Debates of 5 Mar 2021

MR SPEAKER
PRAYERS 2:36 p.m.
Mr Speaker 2:36 p.m.
Hon Members, there is no formal communication by me, so we would move to item numbered 3 -- Correction of Votes and Proceedings and the Official Report.
VOTES AND PROCEEDINGS AND THE OFFICIAL REPORT 2:36 p.m.
Mr Speaker 2:36 p.m.
We would start with the Correction of Votes and Proceedings of Thursday, 4th March,
2021.
Page 1…8 --
Mr Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 2:36 p.m.
Mr Speaker, with regard to bullet 5 on item numbered 4 on page 8, the Hon Member for Ahanta West, Mr Ebenezer Kojo Kum, as I indicated yesterday, has filled the leave of absence form and transmitted it to you in respect of his health condition.
Mr Speaker 2:46 p.m.
Table Office please, take note. Item number 4, bullet numbered 5, he is absent with permission.

Page 10 …20.
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 2:46 p.m.
Mr Speaker, in the Supplements to the Votes and Proceedings for today, beginning from page 13, we have the meetings of the Appointments Committee. Arising out of these meetings, Reports have been submitted and the House has engaged itself on the consideration of the Reports, and approvals have been given.
When we have done this, then the Supplements from the Committee comes after the House has approved the recommendations from the Appointments Committee. I would just want to plead that the officers from the Appointments Committee submit the Supplements from the Committee timeously to the Table Officers in order for them to incorporate them in the Votes and
Proceedings. Otherwise, anybody who reads the Votes and Proceedings and comes to the conclusion that the Plenary has considered, adopted some Reports and approved nominations by the President then subsequently comes to discover the Supplements relating to the meetings that occasioned the writing of the Reports. I think it is not in order; the chronology should be appropriately captured.
Mr Speaker 2:46 p.m.
This is definitely to the Appointments Committee and the Table Office.
Hon Members, the Votes and Proceedings of Thursday, 4th March, 2021 as corrected is hereby adopted as the true record of proceedings.
We now move to item numbered 4 - Business Statement for the Eighth Week by the Hon Chairman of the Business Committee.
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 2:46 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I would just want to make a point that our Hon Colleagues are not in the Chamber and information has just come to me that they are in Caucus meeting. I thought that these are early days and at least, the Speaker and I should be informed so
we know what is going on because we have been waiting and no one is telling anybody anything, yet today is a day of Sitting. Yesterday, when we were leaving, we said that we would start Sitting at 11 a.m. and so that is irregular.
Mr Speaker, I believe that as I said, these are early days and there should be communication to me and the Speaker because we do not know what is happening. We have been trying to make calls which are not going through; maybe, they are required to switch off their phones wherever they are operating from.
However, it is important that we get these things right because the House must certainly be able to transact Business. Having said so, I do not know whether - because many of our Hon Colleagues are not here, the Hon Deputy Minority Whip would communicate whatever transpires to them. Alternatively, we can give ourselves a short break, that is, if we have information from them as to when the meeting is going to end; perhaps, we could give ourselves 10 to 15 minutes. Other than that we can go on.
Mr Speaker, my Hon Colleague is upstanding and so, you may listen to him.
Mr Ahmed Ibrahim 2:46 p.m.
Mr Speaker, ordinarily, our Caucus meeting should have been at exactly 2 p.m. because it was agreed yesterday that Sitting begins at 11 a.m. So, that is why we did not give any prior notice because we thought that if we Sat at 11 a.m., because there is no major issue apart from the Business Statement and so on, the House would adjourn after 2 p.m. So the Caucus meeting was slated as such and because we could not Sit at 11 a.m., that is the more reason we are still in the Caucus meeting.
Mr Speaker, I was mandated by the Hon Minority Leader to extend our sincere apologies that in about 10 minutes, they will be here and so, I should take the lead in representing the Caucus in the Chamber while the Business Statement is being presented. However, due to the concerns raised by the Hon Majority Leader, I would not mind if the House, by your leave, suspends Sitting for 10 minutes to allow them time to be here or we continue with the Business Statement as they come in because the Caucus meeting is about wrapping up.
So, it is not for any bad intention that we are not here but for the good of the House.
Mr Speaker 2:46 p.m.
Well, Hon Majority Leader and Hon Members, I am
tempted to suspend Sitting for 10 minutes. It is because of their absence we could not go through the Official Report. So, we realised that I skipped it for the presentation of the Business Statement.
So, if there is an indication that they will be here within 10 minutes, let us please suspend Sitting for 10 minutes to accommodate them. I will be in the Lobby; I would not move far away. However, I wish to assure Hon Members that I am always ready to come in but Business must be ready before the Speaker comes in. So, sometimes, that is what causes the delay and today, we had to go and sympathise with the family of Mr Apodolla; Deputy Clerk to Parliament. That is what took away our time and prevented us from Sitting at 11 a.m. today.
With your kind indulgence, we will take a 10-minute suspension.
2.57 p.m. -- Sitting suspended.
3.30 p.m. -- Sitting resumed.
Mr Speaker 2:46 p.m.
Hon Members, item numbered 4 -- Presentation of Business Statement for the Eighth Week? Hon Chairman of the Business Committee?
BUSINESS OF THE HOUSE 2:46 p.m.
Majority Leader/Chairman of the Business Committee (Mr Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu) 2:46 p.m.
Mr Speaker, the Committee met yesterday, Thursday, 4th March, 2021 and arranged Business of the House for the Eighth Week ending Friday, 12th March, 2021.
Mr Speaker, the Committee accordingly submits its report as follows 2:46 p.m.
Arrangement of Business
Formal Communications by the Speaker
Mr Speaker, you may read any available communication to the House.
Statements
Mr Speaker, pursuant to Order 70(2), Ministers of State may be permitted to make Statements of Government Policy. Statements duly admitted by the Rt Hon Speaker may be made in the House by Hon Members in accordance with Order
72.
Papers and Reports
Mr Speaker, pursuant to Order 75, Papers for presentation to the House
may be placed on the Order Paper for laying. Committee reports may also be presented to the House for consideration.
Motions and Resolutions
Mr Speaker, Motions may be debated and their consequential Resolutions, if any, taken during the week.
Address by H. E. The President
Mr Speaker, as indicated earlier this week during the presentation of the Business Statement, H. E. the President of the Republic is scheduled to deliver a Message on the State of the Nation on Tuesday, 9th March, 2021, in accordance with article 67 of the Constitution.
Pursuant to the convention of this House, Hon Members are urged to be punctual and accordingly be in the Chamber timeously as it may not be courteous for Members to enter or exit the Chamber after H. E. the President has entered the House to deliver his address. Indeed, it would be a breach of protocol.
Mr Speaker, we would communicate to Hon Members the actual time of the Presentation. Because of the fact that we have been Sitting at 2.00 p.m. lately, the

President had assumed that the presentation would be done at 2.00 p.m. Accordingly, the President had scheduled some programmes in the morning so we would have some consultations with him to look at the time and communicate same to Hon Members and the Clerk to Parliament by the end of today. Mr Speaker, but for the time being, we may take it that we would Sit at 2.00 p.m. in the afternoon of Tuesday. If we have to change it, we would communicate same through the Clerk to Parliament to the Rt Hon Speaker.

Mr Speaker, the Business Committee takes this opportunity to

advise Hon Members not to enter the Chamber with their guests.

The Address by the President will take place in the tent erected at the forecourt of Parliament.

Debate on the Message on the State of the Nation

Mr Speaker, a Motion to thank H.E. the President for the Message on the State of the Nation would be moved on Wednesday, 10th March

2021.

Mr Speaker, in accordance with the practice of the House, the Business Committee recommends some time allotments for Hon Members to make their contributions.

Statement and Economic Policy of the Government for the year ending 31st December 2021 is scheduled to be presented to the House on Friday, 12th March, 2021. The Business Committee therefore urges Hon Members to arrange their affairs in order to be present in the House on the said date.

The presentation of the Budget Statement and Economic Policy of the Government will also take place in the tent.

Post-Budget Workshop

Mr Speaker, a post-budget workshop has been scheduled for Leadership, Committee Chairpersons, Vice Chairpersons, Ranking Members and Deputy Ranking Members to enable them assimilate the contents of the Budget.

The workshop is expected to be held from Friday, 12th to Monday, 15th March, 2021 at the Volta Serene Hotel, at Ho in the Volta Region. Members are expected to check-in at the Hotel on Friday, 12th March 2021. Further details would be provided in due course.

The Business Committee entreats all Members who are expected to

The time allotments are as follows:

i. Mover and Seconder of Motion -- 25 minutes

ii. Other Hon Members -- 10 minutes

iii. Winding up by Leadership -- 30 minutes

The allotment of time is to ensure that as many Hon Members as possible are availed the opportunity to contribute to the debate on the Message by H. E. the President since only two days would be devoted to the debate due to the exigencies of the remainder of this Meeting. The Committee would however urge Hon Members to endeavour to be as brief as possible and also avoid repetitions.

The debate on the Message on the State of the Nation is proposed to be concluded on Thursday, 11th March

2021.

Presentation of the Budget Statement and Economic Policy of the Government

Mr Speaker, on the authority of the President of the Republic, the Budget

participate in the workshop to avail themselves at the post-budget workshop.

The Business Committee takes this opportunity to give prior notice to Hon Members that Debate on the Budget Statement and Economic Policy shall commence on Tuesday, 16th March, 2021.

Sitting Time and Extended Sittings

Mr Speaker, the Business Committee recommends that the House commences Sitting each day at 10:00 a.m. and also have extended Sittings to ensure that debate on the Message on the State of the Nation concludes on Thursday, 11th March, 2021. It is hoped that this recommendation, if adopted, would enable the completion of scheduled business for the week which includes debate on the Motions for approval of nominees of H.E. the President as well as the presentation of the Budget Statement and Economic Policy of the Government.

Conclusion

Mr Speaker, in accordance with Standing Order 160(2) and subject to Standing Order 53, the Committee submits to this honourable House the
Mr Speaker, the Committee accordingly submits its report as follows 3:40 p.m.


order in which the Business of the House shall be taken during the week.

ADDRESS BY H. E. THE

PRESIDENT—Message on the State of the Nation

Presentation of Papers --

Committee sittings.

Statements

Presentation of Papers

Fourth Report of the Appointments Committee on the President's nominations for Ministerial appointments (Regional Ministers- designate).

Motions --

That this Honourable House thanks H.E. the President for the Message on the State of the Nation which he delivered to Parliament on Tuesday, 9th March 2021.

(Commencement of Debate)

Committee Sittings.

Statements

Presentation of Papers --

Fifth Report of the Appointments Committee on the President's nominations for Ministerial appointments (Regional Ministers-designate).

Motions --

(a) That this honourable House thanks H.E. the President for the Message on the State of the Nation which he delivered to Parliament on Tuesday, 9th March 2021.

(Conclusion of Debate)

(b) Adoption of the Fourth Report of the Appointments Committee on the President's nominations for Ministerial appointments (Regional Ministers-designate).

Committee sittings.

