Debates of 12 Mar 2021

MR SPEAKER
PRAYERS 11:17 a.m.
VOTES AND PROCEEDINGS AND THE OFFICIAL REPORT 11:17 a.m.
Mr Speaker 11:17 a.m.
Hon Members, we will move to item numbered 3 -- Correction of Votes and Proceedings and the Official Report. We will start with the correction of Votes and Proceedings of Thursday, 11th March,
2021.
Hon Members, page 1…8 --
Mr Emmanuel Akwasi Gyamfi 11:17 a.m.
Mr Speaker, thank you. On page 8, item numbered 16, I was present yesterday in the Chamber, but I have been marked absent.
Mr Speaker 11:17 a.m.
Table Office, Hon Member for Odotobri was present yesterday, take note.
Page 9 --
Several Members -- rose --
Mr Mustapha Ussif 11:17 a.m.
Mr Speaker, thank you. On page 8, item numbered 31, I was present in the Chamber yesterday, but I have been marked absent.
Mr Abdulai Abanga 11:17 a.m.
Mr Speaker, thank you. On page 8, item numbered 1, I was in the Chamber throughout the day and I signed the attendance sheet.
Mr Speaker 11:17 a.m.
Again, Table Office to take note. These are items numbered 4, items numbered 1, 16 and 31.
Mr Augustine Collins Ntim 11:17 a.m.
Mr Speaker, on page 8, item numbered 21, I was present yesterday, but I have been marked absent.
Again, item numbered 12, Hon Kwabena Okyere Darko-Mensah was also present, but he has been marked absent.
Mr Speaker 11:17 a.m.
Table Office, kindly take note.
Page 9…12 --
Rev Ntim Fordjour: Mr Speaker, on page 12, item numbered (viii), the Minister-designate for Central Region, Justina Marigold Assan is
obviously a female and could not have been addressed as mister. So, it should read “Mrs”.
Mr Speaker 11:17 a.m.
Table Office, page 12, item numbered (viii) that is an honourable lady not an honourable gentleman.
rose
Mr Speaker 11:17 a.m.
Yes, Hon Member?
Mr Ablakwa 11:17 a.m.
Mr Speaker, since my Hon Colleague was at page 12, I will draw your attention to item numbered (xiii), the Minister- designate for North East Region, the name should be Mr Yidana Zakaria and not the rendition captured here, because it appears to be “Zakiria”. The official Communication from His Excellency the President confirms that it is “Zakaria”.
Mr Speaker 11:17 a.m.
Thank you so much, Table Office take note.
Page 13… 16 --
Dr Mohammed Amin Adam 11:27 a.m.
Mr Speaker, on the item numbered 13, my academic title, “Dr” is omitted.
Mr Speaker 11:27 a.m.
Table Office, the Hon Member insists that his title should be properly captured as “Dr”. With that being the case, you would have to properly capture all. So, it would not only be with respect to the doctors, but the Mr(s), the Master(s), the Professor(s), the Alhaji(s), the Major(s), the Nana(s) and the Nii(s) would all have to be captured.
Page 17…18.
Ms Lariba Zuweira Abudu 11:27 a.m.
Mr Speaker, on page 18, the item numbered 23, my middle name “Zuweira” has been omitted. My name is Hon Lariba Zuweira Abudu, but the “Zuweira” has been omitted.
Mr Speaker 11:27 a.m.
Hon Member, which of the tables have your name been omitted from?
Ms Abudu 11:27 a.m.
Mr Speaker, this is captured under the table on the Subsidiary Legislation Committee, the item numbered 23, page 18, continuing from page 17.
Mr Speaker 11:27 a.m.
The Table Office should capture her name properly as “Hon Hajia Lariba Zuweira Abudu.”
Page 19…23
Mr Alexander Roosevelt Hottordze 11:27 a.m.
Mr Speaker, on page 22, continuing from page 21, under the table on the Special Budget Committee, on the item numbered 20, my name has been captured there, but the name “Hotordze” as has been spelt there - it should rather be captured as “Hottordze.”
Mr Speaker 11:27 a.m.
Hon Member, therefore, your name as spelt as “Hortordze” should rather be spelt as “Hottordze”. However, are the letters “dze” in the name being used correctly?
Mr Hottordze 11:27 a.m.
Mr Speaker, it is all right.
Mr Speaker 11:27 a.m.
Therefore, how should it be pronounced?
Mr Hottordze 11:27 a.m.
Mr Speaker, it is pronounced as “Hottordze”, but the letter “t” should be double.
Mr Speaker 11:27 a.m.
Hon Member, initially you pronounced it as “Hottordzi”, but I know that “Hottordzi” cannot be spelt with “dze”. The Table Office should kindly take note.
Mr Kofi Amankwa-Manu 11:27 a.m.
Mr Speaker, on page 23, under the table on the Gender and Children Committee, on the item numbered 11,
my name has been captured there, but the name “Amankwah”, as captured there, should be without an “h”, and it should be hyphenated with the name “Manu”. So, it should be captured as “Amankwa-Manu”.
Mr Speaker 11:27 a.m.
The Table Office should take note. The name “Amankwa-Manu” is one and it should be hyphenated, and there should be no “h” for the “Amankwa”.
Page 24…28.
Alhaji Mohammed-Mubarak Muntaka 11:27 a.m.
Mr Speaker, on page 25, on the table that has to do with the Committee on Members Holding Offices of Profit, on the item numbered 21, the name captured there should rather be captured as “Hon Thomas Adda Dalu”.
Mr Speaker 11:27 a.m.
Is the Hon Member present? The Table Office should take note. The name should rather be captured as “Thomas Adda Dalu.”
Mr Thomas Adda Dalu 11:27 a.m.
Mr Speaker, yes, I am present.
Mr Speaker 11:27 a.m.
Is the name “Mbomba” or “Adda Dalu”?
Mr Dalu 11:27 a.m.
Mr Speaker, it is rather “Adda Dalu”.
Mr Speaker 11:27 a.m.
So, where did the word “Mbomba” come in?
Dr Dickson Adomako Kissi 11:27 a.m.
Mr Speaker, under the table of the Privileges Committee, pages 28 to 29, on the item numbered 18, the title to my name is missing. Again, just so that I do not come back, on page 39 as well, the item numbered two, the title to my name did not appear. The name should be captured as “Dr Dickson Adomako Kissi.”
Mr Speaker 11:27 a.m.
Sorry, Hon Member, my attention was being distracted.
Dr Kissi 11:27 a.m.
Mr Speaker, on pages 28 to 29, on the item numbered 18, my name should be captured as “Dr Dickson Adomako Kissi”, but the title is missing.
Mr Speaker 11:27 a.m.
Again, the title “Dr” should be captured. So, it should be captured as “Hon Dr Dickson Adomako Kissi”.
Hon Members, we would move on to page 9.
Mr Abeiku Crensil 11:27 a.m.
Mr Speaker, on pages 28 to 29, under the table of the Privileges Committee, on the item numbered 18, my name captured there should be “Crentil”, and not “Crenstil”.
Mr Speaker 11:27 a.m.
Hon Members, we would move on to page 30.
Dr Kwamena Minta Nyarku 11:27 a.m.
Mr Speaker, on page 30, the item numbered 5, the name captured there should rather be captured as “Hon Dr Kwamena Minta Nyarku”, not “Minta Kwamena Nyarku”. So, the title “Dr” is omitted, and the “Minta” has been used as the first name, which is not so.
Mr Speaker 11:37 a.m.
The Table Office should take note. So, they would insert the “Dr”, and rearrange the sequence of the name, Hon Dr Kwamena Minta Nyarku.
Dr Nyarku 11:37 a.m.
Mr Speaker, in order not to come back again, on page 46 --
Mr Speaker 11:37 a.m.
Sorry, we have not reached there yet.
Dr Nyarku 11:37 a.m.
Thank you.
Mr Speaker 11:37 a.m.
Page 31 … 33.
Mr Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa 11:37 a.m.
Mr Speaker, I tried to catch your attention at page 32, number 18, I believe our Hon Colleague is not around. He would have observed that “Tetteh” has not been captured
Mr Speaker 11:37 a.m.
You are right. Clerks-at-the-Table, get the spelling of “Tetteh” correct.
Mr Ablakwa 11:37 a.m.
While at it, I have observed that some of the headnotes of the Committees are not consistent with the rendition in Standing Orders 151 and 152 so, if the Clerks-at-the- Table could take note. For example, the Committee of Privileges and the Committee on Gender and Children have not been captured accurately so if we can be consistent with Standing Orders 151 and 152?
Mr Speaker 11:37 a.m.
Clerks-at-the- Table, please get the right rendition.
Page 33 … 34
Dr Prince Hamidu Armah 11:37 a.m.
Mr Speaker, on page 34, item numbered 2, the title “Dr” is missing. It is “Hon Dr Prince Hamidu Armah”. [Interruption]
Mr Speaker 11:37 a.m.
Hon Members, you should allow. It is not easy to get a doctorate. It is their rightful title. Give it to them.
Page 35 … 38.
Mr Albert Tetteh Nyakotey 11:37 a.m.
Mr Speaker, page 38, item numbered 19, the name is “Albert Tetteh Nyakotey”. The “Nyakotey” has been replaced with “Nyarko”.
Mr Speaker 11:37 a.m.
“Nyakotey”, not “Nyarko”.
Mr Alhassan Abdallah Iddi 11:37 a.m.
Mr Speaker, on the same page, item numbered 8, the name is “Alhassan Abdallah Iddi”, not “Alhassan Abdulai Iddi” so, “Abdallah” is in contention.
Mr Speaker 11:37 a.m.
It is noted, Sir. Any more corrections before we move to page 39?
Page 39
Mr Yao Gomado 11:37 a.m.
Mr Speaker, page 39, item numbered 16, it is “Hon Engr Yao Gomado”, and similarly on page 18, item 17 --
Mr Speaker 11:37 a.m.
Page 18?
Mr Gomado 11:37 a.m.
Item 17 -- the same Hon Engr Yao Gomado.
Mr Speaker 11:37 a.m.
For that one, approach the Clerks-at-the-Table. We went past page 18 long ago.
Clerks-at-the-Table, please, capture his name properly with his title, “Engr”.
Page 40.
Mr Frederick Yaw Ahenkwah 11:37 a.m.
Mr Speaker, page 40, item 18, it should be “Frederick”. There is an omission of the letter “e” in what is captured.
Mr Speaker 11:37 a.m.
His spelling is “Frederick”. Clerks-at-the-Table, take note.
Page 41.
Mr Andrew Dari Chiwitey 11:37 a.m.
Mr Speaker, on page 41, under the Committee on Works and Housing, number 11, the name is supposed to be “Andrew”, not “Andrews”. My name does not take the letter “s”.
Mr Speaker 11:37 a.m.
Is it the name or is supposed to be?
Mr Chiwitey 11:37 a.m.
The name is “Andrew Dari Chiwitey”, not “Andrews Dari Chiwitey”.
Mr Speaker 11:37 a.m.
Clerks-at-the- Table, please, do away with the letter “s”.
Mr Crentsil 11:37 a.m.
Mr Speaker, page 40, item 17, there is an omission of the letter “t”. The name is “Abeiku Crentsil”.
Mr Speaker 11:37 a.m.
That is page 41.
Mr Crentsil 11:37 a.m.
No, page 40.
Mr Speaker 11:37 a.m.
There is no name like that on page 40.
Mr Crentsil 11:37 a.m.
It is a continuation of page 40.
Mr Speaker 11:37 a.m.
And so, is it on page
40?
Mr Crentsil 11:37 a.m.
Yea, it is on page 41, but it is a continuation of --
Mr Speaker 11:37 a.m.
Hon Member, you do not say “yea”. [Laughter]
Mr Crentsil 11:37 a.m.
Mr Speaker, it is the continuation of what is on page 40.
Mr Speaker 11:37 a.m.
Yes, so, it is on page
41.
Mr Crentsil 11:37 a.m.
Exactly.
Mr Speaker 11:37 a.m.
Please get the spelling of “Abeiku Crentsil” correct.
Mr Joe Ghartey 11:37 a.m.
Mr Speaker, I am getting a little confused and I would be grateful for your very respected direction. Mr Speaker, you and I belong to the same profession. People are calling themselves “Engr”. Should we call ourselves Hon Lawyers and Hon Teachers?
Mr Speaker 11:47 a.m.
Well, I do not have any Standing Order to guide me, and there is no precedent in Ghana to guide me, but I know a place where all those things are captured. I am sure you all know. They even add “Chief”. I do not know whether that is where we are moving toward. I believe we could restrict ourselves to the academic titles.
So, I would direct that we restrict ourselves to the academic titles. I do not know the titles the lawyers use apart from “Esquire''.
Page 42…43 --
rose
Dr Sandaare 11:47 a.m.
Mr Speaker, with regard to item numbered 14 on page 43, I do not abbreviate my middle name -- the “N'' is “Ngmenenso'', as captured on page 6 in the attendance book.
Mr Speaker 11:47 a.m.
Page 44…45 --
rose
Mrs Ocloo 11:47 a.m.
Mr Speaker, with regard to item numbered 15 on page 45, my name is “Linda Obenewaa A. Ocloo'' and not “Linda Obenwaa A. Ocloo''. The “e'', has been omitted after the alphabet “n'' from the “Obenewaa''.
Mr Speaker 11:47 a.m.
Page 46 --
rose
Dr Nyarku 11:47 a.m.
Mr Speaker, item numbered 14 on page 46, is supposed to be “Dr Kwamena Minta Nyarku'' -- the “Minta'', has no “h'' at the end of it.
Mr Speaker 11:47 a.m.
Let us get the correct one and not what it is supposed to be.
Dr Nyarku 11:47 a.m.
Mr Speaker, the spelling is “M-i-n-t-a''.
Mr Speaker 11:47 a.m.
Page 47…48 --
rose
Dr Agyeman-Rawlings 11:47 a.m.
Mr Speaker, item numbered 11 on page 47, with regard to my surname, “Agyeman-Rawlings'', the “Agyeman'' does not have a “g'' at the end of it.
Mr Speaker 11:47 a.m.
Page 48 --
rose
Mr Sulemana Adama Ramzy 11:47 a.m.
Mr Speaker, with regard to item numbered 18 on page 48, my name is “Sulemana Adama Ramzy'' and not “Sulemana Adams Ramzy''.
Mr Speaker 11:47 a.m.
Page 49 --
rose
Mr Speaker 11:47 a.m.
Yes, Hon Member?
Ms Nkansah-Boadu 11:47 a.m.
Mr Speaker, with regard to item numbered 10 on page 49, my surname “Nkansah-Boadu'' is hyphenated.
Mr Speaker 11:47 a.m.
Page 50.
Hon Members, the Votes and Proceedings of Thursday, 11th March, 2021 as corrected is hereby adopted as the true record of proceedings.
We would take item numbered 4 -- Business Statement.
BUSINESS OF HOUSE 11:47 a.m.
Mr Alexander Afenyo-Markin on behalf of the (Chairman of the Business Committee) 11:47 a.m.
Introduction:
Mr Speaker, the Committee met yesterday, Thursday, 11th March 2021 and arranged Business of the House for the Ninth Week ending Saturday, 20th March, 2021.
Mr Speaker, the Committee accordingly submits its report as follows 11:47 a.m.
Arrangement of Business
Formal Communications by the Speaker
Mr Speaker, the Committee accordingly submits its report as follows 11:47 a.m.
20 th March, 2021 and to hold Committee sittings. The Business Committee therefore proposes that Committees take advantage of the said Saturday to hold Committee sittings for the consideration of the Budget Estimates of the MDAs.
The foregoing recommendations are expected to enable the expeditious consideration of the Budget Estimates and the passing of the Appropriation Bill, 2021 prior to:
The House adjourning sine die on Tuesday, 30th March, 2021.
5. Reminder on the Post-Budget Workshop
Mr Speaker, Hon Members are kindly reminded of the post-budget workshop scheduled for all Members of Parliament. The workshop would be held at the Volta Serene Hotel, Ho in the Volta Region.
Other details are as follows:
(i) Check-in at the hotel -- Afternoon of Saturday, 13th March,
2021;
(ii) Workshop days -- Sunday, 14th and Monday 15th March,
2021;
(iii) Departure from Ho to Accra -- Morning of Tuesday, 16th March, 2021.
The House is scheduled to sit on Tuesday, 16th March, 2021 at 2.00 p.m.
Conclusion
Mr Speaker, in accordance with Standing Order 160(2) and subject to Standing Order 53, the Committee submits to this honourable House the order in which Business of the House shall be taken during the week.

