to speak to the category article 89 (2) (a), and with your permission I read; it says:
“The President, subject to consultation with Parliament has also appointed, in accordance with article 89 (2) (a) (ii) and (iii), Georgina Theodora Wood, a
former Chief Justice, Lieutenant General J. B. Danquah, a former Chief of Defence Staff of the Armed Forces, and Nana Owusu Nsiah, a former Inspector General of Police to the Council. The President of the National House of Chiefs, Ogyeahowuo Yaw Gyedu (II) is ex-officio member of the Council in furtherance of article 89 (2) (b).”

Mr Speaker, so the Hon Colleague should address his mind to it. He probably did not see this aspect of the statement. I think that the concerns of the Hon Leader of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) Caucus is legitimate and well grounded. As a House, we should not be treated as an afterthought; matters must not be discussed in the open media before they get to us, especially when the provision is that it must be “in consultation with Parliament”. One wonders if this consultations have taken place, and who in Parliament was consulted when Leadership of the House has no idea about any consultation. We can be neater and tidier in our approach and more respectful of the arms of Government as we go about these high matters of State.
Mr Alexander Kwamena Afenyo-Markin 3:01 p.m.
Mr Speaker, in my view, the concerns of the Hon Minority Leader bring to the fore two matters. He contends that there must be formal communication to Parliament before some of these things get out into the media; secondly, he raised the issue of consultation.
Mr Speaker, not too long ago, the argument on the floor of this House was whether or not we would yield to strict rules or we would give way to our practices and conventions. I am not one of those who has been in the House for many years, but I recall that in past situations where such a provision had had to be triggered, the practice had been a certain level of engagement at your level.
Mr Speaker, perhaps, unless Hon Colleagues would want to find out from you, which I think should not be the case at this moment - Obviously, if there should be consultation, the practice has always been that the Rt Hon Speaker would be in the known. In any event, is the consultation so to mean a formal letter to you or an engagement at a certain level? Mr Speaker, the provisions in article 89(2)(a)(i) to (iii) are clear about who and who should be part of the Council of State in that respect.
Mr Speaker, on the second issue, I do not think that the Executive in any way intends to undermine the authority of Parliament as the Hon Okudzeto Ablakwa tried to create an impression of that nature. Mr Speaker, we are running a nation with different dynamics as and when they so come up.
I would want to suggest that we should not harbour a feeling that the Executive would want to undermine Parliament. No, I do not think so. Mr Speaker, in any event, the matters raised as to consultation are within your bosom. Therefore, you would have an appropriate way of dealing with a matter like this.
Dr Dominic Akuritinga Ayine 3:01 p.m.
Mr Speaker, the concern raised by the Hon Minority Leader is very legitimate and germane. The reason is that the Constitution mandates that there be consultation. Consultation means having a discussion with Parliament. If a letter is communicated from the Executive branch, which is a fait accompli, basically communicating the end result to Parliament, that is far from being a consultative process.
Mr Speaker, they may consult you and the House as a whole, and they are not bound by the outcome of the consultative process. They may still go ahead and appoint the people on
Mr Speaker 3:11 p.m.
Hon Members, what the Hon Minority Leader has done is to draw our attention to a publication issued from the Office of the President. That publication conveys the intention of the President to appoint members of the Council of State in accordance with article 89(1) and (2) of the Constitution. The concern of the Hon Minority Leader is with article 89(2) which reads:
“The Council of State shall consist of --
(a) the following persons appointed by the President in consultation with Parliament --
(i) one person who has previously held the office of Chief Justice;
(ii)one person who has previously held the office of Chief of Defence Staff of the Armed Forces of Ghana;
(iii) one person who has previously held the office of Inspector-General of Police;”
That is the concern he has raised, that the publication conveyed the intention of the President to appoint some persons who are qualified according to article 89(2)(a) to the Council of State. We are told that it meant that it is a fait accompli because from all indications, Parliament has not been consulted.
Hon Members, the Speaker is not Parliament. If there has been any such practice, I will not follow a wrong practice. The consultation is to be with Parliament, and you, chaired by the Rt Hon Speaker, constitute Parliament. Therefore, even if there is a communication in whatever form -- it does not say formal communication. Even if it is verbal or whatever means to me, I would have to convey it to you. It does not mean that I would have to do it in the open or on the floor of the House. That process would be done by us. That is
part of the procedure that Parliament would have to iron out.
I have not received any communication from the President in this respect -- neither verbal nor written, formal nor informal. Thus, the Hon Minority Leader is right in drawing the attention of the House to this, and I would direct that this be conveyed to the Office of the President that the proper thing be done.

Now that the names have come out, if there is consultation and we disagree with some of the nominees, we all know the implications and effects of such disagreements. So, it is proper that we do these consultations before we go public and that is the right thing to do. That is the letter and spirit of article 89 (2) (a).

With the rest, the President is not bound to consult Parliament and in that respect, the communication with regard to article 89 (2) (b), is in the right direction. However, with Article 89 (2) (a), I think the Office of the President got it wrong and I so direct that this be communicated to the Office of the President.

Any time that I get the communication properly channelled to me, I would let Parliament be aware and we would convey our views to the President. The President is not bound to accept whatever we say, that we can be sure. I am even told that consultation could be a telephone call. Now, because it is an institution, it would be difficult to deal with only a telephone call. After the telephone call, I would have to act as the channel to get in touch with Parliament, and then we could do the same and the President would be more than authorised to go ahead to make the appointments.

What they have done now is not appointments but just conveying his intentions. So, I think that we should take that along as we transact business in the future. I hope I can now proceed to item numbered 3, correction of Votes and Proceedings and the Official Report.

Correction of Votes and Proceedings and the Official

Report
Mr Speaker 3:11 p.m.
Correction of Votes and Proceedings of Friday, 29th January, 2021.
Page 1.....2 --
Mr Speaker 3:11 p.m.
Table Office, take note.
Page 3 -- 8.
Mr Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa 3:11 p.m.
Mr Speaker, item numbered 8 on page 8, the Statement I made last Friday, the endnote should end with “COVID-19 fight”, instead of “the “economy”. So, it would read, “the high cost of the COVID-19 antigen test administered to the travelling public at the Kotoka International Airport and its negative impact on the country's COVID-19 fight”. That was the heading of my Statement. So, “economy” should be deleted and replaced with “COVID-19 fight”. Thank you Mr Speaker.
Mr Speaker 3:11 p.m.
Table Office, take note. Page 9 --
Mr Samuel Nartey George 3:11 p.m.
Mr Speaker, “Question proposed: Dabate arising” should read “Question proposed: Debate arising”. The Votes and Proceedings has it spelt “dabate”, so the “a” should change to “e”.
Mr Speaker 3:11 p.m.
Table Office, kindly take note. -- [Pause] Hon Members, in the absence of any further corrections, the Votes and Proceedings of the ninth Sitting of the First Meeting of the first Session, held on Friday, 29th January, 2021 are adopted as the true record of proceedings.
We have three Official Reports for Thursday, 7th January, 2021, Friday, 15th January, 2021 and Tuesday, 19th January, 2021. We would start with Thursday, 7th January, 2021. Any corrections?
Mr Ablakwa 3:21 p.m.
Mr Speaker, there are quite a number of corrections in this Official Report. I would start with page numbered (i), the Second name among the officials of Parliament. Hon Joseph Osei-Owusu, the First Deputy Speaker of Parliament's surname, Osei-Owusu is hyphenated. Could that be corrected accordingly?
Under the Office of the NDC Leadership, the Hon First Deputy Whip is Mr Ahmed Ibrahim, that is the fourth entry. What we have here is “Ibahim”, so if it could be corrected accordingly? Under the alphabetical list of Members of Parliament (MP), my name, the entry numbered 6, “Okudzeto” ends with a small “o” but
that is not what is captured there. So, could it be corrected?
I move to page (iii). The name of the distinguished Second Deputy Speaker of Parliament, the only independent candidate, has been captured wrongly. It should be “Asiamah, Andrew Amoako” instead of “Moako”. I believe that is not his name and should be corrected accordingly.