Statements

Presentation of Papers --

Annual Report on the Petroleum Funds for the 2020 Fiscal Year.

Motion --

That this honourable House approves the Budget Statement and Economic Policy of the Government for the year ending 31st December 2021.

Committee sittings.

Mr Speaker, while at that, it is important to announce for the information of all Hon Members of Parliament , Staff of the Parliamentary Service and other auxiliary staff including in particular, the Police, Fire Service and MP's research assistants that the COVID-19 vaccination exercise for Parliament would be conducted in the parliamentary precinct by Parliament as follows:

Tomorrow, Saturday, 6th March and it would continue to Sunday 7th March, 2021. The time for commencing the programme is 10:30 a.m. and it would end at 4.00 p.m. each day. It would happen at the dining facility of Members of Parliament on the Ground Floor of the Job 600 Complex.

The breakdown of category of persons is as follows: the Rt Hon Speaker and the spouse, Members

Mr Speaker, these are the recognised spouses with the Parliamentary Administration. We would make sure that it is only those who are registered. We know some are spouseless, and they cannot pretend to have spouses.

Mr Speaker, the police personnel would also be part of this project, but they would come without their spouses and the Fire Service personnel without their spouses. With the research assistants with this Eighth Parliament, my information is that the research assistants, thus far, only 22 have been registered. It means it is only those 22 people who would be allowed to submit themselves. Those research assistants would also come without their spouses.

Mr Speaker, we are all entreated to avail ourselves for this important exercise.

I thank you very much, Mr Speaker.
Mr Speaker 3:40 p.m.
Hon Members, you heard the Hon Chairman of the Business Committee. Any comments
Mr Sampson Ahi 3:40 p.m.
Mr Speaker, when the Hon Majority Leader was listing those who would participate in the vaccination exercise, he did not mention our drivers. In my view, it is very important because if I am vaccinated and my driver is not, do not forget I would sit in the same car with my driver everywhere I go.
Hence it is very important that we consider our drivers. Now, most Hon Members of Parliament also have security personnel, but I understand they are also catered for by the security services. However, those who have been deployed to Parliament must be considered.
My last issue is on the research assistants. In the Seventh Parliament, they accepted first degree holders with second class, upper division. This time around, we are hearing, not officially communicated to us though, that it is restricted to those with master's degrees. This is the reason you are just seeing about 22 of them.
I would just want to plead that we stick to what pertained in the Seventh Parliament so that we can get those with second class upper division and
master's degree holders. I plead with the Parliamentary Service Board to reconsider that decision to not restrict it to only those with master's degrees.
Thank you, Mr Speaker, for the opportunity.
Mr Edward Abambire Bawa 3:50 p.m.
Mr Speaker, my comment is on bullet numbered 5 on Sitting time and extended Sittings.
I recalled that in the last Parliament, one of the challenges we always had which was always a point for discussion had to do with the time we start Sitting. Usually, there is an advertised time, for instance to start Sitting at 10.00 a.m. And you would realise that people come into the Chamber or hang around the Chamber hoping for Sitting to start. Sometimes we have two to three hours waiting and you would realise that there is no communication and nobody knows exactly what is happening as to whether we are going to start Sitting. And so everybody's life and time for that day is mutated because of the fact that we have times that we do not follow.
Mr Speaker, this is one area we must begin to start improving on so that when we say we are starting at 11.00 am, as long as we have quorum, let us start the Sitting. This is the first part.
Mr Speaker, the second part has to do with the hours we Sit in the Chamber. We all recalled that on January 6, 2021 because of the extended period that we stayed in the Chamber here, we had many colleagues who got effected with COVID-19. Just two days ago, we sat in this Chamber for almost five hours just seated here. I know we need to make sure that Government Business goes on, but we must be alive to make the Business go on.
In my view, I think that as long as we are still within this period of pandemic, let us also try to be mindful of the period we stay in the Chamber. We sit here with no air apart from the air conditioners, and we all know from science and the literature available that when people sit in an enclosed place, they should try as much as possible to limit the hours they stay there.

Mr Speaker, I believe this is the reason you directed that even with the Appointments Committee that is even lower in terms of numbers should not stay for more than two hours and we had almost 275 people locked up in this Chamber for almost five hours. We just risk our health and I think that it is an area that Leadership should

take into consideration and let us see how we can make adjustment, going forward.

Thank you, Mr Speaker.
Mr Kwame Governs Agbodza 3:50 p.m.
Mr Speaker, when the Leader of the House was outlining the groups that would take the COVID-19 vaccine, I did not specifically hear about the Parliamentary Press Corps. Are they part of the vaccination in Parliament?
Thank you, Mr Speaker.
Mr Kofi I. Adams 3:50 p.m.
Mr Speaker, on the same vaccination, you observed that when we took the test, even though it was just for Members of Parliament and was scheduled for three days, not all of us were able to do it for some reasons. Now, we are being told that we have only two days - Saturday and Sunday. This includes our spouses and other categories of staff. Some Members have already scheduled weekend programmes and activities and may not even be in Accra and this vaccination is not happening in all constituencies at the moment. My wish is that we add Monday, which is a holiday, so that Hon Members would return on Sunday evening and participate on Monday, if possible.
Thank you, Mr Speaker.
Mr Richard Acheampong 3:50 p.m.
Mr Speaker, reading through the Business Statement, item numbered 4, I see after Statements, Presentation of Papers and in there is “Annual Report
of the Petroleum Funds for the 2020 Fiscal Year.”
Mr Speaker, I recall that last week, the Business Statement programmed to be laid before us contained the composition of various Committees. Yesterday, it was on the Order Paper but it was said that as the Chairman of the Committee, you have not even seen the draft. So they should remove it from the Order Paper until the draft is given to you and then approval is given.
Mr Speaker, I cannot see anywhere in the Business Statement, the laying of that Report. So my issue has to do with if we are going to present a Paper, Annual Report on the Petroleum Funds for the 2020 Fiscal Year, which Committee is going to handle it? This is because, there is no Committee in place and we are going to lay a report or present a report and which Committee would it be referred to?
Mr Speaker, on Standing Order 164 and 163, some of us have a lot of issues, which we want to bring before you, but the Privileges Committee has not been set up. So if, for example, I want to lodge a complaint, how can it be referred to the Committee and in case I raise the issue and the fellow gets to know of my intention, the next day, he could
come to my house and ask me to go and withdraw the complaint. This is because before the Committee is set up, I may be compromised. So, to avoid such situations, I think we cannot put the cart before the horse. Let us get the Committees in place before those reports and other issues can be raised on the Floor.
Mr Speaker, article 110(1) 3:50 p.m.
“Subject to the provisions of this Constitution, Parliament may, by Standing Orders, regulate its own procedures.”
Mr Speaker, this means we are masters of our own rules.
Mr Speaker, Order 2 reads and I beg to quote;
“Except otherwise provided in these Orders or in the Constitution of the Republic of Ghana, these Orders shall not restrict the mode in which Parliament exercises and upholds its powers, privileges and immunities.”
Mr Speaker, we are masters of our own rules but there is no indication that we are going to vary this Business Statement and I just want the Chairman to give us clarity on this subject matter, going forward.
Thank you, Mr Speaker.
Mr Speaker 4 p.m.
Chairman of the Business Committee, a lot of concerns have been raised, could you kindly respond to them?
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 4 p.m.
Mr Speaker, the first issue is about letting drivers and bodyguards submit themselves for vaccination. I think that it is a good suggestion, except that as we know that the allocation that we have is just about 2,000 for now.
The staff strength in Parliament is in the region of about 570 and the Members of Parliament are 275. What it means is that if we have MPs and their staff coming with their spouses, the space left for others will be eroded. Which is why we are asking these key players: Members of Parliament, staff and their spouses and as I related to the Police Service, the Ghana Fire Service Personnel and the research assistants to submit themselves-. That would exhaust the 2,000. Subsequently, the allocations that would be made will go to other people.
Mr Speaker, indeed, Hon Members of Parliament are allowed to cater for four of our children. We are not even including the children because of the limited number of vaccines that we have. When we have
adequate numbers, certainly, we will extend to these people including, in particular, the media personnel who are here with us. So, certainly, we would cater for all of them, except that realistically, the numbers that we have now is not up to the number within the precincts that we should be taken care of.
Mr Speaker, the Hon Member also asked a question about the qualification of research assistants. The Seventh Parliament stressed on second degrees, but then Hon Members came in to say that for the beginning we should allow that and then going forward, we then shall comply. That was the understanding.
Mr Speaker, I think we should be careful with this. Research assistants worth the sort certainly would have to have the requisite qualifications. If we are not careful, an Hon Member would, perhaps, insist that this is a very experienced person in the research department that he has known, even though he does not bear any degree or certificate, yet we let him bring the person because he knows him personally. That will be too much for us as a parliament. So, the eligibility qualification criteria has been set and I believe any of us going to our constituencies will certainly discover some one with the requisite qualification. So, I am not too sure I need to spend too much time on this.
Mr Speaker, the second Hon Colleague raised issues of the long Sitting of the House. I think we should all be concerned. I am not too sure that I agree with him whether he has conducted any research to say that the long Sitting hour of January, 6, 2021 caused an escalation of the disease in Parliament. Hon Colleague, I think that statement should not be coming from you when it is premised on any established fact. He is just mongering rumour and that should not be part of us. Notwithstanding, I think we should be careful and we should be serious with this.
Mr Speaker, I think I have answered the question that Hon Agbodza asked in respect of the press corps.
Mr Speaker, Hon Kofi Adams said we should consider including Monday, 8th March, 2021. Certainly, if by Sunday, we have not exhausted the vaccines, we may have to extend to Monday. If by Saturday, 6th March, 2021, we have been able to exhaust the 2,000, we cannot necessarily extend to Monday, but we would look at it to see if there are some outstanding, certainly, we may have to extend to Monday.
Mr Speaker, Hon Ablakwa asked about travelling to Ho same day after
the presentation of the Budget. As I indicated, the Budget would be presented in the morning and it is hoped that by two hours or latest one hour, we would be through with it. That should enable us latest by 3.00 p.m. or 4.00 p.m. to travel to Ho. If you have to stay overnight, to travel to Ho the following morning, you would get there already exhausted. It is better to travel in the evening and have some rest before the commencement of the business.
Mr Speaker, the second issue that he raised addressed that matter. Earlier in the week, when I presented the Business Statement for this week, I do not intend to go there, but just to restate the position. The Constitution does not place any education on any Minister. It says that the President shall cause the statement to be brought to Parliament. So, any Minister capable would have the charge to do it.
Mr Speaker, it is rather Order 140 which seems to suggest that it should be done by a Minister responsible for Finance and not the Minister for Finance. So, any Minister with the responsibility for Finance on that day, can do the presentation.
Mr Speaker, Hon Richard Acheampong asked a question about
Mr Speaker 4:10 p.m.
Chairman of the Business Committee, you left out the issue of whether the members of the parliamentary press corps are part of the vaccination - Did you mention it? - All right, sorry.
Hon Members, the Business Statement as presented by the Chairman of the Business Committee with strong inputs by Hon Members is adopted.
Hon Members, I can see that the Hon Chairman of the Appointments Committee is not available. We would
have taken item numbered 6 and then come to item numbered 5, where I would admit the making of some Statements.

