Debates of 24 Mar 2021

MR SECOND DEPUTY SPEAKER
PRAYERS 11:43 a.m.
VOTES AND PROCEEDINGS AND THE OFFICIAL REPORT 11:43 a.m.
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 11:43 a.m.
Hon Members, item numbered 3, correction of Votes and Proceedings and the Official Report.
Page 1 …8
Mr Peter Lanchene Toobu 11:43 a.m.
Mr Speaker, I was present at the Committee meeting as early as 9 o'clock and I realise that my name has been captured as absent. I thought that the representative of the Clerk at the Committee would have done reconciliation at the close of the day. If I have to leave the Committee meeting to come and write down my name and that is the procedure, as new as I am, I am willing to learn.
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 11:43 a.m.
Table Office please take note.
Page 9 …26.
Yes, Hon Majority Leader?
Mr Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 11:53 a.m.
Mr Speaker, just a minor correction on page 12. The Report -- [Pause] --I think I have just seen the correction; that is item numbered (f), on page 12.
It is accurate, but I thought it was referring to items numbered 1, 2 and 3 -- that is the items of the Special Budget Committee. Mr Speaker, in any event a member of any Committee has the responsibility in the absence of the leadership of the Committee to present a Report from the Committee to the House.
Mr Speaker, but here, it is on behalf of the Hon Chairman and it does not really matter and so we can take it like that; but I am saying that any member of the Committee can present the Report of the Committee if the leadership of the Committee is not in the Chamber.
Mr Speaker, thank you.
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 11:53 a.m.
Very well.
Hon First Deputy Minority Whip?
Mr Ahmed Ibrahim 11:53 a.m.
Mr Speaker, the Hon Majority Leader is right but the challenge is that sometimes the Hon Member may not be aware that the Report is ready. Because if the Report is not ready per Order 75 of our Standing Orders then it cannot be laid.

If the Report is ready the Standing Orders provide that an Hon Member may present or lay the Report once the person is a member of that Committee. Mr Speaker, so we have to make sure that there are sufficient copies of the Report and we have also received copies. That is why the front Bench sometimes refer to the Hon Ranking Member to know whether there are sufficient copies and Hon Members have received copies.