Mr Speaker, on page 9, with respect to the name of my Hon Colleague, Mr Vondee David T. D, his constituency has been added to his name. The constituency should be “Twifo Atti Morkwa” but the “Twifo” has been added as part of his name, so it has to be corrected accordingly.

Mr Speaker, in column 029, which refers to yourself when the Hon Minority Leader, Mr Haruna Iddrisu, presented your profile to the House, the third paragraph reads:

“Mr Chairman, he was among the three wise men and he is a three-star leader because he has served as Minority Leader, Majority Leader and as a

Second Deputy Speaker between 2001 and 2018.”

Mr Speaker, for the record and purpose of accuracy, it should be “2001 to 2021” and not “2018”.

Mr Speaker, the second paragraph under column 031 is as well about your good self, which reads:

“he also proudly served as the Chairman of the Public Accounts Committee from 2001 to 2004”, should be “… from 2001 to 2005”.

Mr Speaker, considering that this is in reference to you, these records must be particularly given the right attention in terms of accuracy.

Mr Speaker, again, in the last paragraph of column 033, “Electoral Commission” has been presented as “Electoral Communication”, so if it could be corrected accordingly.

Mr Speaker, with regard to the third paragraph of column 075, the Standing Order used for your election is Standing Order “9 (1)” and not “91”, so if that could also be corrected accordingly. Same should be corrected for the last but one paragraph of column 078.
Mr Speaker, in column 083, the sorting out that was done at 6.18 a.m., which says 3:21 p.m.
“6.18 a.m. -- [Ballot papers sorted into two main lots]'', also had a spoilt ballot, so if they could add “plus one identified spoilt ballot”. This would be for the accuracy of the historic developments that happened that night. This is because it reflects in the outcome which you captured in your inaugural address.
Mr Speaker, the second paragraph of column 088, should be “we proceed to elect the Deputy Speakers of Parliament” and not “we proceed to elect the Deputy Speaker of Parliaments”. The same error with my name recurs at column 089, so if that also could be corrected.
Mr Speaker, finally, the last paragraph in column 112, should read; “the Kofi Annan International Peace Keeping Training Centre” and not “the Kofi Annan International Peace Centre”.
Mr Speaker, in column 115, the name of the Hon Member for Bekwai, is “Mr Joseph Osei-Owusu” and not “Mr Joseph Osei Owusu”. He has a
hyphen to his name so it should be captured accurately.
Mr Speaker, I thank you very much.
Mr Speaker 3:21 p.m.
Hon Member, thank you so much for the eagle eye and for being so meticulous.
Let us all develop the flare to edit so that we can have better records of the proceedings of this House.
Mr Andrew Dari Chiwitey 3:21 p.m.
Mr Speaker, if you may permit, I beg to quote the third paragraph of column 084 which says:
“6.28 a.m. -- [An Hon Member- elect snatches ballot papers]''
Mr Speaker 3:21 p.m.
Table Office, please, kindly take note and capture it properly.
Mr Speaker 3:31 p.m.
Hon Members, in the absence of any further corrections,
the Official Report of Thursday, 7th January, 2021, is hereby adopted as the true records of proceedings.

We would take the Official Report of Friday, 15th January, 2021. Any corrections?
Mr Ablakwa 3:31 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I have one correction to submit at column 023, the name of the former Speaker of Parliament who is your distinguished predecessor; Rt Hon Edward Korbly Doe Adjaho but what we have here is “Kobla”. That is his name captured more accurately and not the rendition here.
Mr Speaker 3:31 p.m.
Hon Member, is it “K-o-r-b-l-y”?
Mr Ablakwa 3:31 p.m.
Mr Speaker, yes.
Mr Speaker 3:31 p.m.
Thank you so much.
Hon Members, the Official Report of Friday, 15th January, 2021, as corrected is hereby adopted as the true record of proceedings.
Hon Members, any corrections to the Official Report of Tuesday, 19th January, 2021?
Mr Ablakwa 3:31 p.m.
Mr Speaker, at column 006 of the second paragraph, I keep making this correction and it appears that the Table Office always gets it wrong. It has to do with the spelling of Nana Otuo Siribuor; the former chairman who has also been re-nominated as the chairman of the new council of State. His surname is spelt as follows; “S-i-r-i-b-u-o-r” and not as it has been wrongly captured even though I have corrected it before. It is not “S-e-r-e-b-o-u-r”.
Mr Speaker 3:31 p.m.
Hon Member, you are right because even it was captured in the narration but finally they got it wrong at the end. It is spelt with an “I” and I tried to correct it last Friday.
So, please, Table Office, kindly take note for the last time. That is the former chairman of the council of state and has been nominated to be a member and we cannot afford to be getting it wrong all the time. The next time we do so, the House will advise itself.
Hon Members, the Official Report of Tuesday, 19th January, 2021 as corrected is hereby adopted as the true record of proceedings.
We now move to item numbered 4. Hon Members, I have admitted a
Mr Kingsley Carlos Ahenkorah 3:31 p.m.
None

Mr Speaker, I wanted us to be done with the corrections of the Votes and Proceedings and the Official Report so that I chip in a word if you would indulge me.
Mr Speaker 3:31 p.m.
Hon Member, you mean to chip in a word after the corrections?
Mr Ahenkorah 3:31 p.m.
Mr Speaker, after the corrections, I stood up but probably, I did not catch your eye. At the point where we got to Thursday, 7th January, 2021, I heard an honourable Colleague from the other Side mention that the Hon Member who snatched the ballot paper has name and so, his name should be mentioned in the Hansard.
However, I presume that we all know what happened that day and several names would also have to be mentioned in the same Hansard. This is because there were people who kicked voting booths, those who shoved the Marshal to the Floor and so on.
Mr Speaker 3:31 p.m.
Hon Member, unfortunately, you are completely out of order. “Equity aids the vigilant and not the indolent”. Again, your submission is general, it has not been zoomed to specifics and so, I could not be admitting it. I will continue as I did on the issue of Statements.
I have admitted four Statements and I will start in the order in which they came to my Office.
rose
Mr Speaker 3:31 p.m.
Hon Member, I hope you would not take us back.
Mr Afenyo-Markin 3:31 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I just wanted to draw your attention. Respectfully, in this House, an honourable Member can only have the right to speak if he or she is able to catch your eye.
In view of the statement you made that; “equity --
Mr Speaker 3:31 p.m.
Hon Member, I am very vigilant. What the Hon
Ahenkorah said is not true. That is, he stood up and did not catch my eye. Please, I am very vigilant. [Interruption] --
Hon Members, if you want me to start mentioning all those Members who rise up and even to be talking to your Colleagues and not even try to catch my eye, I will do so. However, Hon Ahenkorah is directly seated in front of me and before I took off, my eyes searched all over the place before I proceeded.
So, please, my advice is that he should move away from that conduct. Hon Members, the first Statement stands in the name of Hon Samuel Nartey George on Second Anniversary of the Ayawaso Wuogon By-Election and the Recommendations by the Emile Short Commission.
Hon Member, you may make your Statement now.
STATEMENTS 3:31 p.m.
Mr Samuel Nartey George (NDC -- Prampram) 3:41 p.m.
Mr Speaker,
thank you for the opportunity to make this Statement.
This past Sunday, 31st January, 2021 marked the second anniversary of the by-elections held in the Ayawaso West Wuogon Constituency. The incidents of the day are a matter of public knowledge and have left an indelible scar on the Fourth Republican democracy of our nation.
A number of harrowing incidents that sought to mar Ghana's democracy and question our faith in our security services occurred in the full glare of the media.