So, since he is not around, we will handle item numbered 5 -- Statements.

The first Statement comes in the name of many Hon Members of Parliament (MPs) because it is on the very important and current concern. It is on the issue of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer and intersex (LGBTQI+). You can add more.

The Statement stands in the names of some Hon MPs. They are Hon Samuel Nartey George, Hon Andy Appiah-Kubi, Hon Emmanuel Bedzrah, Hon John Ntim Fordjour, Hon Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, Hon Kwaku Asante-Boateng, Hon Helen Adjoa Ntoso, and Hon Francisca Oteng Mensah. It shows the importance of the topic. I am sure the Caucus would have decided who would lead, and so, the leader of the Caucus against LGBTQI+ should make the Statement. I can see the Hon Samuel Nartey George on his feet. You may do so now.
STATEMENTS 4:10 p.m.
Mr Samuel Nartey George (NDC -- Ningo/Prampam) 4:10 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I rise to read a joint Statement by myself, Hon Andy Appiah-Kubi, Hon Emmanuel Bedzrah, Hon John Ntim Fordjour, Hon Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, Hon Kwaku Asante-Boateng, Hon Helen Adjoa Ntoso, and Hon Francisca Oteng Mensah on the opening of an advocacy office for LGBTQI+ rights in Ghana and the need for a strong national response.
Mr Speaker, as a nation, we were completely taken aback by news of the opening of a LGBTQI+ office here in our capital city on 31st January, 2021. Mr Speaker, in attendance at this event were some delegates from the European Union (EU), the Australian High Commissioner to Ghana, Mr Gregory Andrews, the Danish ambassador to Ghana, Mr Tom Nørring, among others.
In a shocking brazen disregard for the position of Ghana's laws on homosexuality, the EU on its official Facebook handled its advertised participation in this event, and reiterated its support for all civil society organisations supporting
LGBTQI+ groups. This is nothing short of an open attack on the laws of our country, and such unfortunately irresponsible conduct cannot be overlooked or treated with kids' gloves. The sovereignty of this country must be respected and protected.
Mr Speaker, without mincing words and stating as a matter of fact, any action aimed at the promotion of LGBTQI+ activities in this country is illegal, and a clear breach of our Constitution and Criminal Code.
Article 12(2) of the 1992 Constitution dictates the entitlement of all citizens to fundamental human rights and freedoms subject to the respect for the right and freedoms of others, and most importantly, for the public interest.
Article 39(1) and (3) of the Constitution further enjoins the following which I quote with permmission:
(1) Subject to clause (2) of this article, the State shall take steps to encourage the integration of appropriate customary values into the fabric of national life through formal and informal education and the conscious introduction of cultural dimensions to relevant aspects of national planning.
Mr Samuel Nartey George (NDC -- Ningo/Prampam) 4:20 a.m.
Our Ghanaian customary law views homosexuality as anathema and does not in any way, shape or form, support the promotion of the perverted alien culture of homosexuality.
Furthermore, Mr Speaker, section 104 of Ghana's Criminal Offences Act of 1960 (Act 29), as amended by Act 646 of 2003, criminalises unnatural carnal knowledge. Section 104(2) of the Criminal Code states, and I quote:
“Unnatural carnal knowledge is sexual intercourse with a person in an unnatural manner or with an animal.”
The perverted actions of homosexuals, whether consensual or not, constitutes a crime under Ghanaian law as it is unnatural carnal knowledge of another. This is not the position of our law. This position of the law, Mr Speaker, does not occur in a vacuum. It is the representation of our culture, traditions, religious and customary beliefs and our morals as a country.
Any attempt to depart from the current position of the law on homosexuality would be an unprecedented assault on the fabric of our tradition, culture and customs
as Ghanaians. It would be an attempt to alter the very fibre and DNA of what makes us Ghanaians. The unitary position of the several cultures and ethnicity within the jurisdiction of the Republic on an abhorrence for homosexuality is testament to its unacceptability to the vast majority of Ghanaians.
Mr Speaker, there are very concerned civil society groups such as the National Coalition for Proper Human Sexual Right and Family Values, an amalgamation of Christian and para-Christian bodies, Muslim bodies, non-religious bodies, traditional rulers and opinion leaders in Ghana and the Advocates for Christ Ghana, a Christian civil society group.
These groups have condemned the opening of the LGBTQI+ office in Accra as an infraction of the laws of Ghana. The Ghana Pentecostal and Charismatic Council, the National Chief Imam's Office and the Catholic Bishops' Conference have all rowdily decried the attempts to normalise homosexuality and to advocate for the change of our laws.
These groups have further called on the Government of Ghana to “safeguard the laws of the country and resist attempts by any entity, local or foreign, to misinterpret and worse of
all, rewrite our laws that gives due regard to the cherished culture and social values of the Ghanaian people.
Mr Speaker, the moral fibre of our nation is at stake. Our very way of life as a people is under attack by these agents of perversion. The posterity of our long held customs and culture are under siege by the vestiges of colonial imperialism which look for a foothold in our Republic. We must dig in deep and defend that which gives us our identity as a people, our culture, our traditions and beliefs.
Mr Speaker, we live in a world where there is growing concern for future generation because, not only have we moved from accepting transgender, there are other evolving persons such as transracial, trans abled and even transnationals.
The very institution of marriage is at risk if we do not stop this growing canker quickly. We cannot allow it to fester; we must as a necessity exorcise ourselves of this vice. We must demand stronger legislation and a firm commitment from the Executive to the preservation of our cultural identity as a nation embracing heterosexuality and upholding the sanctity of marriage as a union between a man and a woman.
Mr Speaker, in line with this, the six of us jointly making this Statement hereby serve notice of our intention to jointly sponsor a bipartisan private member's Bill to pass specific legislation by this august House to expressly prohibit and criminalise the practice or advocacy of homo- sexuality in Ghana. This Bill will seek to further strengthen our legal jurisprudence and existing legislation on unnatural carnal knowledge to reflect the current state of affairs.
It is our belief that all Hon Members of this House will support this Bill when it comes before us. We also hope to see action from the Executive through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs calling to order all diplomats whose actions constitute an affront to our laws and sovereignty.
In conclusion, Mr Speaker, we need to blot out this canker from our land. We are very certain of your respect for individual liberties as well as your love for our customs and tradition. It is on this basis that we call on you as the head of the legislative arm of Government to make a firm statement on this raging national discourse.

We are without doubt that the enormous respect you command not
Mr Speaker 4:20 a.m.
Even though the Hon Member for Assin South is part of the caucus, he wants to take it from another angle. Therefore, he has submitted a Statement on the same issue, so I would allow him to read his Statement before we open up for comments from Members.
So, Hon Rev Ntim Fordjour, Member of Parliament for Assin South Constituency, please you may now make your Statement.
Rev John Ntim Fordjour (NPP -- Assin South): Thank you very much, Mr Speaker, for the opportunity to make this Statement on upholding a resilient public morality standard in this land of our birth.
Mr Speaker, grounded on shared values of respect, dignity, equity and morality, human rights exist for every human being and are exercised within the context of the law. Article 11 of the 1992 Constitution of Ghana posits that the laws of Ghana shall comprise the constitution, legislation, subsidiary legislation of existing laws before the 1992 Constitution and common law. Article 7 further explains common law to include customary laws of the land.
In an ever evolving world today, it is crucial for us as a people and a nation-state to take every step possible to safeguard the values and morals that fundamentally distinguish and determine our identity.
Our Ghanaian society since pre- colonial era, has always upheld a culture of morality and decency and within our cultural and traditional context, the practices of lesbianism, homosexuality and other related practices of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer and intersex (LGBTQI), have long been held as abominations and unreservedly so detested.
Mr Speaker, the concept of family for us as Ghanaians has always been and will always be initiated by marriage between a man and a woman. I strongly emphasise the fact that some jurisdictions recognise certain ways of life as acceptable standards, which
may not necessarily make it acceptable in another jurisdiction. Globalisation is purposed to augment the strength and values of nation-states and certainly not meant to compromise the cultural and moral values therein.
Mr Speaker, the Constitution of Ghana clearly proscribes homosexuality, lesbianism, bestiality and such acts that defile the core tenets of our beliefs, values, customs and traditions as a people. On the cultural objectives of Ghana, article 39 (1) of the Fourth Republican Constitution of Ghana clearly states and I quote with permmission:
“(1) Subject to clause (2) of this article, the State shall take steps to encourage the integration of appropriate customary values into the fabric of national life through formal and informal education and the conscious intro- duction of culture dimensions to relevant aspects of national planning.
(2) The State shall ensure that appropriate customary and cultural values are adapted and developed as an integral part of the growing needs of the society as a whole; and in particular that traditional practices which are injurious
to the health and well-being of the person are abolished.”
Fortified by article 39 of the Constitution of Ghana afore stated, I strongly contend that the practice of homosexuality, lesbianism and bestiality, are potentially detrimental to the health and well-being of persons who may engage in such acts. Accordingly, it must be deemed as inappropriate practices by the people of Ghana.
Mr Speaker, Section 104 of the Criminal Offences Act of 1960, Act 29, prescribes natural carnal knowledge. Some activists have contended that the provision of natural carnal knowledge, is anachronistic and no longer sufficient to adequately address the emerging trends of LGBTQI matters in the country. Therefore that school of though is urging the further strengthening of the laws to make them more robust, more encompassing and more stringent in dealing with the practices of LGBTQI.
Among the multi-religious faiths and varied traditional and customary values across the country, an overwhelming consensus is established on the position of the nation in utter rejection of the practices and advocacy of the LGBTQI in conformity with the

[REV. NTIM FORDJOUR] [MR ANNOH-DOMPREH]

customary law and tenets of faith and respect of public morality.

Mr Speaker, contrary to the individual idiosyncrasies of persons practising LGBTQI are born so, to exhibit LGBTQI tendencies, many credible research findings have converged on the conclusion that no biological basis accounts for LGBTQI orientation. Also, LGBTQI practice is a socially acquired lifestyle.

Will it in a majoritarian society, with consensus and customs and acceptable standards of public morality, which consensus has determined the practices and advocacy of LGBTQI by the relative minority in society as incongruent with our norms? The position of the President, his excellency, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, in line with upholding the laws of Ghana against the pressures of LGBTQI has been made without equivocation , just as was made by some former presidents, particularly, former President John Agyekum Kufuor and former President John Evans Atta Mills.

While I commend the security agencies for their efforts in the closure of the LGBTQI office in Accra, I hereby call for a sustained and

effective collaboration among all relevant stakeholders, to curb the threat to our public morality.

Mr Speaker, may I conclude by urging this august House respectfully, to build consensus on the consideration of a possible private members Bill to provide greater clarity and unambiguity to proscribe the practices and advocacy of LGBTQI in line with our customs and values as a people.