Statements

Presentation of Papers --

Motions --

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

-- (Commencement of Debate)

Committee sittings.

Statements

Presentation of Papers --

Motions --

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

-- (Continuation of Debate)

Committee sittings.

Statements

Presentation of Papers --

Motions --

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

-- (Continuation of Debate)

Committee Sittings.

Statements

Presentation of Papers --

Motion --

That this honourable House approves the Budget Statement and Economic Policy of the Government for the year ending 31st December, 2021. -- (Conclusion of Debate)

Committee sittings.

Statements

Presentation of Papers --

Committee sittings.
Mr Speaker 11:57 a.m.
Hon Members, you have heard the Hon Deputy Majority Leader and Vice Chairman of the Business Committee present the Business of the House for the ensuing week.
Any comments?
Yes, Hon Member?
Mr Speaker 11:57 a.m.
Hon Member, well, that is not in the hands of the Business Committee. Research Assistants is a matter outside the remit of the Business Committee. So, we would take it later.
Mr Dafeamekpor 11:57 a.m.
Mr Speaker, very well, I am guided.
Mr Speaker 11:57 a.m.
Yes, Hon Member?
Mr John A. Jinapor 11:57 a.m.
Mr Speaker, I thank you.
From the Statement ably presented by the Hon Deputy Majority Leader, it is obvious that he would wish that we return to Accra and on that same Tuesday proceed to Parliament and commence with the debate on the Budget Statement.
Mr Speaker, you know the distance from Ho to Accra and the traffic situation. It would be virtually impossible to travel from Ho on Tuesday morning, get to Accra, freshen up and come to commence the debate at 2.00 p.m. So, if the Business
Committee could take a second look at it and see how we could adjust accordingly?
I thank you very much.
Mr Cassiel Ato Baah Forson 11:57 a.m.
Mr Speaker, I have two concerns. The first one relates to the consideration of the Budget Estimates. If we are to look at item numbered 4 of the Business Statement, we were told that Parliament would be considering the Budget Estimates starting Thursday, 18th March, 2021. This would mean that Parliament would have about two weeks to consider all the Estimates.
Mr Speaker, strangely in the past, we have used about four weeks to consider Budget Estimates. Could the Vice Chairman of the Business Committee give us some under- standing as to how we would be able to consider Budget Estimates within this shortest possible time? It is less than two weeks, to be precise, about 13 days.
Mr Speaker, secondly, there is another item here that there is the need for us to review. It is item numbered 3 in terms of times that have been allotted to the speakers. If we are to look at item numbered (i), we have been informed that the seconder and the Ranking Member of the
Committee on Finance would be speaking for 20 minutes. I think, for a budget policy of this kind, it is very important that, at least, the seconder and the Ranking Member be given 30 minutes as the minimum to be able to discuss it.
Mr Speaker, I also proposed that the Ranking Members and other Committee Chairpersons be given a minimum of 20 minutes so that we can do justice to the document because, clearly, 15 minutes may not be enough.
I thank you, Mr Speaker.
Mr Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa 12:07 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I am most grateful. I would touch on two very quick issues.
First, looking at the arrangement of Business, we have room created for Statements, Bills, Papers, Reports, Motions and Resolutions but conspicuously missing from the arrangement of Business is Questions to Ministers. The Hon Ministers are in place, most of them recycled ones and so they cannot tell us they need time to settle in.
Mr Speaker, there are very urgent questions that some of us have filed. I am surprised that, for all of these
weeks, we still do not have room in all the arrangement of businesses that have been presented for urgent questions to be addressed by Hon Ministers in line with Order 60 of our Standing Orders, which stipulates that Ministers shall by order of the House be requested to attend Sittings of the House to answer questions asked of them.
Mr Speaker, I would want to find out from the Hon Vice Chairman of the Business Committee when they would create room for questions to be responded to by the Ministers of State?
Mr Speaker, finally, from page 2 of the Business Statement, the selected areas of interest for the debate. Again, conspicuously missing is the Committee on Foreign Affairs. I would have thought that, under governance which we have broaden to include Local Government, Judiciary, Defence and the Interior, Electoral Commission, the National Commission for Civic Education, and Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice, we would have created space for Foreign Affairs.
Mr Speaker, that is a very important aspect of our work as a House and there are a lot of urgent matters that require debate. I am sure the Budget Statement may even
Mr Speaker 12:07 p.m.
Yes, Hon Member? No, not you Hon Chairman, there is an Hon Member behind you.
An Hon Member 12:07 p.m.
Mr Speaker, the Hon Ablakwa used the word ‘recycled Ministers'. I think it is not a good phrase to use for Hon Ministers who have been re-appointed. It would be better if the Hon Member reconsidered that phrase by withdrawing it.
Mr Ablakwa 12:07 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I only took a leave from the venerable J. H. Mensah who was Hon Minority Leader --
Mr Speaker 12:07 p.m.
Actually, the word ‘recycled octogenarian' was ever used on the Floor and it was accepted by the House. I know it is always used in a very light manner and should not be taken to heart as taking away some value or lustre of the title of a ‘Minister'.
Yes, Hon Member, I can clearly see you. You do not need to draw my attention. You may go on.
Ms Adwoa Safo 12:07 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I would like to draw the attention of the Hon Deputy Majority Leader to item numbered 3 and it continues on the second page which has been raised by Hon Ablakwa. I also see that the Gender, Children and Social Protection which ought to have been captured under governance is conspicuously missing. I think it is a very important and sensitive sector of our economy. So, the debate should equally capture that as well.
Mr Speaker, thank you for the opportunity.
Mr Speaker 12:07 p.m.
Yes, the last contribution before we go back. Well, there are many more.
Mr Kwame Governs Agbodza 12:07 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I would like to find out from the Hon Deputy Majority Leader if the Budget Statement will be presented today because we are being told that we would not Sit tomorrow, Sunday and Monday but the debate on the Budget Statement starts on Tuesday.
Can the Hon Deputy Majority Leader assure the House that Hon Members will get copies of the Budget Statement today? Otherwise, what would be the case is that Hon Members would have access to the Budget Statement for just a day before the debate starts on Tuesday. I do not think that would give Hon Members an opportunity to digest the Budget Statement and make meaningful contributions to it.
Mr Speaker, so we definitely need that hard copies of the Budget Statement before we leave the House today.
Mr Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah 12:07 p.m.
Mr Speaker, item numbered 5 states that all Hon Members of Parliament are to attend the post- Budget workshop but because of concerns on the COVID-19 pandemic, Hon Members would go in two batches.
Mr Speaker, I just need assurance from the Hon Deputy Majority Leader
on the issue of COVID-19 pandemic and whether all those precautions have been taken into consideration for that workshop?
In the same vein, with the issues raised on having a structured debate on Tuesday, 16th March, 2021, I see Finance, Trade and Industry, Agriculture and I would strongly suggest that on that line, Energy should be part and Agriculture moved to Wednesday and that switch would help.
Mr Stephen Amoah 12:07 p.m.
Mr Speaker, we are trying to draw attention to the fact that we are having an outlier situation. As a House and due to the pandemic, we need to exercise some sort of pragmatism with respect to the use of time.
I say this because of what the Hon Colleague on the other Side said. Even the fiscal targets of the Public Financial Management Act of 2016, (Act 921) 18 (PFM) can be suspended due to the situation we find ourselves in. So, I plead with the House that we should all agree to work within the set time to enhance productivity since the COVID-19 pandemic has delayed us.
Dr Clement A. Apaak 12:07 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I wish to commend the Hon Deputy Majority Leader for making us aware that plans are in place to
Mr Haruna Iddrisu 12:17 p.m.
Mr Speaker, thank you very much. I also thank the Hon Deputy Majority Leader who is standing in the stead of the Leader of Government Business to present the Business Statement.
Understandably, we have a challenge which is; many a time, it takes us up to four weeks to thoroughly go through the Budget Statement which is always inadequate.
In many other jurisdictions, a month is normally dedicated for the purposes of Budget debate to allow for thorough scrutiny. However, one can understand that the country is going through a difficult transition and therefore, we do not have time and we have to pass the Budget not later than 31st March, 2021 in order that what was advanced in Appropriation would be dealt with.
Mr Speaker, so, the concerns raised by the Hon Ato Forson and many others -- we will have to revise the time to give Hon Ranking Members and those seconding them 30 minutes, Hon Chairpersons of Committees 20 minutes and other Hon Members probably, 15 minutes to compensate for the time lost.
Mr Speaker, you would have to direct the Ministry of Finance that not later than Wednesday or probably, Tuesday the Budget Estimates should come.Estimates normally delay Budget considerations, so when are we getting the Budget Estimates? This should be on time.

I do also agree with my Hon Colleagues, and when we look at the second page -- I am sure the Hon Deputy Leader would agree -- yesterday at the Business Committee, this was not thoroughly considered.