A public outcry and international condemnation led to the setting up of a Commission of Enquiry by His Excellency, President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo pursuant to article 278 of the 1992 Constitution to probe the unfortunate events that undermined the electoral process that faithful day.

Mr Speaker, the Commission chaired by Justice Emile Short on 14th March, 2019, submitted its report to the Presidency and made recommendations for further investigation, compensation, structural changes in the security architecture of
Mr Speaker 3:41 p.m.
I see Hon K. T. Hammond on his feet.
He applied to be a Senior Prefect, but that application has not yet been considered by the House but I can see that he is trying to make a comment.
Mr K. T. Hammond 3:41 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I thought the application was approved by both Sides of the House the last time.
Mr Speaker 3:41 p.m.
I did not put the Question on that so I do not know how you got the approval.
Mr K. T. Hammond 3:41 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I recall that it slipped out of your mouth and both Sides of the House agreed. [Laughter] The other day too I caught your attention and you accepted that it was agreed. Mr Speaker, do you want to review that decision?
Mr Speaker 3:41 p.m.
I do not know about any such decision. Your Hon Leader is in front of you so I do not know about what you are saying. However, is that the reason for being on your feet?
Mr K. T. Hammond 3:41 p.m.
Mr Speaker, the reason I caught your eye is because of my worry about what is happening now. Mr Speaker, I do not intend to incur your displeasure so bear with me, but as far as I am concerned this matter happened about two years ago. A Commission of Enquiry was set up and a report was published. I am sure -- [Interruption]
Mr Speaker, nobody should point me to any Standing Orders. Hon Members should put their Standing Orders down as I make my point.
Mr Speaker 3:41 p.m.
Hon Member, I do not know how we can operate in this House without Standing Orders?
Mr K. T. Hammond 3:41 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I did not say that.
Mr Speaker 3:41 p.m.
You said they should put their Standing Orders down.
Mr K. T. Hammond 3:41 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I meant they should put it down for the time being while I --
rose
Mr Speaker 3:41 p.m.
Hon Members, please resume your seat and let us listen to him.
Mr K. T. Hammond 3:41 p.m.
Mr Speaker, this matter happened two years ago, a Commission of Enquiry was established and I think a report was even published. However, we are now called upon to listen to a Statement by an Hon Colleague who thought apposite to bring it to the House today. I am not so sure whether the system or the Standing Orders is being abused and he can refer me to the part of the Standing Orders that enables them to bring this up two years after it happened. Mr Speaker, what is the emphasis in this; it is not a ceremonial matter. I am not so sure of the significance of this matter for us to debate it today.
Mr Speaker, I seek your guidance on this matter.
Mr Samuel O. Ablakwa 3:41 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I am most grateful.
Mr Speaker, the Standing Orders are very clear and with your permission I beg to quote Order 72:
“By the indulgence of the House and leave of Mr Speaker a Member may, at the time appointed for statements under Order 53 (Order of Business) explain a matter of personal nature or make a statement on a matter of urgent public importance. Any statement other than a personal statement may be commented upon by other Members for a limited duration of time not exceeding one hour. The terms of any such proposed statement shall first be submitted to Mr Speaker”.
Mr Speaker, Order 71 also provides that 3:41 p.m.
“Ceremonial speeches may be allowed. Such speeches may be confined to commemorating special events or occasions of death of distinguished persons”.
There is also Order 70 that deals with another category of Statements.
Mr Speaker 3:41 p.m.
Hon Member, you may continue with your Statement.
Mr George 3:51 p.m.
Mr Speaker, may you live long. -- [Laughter]
Mr Speaker, it is heart-breaking for me to stand in the peoples' Chamber two years on and recount how none of these individuals who were promised compensation in the
Government's white paper have received any compensation or support from the State.
I am heartbroken, as I was a victim of the recklessness that characterised the actions of State operatives on the day. I saw first-hand the brutality meted out to some of these innocent citizens of the Republic. Mr Speaker, 18 of them filed complaints to the Ghana Police Service subsequent to the violence. The heart-rending situation of Mr Ishahu Yaro, a promising footballer, who was his family's bread winner and who got shot several times in his leg and has been crippled ever since even after three surgeries, should not be our record as a nation. Despite the recommendation of the President's Commission of Enquiry on compensation for eight out of the 16 and the acceptance of same in the white paper, these eight innocent citizens have been ignored by the authorities. A group of wives whose spouses were victims of violence during the by-election have petitioned the Government through the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection for action on their compensation but there has been absolutely no response.
Mr Speaker, accompanied by over 80 Hon Members of Parliament and my lawyers, I personally submitted a petition to the then Inspector General of Police, Mr David Asante-Apeatu,
and the then Deputy Director General of the Criminal Investigation Department, ACP Mr George Tweneboah, and identified some of my assailants. It is almost two years and the police has failed to as much as possible to respond to my petition whiles my assailants walk free. It is this inertia in the delivery of justice that leads many to question if truly justice would be served in this unfortunate matter.
Mr Speaker, our constituents and citizens of this Republic deserve better. The citizens of the Republic of Ghana demand action and we owe it as the representatives of the people and the true last bastion of democracy to hold agents of State security to account for their infractions of law. We cannot fail and we must demand that justice is served the eight citizens whom Government has pledged to compensate.