Mr Speaker, I am indeed grateful.
Mr Speaker 4:20 a.m.
Thank you Hon Member. Hon Members, this Statement has been admitted under Standing Order 70 (2), therefore, I would invite comments. The comments however, should not exceed more than one hour. In the meantime, I call on the Hon Second Deputy Speaker to take the Chair. I would be back to give my position on the matter.
MR SECOND DEPUTY SPEAKER
Mr Annoh-Dompreh 4:29 a.m.
Mr Speaker, following the Statements that were admitted and just delivered, due to the fact that we do not have any outstanding matter on the Order
Paper and because the matter is of huge public concern, I wish to seek your leave to allow four contributors from both Sides.
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 4:29 a.m.
Available Leader?
Mr Dafeamekpor 4:30 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I am in full support of what the Hon Majority Chief Whip has said.

Considering the fact that this is a joint Statement. The first one was a joint Statement by Hon Members of both Sides and the second one was a particular Statement on a matter from the Hon Member for Assin South. So, we should allow Hon Members enough opportunity to express their views because the views of this House are the views of the nation. I support the view that as many as enough Hon Members should be given the opportunity to speak to the issue.
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 4:30 p.m.
Hon Members, we have agreed on eight contributors. I am right - is it eight or four contributors?
Mr Dafeamekpor 4:30 p.m.
Mr Speaker, indeed, four contributors from both Sides plus leadership.
Mr Mahama Ayariga (NDC -- Bawku Central) 4:30 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I would want to commend the Hon Members who made the Statements for bringing such an important matter to the floor of this House. It is a matter that has been widely discussed in the media and people of all walks of life have had a bite but today, we would hear from Hon Members of this House.
Mr Speaker, I would want us to contextualise the Statements - one Statement spoke to the issue of a group forming an association to advocate for LGBTQI rights to be recognised in Ghana and the other spoke about LGBTQI practice itself. So, we need to be careful of what we would discuss.
Mr Speaker, in my opinion, the first Statement which spoke to the issue of the formation of an association to advocate for the recognition of LGBTQI right borders essentially on the question of freedom of speech, association, and assembly. That is what it is but not about LGBTQI. One may not like a certain view and practice but our Constitution recognises freedom of speech, belief, and of conscience. So, the question is, do people have a right to form an association to advocate for a certain position to become accepted by the laws of Ghana? I take a position and stand to be challenged that we need
Mr Mahama Ayariga (NDC -- Bawku Central) 4:40 p.m.
to be careful to distinguish between the freedom to speak about something, the freedom to advocate that we should accept it as against the thing itself.
The law prohibits unnatural carnal knowledge, so one cannot and has no right to engage in unnatural carnal knowledge in this country. So a person cannot seek protection for it but if a person thinks he or she wants to advocate for it and they form an association to engage in the advocacy, I take a legal position that we cannot stop people to advocate for something to be recognised by the law. If we stop people to advocate for something to be recognised by the law, at that point it becomes a transgression of freedom of speech.
We cannot stop people from coming together to advocate because we would step on freedom of association. That is what I have an issue with and I have spoken on the radio several times about it. We should ask ourselves those fundamental questions - the fact that a view is not popular does not mean a person should be punished if he or she expresses it. No! we cannot punish a person for expressing his views on gay and lesbianism but people could be punished for practicing it - they could be arrested,
prosecuted and they have no defence if it is proved beyond doubt that, that was what they engaged in.
However, if they say they want to open an office, draft a Bill, meet the parliamentary caucus on gender and present an argument, when we have gotten to a point in Ghana where they feel that such a position should be accepted by the laws of Ghana, that cannot be stopped. Stopping that is a clear violation of our own Constitution. So, let us be careful.
Today, it is LGBT, positon that is unpopular and we want to criminalise and punish it but something that is perfectly legitimate could be an unpopular position tomorrow, so would we punish those who shared that view? This is a very unpopular position to take but I take a position that we should separate freedom of expression, belief, association and the practice of LGBTQI and the criminalisation of gay activities.
Mr Speaker, I challenge people to go to our courts on this matter. Sections 99 and 104 of the Criminal Code (Criminal Offences Act of 1960 (Act 29)) is very limited. It proscribes unnatural carnal knowledge and the same Criminal Code defines what an unnatural carnal knowledge is. It says that unnatural carnal knowledge is “where there is penetration''. So, it means that unless we are able to
prove penetration, we cannot really punish anybody for anything.
In other jurisdictions, they have changed the law to prohibit everything else that is associated with gay and lesbian activity. If we do not amend the law - the law says “where there is unnatural carnal knowledge'' and unnatural carnal knowledge is where there is penetration. So, the question is, where some people live together but it cannot be proved that they are penetrating each other's unnatural areas, it would become difficult. We see people who hold each other in a certain way and say because of the way they have held each other they have violated the laws of Ghana -- there is no law that prohibits two men or women from holding each other's hand in a certain way.
Indeed, lawyers have an issue whether or not between women there could be penetration and if between them there cannot be penetration, because the law says there has to be penetration for there to be an unnatural carnal knowledge, the question is, could we say that the practise of lesbianism between women is criminalised by our laws? We have to stretch the definition of unnatural carnal knowledge which definition has already been provided for in the Criminal Code.

So, if we want to prohibit it then this House must come together and propose legislation that adequately captures the practice of gay and lesbian and proscribe it. Otherwise, as it is now, I can assure you that the lawyers in this Chamber know that it will be difficult for us to prosecute a woman for lesbian and men for gay activities unless they have been caught in the act.

Mr Speaker, I would like to set the framework that should inform the discussion that will take place in the Chamber today so that as a House, we can be careful about what is being said out there and what indeed, is the law and if we want to pass a new law that captures what we want to proscribe as a country, we can do so.

So, with the closure of their office, if indeed, the security agencies of this country were involved in going to close down that office, I believe that there was an infraction of fundamental human rights -- [Interruption] -- we may not like what they are meeting to advocate but then what we have to do, is to also create our own platform to advocate the contrary opinion. I think that that is what needs to happen as a country.
Mr Emmanuel Kwasi Bedzrah (NDC -- Ho West) 4:40 p.m.
Mr Speaker, first of all, I wish to thank you so much for admitting this Statement at this crucial moment in our history.
The nation has come to a cross- road where we accept cultural norms and practices that are alien to our culture.
Mr Speaker, in some jurisdictions, this Statement would not have been admitted but in our context, it has been admitted because the practice of LGBTQI+ is alien to our culture.
Mr Speaker, recently, the Hon Minority Leader, Haruna Iddrisu, was interviewed about this topic and he asked a question if we have ever seen a male goat or cow mating a male goat or cow and vice versa. If we have seen that then it is unnatural in the sense that from the beginning of this world, God did not create it so; man to man to have carnal knowledge whether we believe in God or not. He created man and woman to know each other as the Word of God says.
So, for a man to decide to marry a man as a wife, it shows clearly that this is unnatural and therefore alien to
the cultural practices and norms of this country.
Mr Speaker, I am happy that His Excellency the President came out to say that during his tenure in office, he would not allow same sex marriages and this has given us comfort in knowing that we are all against this unnatural consequences.
If any Hon Member of Parliament can boldly stand up to declare that he or she is a gay or lesbian, he or she should do so. We have come out as a coalition of Parliamentarians who are against these practices being imposed on us and our desire is to bring a Private Members' Bill to this House to a collective decision that there will be clarity in our laws such that these people in that community will not ask for human rights. We are saying that human rights frowns on our rights as well and therefore, as Hon Members of Parliament, we are asking all our Hon Colleagues to support this Private Member's Bill when it comes so that we put a stop to that practice.
[Hear!] [Hear!]
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 4:40 p.m.
Hon Member for Trobu?
Mr Moses Anim (NPP -- Trobu) 4:50 p.m.
Mr Speaker, thank you for
giving me the opportunity to comment on the Statement.
I would like to say that as far as I am concerned and I believe that it is the concern of all of us here, we will not allow what is not right before the Lord God Almighty. As the Bible says, man was created by God and in His image; male and female in Genesis
2:18-24.
Mr Speaker, after God had created woman, He took the woman to the man and he said; ‘this is flesh of my flesh and bone of my bone and because of that, he called her ‘woman'. It was after this that God said that because of this, the man shall leave father and mother and cleave unto his wife and become one flesh. The Bible did not say that the man will leave father and mother and cleave with another man.
Ever since we stopped upholding the cultural traditions of our forefathers, a lot of things have gone wrong in this country. When we were young, you dare not go to the riverside wearing sandals or go to urinate or ease oneself in it or closer to it, and our forefathers were able to preserve our natural resources that we have come to meet. Any cultural tradition of our forefathers that is so good and biblical must be supported and that is
why, article 270 of our Constitution enjoins all of us to uphold our chieftaincy together with our traditional council and our customary laws and usage. Let us go back to our customary laws and usage and find out if these gay and lesbian activities are permissible.
Mr Speaker, let us go back to our history because we know where we come from; where is it practiced in our customary laws that a man will sleep with or marry another man? It is a taboo in this country and one cannot even mention it and therefore, we will not allow anyone to think that a sovereign country of ours like this, would succumb to anybody to that extent. It will never happen.

For me, I am rather expecting that whatever the lawyers would put across, be it the Criminal Offences Act of 1960 (Act 29) -- if it has outlived its usefulness and outdated then let us amend it strongly and criminalise these activities that are inhumane. After all, the animals in the jungle do not behave like this. When you go to Achiase forest you would not see a male antelope mounting another male antelope. It does not happen and so, as human beings, we must uphold our culture, tradition and principles of God and make sure that
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 4:50 p.m.
Hon Member, thank you very much.
Hon Member for Tamale North?
Mr Suhuyini A. Sayibu (NDC - Tamale North) 4:50 p.m.
Mr Speaker, thank you very much for the opportunity to contribute to this very exciting Statement that has been ably put together by our Hon Colleagues.
Mr Speaker, first of all, I would state that I support the call for homosexuality to be explicitly made criminal. I say explicitly because the argument about whether or not it is criminal still resides with our lawyers and Judges, given the description by the Criminal Offences Act of 1960 (Act 29) of what is supposed to be criminal. So, first of all, I wish to state my full support to make this practice, which the good Books describe us abominable, indeed, criminal.
Mr Speaker, but I wish to also draw attention to what I find to be problematic with the discourse on how to go about making this practice criminal. I listen to Muslims, Christians, lawyers and human rights activists speak and I get the sense that we all seemed to be advocating for one thing but from different stand
points. Mr Speaker, as a Muslim, it would be unheard of for one to support this practice and still claim to be a Muslim. As a Christian, it would be abominable for one to support this practice and still claim to be a Christian. Mr Speaker, in the same vain, it would be a dereliction of duty for human rights activists to speak about this without pointing to human rights violations. It would also be a dereliction of duty for a lawyer to speak about this without pointing to the gaps that exists in our laws. However, in doing so, let those arguments not be sometimes confused to mean that some are for and others are against.
Mr Speaker, let us be very careful and clear about what we want. What we want as a people of faith in my view is that we do not want to encourage the practice in this country. It is religiously abominable and traditionally unacceptable. It does not fit with us culturally. Mr Speaker, but just as this is considered unacceptable, so is armed robbery and other vices in our society.
Mr Speaker, I do not think that anybody would consider it fair for an armed robber to be arrested and be denied his or her human rights; right to be treated with dignity and the right not to be lynched. So, it does not
matter the crime that one commits because even as a criminal, one is still entitled to his human rights not to be a criminal but to be a human of dignity to be still preserved. For me, when I listen to human rights activists, what I hear them say is that yes, they want it to be criminal but it does not mean that even in its state - when some people say unnatural carnal knowledge is criminal, it does not mean when a criminal is found, the person must be stoned to death. It does not mean when a criminal is found the person must be beaten to death or exposed to bodily harm. Mr Speaker, this is what I want us to understand, that we must make it criminal and ensure that the law works. But let us also understand that criminals have rights and saying that criminals have rights does not mean they have the right to be criminal or have the right to practice the crime. However, it simply means that when the police arrests them they should not begin to slap them. It simply means that when a pick-pocket is caught, the person must not be lynched.
Mr Speaker, we have examples in this country where people have suffered as a result of mistaken identity. So, once we encourage that the human rights of people and the right to dignity should be met with this kind of violence; one would never know when one would be mistaken for a homosexual and beaten or
Mr Suhuyini A. Sayibu (NDC - Tamale North) 5 p.m.


clubbed to death unfairly. When we let people feel that once somebody is tagged as a gay then all his human rights are lost and the person can be beaten, stoned or killed then one would never know when a wrong identity would lead to a loved one also suffering unjustly.