Mr Speaker, if the Hon Member can answer all these questions then we would not have any challenge.
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 11:53 a.m.
I think we are all at ad idem that if the leadership of the Committee is not available, then any member of the Committee can present the Report if it is ready.
Hon Members, the Votes and Proceedings of Tuesday, 23rd March, 2021 as corrected is hereby adopted as the true record of proceedings.
We would now move to item numbered 5. The Rt Hon Speaker has admitted a Statement standing in the name of the Hon Member for Domeabra/Obom Constituency, Ms Sophia K. Akuaku. The Statement is in honour of the late Hon Daoud Anum Yemoh. Hon Member, you may now make your Statement?
STATEMENTS 11:53 a.m.
Ms Sophia K. Ackuaku (NDC -- Domeabra/Obom) 11:53 a.m.
Mr Speaker, I am most grateful for the opportunity to pay tribute to my predecessor, Hon Daoud Anum Yemoh who was the former Hon Member of Parliament for
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 11:53 a.m.
Hon Member, thank you.
We have a lot of business for today so I would invite a contribution each from both Sides of the House and if the Leadership would also contribute?
Mrs Comfort D. Cudjoe Ghansah (NDC -- Ada) 12:03 p.m.
Mr Speaker, thank you for the opportunity to add my voice to the Statement.
Mr Speaker, in 2013, when I joined this House, I met Hon Daoud and he was a member of the Committee on Foreign Affairs as I was also a member.
Mr Speaker, he worked with us at the committee level as a father and mentored a lot of us in Parliament. He was the Vice Chairman of the Greater Accra Caucus in Parliament from 2013 to 2016. And he did everything he could to make sure Members who joined from Greater Accra were mentored and guided in the House.
Mr Speaker, he did his best as a Member of Parliament and helped the people of Domeabra Constituency. Today he is no more. All I would say is that Ghana has lost an icon, somebody we all cherish.
Mr Speaker, Hon Daoud and his family were close to those of us in the Greater Accra Caucus of Parliament,
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 12:03 p.m.
Thank you, Hon Leader.
Hon Minister for Youth and Sports?
Mr Mustapha Ussif (NPP -- Yagaba/Kubori) 12:03 p.m.
Thank you, Mr Speaker, for the opportunity to contribute to pay tribute to our colleague former Member of Parliament, Hon Daoud Anum Yemoh.
I had the opportunity of meeting this gentlemen in the Sixth Parliament when I was a Member of Parliament. He was a very good politician who did not have divisive tendency in terms of even agreeing at the committee level. He was a gentleman by all standards. At this moment, I can only
wish his family well. Tomorrow, as he embarks on a journey to his ancestors, I urge this House to pay our last respect to our former colleague for the good job he did for his constituency and for mother Ghana. Even though he was in a political divide.
I had a frank and useful discussions with this gentleman. He was a very good man by all standards. In such an occasion, it is only good and proper that we accord him all the needed respect. It is unfortunate that we have lost him. On behalf of the Majority Side, I would want to express our condolence to the bereaved family and also urge Hon Members to see how we can also support in the funeral arrangements.
Thank you so much for the opportunity.
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 12:03 p.m.
Thank you, Hon Minister?
Would Leadership say something?
Hon Members, we bring contributions to the Statement to a close. Now, we come to public Business. Item numbered 6, Presentation of Papers.
Hon Leader of the House?
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 12:03 p.m.
Mr Speaker, there are some Reports that are ready so I would submit to the House the one in respect of item 6(a) (i).
PAPERS 12:03 p.m.
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 12:03 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I guess we can also present the Paper captured as item 6(b)?
By the Chairman of the Committee --
Report of the Joint Committee on Trade, Industry & Tourism and Youth, Sports & Culture on the Annual Budget Estimates of the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture for the year ending 31st December, 2021.
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 12:03 p.m.
Mr Speaker, we now go to item numbered 6(f).
By the Chairman of the Committee --
(i) Report of the Committee on Youth, Sports and Culture on the Annual Budget Estimates of the Ministry of Youth and Sports for the year ending 31st December, 2021.
(ii)Report of the Committee on Youth, Sports and Culture on the Annual Budget Estimates of the Ministry of Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs for the year ending 31st December
2021.
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 12:03 p.m.
Mr Speaker, item numbered 6(j)?
By the Chairman of the Committee --
Report of the Joint Committee on Lands & Forestry and Mines & Energy on the Annual Budget Estimates of the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources for the year ending 31st December, 2021.
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 12:03 p.m.
Mr Speaker, item numbered 6(k) on page 5 of the Order Paper?
Mr Speaker, if I may seek the indulgence of colleagues to lay the Document on behalf of the Vice Chairman of the Committee?
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 12:03 p.m.
Mr Speaker, we can now go to item numbered 9 on page 8 of the Order Paper.
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 12:03 p.m.
Hon Minister for Energy?
ANNUAL ESTIMATES, 2021
MINISTRY OF ENERGY 12:03 p.m.
Minister for Energy (Dr Matthew Opoku Prempeh)(MP) 12:03 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I beg to move that this honourable House approves the sum of GH¢854,053,704 for the services of the Ministry of Energy for the year ending 31st December, 2021.
Question proposed.
Chairman of the Committee (Mr Samuel A. Akyea) 12:13 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I beg to second the Motion, and in so doing, I present the Committee's Report.
1.0 Introduction