The tenets of democracy must be protected. Rule of law, accountability, and the protection of the human rights of citizens are essential in this democratic dispensation, and nothing or no one must be allowed to jeopardise this.
Mr Speaker, these citizens are 3:51 p.m.
Mr Theophilus Sedorfu; Mr Seidu Zene; Mr James Moore; Mr Mohammed Alhassan; Mr Ishawo Yaro; the owner of vehicle with registration number GE 3844-17; the owner of Kia Picanto with registration number GW 1045- 17; and Mrs Justine Sey, the owner of the beauty salon.
These individuals were identified in the Government White Paper for compensation. As Parliament, we represent the last ray of hope for these citizens who have elected us here. I pray you, Mr Speaker, to use your good office to direct all relevant State institutions responsible for the payment of the compensations to these affected citizens to act expeditiously in the resolution of this matter.
Mr Speaker, I thank you for the opportunity to make this Statement and draw national attention to the plight of innocent Ghanaian citizens in our constituencies.
Mr Speaker 3:51 p.m.
Leadership, your guidance - how many from each Side of the House? You know we have four Statements.
Mr Frank Annoh-Dompreh 3:51 p.m.
Mr Speaker, specific to this Statement, if you may permit one person from each Side, it would suffice.
Mr Speaker 3:51 p.m.
Yes, what do you say to the request?
Mr James K. Avedzi 3:51 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I think the Statement was harmless, and is calling on the attention of Government to do something which was recommended in the Report.
So, Mr Speaker, we propose that we have at least four contributors from each Side. If they do not have Hon Members to contribute, I have more people to contribute. At least four contributors from each Side of the House. If you could give timelines so that we do not stretch the contributions. Two to three minutes per person would be alright.
Mr Speaker 3:51 p.m.
Four is on the high side, and one is on the low side.
Mr Annoh-Dompreh 3:51 p.m.
Mr Speaker, we are in your hands. If one is on the low side and four is on the higher side, we leave that to your decision.
Mr Speaker 3:51 p.m.
Two from each Side of the divide. So you may now make your contribution. [Interruption] I thought you wanted to make a contribution. [Interruption]
Hon Members, I hope you would refer me to a Standing Order that says when an Hon Member wants to make a Statement on the Floor, he has to share copies with Hon Members. I do not have any Standing Orders on this matter, but I know that the Statement is passed through the Leadership of the Side and they recommend to me. I go through it, and for good reason, without offending any of the Standing Orders admit it for the House.
One clear reason being that you have the biggest voice in the country. This is the highest political platform of the country, and you represent the people. When there are issues concerning the fundamental human rights or issues of law, violation of law and the rest, it is good that we have in this House a voice to articulate it.
I am very concerned about the use of language. I read through and I saw there was no offensive language in the Statement, before I admitted it. I did it because the voice of these vulnerable Ghanaians who have some issues cannot be heard, and so it is good that you articulate it for national
discussion and finally the State would take action. It is not a matter of Government and Opposition. I believe that in this country, we have heard each other for far too long. We should be moving towards serious and real reconciliation, please.
I would be admitting these Statements just for this purpose. We cannot continue this way if we really want to develop as a nation. I am admitting Statements of this nature, and I would always give equal opportunity to both Sides of the House. I would take two contributions from each Side.
Yes, Hon Member?
Mr Frank Annoh-Dompreh (NPP -- Nsawam-Adoagyiri) 3:51 p.m.
Mr Speaker, to start with, I commend you for admitting this particular Statement. I am excited by the fact that it would lead us as an institution to forgotten injustices perpetrated.
Mr Speaker, I admire the confidence and the curiosity of my good friend, the Hon Member who made the Statement, but suffice you to know that there have been a number of by-elections in our country. Some have been bloodier. It is quite interesting that my good friend tended
to focus on only the recent one. This is just by the way.
I want to humbly submit that any injustice perpetrated anywhere should be condemned. Hence, as my Hon Colleague is calling for a much more thorough investigation and handing over of deserving compensation to deserving personalities and people involved, let us also not gloss over the injustice perpetrated at the Atiwa By- Election. It was bloodier. The Chereponi By-Election cannot be lost on us; and the Akwatia By-Election cannot be lost on us.
Mr Speaker, I would want to submit that in our pursuit to ensure that there is equity and justice handed over to the good people of this country, we pay a certain attention to Ghanaians who have suffered from these by- elections. It would only be when we set the stage for fairness.
I am happy the Hon Member who made the Statement had admitted that Government has responded positively. It is the first time in our country that after a by-election, a commission of inquiry has been formed to investigate into the perpetration of such injustice. It is something we have to be proud of and commend the Government for and do not forget that flowing from that, we have the passage of the law
Mr Frank Annoh-Dompreh (NPP -- Nsawam-Adoagyiri) 4:01 p.m.
on political vigilantism to guide us as a country.
So even as we lament on the perpetration of violence - And I would not support any form of violence perpetrated on any Ghanaian. It is important to recognise the steps that were taken by the Government then and learn some lessons from there.
Mr Speaker, not to bore Hon Members with words, I think that going forward, it is important we do not selectively pick only on the happenings of the recent by-election but do a thorough retrospection and take a cue from all that happened before. It is only then that we can see our way clear, and as a nation, we would be seen as truly pursuing justice.
Mr Speaker, this is not to challenge your decision to admit this Statement.

I would have respected my colleague much if he had made a cursory reference to, at least the recent times: the by-elections that have been held; the personalities and the people that have been named and the properties that have been destroyed so that it becomes holistic.

Mr Speaker, going forward, we need to condemn the violence. We need to ensure that we do not have a repeat of this violence perpetuated. But it is only fair that we do not forget what happened in Chereponi: the blood and the souls of those who lost their lives are still crying for justice.

Mr Speaker, guns were pointed at Ghanaians in daylight and they were shot. We cannot overlook that. Let us be fair and call for a total and absolute justice, respecting all the by- elections that have taken place. It is only then that we would be seen to be -
Mr Speaker 4:01 p.m.
Hon Member, I would encourage you and others to bring specific Statements on these incidents. We must heal the nation. I want specifics. Bring them and I would admit them. We would make them on the floor of the House. We would try as a House to lead in this matter. It is very important. So it is good that you are raising them, but let us get specific Statements, we discuss them, and we would know what actions to take.
Mr Annoh-Dompreh 4:01 p.m.
Mr Speaker, let me just conclude. I take a cue from your wise counsel. But in pursuing the path of healing, it is important that we show an attitude of fairness -- [Hear! Hear!] -- That is
only when the healing can be all- inclusive. So maybe, for want of a better word, ab initio, our Colleague's Statement was a bit more discriminatory and if we had involved all the happenings in recent times, I think we would be much more better and all of us would get more involved in seeking this healing that can help the nation and put us on a higher pedestal.
Mrs Angela O. Alorwu-Tay (NDC -- Afadzato South) 4:01 p.m.
Mr Speaker, thank you for the opportunity.
Mr Speaker, I think the numbers we have on both Sides in this House should clearly tell us that it is time to be loving and sound a bit reconciliatory in whatever we say.
Mr Speaker, no amount of equalisation - comparing Chereponi to whatever is the issue here. The issue in the Statement clearly refers to the second anniversary of a certain event. So he (Mr Annoh-Dompreh) cannot bring Chereponi and whatever into it. Yes, the law on vigilantism was passed by us. Did that bring lives back? Did it effect the recommendations in the
White Paper? No. Reading the White Paper from the Government, item 6.3 reads, and I beg to quote:
“The Government took note of the Commission's recommendation of the report and refers the recommendation to the CID for further investigation.”
Where are we with that? Have we heard anything about people being prosecuted? No. Item 6.4 in the White Paper also reads:
“Government also assessed in part, the recommendation on compensation as captured in principle but stated clearly that the Commission failed to provide an assessment of injuries sustained and therefore, refer the recommendation to the Attorney-General's Department for assessment for compensations to be paid.”
Mr Speaker, here we are; nothing has been paid. Whether an assessment has been made or was made, we do not know and then we are here equalising?
Mr Speaker, this is the opportunity for the right departments to come and brief the House or the Committee on Interior on these issues. It is just an anniversary or a reminder that we still have a certain job to do.
Mr Speaker 4:01 p.m.
I said two from each Side of the House. The Majority Side has done one and the Minority Side has done two - [Interruptions]
Mr Avedzi 4:01 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I think we agreed on two from each Side of the House. So far, one each has spoken. It is the turn of the Majority Side so if the Majority Side does not have, we can move to the Minority Side so that we move forward.
Mr Speaker 4:01 p.m.
Is that part of the understanding? I did not get that from the House that if one fails to contribute, they could cede the opportunity to the other Side. It has not yet emerged.
Hon Members, I would plead with you to let us continue with the other Statements. We have a lot of them.
Mr Avedzi 4:01 p.m.
Mr Speaker, only one person spoke from here. So if they are not prepared, let us utilise our second option.
Mr Speaker 4:01 p.m.
Two persons spoke: the maker of the Statement and then the Hon lady. That was the understanding I got. [Interruption.]
Mr Avedzi 4:01 p.m.
Mr Speaker, the maker of the Statement is different from the contributors.
Mr Speaker 4:01 p.m.
There was nothing like “after the Statement”.
Mr Avedzi 4:01 p.m.
Mr Speaker, only one person spoke from here and it is Hon Angela Alorwu-Tay. The maker of the Statement is not counted. So at least one more from here.
Mr Speaker 4:11 p.m.
Hon Members, we move to the second Statement which stands in the name of Hon John Ampontuah Kumah, Member of Parliament for Ejisu. It is on youth unemployment and job creation through the private sector.
Hon Member, you may make your Statement now.
I drew the attention of the House on the issue of physical distancing. I see that it is being breached again.
Please, we have spaces. Hon Members, physical distancing must be obeyed.