Mr Speaker, so let us separate the discussion. The discussion about making it unlawful explicitly stated; majority of us, if not all of us, are for it as Christians, Muslims and people of faith. Mr Speaker, Hon Ayariga has also raised a fundamental issue of associations.

It would also again be dangerous to pass a law that says people cannot assemble and have their freedom of expression. I point to one example, the passage of the Right to Information Law. People came together to advocate for the Right to Information Law, but not all those who came together to advocate for the Right to Information Law would be beneficiaries of that law. So that tells us that we must be careful in fighting this so that we do not make laws that would disenable us from coming together to advocate for courses we would believe in later in the future. Just because we do not believe in

homosexuality, we go about passing laws that criminalises assemblies to advocate for courses we believe in. I do not think that those people who come together to form these associations must be supported. They must be discouraged, disbanded immediately, but let us focus more on sending a clear message to anybody who attempts to come together that this country would not tolerate it, and so it would be a waste of time to even come together to advocate for it.

Mr Speaker, with these few words, I call on all to support the Motion when it is finally tabled for us to enact a law that is explicitly banning homosexuality and contributes to ensure that it never happens in this country as suggested some time ago that it is bound to happen.

I thank you. [Hear! Hear!].
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 5 p.m.
Hon Member for Effiduase/Asokore?
Dr Nana Ayew Afriye (NPP -- Effiduase/Asokore) 5 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I rise to first of all commend all those who came together to make this Statement possible this evening.
Mr Speaker, I would take this issue in various perspectives. I would end on a very controversial note, looking at the medical perspectives as well, but first of all I condemn it outright
and so much support the President for his position that this would not happen under his tenure.
Last year, we were privy to a group that intended to have had a conference of LGBTQI in Ghana that was not possible. It was supposed to have been in July, and that firmly showed the commitment of Ghana's Government that at every stage, they are opposed to the association and the operation of such a group.
We are also worried that sometimes when you have a certain Government in the United States (US) who are social democrats and have unions all over the world, but a certain government takes over and would want to push this agenda, it is worrying. We have a new regime in the US which are social democrats. I am sure my friends would understand it better who might want to push this agenda. I am so much happy that our fellows who are social democrats do not believe in this, and they vary so much from their contemporaries in the West. This shows that as a people, we are bound by our religious positions, cultural positions and many more. Maybe, they would look at it also from some point.
I may sound a bit controversial. It might be an issue of race, and I am
sorry. Probably, it is a practice of the whites and it should be kept as such. We are blacks or brown, we stick to our values and principles. I am sorry about this, but that is how I feel.
Mr Speaker, I think those lawyers here would also side with me that the common law and international laws in terms of human rights makes restrictions to freedom of association to a point, especially when it borders on public safety. I do not believe that we would always allow for the association of organised crimes, armed robbery association of Ghana, this association of Ghana and the rest. The law may give them the right to freedom of speech and association, but I am sure there is a certain restriction in the space of freedom, either by expression or by association.
Currently, I think the actions of this group are injurious to society and their expectation, and it puts their safety at risk. For that matter, restricting them is in line with the practice of common law and international human rights expectation as it is. This is because, we are saying that if it borders on public safety, there could be a way that we can restrict it. I think their actions border on public safety and they are all at risk because we do not succumb to it by virtue of who we are, where we come from and what we do.
Ms Helen A. Ntoso (NDC -- Krachi West) 5:10 p.m.
Mr Speaker, thank you for the opportunity to contribute
to the Statement ably made by Hon Sam George and Hon Ntim Fordjour.
Mr Speaker, lesbianism and gayism are a threat to our national security. I am saying this because recently, when it was said that an office was opened for gayism and lesbianism, people were threatening to go and burn down the office. As our Colleague, Hon Ayariga said, when people see two men holding hands, because they know that it is a taboo in this country, they try to link them. So it is a threat to our national security and our practices and norms in this country.
Mr Speaker, even animals know that when they want to engage in sexual activities, a male animal would go for a female animal. Our laws abhors unnatural canal knowledge, the Bible also abhors that. When we read Leviticus chapter 18 verse 22, it says:
“You shall not lie with a male as with a woman. It is an abomination.”
Mr Speaker, it is detestable in the sight of God.
Mr Speaker, when the late President Atta-Mills was asked on his views about lesbianism and gayism, he said that the Bible is unambiguous
and what is right is right and what is wrong is wrong.
Mr Speaker, we know that in this country, this practice should not happen. It is wrong. It is detestable.
In the book of Genesis, in the days of Lot, this was what was being practiced and the Lord said it is detestable in His sight so he had to burn down Sodom and Gomorrah. We should not sit down as a country and look on for this to happen because it does not please God.
We do not want what happened in Sodom and Gomorrah as a result of this practice to happen in Ghana. So it is about time we stood up as legislators to condemn this detestable act that is being practiced by some people. Some of them look so respectful but inwardly, what they are doing is very wrong. - we know that our people out there are talking about it.
Mr Speaker, what is happening in this country is that the youth are being promised travel opportunities and money. So they are being lured into practicing this because the youth want money and want to travel.
Mr Speaker, as my Colleagues said, we should not see these people as not our brothers and sisters because anybody that has a problem
Dr Dickson A. Kissi (NPP - Anyaa/Sowutuom) 5:20 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I am very grateful for this opportunity. I was hoping to discuss a different matter but this issue has been brought up today. So without a choice, I have to talk about it.
Mr Speaker, I was hoping that Ghana as a country would give very
little credence or time to this topic which is now bedevilling the nation, which is the gay rights and related issues. I would talk a bit from a different stand point which is history in terms of how other nations have arrived at where they are now. There was a time when this was considered largely a mental health issue in the Americas in the sense that the American Psychiatric Association considered it as a medical mental disorder in the domain of behavioural sciences but things have changed because of research, advocacy, and because the issue remains with us as human beings.
Mr Speaker, I would only sound a word of caution to our country in the sense that as we have started discussing this issue, who knows, 50 years from now, the mind-set of the country may change. [Interruptions] -- That is why I am sounding caution that as a nation, we have to think faster and give this a much serious consideration so that we do not talk based on feelings but rather, very well thought out research - both scientific and spiritual. I have heard some arguments today and some have been largely in the domain of religion, which I very much support. However, it is very important as my other Colleague rightly stated.

Some family members bring forth children who in one way or the other lean in that direction and I think that when they talk from experience, there is no parent in Accra or anywhere in Ghana who would encourage their child to pursue that path. But some have gone through the experience and cannot seem to understand why their children, of all the many wonderful choices choose that path. I would support the path of making sure that we have institutions that can address this matter both psychologically, from the mental health standpoint and spiritually through counselling.

Mr Speaker, we cannot assume as legislators to have absolute knowledge with regard to this topic being discussed today. I would hope that as we move forward, our thinking should be on how to bring about societal institutions that can handle this issue in terms of training more mental health specialist, in terms of making sure that there is room for counselling at an early age as early as who knows, 11 years or below. I hope we think about it for the future. This is because this issue has clearly come to be an issue of the world and it keeps popping up. I think it is appropriate that we start putting in measures, be it legal, health and whatever ways and

means to address this issue as we approach it day-in day-out.

Mr Speaker, in trying to end, I would urge all of us to make some good time to research how some states have arrived at where they are now -- [Interruption] -- and to prevent as a nation in arriving there, we better act as a nation now to address this issue early enough, so that it does not blow-up on us not well-prepared.

Mr Speaker, in summary, I support my Hon Colleague who said that we still need to protect their lives and I would encourage us to make sure that even if they are found, society does not have the right to take their lives or brutally victimise them. I have seen some videos which are horrible in terms of acts perpetuated on people who were caught or probably involved in such acts. That is the only thing I would plead that we ensure their safety as we discuss their life style and their lives. We ought to see how best not to take anybody's life because of the path they may have chosen.

Mr Speaker, thank you very much.
Ms Laadi Ayii Ayamba (NDC -- Pusiga) 5:20 p.m.
Mr Speaker, thank you for the opportunity. The issue that is being discussed on the Floor is as if it
Ms Laadi Ayii Ayamba (NDC -- Pusiga) 5:30 p.m.
is something that is to come to Ghana. No, it has been there. The practice has been going on.
Mr Speaker, in 2015 or 2016, we were called to a meeting by a particular ambassador. I was in the company of some of us - they are not here now, so it is not the best to mention their names - When we went there - I am telling you frankly, if you see the young men whose ages rank from 22 years to 30 years, very handsome. As a mother, I would want us to take an in-depth look at the issue. What they are seeking and what they discussed with us was legalisation and the first thing they wanted us to do for them even if they have not gotten that legal ground was about their health.
Mr Speaker, I am not adding and not subtracting. What they were interested in was that when they went to hospital, they should be treated just like any other woman who would have gone with fistula and any persons who have sex - excuse my language - through the anus, which is not - Mr Speaker, I am saying these things raw because I am making a presentation for us to see the difficulty we are faced with and what we should be looking at. Whether they like it or not, they would have the openness of that carnal
in such a way that their stool cannot be controlled. So, as they move, basically all of them are wearing diapers. When they get the tear, once they cannot control it, they go to the hospitals to seek for the same treatment and care as women who during child birth had that problem of fistula where they got torn up to the lower part and have to be supported.
Mr Speaker, in this country, as much as I appreciate that there are doctors who treat fistula, we have only one in the Central Region who actually takes care of women and it is quite expensive. Now, these people also want to be given that opportunity. From which account? And where would we get those doctors from?
Mr Speaker, I observed one thing from that meeting and from individuals that I have heard from. One, they have psychological problems. Some of the ladies who say they are lesbians have even been raped, which have scared them from men.
Two, some of these men who are gays are persons who have been born with some hormones in them that makes them behave and would want to rather associate with men and not women.
Three, some of them are hermaphrodites and because most of
them have not had that counselling and care, they tend to try to link up with those that they think accepts them.
One of the institutions that we would need to look at to make sure that education and counselling are given, people are spoken to and where some of these things start.