So, we see important areas of the economy like energy, gender, children and social protection and foreign affairs missing. Mr Speaker, we have to create a day for energy, gender, children and social protection and foreign affairs. Even the governance institutions --
Mr Speaker 12:17 p.m.
Hon Minority Leader, Energy is on 17th March,
2021.
Mr Haruna Iddrisu 12:17 p.m.
Then gender, children and social protection and foreign affairs would have to be looked at because we have to expand it. Mr Speaker, for the areas on 19th March, 2021, we should use the word “Governance” because Judiciary is an Arm of Government and they have listed only a few State institutions; EC, NCCE, CHRAJ, however, they did not list the Audit Service, the National Media Commission and others. Mr Speaker, we would have to review this and I am sure myself and my Hon Colleague can do this. So, we would ask for extension of time.
Mr Speaker, we have also served notice to file a Motion to demand that GNPC submits to this House or the Hon Minister for Energy explains why the Tema LNG Project estimated at US$350 million has not been brought
before Parliament? We have also served notice of a Motion on how Frontiers Healthcare Service was procured for purposes of under- standing the charges of US$150 at the Kotoka International Airport. These are Motions that would be brought.
Mr Speaker, in conclusion, you know that it is through Questions that we elucidate information from Hon Ministers. They have just walked in and they are warming in on the Budget Statement and so Hon Members are encouraged to file Questions and per Standing Order 67, it is in the bosom of Mr Speaker, so we trust that you would admit the Urgent Questions and constituency-specific Questions so that Hon Members would demand Answers from the respective Hon Ministers.
Generally, I agree with the tenure of what has been provided by the Hon Deputy Leader on behalf of the Hon Majority Leader, but we have to add some areas and be more flexible with the allocation of time. Mr Speaker, once again, when would the Annual Estimates be made available to the Committees for them to proceed?
Mr Speaker, thank you.
Mr Afenyo-Markin 12:17 p.m.
Mr Speaker, on the issue of time of departure which was raised by Hon Jinapor, the programme would end on the evening of Monday, and because it is expected that Hon Members may do some work and research on their laptops in the night so they would leave in the morning around 4.00 a.m. or 5.00 a.m., I am sure they would return to Accra and freshen up for the Sitting at 2.00 p.m.
Mr Speaker, so we would entreat Hon Members to do this and return on Monday, and if we are all committed to this, then there would be no problem.
Also, I agree with Hon Forson on the issue of time allotted for contribution, but as has been rightly indicated, we would discuss it and item numbered 3 would be varied as appropriate. However, if you look at how the debate has been structured, I am sure one would even be tired of going over the same point. For instance, the Finance Committee has
about 25 Hon Members and they cannot speak for 30 minutes each because space must definitely be given to another person to prepare him or her.
Mr Speaker, we need to groom some of the new Hon Members so I am sure he may not need all the 30 minutes. This notwithstanding, if he still needs more time, we would discuss it per the assurance given by the Hon Minority Leader and a member of the Committee.
Mr Speaker, Hon Agbodza raised the issue of copies of the Budget Statement. I think it is fair that this must be considered and it must be done so that we would read and get the details before the actual workshop starts.
On the concerns of Hon Ablakwa and my respected learned Hon Colleague, Hon Adwoa Safo, theirs is an omission that would also be factored in. So, they should consider item numbered 3 that same would be amended.
Also, Hon Buah raised an issue of assurances with regard to COVID- 19. I have been reliably informed that three hotels are available; Serene Volta Hotel, Chances Hotel and Skyplus Hotel. The arrangement is such that we would have enough opportunity for us to observe the
protocols, but we must also be disciplined with the protocols and Hon Buah knows what I mean.
Mr Speaker, these would address the main issues except that the Hon Minority Leader talked about the notice of Motions that they intend to file. We have made space for them to file the Motions, yet they continue to serve notice that they would be doing that. Mr Speaker, there is an opportunity for them in the ensuing week so they should file the Motion.
Mr Speaker, they keep serving notice that they want to do that, so they should do it because there is an opportunity for it. Mr Speaker, I believe that it is because the week is loaded that is why the issue of Questions did not find space.
However, it is within Mr Speaker's discretion that if there is any Urgent Question to be considered, the Hon Ministers are in office so I do not think that it would be out of order if Mr Speaker admits any Question even as we debate the Budget Statement because this is part of the tools we use as Parliamentarians.
Mr Speaker, on this score, I pray that the Business Statement would be adopted for us to make progress. Thank you so much.
Mr Ken O. Agyapong 12:17 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I know that the Hon Deputy Majority Leader has concluded but I think that we should return to Accra after lunch time on Monday. Mr Speaker, because on Tuesday morning the traffic on the Michel Camp road would be very heavy so if the Hon Leaders would agree, then we have to set off by 3.00 p.m. Someone can decide to stay but we have to make it a point to be done by 3.00 p.m. on Monday and allow those who decide to stay to do so. On Tuesday morning the traffic would be so heavy, and by the time we get here, a lot of us would be exhausted and we may not make sense.
Mr Speaker, this is my suggestion.
Mr Speaker 12:27 p.m.
Hon Members, the Business Statement is a guide and so we are in a position to add, subtract, amend or revise as we go along. We would definitely look at what is practicable and not go by what is on this paper. You know we have a lot of partners and stakeholders in this matter.
It also depends on how cooperative they are, particularly the Ministry of Finance. Firstly, how early do we get copies of the Budget Statement; secondly, the details of the
Mr Speaker 12:27 p.m.
Estimates sometimes take a long time in coming, and so we are ready. We are prepared to Sit 24/7, and I am sure Hon Members should psyche themselves and prepare towards that.
Even if it means we have to Sit on Sundays, we would do so because by the close of the month, the Budget should have been passed, and the Appropriation Act assented to by His Excellency the President. If not, governance will come to a complete halt.
I am surprised that none of you mentioned Parliament. I did not see Parliament captured in the days that have been allocated for various areas. However, I would propose that Parliament and the Judiciary be given particular attention. And I would want to again give notice to the Ministry of Finance and His Excellency the President that Parliament and the Judiciary are not sectors of the economy.
These are Arms of Government. We would not take any Budget that is like a Ministry's budget. That would not be tolerated. Those Arms of Government would also have to be strengthened to be able to perform their functions. We can no longer allow

From the indication sent to me, our Capital Expenditure (CAPEX) has completely been taken away, and it would not happen under my watch. [Hear! Hear!] That would not happen. So if you would have to go and revise the Budget, you better do so.

We are prepared to Sit 24/7 to go through the Budget and pass it. But Hon Members would no longer be allowed to continue to use their houses as offices to perform government functions and their duties for the good people of Ghana. We have been along this path for 28 good years. I am sure we are now grown. And the Budget is not only for the Executive.

Hon Members should not be worried. Definitely, we would admit Urgent Questions. But normal

Questions would take more time, and so within this short space, we might not have the leisure to listen to Ministers on that one.

Again, there would be virtual presentations. And so Hon Members are not all to be physically present at the venue. But we would take note. Participation in the post-Budget workshop is a prerequisite to contributing on the floor of the House. We want Hon Members to take it seriously and participate in the post- Budget workshop

Again, it is important for Hon Members to organise themselves. We would not allow too much repetition and heckling, neither are we going to entertain noise making. We would want to take Business seriously. So within these few weeks, Parliament would have to focus and properly analyse the notes and if possible, revise some of the proposals before us. If not, the custodian of the purse concept would be of no consequence at all. So please, let us take this exercise seriously and do the right thing. Well, it is part of our duty to make sure that the national priorities are properly aligned to the vision of this country.

Yes, Hon Member, I see you on your feet for some time.
Mr Collins A. Ntim 12:27 p.m.
Thank you, Mr Speaker, for indulging me.
Mr Speaker, flowing from the discussions that we had and the fact that we need time to look at the Budget, and to also get everybody on board, for convenience, is it not possible for us to have the post- Budget workshop here in Accra and precisely in the precinct of Parliament? Is it not possible as we did in the Fifth Parliament where all the workshops were done in the Chamber for convenience? This is because if we consider the volume of traffic on the Tema motorway and the fact that we need to Sit --
Mr Speaker 12:27 p.m.
Hon Member, that is not open to discussion. All those issues were considered, and there is good reason why we decided to take it there.
Mr C. A. Ntim 12:27 p.m.
Thank you, Mr Speaker.
Mr Speaker 12:27 p.m.
Hon Members, I think we have to end it here.
Mr Suhuyini Alhassan Sayibu 12:27 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I just would want to find out from the Hon Leader who presented the Business Statement on behalf of the Hon Chairman of the
Mr Speaker 12:37 p.m.
I stated earlier that it is just a guide. These are proposals. When we get there, the details would come.
Hon Members, the Business Statement, as presented and commented upon, is adopted.
We are at the Commencement of Public Business because I would not permit the taking of Statements today.

Before I move to the item numbered 6, kindly permit me to acknowledge the presence of some dignitaries. They are here to grace the occasion and to support us to listen to the presentation of the Budget.

We have officials from the Ministry of Finance, the Bank of Ghana, Ghana Revenue Authority and others.

Hon Members, we now have the Hon Minister of State responsible for the Ministry of Finance in the person of the Minister for Parliamentary Affairs, Majority Leader and Leader of the House. So I would move straight to item numbered 7. As I mentioned earlier, His Excellency the

Vice President is with us and I am sure he is here to give him some morale. So Hon Minister responsible for the Ministry of Finance, you are welcome.
MOTIONS 12:37 p.m.
Mr Speaker 12:47 p.m.
Hon Minister, is it an invitation for her to come and stand by you? [Laughter]
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 12:47 p.m.
Mr Speaker, you know that she is a stranger in this House, and our rules will not permit her to stand by me. Otherwise, I know I would have the permission of the Hon Minority Leader, in whom I am sometimes well pleased -- [Laughter] -- to be by my side.
Mr Speaker, I was saying that I want to believe the fact that the Majority Leader and Leader of
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 12:57 p.m.
12. Mr Speaker, from the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in March 2020, H.E. President Akufo- Addo laid out the five (5) key objectives Government sought to achieve --
(1) limit and stop the importation of the virus;
(2) contain its spread;
(3) provide adequate care for the sick;
(4) limit the impact of the virus on social and economic life; and
(5) inspire the expansion of our domestic capability and deepen our self-reliance.
The President made it an utmost priority to protect Ghanaian lives above all else. This is captured in his now world-famous quotation - “We know what to do to bring our economy back to life. What we do not know how to do is to bring people back to life”.
13. Under his leadership, we took the required swift, drastic and decisive measures to mitigate the spread of the pandemic. We rapidly mobilised and deployed extensive internal and external resources to support Ghanaian households and enterprises.
14. Mr Speaker, at this juncture, permit me to acknowledge the support of our development partners, namely the International Monetary Fund (IMF), the World Bank, the African Development Bank, the European Union and other bilateral partners who made available significant resources to complement our efforts.
15. Mr. Speaker, the drastic slowdown in economic activity led to a huge drop in domestic revenues, combined with a sharp and unplanned hike in COVID-related expenditures. In sum, this unprecedented crisis led to the following:
a sudden shortfall in Government revenues amounting to GH¢13.6 billion; and;
an unexpected and unavoidable rise in expenditures of GH¢11.7 billion.