The Budget Statement and Economic Policy of the Government of Ghana for the financial year ending 31st December, 2021 was presented to Parliament, by the Hon. Minister for Parliamentary Affairs and Majority Leader in Parliament, Mr Osei Kyei- Mensah-Bonsu, on behalf of the His Excellency the President, on Friday, 12th March, 2021 in accordance with articles 179 and 180 of the 1992 Constitution.
Pursuant to Orders 140(4) and 188 of the Standing Orders of Parliament, the Rt. Hon Speaker referred the Budget Estimates of the Ministry of Energy to the Select Committee on Mines and Energy for consideration and report to the House.
1.1 Deliberations
The Committee met on Friday, 19th March, 2021 and examined the Estimates of the Ministry. Present at the meeting were the Hon Minister for Energy, Dr Mathew Opoku
Prempeh, Heads of Agencies under the Ministry and technical Officers from the Ministries of Energy and Finance. The Committee is grateful for their inputs and clarifications.
1.2 Reference Documents
In considering the Estimates, the Committee made reference to the under-listed documents:
i. The 1992 Constitution;
ii. The Standing Orders of Parliament;
iii. The Renewable Energy Act of 2011 (Act 832);
iv. The Energy Commission Act of 1997 (Act 541);
v. The Petroleum Commission Act of 2011 (Act 821);
vi. Public Utilities Regulatory Commission Act of 1997 (Act 538);
vii.The Budget Statement and Economic Policy of the Government of the Republic of Ghana for the 2020 Financial Year;
viii.The Ministry of Energy Medium Term Expenditure Framework for 2020 -2023;
ix. The 2021 Expenditure in Advance of Appropriation; and
x. The Ministry of Energy's Medium Term Expenditure Framework for 2021 -2024.
2.0 Agencies Under The Ministry
The Ministry of Energy comprises the Headquarters and the under-listed Agencies:
2.1 Power Sub-Sector
Energy Commission;
Volta River Authority;
Bui Power Authority;
Ghana Grid Company;
Electricity Company of Ghana;
Northern Electricity Distribution Company; and
Volta Aluminium Company.
2.2 Petroleum Sub-Sector
National Petroleum Authority;
Chairman of the Committee (Mr Samuel A. Akyea) 12:13 p.m.
GH¢77.619million, representing 38.7 per cent of the approved budget.
The Committee was informed that the inadequacy of the funds released prevented the Ministry in undertaking most of its planned capital projects, particularly in the area of power generation, transmission and distribution, culminating to low performance in increasing national electricity access rate by only 0.19 per cent .
The Committee urges the Ministry to collaborate with the Ministry of Finance to identify sustainable sources of funding for capital projects as well as ensure that funds meant for capital projects are released timeously.
9.2 Implementation of Street lighting Project
The Committee noted that during the year under review, the Ministry rehabilitated and replaced ten thousand five hundred (10,500) no. 150Watts High Pressure Sodium (HPS) street lights in selected streets in Accra and Kumasi to improve visibility, boost economic activities and check the menace of arm robbery at night.
The Committee was however, displeased with the yearly replacement of some street lights in some parts of the cities, especially those on the Tema Motorway of which 350 out of the 700 street lights fixtures were installed in the year 2020. The Ministry attributed the situation to theft and lack of maintenance.
The Committee urges the Ministry to expedite action on the transfer of the ownership of the street lights to the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development for the provision of optimum security and management.
9.3 National Electricity Access Rate
Again, the Committee noted with concern the apparent slow pace of expanding electricity connectivity throughout the country. For instance, it was noted that 388 communities out of the total target of 560 were connected in 2020 resulting in a marginal increase from 84.98 per cent in 2019 to 85.17per cent in 2020.
The Ministry ascribed its inability to complete most of the work programmes to inadequate funding and the impact of the COVID-19 on project schedules during the year, and pledged to accelerate the progress in order to realise the President's vision
of achieving 100 per cent access rate by the end of his four-year mandate.
9.4 Addressing the Impact of Capacity Charges by Independent Power Producers
The Committee was informed that the financial obligations of the State to the independent power producers arising out of capacity charges negotiated under the Power Purchase Agreements (PPA) were impacting on the finances of the country especially cost of power generation and sustainability of the operations of the independent power producers. To this end, Government is renegotiating with some PPAs including CENIT, AKSA, Karpower and Amandi.
The Ministry was hopeful that successful renegotiation of the terms of the PPAs including capacity charges, refinancing of the project and fuel supply arrangements will significantly address the capacity charges. The Committee therefore, urges the Ministry to be tactful in its negotiations so that the State does not incur unnecessary judgment debts.
9.5 Relocation of Ameri Power Plant
The Committee noted that the Build, Own, Operate and Transfer
(BOOT) Agreement between the Government of Ghana and Ameri Energy expired on January, 2021, paving way for the transfer of the power plant to the Government of Ghana in line with the terms of the Agreement. The Ministry indicated that reconciliation of the outstanding debt has been completed and about 90 per cent of the Government's financial obligations under the Agreement have been settled by the Ministry of Finance.
An Independent Engineer has also been hired to conduct an audit on the power plant after which the remaining 10per cent financial obligation will be settled in order for the country to assume full ownership. The relocation of the power plant to Kumasi to stabilise the national grid will therefore, kick-off immediately after the conclusion of the audit process. The Committee urges the Ministry to ensure that the audit process is extensive and covers tax obligations of the company so that Ghana is not short-changed.
9.6 Implementation of Policy on Cylinder Recirculation Model
The Committee expressed concern about the inability of the Ministry to