Mr Speaker, whether we say it or not, it is in our institutions, especially our senior high schools, colleges and what have you.

I say this without a shred of doubt because this issue of sweetie sweetie, which has existed in our system for centuries, has pushed some people to believe that if they are with their colleague women, it is better for them. Our institutions should be looked at. Boys who want to just try have also gone into it and when they come out of the institutions, they find it difficult to get out of it.

Mr Speaker, the question is not only criminalising it, but stopping it. As we talk, maybe -- when I went for the meeting, I saw not less than about 15 of them, and I can assure you that I even know where some of them work, and I know them. It is an infectious disease. Can we tell those

that have been able to lure to join them? No. So, how many are in the system?

Mr Speaker, we have this job to do as legislators. I have no problem with criminalising it because of our laws, culture, traditions and our religion. It is not acceptable. If in certain cultures people can say that why should a man marry two, no practice of polygamy and they can imprison a man for practising polygamy and nothing happens to those countries and they have no problem. Why should we in Ghana accept what our culture does not accept and our laws frown on?

Mr Speaker, let us look at it in detail. Let us also talk to parents. If you have a baby girl or boy and you see that child behaving in a particular way, try to follow up and find out whether it is normal. We have it in our communities where they will even call the name Laadi namaata. It is a boy but they will say the person is for women. This is a boy and we say he is for women so the person turns and you realise that in their walking, talking, attitude, looks and behaviour they try to go with women and some of them go with men.

Mr Speaker, I appreciate the Hon Members who made the Statement, but in order that we stop it so that
An Hon Member 5:30 p.m.
Girls girls.
Ms Ayamba 5:30 p.m.
The girls girls are also there. We must try and discourage all these things.
Mr Speaker, I thank you very much, and I hope that the Hon Members who made the Statement would ensure that we follow up and get the legal standing which would help us, while we are conscious of these laws that they say we cannot stop people from talking or associating with; then, we would see our way through.
Thank you, Mr Speaker for the opportunity.
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 5:30 p.m.
Thank you very much. We are left with only one contributor, and that is for the Hon Member for Suhum.
Some Hon Members 5:30 p.m.
Mr Speaker, one more.
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 5:30 p.m.
Please, we have gone beyond the number. Members of the Minority
have already had five contributors instead of four.
Mr Kwadjo Asante (NPP -- Suhum) 5:30 p.m.
Mr Speaker, first of all, let me thank the Hon Members who made these Statements.
A lot have been said, and I just want to add something small. Indeed, our country's jurisprudence frowns on this practice. All of us here are against it. Mr Speaker, can you just imagine what would happen when all women decide to engage in lesbian acts and all men in homosexual relations? I can tell you and bet that we would terminate the human race if all women decide to engage in lesbian acts and men in homosexuality. It is an act and practice that is not Ghanaian and all of us have spoken against it.
Mr Speaker, if I look around, I see that there are nose masks; everybody here is wearing a nose mask. Why? It is so simply because we are fighting against COVID-19. COVID-19 is an enemy, and LGBTQI+ is a senior enemy. Therefore, let us all rise and come together, as we are doing, to fight against this practice.
Thank you very much.
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 5:30 p.m.
Thank you for being snappy. I will give
the last shot to the Hon Minority Chief Whip.
Alhaji Mohammed-Mubarak Muntaka (NDC -- Asawase) 5:40 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I will be very snappy just as my Hon Colleague did.
Mr Speaker, I have heard the contributions of Hon Members. Let me commend all the Hon Members who made the effort to come together to put up this Statement. This Statement has been in this House time and time again. In almost every Parliament, you would get this Statement coming. It came to a point that in almost every Session, we get this Statement.
One of my biggest worries is that, as a country, we have not taken a firm step to revise the law and make it beyond reasonable doubt and clearly stated. We have always left it to the fact that if it is taken to court, it cannot even be prosecuted. I would want to urge Government -- I heard the President clearly when he said that this would never happen under his watch. Let him walk the talk. Let him introduce a law in the House that would clearly state this beyond reasonable doubt so that people would know that we cannot tolerate this.
Mr Speaker, life is not just about rights. That is why the United Nations (UN) defined human rights and the actions that they believe affect human rights, and this activity was not included. That is the UN. The whole world came together to say that this cannot be a human right issue. So, it is very simple.
If it is natural, then, we must see it in animals. Let us see dogs, cats, fish and others also practise same sex intercourse then I would now say that God, in his own wisdom, has put some percentage of all the creation and turned them into what these same sex advocates call for.

Mr Speaker, I am very clear as a Muslim and with over one billion Muslims around the world, we are very clear because in the holy Quran, God said, as for the two of you men who are guilty of lewdness, punish them both and if they repent and improve, then let Allah have mercy on them”. That is Quran 4:16.

Mr Speaker, most schools of thought especially, Sharia law in Islam have come to the conclusion that they are to be treated like adulterers. Where sharia is practised fully, adulterers are punished by death. So,
Mr Frank Annoh-Dompreh (NPP - Nsawam-Adoagyiri) 5:50 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I do not intend to repeat most of the things that my Hon Colleagues have spoken to, so I intend to be brief.
I listened to Hon Muntaka when he started from the point of right. When you look at the history of the United Nations Charter, the Bill of Rights, and you put in proper context, the times and motivations that led to world leaders to promulgate and advocate those rights, the situation is not the same today. I heard Hon Ayariga trying to look at the right to advocate for beliefs that people hold. However, in my view, to advocate for beliefs frowned upon by our laws is an illegality.
Mr Speaker, we should not look at middle grounds just to find a subtle way of going about either supporting or justifying it. If you look at article 11 of our Constitution, sources of law; customary laws form part of our laws as a country and that cannot be glossed over. If you read the national anthem carefully, the pledges that we
read at school and even the oaths of office, there is always a recognition of the existence of a supreme being.
Now, I do not intend to preach to the House because I think that Hon Moses has done a good job with that. There is always a consideration for morality and godliness and that cannot be lost on us as a nation. We recognised that there are other parts of the world where this practise is recognised, practised and preached even to their children. It should however not happen in our part of our world and I could not agree more with Hon Muntaka who emphasised that we are in Africa, so we think like Africans and behave like Africans.

Mr Speaker, I am sure that the mere thought of considering the application of this in Ghana itself, would cause our torchbearers to shake in their graves. Our torchbearers who found this nation were strongly against such practices. It is amazing that with the advent of civilisation we would rather depart from this, but I am surprised that it has rather become a topic for us to discuss. I am against it and we on the Majority Side are totally against it. There is no need to play politics with this and to that extent, I would like to

commend the Hon Members who made the joint Statement and the fact that it came from both Sides of the House. This would send a signal to the public that indeed, it is not all about one Side of the House that has issued a Statement but both Sides came together, decided and came to an agreement and issued this Statement.

Mr Speaker, I have been told that there are health implications when a man has sex with his fellow man -- and there are scientific publications that prove to this. So, why would we even think about doing this? This is something we should not even consider at all. When my Hon Colleagues made reference to section 104 of the Criminal Act, putting matters into context and also holding the view that there is no clarity in that law, then it behoves us to do the needful now that we have the Private Members' Bill. We should push for the necessary amendments to make the law clear and bity enough. However, I am also against any attempts to perpetrate violence on anybody who believes in such beliefs. The Hon Member for Tamale North, Mr Suhuyini could not have said it any better. Even criminals when they are caught in the act, their rights are respected and they are prosecuted according to the law.

Mr Speaker, for example, in a country like Kenya, most of the provisions in their Constitution has been tested in the law court but I do not know how often the section 104 of the Criminal Act has been tested in our law courts -- the appreciation, variations and the limitations of the lacuna that exist in the law which would inform us and the need for us to get it couched in the manner that would deal with the dictates of time. I do not know when the Criminal Act was crafted and I am sure with the passage of time, it has become important that we review and revisit to make it more effective.

Mr Speaker, as I earlier intimated, I do not intend to belabour the point but there is also a possibility of this Act facilitating incest in our country.
Mr Boamah 5:50 p.m.
Mr Speaker, there is no ambiguity in section 104 (2) of Act 29. With your permission, I beg to quote what it says.
“Unnatural carnal knowledge is sexual intercourse with a person in an unnatural manner or with an animal.”
Mr Speaker, there is no ambiguity in the law which requires any reforms or further amendments.
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 5:50 p.m.
Hon Members, I have another Statement that stands in the name of the Hon Member for Okaikoi South, Mrs Darkoa Newman, on International Women's Day, which falls on Monday, 8th March, 2021.
Hon Member, you have the Floor.
International Women's Day
Mrs Darkoa Newman (NPP -- Okaikoi South) 6 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I thank you for the opportunity to make my maiden Statement on the celebration of International Women's Day (IWD), a day set aside by the United Nations (UN) to celebrate women across the globe.
Following the adoption of a resolution by the UN General Assembly in 1977, basically to celebrate Women's Rights and International Peace, the International Women's Day is a day that the globe including Ghana, celebrates the social, economic, cultural and political achievements of women. Observed every year on 8th March, the IWD, is
one of the most important days of the year to:
1. Celebrate women's achieve- ments;
2. Raise awareness about women's equality;
3. Lobby for accelerated gender parity; and
4. Fundraising for female- focused charities.
Mr Speaker, it is a day used to call to action for accelerating gender parity and womens economic empower- ment. Following tradition, a theme is chosen each year to commemorate the day and observe it throughout the year. The theme for this year is: “Choose to Challenge''. The theme challenges all of us to choose to make the changes needed to achieve gender equality.
Mr Speaker, Ghana was one of the early countries to embrace gender equality. In 1960, the Government of Ghana enacted an Affirmative Action Act which paved the way for 10 women to enter the first National Assembly when Ghana became a Republic. Ghana has also signed and ratified international treaties and frameworks aimed at increasing the
role of women in national development. The Akufo-Addo Government continues to ensure that gender concerns are at the heart of the national development plan. The Government also encourages the private sector to be responsive to gender matters.
Mr Speaker, despite our successes chalked, we all still have a lot more to do in bridging the gender inequality gap. Collectively, Parliament needs to repeal laws that discriminate against women and girls; enact laws to stop violence against women and girls; close the gap in girls' education; provide access to sexual and reproductive health services and rights for women; and most importantly to eradicate the gender pay gap.

Empowering girls and women promotes inclusive economic growth, improves infant and child health, enhances women's skills as well as mothers as it opens up opportunities for women's economic and political engagement.