That is the reason why we have said that one-third of the 275 should be on the Floor every time the House sits.

Yes, Hon Member, you may continue.

Youth Unemployment and Job Creation through the Private

Sector
Mr John Ampontuah Kumah (NPP - Ejisu) 4:11 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I thank you for the opportunity granted me to make this Statement on Youth Unemployment and Job Creation through the Private Sector.
Mr Speaker, President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo in 2018, described the youth unemployment situation he inherited in his first term as a threat to our National Security. As of 2016, the Ghana Labour Force Survey reported that more than 1.2 million Ghanaians were unemployed. Creating jobs for the Ghanaian Youth was therefore a big-ticket item in the first term of President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo. Job creation for Ghanaian youth was and is still critical and called for policy measures aimed at solving them. The Government, therefore, rolled out
several measures to close the youth unemployment gap in Ghana.
Mr Speaker, one of these interventions was the National Entrepreneurship and Innovations Programme (NEIP), which is on record to have trained about 45,000 beneficiaries on how they can create their own businesses. About 10,000 of them received funding up to the tune of GH¢100,000. Most importantly, NEIP through Private sector collaborations created 100,000 jobs, as same can be verified from the website, www.neip.gov.gh.
Mr Speaker, may I take this opportunity to advise beneficiaries of government loans to remain disciplined and honest on their repayment obligations in order to ensure the sustenance of such laudable interventions from government. Other interventions instituted by Government to reduce Youth Unemployment are NABCO, Planting for Food and Jobs, One District One Factory, the Youth Employment Programme, Youth in Afforestation and various interventions by the National Youth Authority.
The ravaging nature of the Coronavirus pandemic with its corresponding negative impact on the labour market cannot be lost on us. A lot of countries have reported job
Mr John Ampontuah Kumah (NPP - Ejisu) 4:11 p.m.
Mr Speaker, another potent way to reduce unemployment is to tap into the 1.3 billion consumer market presented by the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA). Increasingly, the Ghanaian market looks saturated with lots of consumable products on the offering. What the AfCFTA does that most small business owners know very little about is that it allows them to export their products and services to other parts of the continent where they can generate more revenue which will help in expanding their businesses, and subsequently contribute to creating more jobs. With the coming into force of this compact, I entreat small business owners to consider venturing into other parts of the continent. We must seize the numerous benefits of AfCFTA.
Mr Speaker, in conclusion, on my part as a Member of Parliament, I am championing the creation of what I call “Ejisu Club 100”; a project which seeks to create 100 entrepreneurs in Ejisu in the next four years. I am confident that this will go a long way to create jobs for my constituents and I commend same programme to Hon Colleagues in the august House. If we succeed together, the 275 of us will have networked to create 27,500 young entrepreneurs in the country in the next four years.

4. 21 p.m.
Mr Speaker 4:11 p.m.
Hon Member, thank you so much for raising this issue. I would permit two contributions from each Side of the House. Since there are no further contributions --
Yes, Hon Member?
Mr Alexander K. Afenyo- Markin (NPP -- Effutu) 4:11 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I thank you for the opportunity to comment on the Statement made by my Colleague, Hon John Kumah.
Mr Speaker, the Statement as was read, does not come as a surprise because in his previous life he was the Chief Executive of the National Entrepreneurship and Innovation Programme (NEIP). He has run us through the unemployment situation, the intervention by Government, and what we would need to do to make life better for our youth.
Mr Speaker, let me emphasise this one more time. Yesterday, I had the privilege of listening to Professor Gyan-Baffour, a former Hon Member of Parliament. He ran us through some national issues, and had the
opportunity to address us on some of the abuses in the system. Specifically, he made mention of situations where Ghanaians had gotten EXIM facility and abused it. It runs down to the informal private sector levy. Many at times, Ghanaians get supports and interventions from Government. I can recall former President Rawlings' Poverty Alleviation Fund era, through to former President Kufuor's Microfinance and Small Loans Centre (MASLOC), the former President Atta Mills' MASLOC, the former President John Mahama MASLOC, and now, Nana Addo Dankwa's MASLOC. We also had the National Board for Small Scale Industries (NBSSI) support, and the NEIP support. Ghanaians benefit from Venture Capital Fund and other funds set up for the private sector.
Mr Speaker,the question now is, are we really putting in place a monitoring mechanism, and even if the monitoring mechanism is there, how do Ghanaian businessmen perceive these funds? Do they perceive it as being for the Government and so could be abused?
Mr Speaker, it is becoming unbecoming. People do not have the sense of repayment, and almost every youth in this country wants to go into public sector employment. It would
get to a point that the public sector can no more employ.
The only place to create the space is the private sector, and that is why in the past, people's complaints were source of capital or money. They said that they had the ideas but did not have the money . Now, the opportunity is there for people to start their own businesses. Billions are being rolled out. Are they willing to pay, and are they paying? Would they pay?
Mr Speaker, if these moneys go out and the Ghanaian youth do not pay because they think that it is their Member of Parliament (MP) who guaranteed it or somebody they knew who facilitated it, and that because it is Government's money, they do not really care, then the unemployment situation would be worse, especially now that we have the COVID-19 pandemic with us. Businesses are collapsing so people should take advantage of the interventions and act responsibly even though the moneys are State funds. If they pay, they would get more.
Mr Speaker, I would like to conclude by emphasising this point. I was a consultant to a company and at a point we had an engagement, and this gentleman who was in charge of the company told me that the company
Mr Speaker 4:11 p.m.
Thank you very much, Hon Member.
Hon Members, we would move on to the third Statement, and it stands in the name of the Hon Dr Sebastian Sandaare. It is on baby harvesting in health facilities and its implication on maternal and child health in Ghana.
Hon Member, you may make the Statement now.
Baby Harvesting in Health Facilities and its Implications
on Maternal and Child Health in Ghana
Dr Sebastian N. Sandaare (NDC -Daffiama/Bussie/Issa) 4:31 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I thank you for the opportunity to make this Statement.
Mr Speaker, on Thursday, 21st January, 2021, the Daily Graphic captioned a news item on its front page as follows: “Baby Harvesting Syndicate Busted”. They include two doctors and four nurses. It was reported that the joint operation by the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO) and the Ghana Medical and Dental Council had led to the arrest of 11 persons suspected to be involved in the harvesting of babies, and human trafficking in some health facilities in the Greater Accra Region.
The suspects comprised of two medical doctors, four nurses, two mothers, two social welfare officers and a traditional birth attendant.
The operation reportedly led to the rescue of two baby boys who were offered for sale at an amount of GH¢ 30, 000 and an amount of GH¢ 20,000 each to undercover investigators.