conclude the pilot phase of the Cylinder Re-circulation Model (CRM) following the adoption of the policy in 2017.

The Ministry attributed the delay to the restrictions imposed by COVID-19 pandemic which affected their project schedules for the second pilot phase in other regions of the country. They indicated to the Committee that results from the Phase 1 Pilot were positive and assured the Committee of expediting actions to complete the rest of the pilot projects in order to roll it out nationwide. As part of the scaling up plans, the Ministry is collaborating with the Ghana Cylinder Manufacturing Company Ltd to expand the company's capacity to manufacture more quality LPG cylinders.

9.7 Status of Aker Energy Project

The Committee was informed that Aker Energy had postponed the development of the Deepwater Pecan Oilfield, located Offshore Ghana in April, 2020 following the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic and the subsequent fall in oil prices. As a result of the pandemic, Aker Energy has terminated its agreement with Yinson for the provision of a purpose-built Floating Production Storage and Offloading (FPSO) vessel to be
Mr Emmanuel A. Buah (NDC -- Ellembele) 12:13 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I rise to second the Motion and in doing so, I would want to make some few notes. In paragraph 7 of our Report, the concerns that were stated are to do with the allocation in 2020 - a total of GH¢685,766,337 was what was allocated and the expenditure was GH¢7,103,290,105. I think that we discussed extensively about the over expenditure and the reasons that were given.
Mr Speaker, one of the major concerns in that area, especially in the power sector had to do with the fact that capital expenditure - allocations that were made were not forthcoming from the Ministry of Finance. We realised that the reason why a lot of the projects that the Ministry of Energy expected to complete were not completed because we were relying completely on donor funding and that fund never came.
Mr Speaker, it was advised that the Ministry must take the Ministry of Energy and make it a priority. Energy is at the heart of this economy and if we are not going to really budget on capital expenditure, we would not get anywhere and that was really a matter of great concern. It explains why we did not make a lot of progress.
Mr Emmanuel A. Buah (NDC -- Ellembele) 12:23 p.m.
Mr Speaker, we talked about a lot of the power projects that were close to completion. Whether it is in the Amandi Power, AKSA, which were all close to completion -- some of them are in commissioning.
Mr Speaker, it is very obvious and we agreed and discussed that government is a continuum. These are very strategic power plants that were initiated by the previous government and they are close to completion. It was interesting that when we got to Ameri, it became clear that the Ameri Plant that was a subject of a lot of discussion here is now a plant that is close to completion.
In fact, it has come to the end of its run with the company that brought it. We have some few outstanding payments to be made. The new Minister and the Government now has a plan to relocate the plant that is now going to belong to Ghana to Kumasi in the Ashanti Region and also a plan to extend the Atuabo Gas Pipeline which the visionary leader, President John Mahama had already envisioned and sent to Prestea, which is on its way to the southern and the northern sector anyway. We discussed that but it is important and the lesson we learnt from this is that when a government has good intentions and puts in policies -- whether it is the gas policy or
power plant addition it should not be condemned. Right now, it is obvious that Ameri is now free of charge for Ghana because it has been paid for.
Mr Speaker, in one of the observations, one would realise that the area of renewable energy is a problem. We are not investing renewable energy. We are not going anywhere with it. We have taken more than three years to finish a solar panel at the Flagstaff House. For over two years, that was the only thing that was in the Budget in 2019. As we speak, it is 60 per cent complete.
Mr Speaker, we urge the Ministry of Energy and the Ministry of Finance to support investment in renewable energy, especially, capital projects.