16. Mr Speaker, through Government's Emergency Preparedness and Response Plan (EPRP) I & II as well as the Coronavirus Alleviation Programme (CAP), we undertook the following measures:

i. provided financial clearance to employ additional 24,285 health professionals between

March and June to help fight the pandemic;

ii. expanded the capacities of laboratories to increase COVID-19 testing and established isolation centres in all regions and districts;

iii. provided 3.6 million reusable face masks, 50,000 medical scrubs, 90,000 hospital gowns and head covers to health facilities as at June

2020.

iv. provided 3.6 million reusable face masks, 50,000 medical scrubs, 90,000 hospital gowns and head covers to health facilities as at June

2020;

v. provided 50 per cent of basic salary as allowances for frontline health workers;

vi. waived Income Tax for all healthcare workers;

vii.waived Income Tax on the 50 per cent additional allowances paid to frontline health workers;

viii absorbed the transport cost and cost of sustenance for

contact tracers and field surveillance officers;

ix. fully covered water consump- tion for all Ghanaians from April to December, 2020;

x. fully covered the power consumption of the over 1 million lifeline customers, and subsidised the consumption of all other customers by 50 per cent;

xi. rolled-out the GH¢750 million CAP-BuSS Programme in May 2020 to directly support Micro, Small and Medium- Sized Enterprises (MSMEs);

xii. established a GH¢2 billion Guarantee Facility to support all large enterprises and for job retention;

xiii. a GH¢100 million Fund for Labour and Faith-Based Organisations for retraining and skills development;

xiv. an Unemployment Insurance Scheme to provide temporary income support to workers who are laid off due to the pandemic;
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 1:07 p.m.
23. Mr Speaker, the history of
Ghanaians is a story of resilience, faith in God and ingenuity when faced with adversities and uncertainties. And, so, we proceeded from 2017 with discipline, hard work, and cooperation to get Ghana back to work.
24. We took a severely challenged economy and restored its competitiveness within three years:
in four years, against significant opposition, we took a bold step that afforded 1.2 million Ghanaians the opportunity to attain better and quality secondary education;
we took a financial sector that was on the brink of collapse, and in four years cleaned it to build an even stronger financial ecosystem that is well capitalised, liquid, and solvent to fund our progress;
in four years, we secured a central place in African integration and won the bid to host the Secretariat of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA); and
within the last four years, our aggressive industrialisation and regional integration agenda
successfully attracted and retained the highest foreign direct investment in West Africa, including having global automobile giants setting up bases here. Today, world-class vehicles are being assembled right here in Ghana and are being sold in our markets and they are plying on our roads. The message to other global manufacturers is this: from 2021, an integrated Africa is opened for business, and Ghana is ready to welcome you to set up here to take advantage of the biggest free trade area in the world.
Adapting to a New Normal
24. Mr Speaker, we have come far from 2020. However, we are not fully out of the woods yet. As such, fiscal consolidation has to be carefully balanced with the provision of some targeted fiscal stimuli to cushion the impact of COVID-19 on businesses and to facilitate a quick and strong recovery of our economy, which we aim to achieve through the “Ghana CARES “Obaatan pa” Programme.
25. Mr Speaker, it is clear that expenditure on health infrastructure and health related items such as vaccines, hospital supplies and PPEs would become routine. However, we will take measures to ensure that these additional critical expenditures do not
undermine our fiscal consolidation and debt sustainability.
26. Mr Speaker, Government will pursue revenue-enhancing measures with a focus on deepening our digitalisation agenda both on transactions of goods and services as well as on the tax collection systems to broaden the tax base and rope in more eligible taxpayers.
27. Expenditures will be rationalised through the imple- mentation of tighter expenditure control systems with a more efficient procurement system to ensure value for money. We will also pursue structural reforms in the public financial management system to improve efficiency in public service delivery.
28. Mr Speaker, we believe that the achievements in the three years prior to the COVID-19 outbreak as well as the intermediate outcomes from the EPRP and CAP, are the foundations from which we will collectively adapt to on the changes caused by this pandemic and ‘build back better and greener' economy.

Mr Speaker, the seminal break- throughs in vaccine development gives

hope that economies can re-open more quickly than anticipated. However, logistical challenges in access and administration of vaccines, and the continued mutation and emergence of more infectious variants of the virus may further delay the resumption of full economic activities around the world.

Mr Speaker, in line with the President's determination to protect the lives of Ghanaians, we have prioritised the vaccination programme against COVID-19. Through the bold leadership and adept diplomacy of H.E. the President, Ghana became the first country in the world to receive its first batch of vaccines of 600,000 doses through the COVAX initiative on Wednesday, 24th February, 2021.

We are also working assiduously to secure vaccine for 20 million Ghanaians to enable us attain herd immunity by the end of this year. Once again, Ghana has stepped up in front. Thanks to H.E The President's leadership, we are championing the African excellence to become the vanguard against COVID-19 on this continent.

However, until we achieve herd immunity, we cannot let our guard down if we are to contain the spread of this virus. We must all commit to taking the vaccines in addition to
Mr Speaker, through GhanaCARES, we will 1:07 p.m.
i. expedite Government's digitalisation agenda to achieve greater efficiency and effectiveness in public service delivery;
ii. revitalise the housing and construction industry to address the severe housing deficit and create job opportunities ; and
iii. establish Ghana as a regional hub, leveraging its position within ECOWAS and as host
of the Secretariat of the Africa Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) to focus on manu- facturing, financial services, education, healthcare, avia- tion and logistics, digital services, petroleum, auto- mobile, tourism, hospitality and creative arts;
iv. support the private sector and entrepreneurs to become a powerful engine for job creation;
v. actively promote both local and international investments, including the use of PPPs; and
vi. upgrade the skills of our workers through re-training programmes focusing on technical and vocational skills.
Mr Speaker, the implementation arrangements for the GhanaCARES Programme are in place. Clear budgets have been set and milestones developed. We will establish delivery units in the relevant MDAs and partner with the private sector, academia and other practitioners to facilitate and monitor implementation. There will also be regular, institutional engagements to ensure we achieve synergies and track results on a timely basis.
Mr Speaker, through GhanaCARES, we will 1:17 p.m.
Mr Speaker, the theme for the 2021 Budget Statement is “Completion, Consolidation and Continuation”. This theme is underpinned by the fact that over the years, every new budget invariably contains a host of new projects to be initiated at the expense of ongoing ones. Not only does this puts pressure on our finances, but it has also historically resulted in arrears, with many contractors not being paid on time for work done, and thereby escalating the overall cost of these projects.
Mr Speaker, Government has therefore decided to chart a new direction from 2021. A major concern of all Ghanaians across the political divide is the usually wasteful spectre of uncompleted public projects scattered across the country. This must stop! [Hear! Hear!] Governments owe the people a duty to use limited public funds responsibly. Our goal is to bring to an end the culture of unfinished projects. The main focus of Government for this year therefore is the fulfilment of existing commitment and the completion to a large extent of possible existing projects.
The Delivery Tracker, which Government launched last year to track the progress of infrastructural
projects, showed over 8,700 ongoing projects across all sectors at the end of 2020. That is why the President tasked his Ministers and heads of all other relevant institutions to focus on the infrastructural energies of Government mainly on continuing and, if possible, completing existing projects in 2021. The era of abandoning viable projects that are started with public funds must end and that time, we believe, is now.
Mr Speaker, I now proceed to give highlights of the budget.
Section 2: Global Economic Developments and Outlook Growth
Mr Speaker, data from the IMF's January 2021 World Economic Outlook (WEO) update indicates that the global economy is projected to grow at 5.5 per cent in 2021, from the estimated contraction of 3.5 per cent in 2020. The 2021 growth estimate reflects an expected positive turnaround on account of the COVID-19 vaccine-powered economic activity and strong policy response in advanced countries.
Inflation
Mr Speaker, despite the high expectations for the global economic recovery between 2021 and 2022, output gaps are not expected to close
until after 2022. Consistent with this expectation, inflation is projected to remain subdued during 2021-2022.

For advanced economies, inflation is projected to increase from a low of 0.7 per cent in 2020 to 1.3 per cent in 2021, and further to 1.5 per cent in 2022, in consonance with increasing prices of medical supplies and those of other commodities.

Commodity prices

43. Mr Speaker, data from the January 2021 edition of the International Monetary Fund's (IMF) World Economic Outlook (WEO) project, Brent crude oil prices to average US$50.03 for 2021 and US$48.82 for 2022.

44. Gold as a safe haven benefited immensely from the pandemic in 2020. This was sustained by continued monetary easing by major central banks. However, in 2021 gold prices are expected to reduce to an average of US$1,740 per troy oz from an average of US$1,793 per troy oz recorded in 2020. World Market Cocoa price averaged US$2,369.85 per MT in 2020 compared to US$2,340.74 per MT in 2019. Cocoa price is expected to gain a 1.6 per cent increase in price

and improve to US$2,407.77 in

2021.

Financing conditions

45. Mr Speaker, global financing conditions remained generally favourable throughout 2020, reflecting significant policy support, which induced lower borrowing costs, boosted equity valuations, enhanced investor risk appetite, and narrowed sovereign bond spreads across Emerging Markets and Developing Economies.

These developments helped to ease pressure on emerging and frontier market currencies, while sovereign risk spreads for most Sub-Saharan African countries declined steadily in the year. Financial market indicators point to optimism about medium-term prospects. However, rising debt levels and increasing interest burdens across several emerging markets and developing economies posed significant financing risks in the short- term.

Section 3: Domestic Macroeconomic Performance for 2020

46. Mr Speaker, to put the assessment of the performance of the economy for the year 2020 in perspective, we will like to recap the macroeconomic targets set for 2020 as presented in the 2020 Mid-Year Review as follows:
Mr Speaker, through GhanaCARES, we will 1:27 p.m.
currency deposits (M2+) grew on year-on-year basis by 29.6 per cent as compared to 21.7 per cent in December 2019.
52. Annual growth in banks' outstanding credit decreased in December 2020, relative to what was recorded in the corresponding period in 2019. The nominal annual growth of outstanding credit slowed from 23.9 per cent in December, 2019 to 5.8 per cent in December, 2020.
Similarly, nominal growth in credit to the private sector slowed from 18.0 per cent in 2019 relative to 10.6 per cent in December, 2020. In real terms, the annual growth of outstanding credit to the private sector moderated from 9.39 per cent growth in December 2019 to 0.17 per cent in December 2020.
Interest Rates
53. Mr Speaker, interest rates in the money market generally trended downwards in 2020 on year-on-year basis, in line with the Monetary Policy Rate. The 91-day and 182-day Treasury bill rates declined to 14.08 per cent and 14.13 per cent, respectively, in December 2020, from 14.69 per cent and 15.15 per cent in December 2019. Similarly, the rate on
the 364-day instrument decreased to 16.98 per cent from 17.88 per cent over the same comparative periods.

54 Mr Speaker, Rates on the secondary bond market have also broadly declined except rates on the 5-year and 7-year bonds, which increased by 35 basis points and 425 basis points, to settle at 19.85 per cent and 20.50 per cent, respectively.

Mr Speaker, the weighted average interbank rate declined from 15.20 per cent to 13.56 per cent, resulting in improved liquidity conditions on the interbank market and increased trading among banks. Average lending rates of banks also declined to 21.10 per cent in December, 2020 from 23.59 per cent recorded in the corresponding period of 2019.

External Sector

Mr Speaker, the external sector performance was also impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic through the trade and financial channels. The trade account recorded a lower surplus of US$2.0 billion or 3.0 per cent of GDP in 2020 as compared to US$2.3 billion which is equivalent to 3.4 per cent of GDP in 2019. The decline in the surplus was driven largely by a 7.8 per cent contraction in total export

receipts, especially from crude oil exports, which declined sharply by 35.2 per cent. In addition, the value of total imports contracted by 7.3 per cent, reflecting a slowdown in import demand due to the pandemic.

The lower trade surplus coupled with higher services outflows resulted in a current account deficit of US$2.0 billion, which is equivalent to 3.0 per cent of GDP in 2020 as compared to a deficit of US$1.9 billion, which is equivalent to 2.8 per cent of GDP in

2019.

These developments resulted in an overall Balance of Payments (BOP) deficit of US$630 million in 2020, as compared to a surplus of US$1.3 billion in 2019. The deficit in the BOP was on account of a marginal worsening of the current account deficit and the decreased net capital inflows in the capital and financial accounts.

Gross International Reserves

Gross International Reserves (GIR) stood at US$8.6 billion which is, equivalent to 4.1 months of imports cover, at the end of December 2020 from a stock position of US$8.4 billion, equivalent to 4.0 months of imports cover, as at the end of December 2019.

Exchange Rate Developments

Mr Speaker, the foreign exchange market was relatively stable and the local currency performed better in 2020 than in 2019. Pressures from corporate demand, energy-related forex demand, and pandemic-induced portfolio outflows were offset by improved forex inflows mainly from the Eurobond issuance and the IMF Rapid Credit Facility. These were complemented by the substantial reserve build-up by the Bank of Ghana at the end of 2019.

Cumulatively, the Ghana cedi depreciated against the US Dollar, the Pound Sterling, and the Euro by 3.9 per cent, 7.1 per cent, and 12.1 per cent, respectively. This compares with larger depreciation rates of 12.9 per cent, 15.7 per cent, and 11.2 per cent for the US Dollar, Pound Sterling, and the Euro respectively during the same period in 2019.

It is worth noting that, the depreciation of the Ghana cedi against the US dollar in 2020 is the lowest recorded in the Fourth Republic, notwithstanding the COVID-19 pandemic.

Mr Speaker, it is worth noting, since my Colleague, the Hon Ato Forson is beckoning me to state that the depreciation of the Ghana cedi against the United States dollar in 2020 is the lowest recorded in the Fourth
Mr Speaker, through GhanaCARES, we will 1:37 p.m.