Mr Speaker, despite some progress, women have not fully benefited from economic oppor- tunities as they continue to consistently trail men in formal labour force participation, access to credit,
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 6 p.m.
Thank you Hon Member.
Hon Okudjeto Ablakwa?
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 6:10 p.m.
My daughter will be very proud when she is a lot older and looks back to see how committed I am to the gender movement as I have always been.
I wish to commend the Hon Member who made the Statement; my very good friend; Hon Darkoa Newman whose father was a great ‘Odadie' and one of this country's political stalwarts. I have not had the opportunity to place on record that the good Lord should grant him eternal, peaceful and happy rest.
Mr Speaker, if the Hon Member who made the Statement would not mind, I would just want to correct for the records, she appears to have begun her rendition from the 1960s, but before the Hon Alhassan of the 1960s there was the first female member of an African Legislative Assembly in an African country and that was the Hon Mabel Dove Danquah. She was the first female to be elected as a member of a Legislative Assembly. This was in the then Gold Coast and this must have been in the year 1952, before
Ghana's independence. Mabel Dove Danquah was earlier married to the founder of your political tradition and divorced -- the interesting thing about her story was that she was so strong and liberal that she was not shy at all to campaign on the CPP ticket; the fiercest rivals of her husband's party. So, there is a lesson there about political tolerance and not allowing strictures; even up to now, people get surprised when they see brothers who belong to both Sides of the aisle which I think is beautiful. The likes of Mabel Dove Danquah blazed the trail; you can be married to someone in another political tradition and this should not stop you from espousing your own political ideology.
So, Mabel Dove Danquah must be on record as one who really opened the doors so far as African female legislators are concerned. However, we must acknowledge that since we set that record with Mabel Dove Danquah, our country has been lagging behind.

We have had many other countries in Africa who even now have majority of females in the Legislative Assemblies like in Rwanda. Mr Speaker, beyond the Legislature, we even have countries that have now attained gender equality in Cabinet; Ethiopia has achieved this. So, if there

are 15 male Cabinet Hon Ministers then there are 15 female Cabinet Hon Ministers. Mr Speaker, South Africa and Rwanda have achieved this but Ghana is nowhere near this; we are still marking time and one would notice that when Cabinet is being formed, it is still quite tokenistic. So, we have the Hon Minister for Gender, Children and Social Protection and sometimes we try to select the Hon Minister for Tourism and Creative Arts and maybe another soft Ministry and then we say that we are committed to the gender movement. Mr Speaker, but that is not so.

If we look at what Prime Minister, Abiy Ahmed did in Ethiopia; there were solid Ministries such as the Defence, Interior, National Security and even the Speaker of the Parliament. This is where we see real commitment but Ghana is still marking time and we have to be honest.

On a day like this we have to be honest that despite the fact that our women have shown that they have earned the right and they are competent - and studies have shown that women excel when they are in leadership positions and they are not as prone to corruption as their male counterparts.

Mr Speaker, a lot of scientific studies have confirmed that if we put

more women in office we will reduce corruption and increase empathy because women know how to juggle. Mr Speaker, just look at the typical African women who works but is the same person who gets home early before everybody, and makes sure that children are taken care of and husbands would return later even when they do the same kind of job. They make sure that there is food at home when we return, they are homemakers at the same time and still soar higher in their professionally chosen careers.

Mr Speaker, I get amazed when I see what the average woman does, especially the African woman who because of customs, traditions and so on are always expected to at least go to the kitchen and cook and so on. The women are able to combine all of these and still excel at what they do.

Mr Speaker, so on this day, we must be honest and admit that since the days of Mabel Dove Danquah, we have not done much to encourage more women to enter into our politics. The stereotypical barriers that women face still exists because if women are entering into politics then someone must sponsor them and that sponsor would not be the godfather or normal donor as if, if it were a male we would say it is. All kinds of negative connotations about who is behind her
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 6:10 p.m.
and so on; we would cast aspersions and all kinds of insinuations and so the women hold back. Mr Speaker, sometimes there are vile attacks; there have been campaigns in this country that I cannot put on record what were said about female opponents. It would appear that if a man is campaigning and not married or having a partner at that moment, it is even celebrated and probably you should get more female votes because you are available and so on. However, if it is the other way round then it becomes a negativity and it is used to lash women.

Mr Speaker, I am hearing screams of North Tongu Constituency but I am not going to be an Hon Member of Parliament for North Tongu Constituency forever. I have said that

I would not mind handing over to a female successor at all and anytime a female competitor shows up, why not? Mr Speaker, it is important to call on the leading political parties to consciously use the affirmative action as Dr Kwame Nkrumah did in the 1960s.

Mr Speaker, as I wind up, it is also important to emphasise that there are still many institutional and cultural barriers militating against the progress of women and we must frown on them and re-dedicate our efforts to bring down all those barriers. There is no inferior sex so all females should be allowed to aspire to their potential and not a family of boys and girls where the boys are given the opportunity to go to school and the girls stay at home. All these must be fought and defeated.

There should be more role models out there who should encourage young girls to aspire to greatness. Role models like Hon Dokua, Hon Dr Zanetor Agyeman-Rawlings, Hon Rev Helen Ntoso, Hon Laadi Ayamba, Hon Theresa Awuni, Hon Dzifa Gomashie and the many dynamic, hardworking and amazing women that we have in this country, but we wish we could have had more.

Mr Speaker, so on this day, let us encourage our women and let International Women's Day lead to more greatness. Mr Speaker, before

I sit down, I would be remiss if I do not salute the courage of my ever dear and loving boss, Prof Naana Jane Opoku-Agyeman who was a former Hon Minister for Education. I served as her deputy and she had the courage to make history as the first female running mate of a major political party and she distinguished herself in the 2020 General Elections. [Hear! Hear!] I salute former President Mahama for the courage and the awesome political will to select her, and contrary to speculations, naysayers, pessimists and sceptics, she was able to campaign the length and breadth of this country. She introduced freshness, decent politics and no personal attacks or insults and that is the kind of politics we need; politics of issues. This even buttresses the point I made earlier, that there is more to gain when women get involve and are at the high pedestal of our politics and indeed all the professional fields of endeavour.

Mr Speaker, this is a timely Statement well-made and well-read and let our young girls be inspired and let us all encourage their dreams, hopes and aspirations. As men, we should be heroes and support women to aspire and get to the best of their potential and capacity. Let it not be said that we got in the way or took advantage of the vulnerable ones. We should rather support and encourage them to greatness.

Mr Speaker, thank you very much for the opportunity to contribute to this Statement.
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 6:20 p.m.
Hon Member for Walewale?
Ms Lariba Zuweira Abudu (NPP -- Walewale) 6:20 p.m.
Thank you, Mr Speaker.
Mr Speaker, thank you for this opportunity. I would like to support my Hon Colleague for this wonderful presentation. Today marks another beginning in the lives of women, and in this Chamber because women go through a lot of challenges as the theme quoted. I would want to use myself as an example when I was vying to become a legislator of this House. I went through a lot of problems as a woman. I was happy when Hon Ablakwa made mention of we supporting a lot of women to attain their goals. Where he comes from is a safe seat for the National Democratic Congress (NDC), and I would like to encourage if we could make laws where we can get a lot of women in the safe seats. I believe if we get 50 women here and 50 women there, we would end up having 100 women in this Parliament.
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 6:20 p.m.
Hon Nawaane?
Dr Mark Kurt Nawaane (NDC -- Nabdam) 6:20 p.m.
Thank you, Mr Speaker. Let us commend the Hon Member who made the Statement. Today, I celebrate all women; my mother, my wife, Patience Nawaane, my sisters and everybody.
Roselle, a 16th Century philoso- pher said that the woman's world is a home, her husband and her children.
We do not find it right when she presses so much into the world of womanhood. I think if he was to wake up today in this century and see what women have attained, I believe that he would acknowledge the mistake that he made in the 16th Century. Mr Speaker, if you look at all the bars that women have to clear, they have practically been able to do them.
Valentina Tereshkova of Russia has been able to go to space like all other men do. And if you think of leading Governments in this world, we can talk of Germany, Liberia where women governed and in the Scandinavian countries, they have been able to be majority of leadership positions in Government.
Now, if I come to Ghana here, our Governments have not been left behind. Hon Betty Mould Iddrisu was an Attorney-General and Minister for Justice; we had Mrs Bamford Addo, the first woman Speaker in Ghana appointed by the National Democratic Congress (NDC) Government, and we have been able to also get a woman to even be a running mate of a major political party. There have been other women in various sectors; vice chancellor. Now, we have a woman vice chancellor at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST).
Dr Mark Kurt Nawaane (NDC -- Nabdam) 6:30 p.m.
We have a lot of women penetrating into various areas. When students graduate from the universities, you realise that among the award winning students, majority of them are women.

However, Mr Speaker, while celebrating women in this country, let us not forget the hardships that some of them go through. I am referring to the phenomenon of kayayei where they go to carry goods to be paid. Up till now, even though a lot of governments have come and gone with promises here and there to build them hostels and so on and take good care of them, we have the same situation where they sleep outside just like any other animal would do.

Mr Speaker, then comes the trokosi. Even though it has gone down, we have remnants of it in the system. What about the Gambaga witch camp? I do not know; possibly, if we cannot let it go, then we might have to also establish a wizard camp and say that it is for equality. But we do not have any wizard camp. What we have is old women who when they get to a certain age and do not have proper care are accused of being witches and sent to these camps. This is a fight that we would have to

remember and spearhead as Members of Parliament if we need to be making any headway towards the total celebration of all women.

Mr Speaker, while calling on the Government and all of us to put special measure in place to enable our women to also gain economic independence - there is the need for economic independence. Most of the things that occur against women is because they are not economically independent. If we can get the women some special loans - the Microfinance and Small Loans Centre (MASLOC) is working but it is simply inadequate. What they give out appears to be a gift more than a loan. If we can put in measures to ensure the economic emancipation of women in our society, I think it would go a long way to ensure that women are really uplifted.

Thank you, Mr Speaker.
Mrs Ophelia M. Hayford (NPP -- Mfantsiman) 6:30 p.m.
Thank you, Mr Speaker, for the opportunity. I first want to commend the Hon Member who made the Statement for bringing this into the limelight for us all to embrace and celebrate women on this special day. I also thank all Hon Members, especially Hon Ablakwa for embracing affirmative action and calling on all to support women.
Mr Speaker, women have contributed in diverse ways in ensuring development across the globe politically, socially and economically.
Mr Speaker, politically, we now see women in peacekeeping, a duty which was solely the preserve of men. Women have also climbed the ladder politically and on this day, we honour Her Excellency Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, the first female President of Liberia. I also take this opportunity to commend Mrs Elizabeth Mills-Robertson, the first female Acting Inspector General of Police (IGP) in Ghana.
Mr Speaker, though women are being opposed in competing with our male counterparts, women are still struggling to bridge the gap with our male counterparts. On this day, as we celebrate women, I wish to bring to the attention of all that we must all come together as one and raise our voices against any practices that prevent women from ascending the ladder.
Mr Speaker, for the constraints of time, I would not say much but dwell on the theme for this year which says: “Choose to challenge”. I therefore congratulate all women on this day and admonish all to choose to challenge as a challenged world is an
alert world and from changes come change.
Thank you, Mr Speaker.
Mrs Gizella Tetteh-Agbotui (NDC -- Awutu-Senya West) 6:30 p.m.
Mr Speaker, every day is a women's day even though we have a dedicated date of 8th March of every year in which we celebrate our women.
Mr Speaker, in my personal view, from dawn to dusk, women labour, balance, multitask and do a whole lot of activities each and every single day. So women must be celebrated every day.
For those who work in the informal sector and every sphere of influence, they have something to do. I come from a family of four sisters and I have two daughters so I have women on my radar and on my antenna all the time. I have learnt to be supportive but not to be a pushover and to encourage women to be strong and to show their softer and more human side because at the end of the day, we have that and show that a lot.
Mr Speaker, sometimes, all we women need is an opportunity. That window or chance to take up a challenge and we are able to show our worth. In this House today, there are about 40 of us. In four years' time, there may be more but it has to be a conscious effort of working together.
Mrs Gizella Tetteh-Agbotui (NDC -- Awutu-Senya West) 6:40 p.m.
Mr Speaker, the theme of “Choose to challenge -- Women in Leadership; achieving an equal future in a COVID- 19 world”, demonstrates different spheres of our lives. In the health sector, here we are with masks and hiding half of our faces and it is the same women who have to look at the diet of the family and also make sure that the children and husbands are protected and we are always cautioning on how to take precautions.
In this same COVID-19 world, there are challenges in the extent of IT-enabled education where e- learning has now become the new normal. Previously, it was all paper work. In culture, our values under this COVID-19 world have also changed and we are all struggling to adapt to what we call the new normal.