We should not leave that at the mercy of donors because if we are going to achieve universal access to electricity, we can only do that if remote communities or off-grid communities can only be reached with renewable access of electricity. That is very critical, so we are asking the Ministry to do that?

Mr Speaker, on the upstream sector, we talked about the volumes of oil production in Jubilee, TEN and Sankofa. It is very clear that these are

the volumes that are sustaining us. What can we do to ensure that we increase output of oil production? It is as if since former President John Mahama and his National Democratic Congress (NDC) Government left office, the three oil production fields we left is what we are depending on. The gas is also what we are depending on.

Mr Speaker, the excuse that somehow, we do not have a new oil field producing oil because of COVID is far from the truth. COVID-19 may have contributed, but Aker Energy Project was brought to this House and we gave them all the goodies in the world. We changed our laws to suit them, and after getting all those amendments and the benefits, they could not raise the money to do the development. So, in the upstream sector, if they will not continue to add more development, then the industry comes to a halt. We would urge them to support the Ministry of Energy to ensure that we can introduce activities in the upstream sector.

Mr Speaker, it was concluded that the Ministry of Energy is at the heart of this economy. The Committee having thoroughly examined the Budget Estimate and the planned

activities for 2021, accordingly recommends to the House to adopt this Report and approve the amount of GH¢854,062,706.00.