Mr Speaker, the actions of these professionals have brought shame and fear about maternal and child healthcare in Ghana. Their actions are not only criminal and unethical, but also foreign to the African culture, norms and values. In Africa and particularly in Ghana, children are treasured to the extent that every family wants them.

The stories of babies getting missing after delivery in health facilities have been happening for a long time without satisfactory explanations. An example is the story of the newly born baby who got missing at the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital in 2014, which brought sadness to the family and the entire country. The picture currently unfolding is an indication that we might be seeing the tip of the iceberg and therefore, needs urgent attention and redress.
Mr Speaker 4:31 p.m.
We shall take two contributions from each Side of the House.
Dr Kwaku Afriyie (NPP -- Sefwi Wiawso) 4:41 p.m.
Mr Speaker, let me take this opportunity to commend the Hon Sandaare for bringing to the fore such disturbing news that happened a couple of weeks ago.
Mr Speaker, I have seen that it was labelled “baby theft” or “baby harvesting”. I believe that properly, it is plain and simple. This is theft and trafficking in babies and I dare say that I am very disheartened that doctors and nurses in particular have been cited in this syndicate.
I still cannot bring myself to believe that a certified colleague of mine can sink that low to engage in such practices. So I still would want to beg that the Medical and Dental Council comes to make a categorical statement that those people who have been cited are real doctors. I still cannot bring myself to believe that.
Mr Speaker, these are really ethical and moral issues which play in the medical field. They are criminal in nature, and in fact, they expose the pathology that is in our wider society. Mr Speaker, it seems to me that there is a profound institutional dysfunction in Ghana which is careening towards even dystopia.
How do I mean by that? Institutions which have been set up to check certain bad things in the pathologies in society end up doing precisely what they were set up to fight against. I can cite several institutions. I can even cite an institution like the Forestry Commission, Mineral Commission which are engaged in galamsey which is a big problem.

We can cite the Police and other security agencies which are engaging in precisely what they were set up to fight against. We can even up the ante and cite the politicians as well. Sometimes, we do not even get the moral courage to speak against some of the things that we are here to do.

So, in this sense, I believe that we should have a national debate about morality and ethics in all institutions, so that we can set things right and get our --
Mr Speaker 4:41 p.m.
Hon Member, are you Dr Kwaku Afriyie?
Dr Kwaku Afriyie 4:41 p.m.
Yes, Mr Speaker.
Mr Speaker 4:41 p.m.
It has taken a long time for me to identify you. You have changed. [Laughter]
Dr Kwaku Afriyie 4:41 p.m.
When you have the nose mask on, you might even look like an armed robber. [Laughter] That is the paradox of our situation.
Mr Speaker 4:41 p.m.
I used to see some hair on your head too, but it looks like it has disappeared.
Dr Kwaku Afriyie 4:41 p.m.
Yes, I used to have bushy hair but we are all advancing in age, so sometimes, we trim it.
An orthodox practitioner like me, the Hon Member who made the Statement said that it is going to create a profound distrust in our profession and that is where I agree with him. We plead that Ghanaians in general would realise the sort of good job that we have done all this while. We could talk about Expanded Programme on Immunisation (EPI) and the COVID- 19 response among so many other things. So, I would plead with Ghanaians to note that the few bad nuts would not contaminate the rest of us.
Mr Speaker, I believe that he has made a lot of suggestions but I believe he should ask a simple question, “how did we get here?” As I said, this is part of a larger national problem which reflects institutional dysfunction. So, I recommend that we go outside the
parameters where he said the society can take a look at itself and then do the necessary corrections.
Mr Speaker 4:41 p.m.
Hon Member, it is now your turn.
Ms Helen Adjoa Ntoso (NDC -- Krachie West) 4:41 p.m.
Mr Speaker, thank you for the opportunity to contribute to this Statement on child harvesting in Ghana.
More often than not, when people are arrested for certain crimes, such as child harvesting, we talk about it a lot and debate it on the floor of this House, but at the end of it all, nothing meaningful comes out of it. It would be very traumatic if a mother who has been advised not to deliver at home --
Mr Speaker 4:41 p.m.
Hon Member, just a minute. The Hon First Deputy Speaker to take the Chair.
You may go on now.
Mr Speaker, money is good, but 1Timothy 6 4:41 p.m.
10 says that “for the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil...”. People want quick money and to reap where they have not sown. They want to sell these children to get quick money but do not care about what these women who carry these
babies for nine good months go through, only for their children to be sold.
Recently, we were told, and as the Hon Member stated in his Statement, that people have been arrested. Are we going to sit down as a country again for us to be told that after investigations, they have not been found liable? If it continues, that is when people would have the interest to continue doing what they are doing.
Some women, especially the young ones, are not ready and cannot take care of these children but they become pregnant. When they go to deliver and are offered GH¢20,000 or GH¢30,000, they readily give out these children to be bought. So, it is high time that as a nation, we educated these young girls that when they are not ready, they should not go in for it.
Also, what we need to do is that as a country, we should be flexible with the processes for adoption. I am a former member of the Committee on Gender and Children and the processes for adoption are too cumbersome. So, if we could remove the bottlenecks and legal administrative processes for people to easily adopt children, I think that we
would not face what we are facing as a country.
The education should go out there that if young girls are not ready, they should not go in for it. Also, the system should be flexible and easy for people who are willing to adopt, to have these children that they so need.
Mr Speaker, on this note, I thank you for the opportunity given me to contribute to this Statement.
Mr Speaker 4:41 p.m.
There was one Hon Member in front of me. After this, we would take the last Statement.
Yes, Hon Member?
Dr Mark Kurt Nawaane (NDC -- Nabdam) 4:41 p.m.
Mr Speaker, thank you. I would want to commend my Colleague, Hon Dr Sandaare for this very important Statement.
Mr Speaker, it is not only criminal but unethical and unAfrican; therefore the punishment should be punitive to let people know that the direction in which we are going is not correct. The immediate effect when I heard this information is that already, people are afraid to go to the hospital to deliver.
I remember a Government programme where we were even
training Traditional Birth Attendants (TBA) to handle cases at home.
MR FIRST DEPUTY SPEAKER
Mr First Deputy Speaker 4:51 p.m.
The Rt Hon Speaker, admitted another Statement, which stands in the name of the Hon Member for Bole/Bamboi, Mr Yusif Sulemana.
Rising Human Trafficking in Ghana: Reversing the Trend
Mr Yusif Sulemana (NDC -- Bole/Bamboi) 4:51 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I am grateful for the opportunity to present a Statement on yet, a popular subject of the growing incidence of human trafficking in Ghana.
Mr Speaker, from the Human Trafficking Act, 2005 (Act 694), three main components of human trafficking are discernible; the harvesting, abduction and trading of children, trafficking of persons for prostitution and trafficking for forced labour.
Mr Speaker, discussions on the subject have mostly been specific to one or two of these components. For instance, the Hon Member for Asuogyaman, Mr Thomas Nyarko Ampem, made a Statement on the subject in the 7 th Parliament; “focusing on child labour along the Volta Lake''. Outside Parliament, in 2017, the Hon Member for North Tongu, who spoke to Joy News, highlighted the issue of forced labour when he said “I am still receiving reports on daily basis of female
Ghanaian domestic workers who are subjected to all kinds of abuse from rape to forced labour. They do not have access to their phones. They cannot call their relatives. They are being treated like slaves. I think it is time for a high-level delegation to leave Accra and visit these countries''.
Mr Speaker, the objective of the Statement is to present a more holistic picture on the subject, especially given recent happenings. The Medical and
Dental Council (MDC) and the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO), issued a joint statement on January 20, 2021 in which they cited 11 people who were arrested for allegedly engaging in a ‘baby harvesting' scheme. The arrested people, who were clearly part of a syndicate were made up of medical doctors, nurses/midwives, social welfare officers, a traditional birth attendant and some complicit mothers. These individuals harvested newly born babies from medical facilities across the city of Accra for sale. The investigations revealed that babies were sold between GHS28,000 and GHS30,000.
Mr Speaker, again, on Tuesday, 26th January, 2021, there were media reports of a mother whose supposed ‘dead' baby was traced to India. She woke up after a sedated sleep after
child birth to be informed that her baby had died. Some 20 years later, she received a call from an old Indian woman who claim to have purchased that supposed ‘dead' baby.
Mr Speaker, while these incidents are shocking, especially given the calibre of people involved and the elaborate nature of the operations, they form just a fraction of the bigger issue of human trafficking in this country.
Mr Speaker, Act 694, referenced, was enacted to aid our fight against this canker but it is yet to spur any meaningful efforts in this regard. We remain on the ‘Tier 2 Watch List' of the United States of America (USA) on human trafficking. Indeed, after seeing statistics as contained in the 2020 Trafficking in Persons Report of the USA State Department (which provides an outlook of the 2019 situation), I can tell this House that this situation has only gotten worse and needs to be addressed immediately.
Mr Speaker, the report does not paint a good picture on our performance when it comes to eliminating human trafficking. It notes that out of 137 investigations on human trafficking initiated by the security services, involving over 500 victims, only 20 that is 15 per cent
Mr Yusif Sulemana (NDC -- Bole/Bamboi) 5:01 p.m.
involving 33 alleged traffickers were brought before our courts for prosecution by the State under Act 694. In all, Ghana Police Service (GPS) prosecutions resulted in only 10 traffickers being convicted in
2019.