Fiscal developments

Mr Speaker, the 2020 fiscal policy objectives were adversely affected by the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic which resulted in the recalibration of the 2020 fiscal framework during the 2020 mid-year fiscal policy review to accommodate the unanticipated shocks and to enable Government to implement policies and programmes to ensure that both lives and livelihoods were protected.

Mr Speaker, Total Revenues and Grants were revised downwards by GH¢13.4 billion to reflect the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on revenues while Total Expenditures were revised upwards by GH¢11.8 billion to accommodate the COVID- 19 Related expenditures, resulting in a revised budget deficit of 11.4 per cent of GDP for 2020.

Mr Speaker, the unprecedented impact imposed by the COVID-19 pandemic, led to the suspension of the set of fiscal responsibility rules for the 2020 financial year in accordance with section 3 (1) of the Fiscal Responsibility Act of 2018 (Act 982).

Mr Speaker, despite the adverse impact of the pandemic on the Ghanaian economy, especially in the first half of the year, implementation of the 2020 revised budget was largely on track. The provisional data on Government's fiscal operations from January to December 2020, indicate that, Total Revenue and Grants exceeded the revised target by 2.7 per cent, amounting to GH¢55,132 million while Total Expenditures including arrears clearance amounted to GH¢100,052 million, exceeding programmed expenditures by 2.4 per cent.

The consequent modest increase in total expenditures, despite the force majeure imposed by COVID-19 induced expenditures, is a clear indication that Government adopted prudent expenditure management measures over the period.

Mr Speaker, the above revenue and expenditure performance resulted in an overall fiscal deficit of 11.7 per cent of GDP, excluding the financial sector clean-up cost - Let me repeat this; the above revenue and expenditure performance resulted in an overall fiscal deficit of 11.7 per cent of GDP, excluding the financial sector clean-up cost, as compared to the programmed deficit target of 11.4 per cent of GDP. The corresponding

primary balance for the period was also a deficit of 5.3 per cent of GDP, as compared to the revised deficit target of 4.6 per cent of GDP. The fiscal deficit including the financial sector cost for 2020 is 13.7 per cent of GDP.

Mr Speaker, the fiscal deficit was financed from both domestic and external sources. Given the tightness of the external financial conditions, government had to resort more to domestic financing, including drawdown in Government deposits at the Central Bank, domestic market operations and other sources of domestic financing. Net Domestic Financing amounted to GH¢44,889 million, equivalent to 11.7 per cent of GDP. Net Foreign Financing amounted to GH¢31 million against a target of GH¢18,462 million (4.8 per cent of GDP).

Petroleum liftings and receipts

Mr Speaker, total crude oil production for 2020 was 66.9 million barrels as compared to 71.4 million barrels in 2019. As of December 2020, Ghana National Petroleum Corporation (GNPC) had lifted twelve parcels of crude oil on behalf of the State and transported 88,418.9 million standard cubic feet of gas to the Ghana National Gas Company

(GNGC).

Total petroleum receipts (i.e. proceeds from liftings and other Petroleum Receipts) as at December 2020 amounted to US$666.4 million, equivalent to GH¢3.8 billion which is compared to the receipts of US$937.6 million, which is equivalent to GH¢4.9 billion in the same period in 2019.

These receipts were allocated based on the provisions of the PRMA (as amended). In particular, the GNPC was allocated a total of US$198.6 million, made up of Equity Financing Cost of US$154.8 million and its share of the net Carried forward and a Participating Interest of US$43.8 million.

The Annual Budget Funding Amount (ABFA) received a total of US$273.4 million while the Ghana Petroleum Funds (GPFs) received US$166.6 million. The Ghana Petroleum Funds were distributed to the Ghana Stabilisation Fund (GSF) and the Ghana Heritage Fund (GHF) in the ratio of Seven is to Three (7:3), to be consistent with the PRMA. Thus, the GSF received US$116.6 million while the GHF received US$49.9 million.

Mr Speaker, the provisional debt stock as at the end of December 2020 stood at nominal figure of
Mr Speaker, the following information is useful 1:37 p.m.
Between 2004 and 2008, Ghana's debt stock increased by 30 per cent.
Between 2008 and 2012, the debt stock increased by 269 per cent.
Between 2012 and 2016, the increase in the debt stock was 243 per cent.
Between 2016 and 2020, the increase in Ghana's debt stock was 137 per cent (This includes the cost of the banking sector clean-up, excess capacity charges and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic).
Mr Speaker, despite the impact of the pandemic, the rate of growth of the public debt has been lower under
our government than under the previous government. The rate of debt growth was lower despite massive investments in our flagship programmes such as the free SHS, Planting for Food and Jobs (PFJ), NABCO, One District One Factory (1D1F), One Constituency One Ambulance, One Village One Dam (1V1D), restoration of teacher and nursing training allowances amongst others while maintaining relative macroeconomic and exchange rate stability.
Mr Speaker, this reinforces the fact that the Akufo-Addo and the NPP Government are simply better managers of the economy and better protectors of the public purse.
Mr Speaker, I now turn to the medium term macroeconomic targets. Mr Speaker, the preoccupation of Government in 2021 and the medium- term therefore is to implement measures to mitigate the impact of the pandemic with a view to returning the economy to strong and sustainable growth while protecting lives and livelihoods.
Mr Speaker, Government will continue to 1:37 p.m.
build strong macroeconomic fundamentals;
sustain investments in pro- ductive infrastructure;
develop a competitive world- class human capital base;
promote an efficient well- capitalised financial sector;
build a competitive business environment anchored on scientific and technological innovation; and
pursue a robust social protection system that guarantees an acceptable standard of living for all to be consistent with the Vision of the Ghana Beyond Aid and the President's Coordinated Programme.
Mr Speaker, the broad macroeconomic objectives to support our vision and development goals in the medium-term are to:
a. restore and sustain macro- economic stability anchored on fiscal discipline and ensuring debt sustainability;
b. return to within the fiscal responsibility threshold of 5 per cent fiscal deficit and a positive primary balance by 2024 in accordance with the FRA (2018) Act 982;
Mr Speaker, Government will continue to 1:47 p.m.
c. implement reforms to increase revenue mobilisation and the efficiency of public expenditures;
d. revitalise and transform the economy through the implementation of the Ghana COVID-19 Alleviation Revitalisation and Enterprise Support Programme
(CARES);
e. build a robust financial sector to support growth and development;
f. provide a supportive private sector environment for entrepreneurship, domestic businesses and Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) to thrive;
g. deepen structural reforms to make the machinery of Government to work more efficiently and effectively to support socio-economic transformation; and
h. implement reforms to increase revenue mobilisation and the efficiency of public expenditures.
Mr Speaker, guided by the broad medium-term policy objectives, the following macroeconomic targets are set for the (2021-2024) medium- term:
a. Overall Real GDP growth to average 5.0 per cent;
b. Non-Oil Real GDP to grow at an average of 4.9 per cent;
c. Inflation to be within the target band of 8±2 per cent;
d. Overall fiscal balance and primary balance to return to the Fiscal Responsibility Act threshold of fiscal deficit of 5 per cent of GDP and a positive primary balance by 2024; and
e. Gross International Reserves to cover at least 4.0 months of imports.

Mr Speaker, based on the overall macroeconomic objectives and the medium-term targets, the following macroeconomic targets are set for

2021:

a. Overall Real GDP growth of 5.0 per cent;

b. Non-Oil Real GDP growth of 6.7 per cent;

c. End-period inflation of 8.0 per cent;

d. Fiscal deficit of 9.5 per cent of GDP;

e. Primary deficit of 1.2 per cent of GDP; and

f. Gross International Reserves to cover not less than 4.0 months of imports.

Mr Speaker, we now provide details of the medium-term outlook for the real, fiscal, monetary, and external sectors of the economy.

GDP Growth for 2021

Mr Speaker, overall real GDP is projected to grow at 5.0 per cent in 2021 while non-oil real GDP is projected to grow at 6.7 per cent. In terms of sectoral growth, the Agricultural Sector is expected to grow at 4.0 per cent, the Industrial Sector at 4.8 per cent, and the Services Sector at 5.6 per cent.

Monetary and External Sector Outlook for 2021

Mr Speaker, monetary policy in 2021 and the medium-term will continue to hinge on sustaining price stability with a view to firmly anchoring

inflation expectations and creating conditions favourable to growth. Specifically, monetary policy will aim at steering inflation back within the medium-term target of 8±2 per cent. In particular, broad money supply (M2+) growth is projected to moderate in 2021, in line with inflation.

Mr Speaker, the thrust of external sector policy will focus on building external buffers, enough to cover at least four months of imports of goods and services to cushion the economy against adverse external shocks.

This will be supported by expected improvements in the trade balance and the current account balance, backed by increased remittance inflows, improved portfolio inflows, and favourable access to the international capital market. Potential downside risks to the external sector outlook continues to be the possible weakening of commodity prices, increased energy-related payments, and portfolio reversals.

Bailout of Asset Management Companies for 2021

Mr Speaker, I am happy to announce that the resolution of the banking industry has been completed. Government has been working to complete the bailout of the asset management industry through the
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Allocate 70 per cent of the Benchmark Revenue of US$602.70 million (i.e. US$421.89 million) to ABFA;
Allocate 30 per cent of the Benchmark revenue (i.e. US$180.81 million) to the Ghana Petroleum Funds; and
Allocate US$126.57 million of the Ghana Petroleum Funds amount to the Ghana Stabilisation Fund and US$54.24 million to the Ghana Heritage Fund.

Resource Mobilisation for 2021

46. Mr Speaker, Total Revenue and Grants for 2021 is projected to rise to GH¢72,452 million, which is equivalent to 16.7 per cent of GDP, up from an outturn of GH¢55,132 million, which is equivalent to 14.3 per cent of GDP recorded in 2020. Domestic Revenue is estimated at GH¢70,987 million in 2021 and represents an annual growth of 31.7 per cent over the recorded outturn for 2020. Of the total Domestic Revenue, Non-oil Tax Revenue will constitute about 74 per cent and amount to GH¢53,632 million, which is equivalent to 12.4 per cent of GDP,

reflecting the impact of expected improvements in tax compliance and reforms in revenue administration.

47. Mr Speaker, Government recognises that as a result of the impact of COVID-19, times are hard for many of our people. However, it is important that we rebuild and strengthen our public finances to provide the resources to protect the lives and livelihoods of Ghanaians, deliver critical government services and support the transformation of the economy. It will also ensure fiscal and debt sustainability. We have to do this ourselves as no one will do it for us. Rebuilding our public finances requires us to implement some important fiscal measures to mobilise additional domestic revenue.

Revenue Measures

48. Mr Speaker, Government recognises that as a result of the impact of COVID-19, times are hard for many of our people. However, it is important that we rebuild and strengthen our public finances to provide the resources to protect the lives and livelihoods of Ghanaians, deliver critical Government services and support the transformation of the economy. It will also ensure fiscal and debt sustainability. We have to do this

ourselves as no one will do it for us. Rebuilding our public finances requires us to implement some important fiscal measures to mobilise additional domestic revenue.

The 1 Per cent Vat Health Levy (COVID-19 Health Levy)

49. Mr Speaker, the COVID-19 pandemic has caused additional health spending that far exceeds the annual budget for health. Some of the actions that are being implemented by Government to address this pandemic include:

i. Procurement of vaccines, the first batch of 600,000 doses from the COVAX Facility, as I have already related to, have already been delivered and an additional 17,600,000 vaccine doses to be delivered by June, with more to come in the course of the year.

ii. Vaccination of Ghanaians, as at Wednesday 10th March, 2021, 262,335 Ghanaians receiving the first dose of the vaccines.

iii. Establishment of 14 medical waste treatment facilities

across the country for safe disposal of medical waste in collaboration with the private sector.

iv. Thirty-three (33) major health projects have been approved for implementation at a cost of eight hundred and ninety million euros (€890 million).

v. To date, 14,600,000 pieces of personal protective equipment (PPEs) produced domestically for health workers, students, teaching and non-teaching staff of tertiary and secondary educational institutions.

vi. Agenda 111, will see to the construction of 100-bed District Hospitals in 101 Districts with no hospitals, seven Regional Hospitals for the new Regions, including one for the Western Region, the construction of two new psychiatric hospitals for the Middle Belt and Northern Belt, respectively, and the rehabilitation of Effia- Nkwanta Hospital in the Western Region.
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Between 2013 and 2016, average petrol prices increased by 24 per cent annually. Between 2017 and 2020,
the average petrol prices increased by 8.26 per cent annually.

109. Mr Speaker, this confirms the fact that we are better managers of the economy, more disposed to reducing and/or abolishing taxes and prudent in the use of taxpayers' money.

110. The financial sector clean-up and the refund of monies to depositors have restored investor confidence and protected the hard- earned savings of millions of Ghanaians. However, this has come at a huge cost of over GH¢21.0 billion to Government.