Question proposed
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 12:23 p.m.
Hon Members, as I said earlier, we have a lot to do today. Therefore, indulge me to invite only one contributor from each Side and then Leadership may also add up to it.
Yes, Hon Member for Bibiani- Anhwiaso-Bekwai?
Mr Alfred Obeng-Boateng (NPP -- Bibiani-Anhwiaso- Bekwai) 12:23 p.m.
Mr Speaker, thank you for the opportunity to add my voice to this important Budget Estimates.
Mr Speaker, as we all know, energy is the centre of everything 12:23 p.m.
without it, whatever we are doing in this House will not be possible. In considering the Budget Estimates, the Ministry considered what the State went through between the period of 2013 and 2016, where we suffered serious power crises.
In dealing with this situation, there are three factors we would need to ensure are right: One, the power generation capacity; two, transmission and distribution efficiency; and three,
rose
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 12:23 p.m.
Yes, Hon Member, hold on.
Yes, Hon Leader?
Mr Avedzi 12:23 p.m.
Mr Speaker, thank you.
The Hon Member just made a statement and this is a House of records, he said that for the first time, a political party beat the other with a difference of one million votes. I do not have a problem with whatever figure is the difference, but if he has not got the evidence to lay on the Table, then he should withdraw that statement.
If he has the evidence, he should lay it on the Table. I do not have that information -- [Interruption] -- Which official records? He should not go on that tangent, because it will not help him. He should just withdraw and move forward.
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 12:23 p.m.
Hon Leader, from the premise of your statement, you said you do not have any problem.
Hon Member, you may continue?
Mr Avedzi 12:23 p.m.
Mr Speaker, it seems you do not follow what I said. I said that I do not have a problem with difference in the figures. He should produce the evidence for his figure; it is not about the figure. If he has not got the evidence, then he should withdraw the statement.
rose
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 12:23 p.m.
Yes, Hon Majority Leader?
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 12:23 p.m.
Mr Speaker, with respect, I heard the Hon Colleague on his feet relate to a number. He said, “For the first that had beaten the other political party to a tune of about one million votes.” I am not too sure that he stated one million, he said about one million votes. And indeed, that figure exists in the official publication released in the Gazette of the Electoral Commission.
Mr Speaker, so I do not know where this is coming from? I am not sure that this should be subject of litigation.
Mr Avedzi 12:23 p.m.
Mr Speaker, the Hon Majority Leader in his usual style is trying to protect the Hon Member. He said it is in the official publication. So, he should just lay that publication. We
do not have that election results gazetted -- [Interruption] -- It has not been gazetted. If it has been gazetted, the Hon Member should lay it.
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 12:33 p.m.
Mr Speaker, an official publication does not relate only to Gazette publication -- [Interruption] -- Even if it is published by a Newspaper, it is official publication -- [Laughter]
Mr Speaker, the definition of “official publication means any publication produced by or under the authority with the sanction of any Ministry, department, organisation, agency, association, society or club.” That is the meaning of “official publication”. If a newspaper publishes it, it is official publication.
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 12:33 p.m.
Hon Leader, please, may you allow us to continue?
Mr Avedzi 12:33 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I know the Hon Leader very well. Even if you bring a publication by Ghanaweb, he does not recognise it. Today, he is here saying that any publication by a newspaper is official publication. That is how he is. Even if it is published by Ghanaweb, he should lay that one -- [Interruption] I know you. Mr
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 12:33 p.m.
Hon Member, just take a cue.
Mr Obeng-Boateng 12:33 p.m.
Mr Speaker, in order for the Ministry to continue to be proactive so that we do not visit the 2013 to 2016 era, it is extending the transmission grid from Kumasi to Bolgatanga and it has been divided into three phases. The first phase is close to completion leaving the second one from Kintampo to Tamale while the third phase is from Tamale to Bolgatanga.
Mr Speaker, similarly on the same transmission issue, Aboadze to Asawinso is also in a very bad condition, and the Ministry again, is acting proactively. It has also taken into consideration the reconstruction of that line from Aboadze through Dunkwa-on-Offin to Asawinso within the Bibiani-Anhwiaso-Bekwai Consituency. Without this step, clearly, it means that my people would soon experience power crisis. The Ministry is doing a good job that they need to be commended.
In a similar vein, part of the budget would also go into the construction of a new sub-station at Dunkwa-on- Offin, and another switchyard at Aboadze, which are 161KVs and 330 KVs respectively. Mr Speaker, with all these things that the Ministry is doing, they have taken into consideration that if we have the generation capacity right, and the transmission lines are also not efficient, we would still face the problem that no Ghanaian wants to hear again because we all know how we suffered within the period from 2013 to 2016.
The Ministry is not ending it here. They are also ensuring that the power that is generated is also used efficiently. Therefore, they are changing the old onion bulbs and the fluorescent bulbs with energy efficient ones. The Ministry has budgeted to provide us with five million energy efficient bulbs ranging from 6 to 13 watts, and all these would go into the proper usage of the power that we utilise.
Mr Speaker, we can also have the two factors right, but if the cost is also high, affordability becomes a problem, and the citizens cannot afford. Therefore, with the previous agreement that our Government inherited, we are trying to negotiate to bring it down. Two things come up here: the Ministry did not take a