Mr Speaker, in respect of child labour under the Children's Act, 1998 (Act 560) only five child- traffickers were prosecuted and convicted in the year 2019 compared to 14 traffickers in the year 2018.

While these statistics do not paint a good picture on our fight, there are even grimmer stories in our media on the subject. Not too long ago, precisely, in March, 2020, myjoyonline.com reported the death of a certain Faustina Tay; a 23 year old Ghanaian girl in Lebanon. Hours before her death, she had shared a desperate message on social media calling for help to escape dehumanising abuse in the hands of her Lebanese employers. Her lifeless body was found in a car park having fallen from the fourth floor of her employer's house as she desperately attempted to escape from her abusers.

Mr Speaker, Faustina's story was very sad. She was just one of the hundreds of young ladies trafficked to the Middle East for forced labour and prostitution. This situation needs an immediate resolution.

The onus lies with us the political class, especially the Government of the day, to reverse the trend. Yes, Government's efforts in negotiating labour recruitment agreements with the United Arab Emirates and Qatar in the year 2018 and 2019 is commendable but more is needed. There is an even bigger need to empower the system to vehemently punish traffickers and other perpetrators involved in this ungodly act.

Mr Speaker, in my opinion, Government should improve the capacities of agencies such as the Social Welfare Department, the Human Trafficking Secretariat, the Anti-Human Trafficking Unit of the Ghana Police Service and allied bodies.

Secondly, Government should reconsider the ‘fines' in the sanctions regime in respect of Act 694. The regime discriminates between parents or guardians from other perpetrators by allowing parents or guardians complicit in the trafficking of their children to be fined. This does not help

the fight. Complicit parents must be treated like other perpetrators.

In addition, the State must pursue preventive measures which will include fully and comprehensive implementation of the Ghana National Plan Action for the Elimination of Human Trafficking in Ghana. The plan has objectives on prevention, protection, prosecution and partnership building.

Thirdly, the State should seek full implementation of the agreements with UAE and Qatar while negotiating more of such bilateral agreements with other Middle East countries.

Fourthly, it should review protocols in our medical facilities to prevent the incidence of child harvesting and trafficking as witnessed very recently.

Mr Speaker, while at it, the system must not fail to cater for victims of trafficking. Government should increase funding to the Human Trafficking Fund (HTF) and expand it. This is necessary to be able to provide the required support for trafficked victims.

Also, increase the number of shelters to provide adequate space for housing rescued victims of trafficking. These shelters provide the base for

their care and re-integration into society. There will also be facilities where victims that volunteer to testify against traffickers can be housed while the cases are ongoing.

Furthermore, design programmes to provide medical screening, psychosocial care, needs assessment and skills development for victims of trafficking so as to facilitate their re- integration into society.

Mr Speaker, this canker of human trafficking is not only humanly abhorrent but a dent on Ghana's international image. We must address it with all the seriousness it deserves, and I hope this Statement would kick- start a more serious conversation in this regard.