111. Mr Speaker, Government will therefore introduce a financial

sector clean-up levy of 5 per cent on profit-before-tax of banks to help defray outstanding commitments in the sector. The levy will be reviewed in

2024.

Road Tolls

112. Mr Speaker, to maintain the improvements on our roads, as all of us in this House, every now and then demanding of the Hon Minister for Roads, improvement in our road network and indeed, improvement in our roads,Government will review existing road tolls and align them with current market rates. This will form part of the framework for promoting

burden sharing as we seek to transform our road and infrastructural sector in a post-COVID era.

113. Furthermore, in 2021, we will amend the Fees and Charges (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act of 2018 (Act 983) that governs the setting of Rates and Tolls to accommodate an automatic annual adjustment that will be pegged to the previous year's average annual inflation as published by the Ghana Statistical Service.

Tax Administration

114. Mr Speaker, in 2021 the GRA will intensify audits and institute measures to recover all outstanding debts and enforce collections in the extractive industry.

115. A study of the downstream petroleum sector indicates there is still the challenge of under-reporting and evasion of taxes by some industry players. The GRA in conjunction with the relevant agencies will mount a campaign to deal with these unlawful acts.

Gaming Policy

116. Mr Speaker, gaming has become a major income earner all across the globe and a significant

source of Government revenue. The influx of online betting and automation of the once totally manual process has changed the character of revenue sources from that industry. It is estimated that Ghana loses over GH¢300 million annually in revenue due to leakages in the sector. The Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of the Interior will co-supervise the gaming industry and will soon consult with stakeholders to formulate a comprehensive policy to improve revenue mobilisation from this source.

COVID-19 Support

117. Mr Speaker, Government in 2020 outlined a number of initiatives to cushion the effect of the pandemic on the populace. Some sectors of the economy and sections of the population, however, continue to suffer the devastating consequences of the pandemic. Government is therefore rolling out these additional reliefs for different sections of the population especially those hardest hit by the pandemic.

Tax Rebate: Provision of a rebate of 30 per cent on the income tax due for companies in hotels and restaurants, education, arts & entertainment, and travel and tours for the second, third and fourth quarters of 2021;
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Tax Stamps: Suspension of quarterly income tax instalment payments for the second, third and fourth quarters of 2021 for small businesses using the income tax stamp system;
Vehicle Income Tax: Suspension of quarterly instalment payments of the vehicle income tax for the third and fourth quarters of 2021 for trotros and taxis as part of measures to reduce the cost of transportation;
Extension of the waiver of interest as incentive for early payment of accumulated tax arrears: A waiver of penalty and interest on accumulated tax arrears up to December 2020 to reduce cash flow challenges for companies and individuals who arrange terms with GRA to pay up the principal by September 2021.
118. Beneficiaries of these relieves will have to be registered with the Ghana Revenue Authority and must have fulfilled their first quarter tax obligations.
Resource Allocation for 2021
119. Mr Speaker, total expenditure (including clearance of arrears) is projected at GH¢113,750 million, which is equivalent to 26.2 per cent of GDP for 2021. This represents a growth of 13.7 per cent above the outturn of GH¢100,052 million recorded in 2020.
120. Mr Speaker, wages and salaries are projected to amount to GH¢25,799 million and constitute 22.7 per cent of the total expenditure (incl. arrears clearance) for 2021. As a percentage of GDP, the wage bill is projected to be 5.9 per cent in 2021 as compared to the 6.5 per cent recorded in 2020. Use of Goods and Services is also projected at GH¢5,967 million or 1.4 per cent of GDP. This represents 5.2 per cent of the projected total expenditure (incl. arrears clearance).
121. Mr Speaker, Interest Payments are projected at GH¢35,864 million, which is equivalent to 8.3 per cent of GDP in 2021. Of this amount, domestic interest payments will constitute about 79.1 per cent and amount to GH¢28,368 million. Transfers to Statutory Funds as well as all other earmarked funds are estimated at GH¢18,081 million (4.2 per cent of
GDP), representing 52.2 per cent growth over the recorded outturn for
2020.
122. Mr Speaker, Capital Expenditure is projected at GH¢11,423 million (2.6 per cent of GDP) in 2021, a decline of 5.5 per cent over the 2020 outturn.
Of this amount, Domestic Financed Capital Expenditure is estimated at GH¢3,310 million (0.8 per cent of GDP). An amount of GH¢8,112 million has been estimated for Foreign Financed Capital Expenditure and this will be funded by a combination of Project Grants and Loans.

Budget Balances and Financing Operations for 2021

123. Mr Speaker, based on the estimates for Total Revenue & Grants and Total Expenditure, the 2021 fiscal operations will result in an overall fiscal deficit of GH¢41,298 million, which is equivalent to 9.5 per cent of GDP. Financing of the fiscal deficit will come from both domestic and foreign sources. Net Domestic Financing will amount to GH¢25,424 million (5.9 per cent of GDP) while Net Foreign financing will amount to GH¢15,870

million (3.7per cent of GDP) and will include a planned international capital market programme to raise up to US$5 billion, of which US$1.5 billion will be used to support the implementation of the 2021 budget and the rest for liability management.

Mr Speaker, a corresponding Primary deficit equivalent to 1.3 per cent of GDP, is also projected for the year.

Section 3: Update on Key Programmes

Mr Speaker, the programmes and activities being implemented by MDAs and MMDAs are based on Ghana's Medium-Term National Development Agenda of 2018-2021 as well as the Ghana Beyond Aid Agenda.

The programmes also aim to attain the objectives and targets arising from our international commitments with regard to the UN Agenda 2030 (SDGs) and the African Union Agenda 2063.

Mr Speaker, as I indicated earlier, the health and economic consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic has adversely impacted on the delivery of the planned programmes and activities of MDAs/ MMDAs as approved in the 2020 Budget.
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162. Mr Speaker, with this declaration, we will continue the prioritisation of road construction.
Government will continue to pursue the following ongoing projects that are at various stages of completion under the Sinohydro master facility.

Mr Speaker, Government will also continue with some ongoing projects which have seen significant progress as follows:
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order to mitigate the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on food production, the Ministry enhanced farmers' access to production inputs and increased the planned beneficiary target of 1.2 million to 1.4 million. A total of 1,736,510 farmers benefited from subsidised fertilizers and improved seeds under the PFJ programme.
Mr Speaker, under the Rearing for Food and Jobs Programme, the Ministry procured 531,100 improved breeds of small ruminants, pigs and poultry for distribution to farmers.
Mechanisation, Irrigation and Water Management
Mr Speaker, the Ghana Irrigation Development Authority (GIDA) continued with the construction of various irrigation projects which are at various stages of completion: Tamne phases I&II — 90 per cent and 50 per cent respectively; Mprumem phase II — 95 per cent, rehabilitation, modernisation, and expansion of existing schemes at Tono — 95 per cent, Kpong Irrigation Schemes — 61 per cent and Kpong Left Bank Irrigation Project — 72 per cent. In 2021, the Ministry will

Mr Speaker, as part of efforts to reduce the Fall Army Worm (FAW) infestation to the barest minimum, 89,060 litres and 11,630 kgs strategic stocks of insecticides were procured and sprayed on all affected land areas. A total of 261,147 ha was sprayed and the loss of about 652,867mt of maize valued at GH¢783,440,400.00 was prevented.

172. In 2021, the Ministry will procure 97,000 litres and 14,000kgs of insecticides for the control of the Fall Army Worm.

Cocoa Sector - Cocoa Production and Pricing

173. The producer price of cocoa for the 2020/2021 crop year was increased by 28 per cent from GH¢8,240 per tonne to GH¢10,560 per tonne (GH¢600/bag). COCOBOD's crop review for 2020/ 2021 year projected a production figure of 896,000 tonnes. By the end of February, 2021, cocoa taken-over stood at 771,461.06 tonnes, which puts the country on course to achieve its target.

Gender, Children and Social Protection

174. Mr Speaker, the Ghana School Feeding programme (GSFP) provided one hot nutritious meal per school day for children in basic schools. A total of 2,980,000 pupils in 8,683 basic schools benefited from the programme in 2020. This will continue in 2021.

175. Mr Speaker, the LEAP programme made payments to 335,013 households benefiting 1,451,747 individuals nationwide in 2020, demonstrating the Govern- ment's care for all its citizens. In 2021, the Ministry will validate data to scale up the beneficiary households from 335,013 to 350,000.

Judicial Service

176. Mr Speaker, in 2020, the following Courts; Garu District Court, Bongo District Court, Sowutuom District Court, Manso Adubia District Court and Amasaman High Court were commissioned and automated with Direct Transmission Systems (DTS) which allows for real-time production of Court proceedings during Court Sittings.

177. Mr Speaker, Government will commence the construction of a

multi-purpose Judicial Training Institute in Accra in 2021. Additionally, the Mankessim Court Complex in the Mfansteman Municipality as well as the High Court, Odumase Krobo in the Lower Manya Krobo Municipality will be opened in 2021.

Parliamentary Business

178. Mr Speaker, in 2020, 49 out of the 60 Bills presented were passed into Law. During the same period, 36 Instruments laid before the House entered into force. The House also admitted 40 Statements, while 42 Parliamentary Questions were asked and responded to by Ministers.

179. In 2021, Parliament will continue to discharge its constitutional obligations through the performance of its representation, legislative, financial oversight and deliberative functions. These functions, among others, entails considering various Bills and Legislative Instruments, ratifying loans and other international Agreements presented to the House.

180. In 2021, to enhance the efficiency of Parliament in discharging its constitutional oversight obligations on the transformative agenda of Government, a number of initiatives will be continued in 2021. These include, the e-Parliament project, the
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Table Office Management Informa- tion Systems, Geographic Information Systems, and the Budget and Fiscal Analysis Office.
Transport
181. Mr Speaker, this Govern- ment continued its programme of modernisation of the country's sea ports to position them as the leading container hub within the West African Sub-region. At the Tema Port, three berths of the Dedicated Container Terminal (MPS Terminal 3) were completed and are in operation. The remaining berth has progressed ahead of schedule and is expected to be completed in 2021.
182. At the Takoradi Port, the development of a Container and a Multi-purpose Terminal by Ibistek Limited, a wholly owned Ghanaian Company is progressing steadily. The
marine and dredging works have been completed and construction of a 600 meter quay wall will be completed in
2021.
183. Mr Speaker, a 30-year Concession Agreement was executed between the Ghana Shippers' Authority and the Ashanti Port Services Limited to develop an Integrated Logistics Terminal at Boankra. This will decongest the Tema Port and facilitate transit trade especially to landlocked countries of Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger in the context of AfCTFA.
184. Mr Speaker, to ensure safe launching and landing of artisanal fishing, as well as create and maintain hygienic environment and create job opportunities within the fishing communities, a total of 11 landing sites selected for development are at various stages of completion as shown in the Table below.
Aviation Development Programme
185. Mr Speaker, Government over the years has embarked on massive infrastructural developments to facelift existing airports to meet international standards. Key among these are:
expansion of both Kumasi and Tamale airports. In 2021, both projects are expected to be completed and opened to the general public; and
rehabilitation works of the Sunyani Airport (Phase I) is about 93 per cent complete and is expected to be completed in 2021 for the airport to resume operations.
186. Mr Speaker, as part of Government Policy to ensure that all regional capitals have at least an aerodrome to improve connectivity and boost tourism, feasibility studies for the development of an airport in Cape Coast has commenced. Other sites identified for the construction of aerodromes include Apowa-Mpohor, Yendi, Mole, Navrongo, Paga and Kete Krachi through Public Private Partnerships (PPP).
Communications and Digitalisation
187. Mr Speaker, funding has been secured for the development of 2,016 solar powered cell sites to cover at least 25 per cent of the population which is unserved. As at the end of December, 2020, 410 out of the 2,016 sites were built across the country. In 2021, the remaining 1,606 sites will be completed.
188. Mr Speaker, in line with Government's digitalisation agenda and commitment to expenditure controls, the national e-Procurement system was deployed in 2020 for the following 5 pilot entities: Department of Feeder Roads, Ghana COCOBOD, Ghana Health Service, Koforidua Technical University and the Tema Metropolitan Assembly.
Scaling up the system to 200 additional entities is programmed for the year ending 2021.