Under the economic sector, farmers, fishmongers, traders, business women, breadwinners of families, secretaries, teachers, nurses, and all the other professions that tend to embrace a lot of women respond to this to achieve an equal future in a COVID-19 world.

Mr Speaker, I salute the likes of Regina Honu of Soronko Academy

who in this COVID-19 era has been a beacon of light in helping young girls cope by teaching them for free in holding such classes. We have just realised that there is a must we have to do in the space for the girl-child and young women.

Also, as women leaders, we cannot leave our young girls hanging. We have to hold their hands and mentor them. So, I challenge every woman and I challenge every man -- because you either have a wife, a mother, a girlfriend, an aunt, a sister or a cousin. This weekend, think about what programmes you have for girls and women, and use the rest of March to activate it. But just remember that every day is a Women's Day.
Mr Kwabena Okyere Darko- Mensah (NPP -- Takoradi) 6:40 p.m.
Mr Speaker, thank you very much for this special opportunity to contribute to the Statement on Women's Day.
Mr Speaker, I have heard a lot of all that Hon Members have said today. I believe that first and foremost, women do not need affirmative action to climb the ladder and succeed. There might be issues and barriers somewhere else, but women do not need affirmative action.
Mr Speaker, when Queen Mother Yaa Asantewa decided to go to war, she was not given an affirmative action to take that decision. She took it and she won objectively because the Golden Stool was never taken away from Ashanti. Leadership is everywhere, so whether she was a queen mother or not, other women who preceded her have taken decisions. She was not supposed to have declared war, but she declared war because she knew what she was going to achieve was more important than anything else.
Mr Speaker, if we do not concentrate on that arena, we would be giving our girls and our women the space to continue to give excuses about why they are not doing well. That is why when I got the opportunity to be vetted, and I was asked the extra thing, I mentioned my grandmother's name. She was a woman who always believed that there is power in small things.
Mr Speaker, our mothers took care of us 6:40 p.m.
both boys and girls. They are always in charge of the younger ones in our formative years. When our women know that they do not need any affirmative action to re-socialise our boys and girls, all the men will grow up to respect women and all women will grow up to appreciate that
what the boys can do, they can also do better.
Mr Speaker, when the Statement was being read, one of the reasons why I rushed down in here was that the Hon Member who made the Statement was clear when she said, “Moreover, depriving women from economic opportunities is not smart economics. This is because inadequate investments in women limit development, slows down poverty reduction and economic growth”. I agree with this Statement.
Mr Speaker, that was why in the days of former President John Agyekum Kufuor, through the leadership of Mrs Gladys Asmah, more women were introduced to small loans. Women took decisions to pay back these loans, and consistently, when more money is given to women, they are able to pay back. That is not an affirmative action. They have taken a decision that when they are given the money, they would work with it, make profit and pay it back. So, I believe that there is so much inherent strength in women for them to succeed than allowing or giving them space to give excuses.
Mr Speaker, for instance, in this modern age, no woman can tell me that she had sex and has become pregnant unplanned. They cannot be
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 6:40 p.m.
I sincerely thank all of you.
Leadership, any indication?
Mr Frank Annoh-Dompreh 6:40 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I think under the circumstance, we can adjourn.
Mr Rockson-Nelson Dafeamekpor 6:40 p.m.
Mr Speaker, indeed, you gave the indication that after the last two contributors, you would come to Leadership and then we leave the rest in your hands. So, if I have your leave, then I can on behalf of Leadership on this Side add a few words, so that the Majority Leadership would add some few words and then we can
bring this matter to a close and then we can adjourn.
Mr Annoh-Dompreh 6:40 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I will support my Hon Colleague for him to also add - He is ready to speak, so maybe, one from their Side and then one from our Side to complete it.
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 6:40 p.m.
Very well, available Leader, you can take your bite but be brief.
Mr Rockson-Nelson Dafeamekpor (NDC -- South Dayi) 6:50 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I thank you for the opportunity. I disagree with the Hon Member who spoke last when he said that women do not need special dispensation to thrive -- [Hear! Hear!]
Mr Speaker, the Hon Member's own statistics shows that women ought to have thrived suo moto, but there are cultural and systemic inhibitions. That is why the United Nations (UN) itself found it auspicious to allocate this day for recognising women globally.
Mr Speaker, when we go through this ritual of paying flowery homage to the exploits of women every year in this Republic, on the African
Continent and globally, it is for a purpose.

It is to encourage the removal of cultural and systemic inhibitions, administrative and legislative inhibitions to the growth and blossoming of women.

Mr Speaker, if you go to Tanzania, there are legislative arrangements that ensure that women participation in their national assembly is increased. How do they do it? By an enactment, certain legislative seats are allotted to the participating political parties to be allocated only to women. So, a man cannot contest within the political party for those seats.

Mr Speaker, if you go to the Island of Zanzibar, 50 per cent of the regional representation in the National Assembly is reserved for women. So, there are women in the National Assembly in Tanzania who do not go through the rigour of political politicking to get elected. They are selected, and it shores up the numbers in the national assembly. It is something that we can replicate in this Republic.

Mr Speaker, we go there for inter- parliamentary visitation. These are some of the things we must learn or
Dr Emmanuel Marfo (NPP -- Oforikrom) 6:50 p.m.
Mr Speaker, let me first of all commend the Hon Member who made the Statement for allowing us to have the opportunity to celebrate women on this day.
Indeed, I cannot afford not to make a comment on a Statement about women because I am a beneficiary of the motherly kindness of a woman. My father died when I was 12 years and my mother, Akua Agyeiwaa, is the one who worked hard to take care of my siblings and I and today, by the grace of God, I am here as an Hon MP, and so, whenever we talk about women, we all know
that when men fail, they can be sure that women will keep on the fight and make sure that their children progress in life.
Sometimes when we talk about women and we celebrate and ask for the rights of women to be recognised, for the participation of women in our discourse, we seemed to look at it as if we are doing women a favour. Indeed, we have a constitutional obligation not to discriminate against anyone on the basis of gender. And so, it is a constitutional injunction on us to act in a way that does not discriminate against women.
Mr Speaker, let me just say two things from the Statement. First of all, I draw inspiration to say that we need to promote women in science. In the science world, it has become a male dominated area. When you go to schools, teachers sometimes put males in the science classes and women are discouraged as if they can not do science. Some parents even discourage their own girls from pursuing science, and they tell them plainly that this is a male discipline.
I would recommend to all Hon MPs that we put our words to action by forming Girls for Science Clubs in our constituencies so that brilliant girls who have the potential to be scientists are encouraged to form Girls for
Dr Emmanuel Marfo (NPP -- Oforikrom) 7 a.m.
Science Clubs and then we can support them, give them mentors, look for women who are in science to be their mentors and to encourage them so that in each constituency, we can be sure that we have a certain number of girls who would grow to become scientists so that we can bridge the gap between men and women in the field of science.

The second thing I would like to speak on is raising the consciousness of women to not see themselves as only good for marriage. In many communities, when you encounter girls and women, their aspiration is to get married and they think that marriage is their world. Sometimes, you would see a woman and ask her what work her sister does and she would tell you that her sister is a married woman who lives with her husband, as if marriage is a profession.

We need to encourage women to be women of their own, empowered economically to be able to stand with or without men. We need to raise that level of consciousness so that women would themselves be active participants of economic life.

Probably, because women are more emotional than men, you would see that when it even comes to religion,

women are sometimes notoriously over religious. When men are working, most women are in some kind of “pray for me” camp. So, it reinforces the economic difference because while men are working, these women are somewhere else doing “pray for me”. So, we need to encourage women to be more active.

The last thing I would want to speak on is about women as their own enemies. I have experienced in institutions that I have worked in that whenever you even want to promote a woman, the women in the same institution would be the ones who would want to pull her down. I have experienced this and so I want to encourage --

Hon Sayibu knows that what I am saying is something I have seen. So, inasmuch as we want to encourage men and society to help promote female emancipation and rights and help women to rise, women have a duty themselves to make sure that they help one another, so that as we preach for --
rose
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 7 a.m.
Hon Member for Ketu South, what is it?
Ms Gomashie 7 a.m.
Mr Speaker, I speak on a point of order. Women are
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 7 a.m.
Hon Member for Oforikrom, take a cue and conclude.
Dr Marfo 7 a.m.
Mr Speaker, I have taken a cue. I know that men can be enemies of men and women can also be enemies of women. It is Women's Day and in the context of the discussion, I am only talking about women. I am saying that women should learn to promote themselves. [Interruption] So, since I see three women who are not happy that women - I can hear the wife of my good Brother Agyare, saying that women are not their own enemies. If that is so, thanks and praise be to God.
Thank you.
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 7 a.m.
Thank you Hon Members, we have come to the end of Statements and contributions.
Leadership, any indication?
Mr Annoh-Dompreh 7 a.m.
Mr Speaker, I think that now that we have exhausted the contributors and that was supposed to be the last Statement, we can now adjourn accordingly.
Mr Dafeamekpor 7 a.m.
Mr Speaker, I support the Hon Majority Chief Whip's proposition that we adjourn the House.
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 7 a.m.
Before the House is adjourned, please be reminded that tomorrow, we are all invited to the precincts of Parliament to come and take the vaccine. So, all Hon Members are invited tomorrow to be here to take the vaccine.
Mr Dafeamekpor 7 a.m.
Mr Speaker, may we respectfully have an indication as to the time, just by way of a reminder.
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 7 a.m.
The time is 10:00 a. m.
The House is accordingly adjourned till Tuesday, 9th March, 2021 at 2:00 p.m.
ADJOURNMENT 7 a.m.
  • The House was adjourned at 7.06 p.m. till Tuesday, 9th March, 2021 at 2:00 p.m.