Thank you, once again, for this opportunity.
Mr First Deputy Speaker 5:01 p.m.
Yes, Hon Duker; Member of Parliament for Tarkwa Nsuaem. Am I right?
Mr George Mireku Duker (NPP -- Tarkwa Nsuaem) 5:01 p.m.
Mr Speaker, yes you are right.
Mr Speaker, I would like to use this opportunity to also comment on the Statement made by Hon Yusif Sulemana, Member of Parliament for Bole/Bamboi, for raising such a
Mr First Deputy Speaker 5:11 p.m.
Hon Member for Krachi East?
Mr Wisdom Gidisu (NDC -- Krachi East) 5:11 p.m.
Mr Speaker, thank you for the opportunity to add my voice to the Statement.
Mr Speaker, I think that no Hon Member of the Eighth Parliament would support people who go round to buy babies and contract people to work for them in their farms and so on because nobody would support this act. However, the ordeal and humiliations these victims go through is just uncalled for and just as my Hon Colleagues on the opposite Side have said, I want to call on all of us to come together and with one voice condemn this and make sure that all our suggestions, recommendations and proposals for this to be brought to a stop should not just be on paper or for the sake of talking, but it should be implemented.
Mr Speaker, I would also talk about some of the people who are on the river and advice some of the security personnel and the institutions that are concerned with regards to
arresting these victims, that in dealing with such people and in their investigations, they should be fair and transparent. In the sense that they may see a man with his son in a boat on the river and just arrest them and put them behind bars. Mr Speaker, when some of the parents demand for their children, they would be arrested, prosecuted and probably imprisoned. That is why I am saying that the security agencies and the institutions that are concerned with these arrests should be careful and be impartial so that people who may not have done anything wrong would not be caught by the law.
Mr Speaker, with these few words, I thank you for the opportunity.
Mr Paul A. Twum-Barima (NPP -- Dormaa East) 5:11 p.m.
Mr Speaker, thank you very much.
I rise to support the Statement made by my senior Hon Colleague and I would commend him for drawing our attention to this important issue. Mr Speaker, the Hon Member who made the Statement drew our attention to the fact that child trafficking is becoming a canker that is eating into the fundamental development in our country. Mr Speaker, I would refer to the United States Department of State website and the US 2020 Trafficking of
Mr Joseph K. Kumah (NDC-- Kintampo North) 5:21 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I rise to support the Statement by the Hon Member. Mr Speaker, I would urge this House to pay attention to the Children's Act 1998 (Act 560). Mr Speaker, the Act provides for the right of the child and covers issues of parental duties and responsibilities, maintenance, adoption and fostering. The Act protects children exploitation, labour, child marriages and stipulates responsibilities for care and protection of children.
Mr Speaker, in marrying this Act to child trafficking, all parents and children have a role to play. What do we find in our societies today? Is it a matter of just having children and saying that we have children? Are we
responsible parents? What penalties are there for irresponsibilities's? Mr Speaker, drawing this into the issue of people who sell their children in the various -- Mr Speaker, the other day, I listened to the news and commentaries on this issue and one of the explanations was that a child who has become a mother could not take care of the child and so was about to abort the pregnancy but she was advised by a medical person to deliver the child and they would take care of the child. This was how come the child ended up being sold to whoever bought the child. Mr Speaker, where is the parental responsibility here and do we have punitive measures for such people? Mr Speaker, I am sure we must get back to the law and combine our efforts against the children and parents for their carelessness.
Mr Speaker, this is not limited to only Ghana. On 29th July, 2020, Save the Children came out with a report that one in 20 children who are victims of sexual exploitation worldwide is under eight years old.

Mr Speaker, this is a serious issue, that there is increase in demand for child pornography. The COVID-19 crisis has also changed the pattern of

exploitation which is now operating less on streets and more indoors or online. We have a lot to do as a country.

Mr Speaker, children make up a quarter of all victims of trafficking or exploitation with the COVID-19 pandemic isolating victims further and making it even harder to reach them. A new report by Save the Children, the tenth edition, “Little invisible slaves”, highlights cases of trafficking reported in 164 countries in 2019 that out of the 108 cases more than 23 per cent involves minors. We can go on and on.

Mr Speaker, it is a serious issue that the country must wake up to. I am sure 21st century parliaments and for that matter, ours here, must begin to look for the solutions more than the continuous Statements we have been getting. This is because, my Colleague, Hon Yusif Sulemana referred to Statements made in the Seventh Parliament by Hon Members.

Mr Speaker, I draw the curtain with the suggestion that we look for solutions and punitive measures for perpetrators.
Mr Afenyo-Markin 5:21 p.m.
Mr Speaker, perhaps you may indulge me on a matter I feel strongly about. If you look at Standing Order 72, with permission, let me quote:
“By the indulgence of the House and leave of Mr Speaker, A Member may, at any time …”
Mr Speaker, obviously, the terms under which the Statement is admitted is within the ambit of Standing Order 72, but what I have realised is that most of our Colleagues do not share copies of their Statements for Hon Members to read and make meaningful contributions.
Mr Speaker, I would want to strongly suggest that most of the issues raised are for all of us to make meaningful comments, and so in future, this might have to be considered by Hon Members who make Statements. Hon Atta Akyea has given me a Statement he intends making on Thursday. At least, I would have three days to read through. This is my humble suggestion to colleague Hon Members through you, Mr Speaker.
Mr First Deputy Speaker 5:21 p.m.
Very well. Thanks for the admonishment.
Yes, Hon Sulemana?
Mr Y. Sulemana 5:21 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I just want to add my voice to what the Hon Leader said. Sometimes, it is also an issue of when the Statement is admitted and when you are told that the Statement is admitted. When an Hon Member does not get enough time to share a Statement before reading it, then it becomes a problem. So if we could put in place some mechanism for Hon Members to know that their Statements have been admitted and they would be made to read, then they could quickly share it among hon Colleagues.
Thank you.
Mr First Deputy Speaker 5:21 p.m.
Well, that brings us to the end of Statement time.
Hon Majority Leader, are we able to take item numbered 5?
Mr Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 5:21 p.m.
Mr Speaker, unfortunately, we would not be able to handle items numbered 5(a) and (b). The two Reports are not ready, and so we would not be able to handle them.
Mr Speaker, it is intended for us to go into a Committee of the Whole to deal with a Report from the Technical Committee on the Standing Orders, but I have been told that the Report is not ready. I hope that we can ready the Report by tomorrow in order for us to go through quickly and possibly adopt it tomorrow or the day after. Then, we would be ready to compose the Committees in anticipation of the work of the Appointments Committee in the ensuing week.
So, Mr Speaker, I would want to appeal to the secretaries responsible to endeavour to complete it so that as the Chair of the small group you would be able to append your signature so we could circulate them tomorrow and deal with them either at the Joint Caucus Meeting or at a Committee of the Whole tomorrow.
Mr Speaker, having said so, I would also want to urge that the team from Noguchi Memorial Institute of Medical Research is here again. Because of the upsurge of this pandemic, they have to fall out to various places. We have today and tomorrow for Hon Members and staff to undergo the test. So all who have not yet availed themselves should submit themselves tomorrow so that we would be able to complete the
process. Immediately after tomorrow, a person would have to follow up to their own destinations to have themselves tested.
Mr Speaker, let me appeal to Hon Colleagues and staff who have not yet submitted themselves to do so by the close of day tomorrow.
I thank you very much.
Mr First Deputy Speaker 5:21 p.m.
Yes, Hon Deputy Minority Leader?
Mr James K. Avedzi 5:21 p.m.
Mr Speaker, on the issue of the Report of the Technical Committee, I agree with the Hon Leader that if we could get the Report later tomorrow - but I would also want to appeal that sufficient time be given to Hon Members to peruse the Report and look at the changes that have been proposed in the Report so that when we go to the Committee of the Whole, we can adequately address the issues in the new Standing Orders.
This is the only issue I have to propose in relation to the work of the Technical Committee.
Mr First Deputy Speaker 5:21 p.m.
The new Standing Orders is not on today's Order Paper. It is proposed for tomorrow that the Report would be laid. We would endeavour to lay the Report.
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 5:21 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I beg to move that this House adjourns till tomorrow at
Mr James K. Avedzi 2 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I rise to second the Motion.
Question put and Motion agreed to.
ADJOURNMENT 2 p.m.