Local Governance, Decentralisation and Rural Development

Mr Speaker, using the District Assemblies Performance Assessment Tool (DPAT) II, an amount of GH¢185,931,850.00 was transferred to qualifying MMDAs as investment grant allocation to support the
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implementation of the respective 2020 Annual Action Plans and Budget. In 2021, the Ministry will conduct a performance assessment using DPAT for 260 assemblies based on 2019 financial year performance.
Mr Speaker, the Ministry of Local Government, Decentralisation and Rural Development, through the Department of Community Develop- ment is promoting the Alternative Livelihood Programme in 18 illegal mining-affected districts.
In 2021, the Department of Community Development will retool and upgrade 2No. CDVTIs to provide technical and vocational training to 5,000 youth, provide alternative livelihood skills training for 1,250 persons to address the challenges of illegal mining activities, and to train 600 social workforce in child and family welfare issues.
Collaboration with Faith-Based Organisations
Mr Speaker, under our social partnership model to broaden the dialogue for development, Government regularly engages FBOs on various national issues and they remain a key partner in revitalising the economy under the GH¢100 billion Ghana CARES programme.
In 2020, the FBOs were instrumental in the fight against COVID-19 in various ways -- supporting national readiness; complementing health-service delivery through the Christian Health Association of Ghana (CHAG); managing the distribution of Government's dry food packages to vulnerable households during the lockdown period; providing counselling services; providing skills and entrepreneurial training for the youth and augmenting public sensitisation and awareness campaigns.
Mr Speaker, in 2021, FBOs will continue to fulfil their vital roles within the Ghanaian society and Government affirms its support to the formal collaboration as a permanent component of our nation's governance.
National Cathedral of Ghana
Mr Speaker, the National Cathedral of Ghana, which will provide an interdenominational sacred space for the nation, remains a national priority. Despite delays caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, work is on course to construct the iconic edifice in the heart of the nation's capital.
The construction of the National Cathedral is already introducing some critical innovations to the country. As part of the construction, over 200 trees on the site of the Cathedral, some of which are nearly 100 years, have been relocated to a temporary site by the Department of Parks and Gardens. Some of the trees would be brought back upon completion of the Cathedral, and others replanted elsewhere making the edifice environmentally sustainable.
Setting the Stage for the Roll Out of New Initiatives and Reforms
Mr Speaker, we will implement new initiatives and additional reforms across several sectors of the economy in order to enhance further the quality of life of Ghanaians, to support domestic entrepreneurs and businesses, and to deepen access to public services.
In pursuit of these, we will begin preparations for the rapid deployment under-listed initiatives and reforms in
2021.
National Equipment Leasing Policy (NELP)
Mr Speaker, in 2021, Government will formulate a national equipment leasing policy to cover medical
equipment, vehicles, photocopiers, printers, and scanners among others as part of the measures to more efficiently manage our capital expenditure budget.
Transport Sector Recapitalisation Project (TSRP)
Mr Speaker, we will also commence work towards the implementation of a long term Lease- to-Own finance an arrangement for commercial vehicle owners and operators who need to replace aged and un-roadworthy commercial vehicles.
Mr Speaker, this indeed is a good initiative and if I may repeat it?

National Rental Assistance Scheme (NRAS)

Mr Speaker, in partnership with the private sector, we will commence the establishment of a National Rental Assistance Scheme (NRAS), with a seed of GH¢100 million. The scheme will crowd-in additional investment
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from the private sector, to provide low-interest loans to eligible Ghanaians to enable them pay rent advance.
Enhanced Student Loan Scheme
Mr Speaker, we will also commence planning towards the implementation of the Enhanced Student Loan Scheme to provide students, with the exception of teacher and nurse trainees, an option to obtain a student loan without the requirement of a guarantor. The prospective student must have a National Identification Number from the Ghana Card.
Section 4: Covid-19 Impact and Mitigating Measures
Mr Speaker, the COVID-19 pandemic that hit the entire world in 2020 has had a major impact on nearly every household, business, and economy in the world.
Anticipating that the consequences will be severe and persistent, Governments around the world have relied on a wide range of measures to support businesses and households. While these responses have been uneven across countries, they are unprecedented in their magnitude.
Mr Speaker, in the 2020 Mid-Year Review and Supplementary Estimate, we presented the immediate impact of the pandemic on our economy and outlined robust responses to mitigate them. After a full year, we have a good sense of how devastating the impact has been on our economy.
Socio-Economic Impact on Ghana
Health Impact
Mr Speaker, the direct health impact of the pandemic has been significant with very unfortunate fatalities. Infections rose from a weekly average of 11 persons in the last week of March, 2020 to a peak of 781 infections in the last week of July 2020. This was followed by a gradual decline in recorded infections which reached 104 cases in the last week of December, 2020.
However, a new wave of infections saw average weekly infections rise from 99 in the first week of January, 2021 to 880 by the week of 5th February, 2021. Fortunately, we are seeing a steady decline on weekly average infections which stood at 379 by the week of 5th March, 2021.
Mr Speaker, as compared to many countries, Ghana has been rather successful in managing the COVID-
19 outbreak. This success stems from the swift, proactive and bold response of the Government and, of course, with the collaboration of the healthcare workers.
Economic Impact of the Pandemic
Mr Speaker, the economic impact of this pandemic has been severe. COVID-19 struck at a time the economy was firmly on the path of fiscal consolidation. The initial restrictions implemented contained the virus and impacted the economy extensively.

Economic Impact of the Pandemic

In addition to households and businesses, key sectors such as the hotel and hospitality industry, trade and industry, agriculture, health, transportation, manufacturing, real estates, financial as well as the education sectors have been negatively impacted.

Mr Speaker, the COVID-19 Business Tracker Survey jointly published by the Ghana Statistical Service (GSS), the United Nations

Development Programme (UNDP), and the World Bank suggests that about 770,000 workers (nearly 26 per cent of the total workforce), had their wages reduced and about 42,000 employees were laid off during the partial lockdown last year. The COVID-19 pandemic also led to a reduction in working hours for close to 700,000 workers.

Mr Speaker, transport workers, drivers and conductors of trotros were particularly vulnerable as they work under informal settings, and do not have access to social safety nets. Formal operators also suffered serious financial constraints. Government in 2020 spent GH¢ 36,552,789 as operations and payroll support to Metro Mass Transit for March to December, 2020 and supported the Intercity STC with an amount of GH¢6,338,232.77 as of January, 2021.

Mr Speaker, COVID-19 has led to disruption in corporate and general business confidence, and affected projected revenues, profitability, liquidity and corporate growth. State- owned Enterprises (SOEs), most of which were severely impacted by this COVID-19 pandemic are expected to underperform.
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Government's Mitigating Measures to the Pandemic
Health and Health-related Response
Mr Speaker, Government's initial response to the health impacts of this COVID-19 pandemic was outlined in the National COVID-19 Emergency Preparedness and Response Plan (EPRP). The Plan helped to manage and contain the spread of the virus and as well strengthen the national capacity for surveillance, diagnosis, and case management.
Inspired by the significant successes from the implementation of the EPRP and considering the lasting impact of the pandemic within the medium-term, Government has prepared and rolled-out a more holistic plan dubbed ‘National Strategic COVID-19 Response Plan: July, 2020 - December, 2024'
(NSCRP).
Mr Speaker, the NSCRP focuses
on better case containment and management. It prioritises timely release of test results, sustains funding of isolation and quarantine facilities. This plan has helped to improve coordination among actors, enhanced
motivation of health personnel and ensured continued provision of equipment and logistics including PPEs.
Economic and Social Measures
Mr Speaker, Government implemented the Coronavirus Alleviation Programme (CAP) to address the socio-economic impact of this pandemic on households and businesses.
Support to Households
Mr Speaker, as indicated previously, Government assisted businesses to retain their workers and support families as they confronted the crisis. Government substantially subsidised the cost of electricity and water services from April to the end of December, 2020 and provided food rations to vulnerable groups during the partial lockdown.
Mr Speaker, cognisant of the direct and immediate effect of restrictions on livelihoods of a section of our society, Government provided 1,827,581 and 917,142 cooked food packs to vulnerable and underprivileged persons within Accra and Kumasi respectively. In partnership with Faith- Based Organisations, Government also distributed dry food packages to
about 470,000 families during the period of the partial lockdown.
Electricity consumption was subsidised. Government fully covered the consumption of the over 1 million lifeline customers and subsidised 50 per cent of the consumption of all other customers for the period.
Mr Speaker, through this initiative, over 10 million fellow Ghanaians benefited from free water supplied by Ghana Water Company Limited between April to December, 2020. The average monthly water supply of 9.24 million cubic metres increased by 43.21 per cent to reach 13.23 million cubic metres. Furthermore, a total number of 474 small towns and 1,143 rural communities benefited from the free water provided by the Community Water and Sanitation Agency (CWSA).
Mr Speaker, I am happy to announce that His Excellency the President has approved the continuation of the provision of free water up to 5 cubic metres, that is, 1,100 gallons per month to vulnerable groups. In addition, we would continue to provide electricity to lifeline consumers till the end of June, 2021, when it is expected that many

Mr Speaker, under the ‘Operation Return Home' Programme, Government assisted 10,025 Ghanaians whose circumstances had been worsened by the COVID-19 pandemic to return home. In doing so, we protected the lives and welfare of Ghanaian nationals abroad and promoted positive perception of the state of Ghana during these difficult times.

Support to Enterprises

Mr Speaker, the launch and operationalisation of the GH¢750 million Coronavirus Alleviation Programme - Business Support Scheme (CAP-BuSS) has mitigated the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on several Micro, Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises (MSMEs).

Government, through the National Board for Small Scale Industries (NBSSI) collaborated with over 80 Business Associations, and key participating Financial Institutions (PFI's) to facilitate timely disbursement of the funds.

As at the end of December, 2020, about GH¢412.88 million had been disbursed to support 277,511
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businesses of which 69 per cent were female-owned. The scheme has saved over 650,000 MSME jobs.
Mr Speaker, as an off-shoot, the CAP-BuSS has created pathways to formalising the large informal sector given that over 800,000 Tax Identification Numbers (TINs) were generated, and over 10,000 businesses registrations activated. CAP-BuSS also enhanced financial inclusion as close to 60 per cent of beneficiaries secured bank accounts for participating in the scheme.
Mr Speaker, in the financial sector, the policy and regulatory measures rolled out by the Bank of Ghana including the provision of GH¢7 billion worth of support to borrowers (between March and June, 2020) enhanced liquidity in the banking sector, preserved capital buffers, and offered relief to customers. These measures also enabled banks and specialised deposit-taking institutions to provide support to critical sectors of the economy to mitigate the adverse impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Education Measures
226. Mr Speaker, in relation to the education sector, Government employed a strategic, controlled,
progressive, and safe easing of restrictions to prioritise the well-being of our children.

The re-opening of schools in January, 2021, was preceded with a comprehensive sanitisation programme, provision of 11.5 million hand sanitisers, 23 million face masks, 62,000 ‘veronica' buckets, 3.5 million packs of paper towels, and 85,000 liquid soaps to facilitate the safe return of students to schools. Considering the special needs of our kindergarten pupils, arrangements were made to provide 100,000 electronic sanitizer dispensers, 404,000 gallons of sanitizers and 30,000 thermometer guns for kindergartens.

Covid-19 National Trust Fund

227. Mr Speaker, to leverage other resources to fight the pandemic, Government passed the COVID-19 National Trust Fund Act of 2020, (Act 1013) in April, 2020 to establish the Fund. As at 31st December, 2020, the Fund had mobilised GH¢57,134,093.58 of which GH¢45,218,313.23 had been utilised.

228.These resources complemented Governments efforts in providing PPEs and medical supplies to COVID-19 selected institutions,

distribution of food items to the aged, vulnerable, and needy persons; providing vehicles to selected Treatment Centres, National Public Health & Reference Laboratories, Testing Centres, and the COVID-19 Central Care Management Team. It also supported the construction of the National Infectious Disease Centre.

Covid-19 Private Sector Fund

229. Mr Speaker, being together in this adversity, the Private Sector in Ghana swiftly organised and complemented Government's efforts towards fighting the COVID-19 pandemic. As of December, 2020, the Fund had mobilised GH¢44,339,138.98 out of which GH¢40,203,404.70 was invested in various activities including the construction of a 100-bed National Infectious Disease Centre in Accra.

Section 5: GhanaCares ‘Obaatanpa' Programme

230. Mr Speaker, Government's strategy to build back stronger is contained in the Ghana COVID-19 Alleviation and Revitalisation of Enterprises Support (Ghana CARES “Obaatanpa”) Programme which was launched on 18th November, 2020. The GH¢100 billion programme which is by far the boldest and biggest economic recovery

programme in the country's history enables us to address the challenges and also seize the opportunities created by COVID-19 for the socio- economic transformation.

231. The ‘Obaatanpa' programme will over the next three years transform, revitalise and modernise our economy, and return it to high and sustained growth. The key projects under the CARES Programme include:

a) supporting and attracting educated youth into commercial farming;

b) building the country's light manufacturing sector targeting agro-processing and food i m p o r t - s u b s t i t u t i o n , pharmaceuticals and textiles & garments sub-sectors;

c) developing engineering/ machine tools and ICT/digital economy industries;

d) fast tracking digitalisation;

e) developing Ghana's housing & construction industry to support local construction companies to participate in the hospital construction programme under the Agenda 111 scheme;
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f) establishing Ghana as a Regional Hub;
g) reviewing and optimising the implementation of Government flagships and key programmes; and
h) creating jobs for young people, and expanding opportunities for the vulnerable in society, including persons with disabilities.
231. Mr Speaker, this year Government will embark on dedicated actions to operationalise the programme by establishing delivery units in the relevant MDAs with clear milestones. We will partner with the private sector, academia, and other practitioners to facilitate and monitor implementation of the programme.
232. Mr Speaker, our quest for transformation and higher manufacturing output under CARES will be complemented by sustained efforts on technical and vocational skills, mostly in the targeted sectors, while enhancing the collaboration between industry and managers of technical education. The Skills
Development Partnership with the Faith-Based Organisations will catalyse the drive towards this objective.
Section 6: Conclusion

233. Mr Speaker, this 2021 Budget is a landmark Budget. It recounts our experience in the most difficult combination of health and economic crises that this nation has ever encountered. The indicators clearly demonstrate that we have weathered the storm and are ready to storm ahead.

This has been accomplished through the decisive leadership of H.E. Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo- Addo, the strong partnership with Parliament, the cooperation with our Faith-Based Organisations, our Social Partnership with Organised Labour and Employers' Association, the Private Sector, Healthcare workers, the Security agencies, Traditional Leaders, Civil Society Organisations, the Media and all

Ghanaians, buttressed by the resilience we built in the first three years of the President's administration.

234. Mr Speaker, the 2021 Budget outlines the P re s ide n t 's p r o gr a mm e fo r accelerated recovery from the devastating impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. It explains our plans to emerge stronger by pressing on with economic transformation, strengthening our social compact and building a sustainable future to create prosperity and equal opportunity for all.

235. As a Government, we have amply demonstrated our ability, resolve and determination to change the trajectory of our economy. While COVID-19 has been a major disruptive force, it has reinforced our conviction to transform our society and to do so with greater urgency.
Mr Speaker, my Sunday school teacher has taught me in Isaiah 9 3:17 p.m.
10, which I quote as follows:
“The bricks are fallen down, but we will rebuild with hewn stones: the sycamores are cut down, but we will change them into cedars.”
236. Mr Speaker, I would want to reassure this august House and the people of Ghana that in 2021:
We will return to a path of fiscal consolidation and sustained growth;
We will continue to implement people-centred policies;
We will continue and consolidate our major flagships to improve welfare;
We will change the culture of uncompleted projects and finish what has been started;
We will continue to invest in the real sector to drive growth;
We will accelerate the industrialisation and trans- formation of our economy and move away from the Guggisberg economy. We will prioritise support to the private sector and entrepreneurship to create jobs and improve incomes;
We will make Ghana a hub for commerce, financial services and manufacturing to take full advantage of the AfCFTA, the world's largest free trade area;
Mr Speaker, my Sunday school teacher has taught me in Isaiah 9 3:27 p.m.
We will continue to invest in Science, Technology, Engi- neering and Mathematics (STEM) to support every aspect of our economy;
We will continue the digitalisation agenda to improve public service delivery and enhance revenue mobilisation;
We will prioritise the security and safety of our people;
We will secure higher returns on our mineral resources by using innovative structures;
We will aggressively and efficiently implement the Ghana CARES through well-structured delivery units; and

237. Mr Speaker, all these can be accomplished if we stay focused, believe more in ourselves and work together with a common purpose. As I indicated earlier, implementing the

vision we have set requires that we mobilise every resource, use them efficiently and also work harder to increase our productivity. We must accept that our country's ability to improve the standard of living of its citizens over time depends more on increasing productivity.

238. Mr Speaker, with this Budget, we are revitalising the economy and resuming the transformation drive that was disrupted by COVID-19. We expect to accomplish this with the help of the Almighty God, the visionary and competent Leadership from our President, support from this august House, and the help of every Ghanaian.

239. Mr Speaker, to our fellow Ghanaians, we urge you to take courage, persevere and keep faith with us. COVID-19 has been an adversity that makes us pause, think carefully, find answers, build and sustain relationships. We are still strong in this adversity. The strength of Ghana lies in the power of our people to persevere. The audacity of our faith in Ghana requires us to continue to share in the burden of developing our nation.

240. Mr Speaker, before I resume my seat, allow me to express the gratitude of H.E. the President for the

enormous support this august House has extended to him since taking office in 2017. The current composition of this House reflects the expectations of Ghanaians for both Sides to work together. The realisation of the Ghana Beyond Aid agenda will be attained by the debate of ideas and consensus building. It is my belief that the consideration of the 2021 Budget will reflect this guiding principle.

241. Mr Speaker, in 2021, we will consolidate our gains, complete on- going projects and continue with our flagship programmes.

242. Mr Speaker, this Government believes that the Ghanaian state is a daring state, a resilient nation; the recent victory by the national under-20 football team, the Black Satellites, on Independence Day reminds us that when we are united in purpose, and work together as a team, we can do extraordinary things. While we debate and may disagree on issues, we should always be united on the broad goal of advancing the welfare and progress of our people, principle beyond partisan politics in principle. There is more to us than we have so far realised. As the Lord said in Genesis 11:5 which is as follows:

“If as one people speaking the same language they have begun to do this, then nothing they plan to do will be impossible for them”.

243. Mr Speaker, by this unity of purpose, we will stand as one people speaking one language of progress to unleash the energies of our people for social mobility and shared prosperity, as we take great strides to move our Nation forward.

Mr Speaker, I join you today in praying to the Almighty God that on account of the platform offered by this Budget, God should inspire and strengthen our people to make time, think and sacrifice to speed the day of the coming beauty of Ghana and Africa. Amen.

Mr Speaker, I present to you, the Wo ya wo hie Budget!

Mr Speaker, I beg to move.
Mr Speaker 3:27 p.m.
Hon Members, the Hon Minister of State responsible for the Ministry of Finance started his delivery at 12.29 p.m. and ended at 3.33 p.m. Three hours, four minutes. Even those of us seated are exhausted. I think as a House, we have to look
Mr Speaker 3:37 p.m.
at how Budget Statements are presented to us. We would do so in the near future.
Hon Members, in accordance with our Standing Orders, particularly, Order 140(3), debate on the Motion shall stand adjourned for not less than three days. I so direct that part of the Budget relating to the Ministries and constitutional bodies shall stand committed respectively to the Committees responsible for the subject matter to which the heads of the estimates relate for consideration and report in accordance with Order 140(4) of our Standing Orders.
Furthermore, any part of the Budget relating to revenue and expenditure shall stand committed to the Finance Committee in accordance with Standing Order 140(5).
Hon Members, before I proceed, it is important that I acknowledge the presence of some more dignitaries in our midst. We have the President's representative at the Ministry of Finance, Hon Charles Adu-Boahen. He is with us here. I am told the team from the Bank of Ghana is led by the Governor of the Bank of Ghana, Dr Ernest Kwamena Addison and his Deputy. We also have a number of Commissioners -- the Commissioner for Customs Division, Col. Kojo
Damoah with the Commissioner for Support Services Division, GRA, Ms Julie Essien. The former Minister for Finance in the person of Hon Seth Terkpeh is also here with us. [Hear! Hear!] -- The Controller and Accountant-General is here.

Hon Members, with these, we now move to item numbered 6. Since the Minister of State responsible for the Ministry of Finance is still with us, in spite of the fact that he might be tired, the job is not yet completed. He has to present a number of Papers to the House. So, we will take item numbered 6 -- Presentation of Papers.
PAPERS 3:37 p.m.
Mr Speaker 3:37 p.m.
Hon Members, we also have as Order Paper Addendum a Paper which is also to be presented by the Minister of State responsible for the Ministry of Finance.
By the Minister of State responsible for the Ministry of Finance --
Annual Report on the Collections and Utilisation of the African Union Import Levy for the 2020 Fiscal Year.
Referred to the Committee on Finance
Mr Speaker 3:37 p.m.
Hon Members, I have just been told that many did not hear properly the presence of the better-half of the Hon Majority Leader -- [Laughter] -- So, I have the pleasure once more to inform Hon Members that we have the spouse of the Leader of the House, the Hon Minister for Parliamentary Affairs and currently, the Minister of State responsible for the Ministry of Finance, Mrs Irene Kyei-Mensah- Bonsu. [Hear! Hear!] -- You do not often see her here so -- [Laughter]
Hon Members, it is about 2.00 p.m., I think we are entirely in my hands, but I would give space to the Leaders to guide us as to what to do.
If not, it is proper for me to have adjourned. But let us listen to the Leaders, starting with the Hon Minority Leader.
Minority Leader (Mr Haruna Iddrisu) (MP) 3:37 p.m.
Mr Speaker, at least today, we are privileged as I have seen on the cover page of the Budget Statement and Economic Policy the Leader of Government Business and Hon Majority Leader present the Budget Statement on behalf of H. E. President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo.
Mr Speaker, I was going to wave into matters of separation of powers. I wonder what has happened to our distinct roles: the Legislature and the Executive organs of Government particularly that the Hon Majority Leader is the Leader of this House and budget scrutiny and oversight is an important function, but I do not doubt his competence.
Mr Speaker, suffice it to say that he has presented, he has blamed the pandemic, but they have profited from the budget for the pandemic with levies. [Laughter].
Mr Speaker, Ghanaians can only brace-up for increased hardship and suffering. What is intriguing is that for VAT, in 1995-1998, they did not believe in it. They said it was “Ku mi preko” to “wit just kill me”. “Ene die
Mr Speaker 3:37 p.m.
Hon Members, we have the Deputy Majority Leader who is currently the Majority Leader pro tempore to have a word.
Deputy Majority Leader (Mr Alexander Afenyo-Markin): Mr Speaker, we are in your hands as you
rightly put it, but given this opportunity, it is clear that the “Wo ya wo hie” Budget has been duly presented and Ghanaians have well-received the “Wo ya wo hie” Budget. They demanded for figures. Today, they have been given the figures. [Hear! Hear!] NPP did not have an unbridled opposition to the VAT. We were interested in the rate at the time and the talk about it was to be utilised.
Mr Speaker, we are even ready for the debate today and they know that when it comes to debating on issues, they cannot match us. So, Mr Speaker, there is no problem.
COVID-19 pandemic as we all know, has devastated every single economy in this world, and this country through its leadership has demonstrated competence, therefore, there is no doubt that the future is bright.
Mr Speaker, in any event, on the constitutional issue raised on a lighter note, article 78 answers it clearly.
3. 47 p.m.
We have a hybrid system, therefore, there is nothing wrong or inconsistent with our Constitution, if the Hon Leader of Government's
Business is presenting the Budget today. After all, the provision of the 1992 Constitution is clear that he does that on behalf of the President.
Mr Speaker, having said these, I would like to say that I have realised that the Minority is disappointed because they now have nothing to say. I am sure that with the 30 minutes that the Hon Ato Forson was asking for, if he had gotten up, he would have reduced it to just five minutes.
Mr Speaker, on this note, I thank you so much, and I thank you for your patience. God bless you.
Mr Speaker 3:37 p.m.
Hon Members, I would like to reiterate my earlier point that H. E. the President should reconsider the recommendations that he has made to me for Parliament and the Judiciary to accept a very low ceiling. That ceiling is below the belt, and I would want to pass this through the Minister of State responsible for the Ministry of Finance, and H. E. the Vice President, to take this on board, that that is totally unacceptable by Parliament and the Judiciary. With this, I would proceed to adjourn the House.
Hon Members, the House is accordingly adjourned till Tuesday, at 2.00 p.m. in the afternoon. I am sure that we would endeavour to be here.
Please, Hon Members, let us focus because the circumstances of the day is compelling us to consider this Budget within two weeks. We have no option than to work 24/7 to get that done. In future, we would try and make sure that we follow the best practices, and the best practice is to have the Budget with Parliament for three to four months.
That is why it is important for us to pass the Budget Act. I believe that we would take it on board either this year or next year, so that we can have a Budget Act to guide the process and presentation of the annual budgets in the country.
Hon Members, I thank all of you, and may the good Lord continue to bless us. The House is accordingly adjourned.
ADJOURNMENT 3:37 p.m.
  • The House was adjourned at 4.51 p.m. till Tuesday, 16th March, 2021, at 2.00 p.m.