unilateral decision of imposing what it can pay on power producers, but rather, has invited them on a roundtable discussion. This shows that our Government and the Ministry believed in the rule of law which is also one of the pillars that deepens democracy, and also attracts investors into any country.
Apart from this, we are also resorting to alternative source of power particularly solar. Mr Speaker, Bui Power Authority is now installing 50 megawatts solar power, and VRA is also doing 19.8 megawatts. This would affirm our position of energy generation mix so that in the long run, the price would go down.
Mr Speaker, to serve as an example, Government is installing 912 kilowatts of solar power at the Jubilee House to serve as example for other government institutions to also emulate so that going forward, we would not resort only to the traditional power source, but also solar whose initial cost may be high, but over a period, it becomes the cheapest among the other sources of power.
Mr Speaker, with all these things that the Ministry of Energy intends doing if the budget is approved, it would help all of us because without energy, we cannot operate efficiently
even in this august House. Therefore, I submit that the Budget Estimates be approved by this august House.
Mr Edward Abambire Bawa (NDC -- Bongo) 12:33 p.m.
Thank you very much, Mr Speaker, for the opportunity to contribute to the Motion that the budget allocated to the Ministry of Energy be approved.
Mr Speaker, in doing so, it is important that we know exactly what we are to approve. If you look at the Order Paper, it indicates that the amount to be approved for the Ministry of Energy is GH¢854,053,704, but if you look at the Report, the amount is GH¢854,062,706. We are not too sure of which one we are to approve for the Ministry of Energy, and it is important that we --
rose
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 12:33 p.m.
Hon Member, hold on. Let me give the opportunity to the Hon Chairman to clear that particular issue.
Mr Akyea 12:33 p.m.
Mr Speaker, there was a little bit of a mix in the way the amount was stated. To correct the record, the amount that we crave the
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 12:33 p.m.
Thank you, Hon Chairman. Hon Member, you may continue?
12. 43 p.m.
Mr Bawa 12:33 p.m.
Mr Speaker, it is important that we have this properly stated.
The second point I would want to raise is on page 7 of the Report. On the financial performance of the Ministry, you would observe that the amount of money that was approved was GH¢685,766,327.00. If we look at the amount that was released, it was GH¢7,103,219,105.51 and the actual expenditure was also GH¢7 -- but we have a variance of
GH¢5,731,686,451.51.
We cannot have a variance when we have even overspent our budget so; to indicate a variance there, I think that we need to take a second look
at it because the Ministry has actually spent the amount of money that has been approved for them so they cannot have a variance. We look at our variance based on our approved budget and the amount that has been released. And they released more than was even approved so; I am not too sure where the variance is coming from, but it is something that we could look at again.
Mr Speaker, the third point is the fact that if we look at the Ministry's own Report, they indicated that in terms of funding, they depend on donor funding for about 64 per cent thereabout but unfortunately, only 12.5 was released for the year 2020. There is a clear indication that -- I know that most often than not, we tend to indicate that COVID-19 has affected almost everything that we do, but is it the case that the counterpart funding that is supposed to come from the Government of Ghana is something that Government is not actually committed to?
It is important that the Ministry of Finance tends to look at this caution because if we look at the work that the Ministry of Energy does, it is capital intensive. If we have a total budget and out it, about sixty-four per cent of it is to be funded by donor
partners, it is important that we do our bit about the counterpart funding so that we improve on the 12.5 per cent that we got in 2020.
Mr Speaker, my Chairman had indicated the issue of capacity charges. Indeed, the Ministry had indicated to us the amount of power that they were expecting to come on board; mainly, the two power projects: the Ameri Power and the ENI power.
But one challenge that we have always had, and we have this for the past four years in this House is the issue of -- if we recall, in 2017 and 2018, the Minister for Finance had come clearly to indicate that because of the overburden number of PPAs that we have on the ECG, which is supposed to be the offtaker, it is incurring so much of what we call capacity charge which is not taken care of by the PURC in terms of the current structure.
We had indicated, and I think the Committee had decided that it is important that we know -- if Government says that it had terminated some PPAs, they should list the PPAs because every PPA has a name so that we have a fair idea.
Secondly, Government says that they have started renegotiation of some of the PPAs; we even wanted to know how many PPAs have been renegotiated and signed off?
We did not have a clear idea to that but the Committee had agreed that we would let this budget go through while we set a date to really go deep into this issue of PPAs and the accompanying capacity charges that are being bundled around because you would hear some indicate that on annual basis, these capacity charges alone is about five hundred million megawatts, and you would read a Report that says that it is 320 million megawatts.
We are not too sure what the figures are but the Committee's understanding with the Ministry was that a proper session would be organised to get these things sorted out.
Mr Speaker, the issue of transmission. One area that we saw that was very challenging was the issue of the Tamale-Bolgatanga Transmission Line. We would recall that it was a project that was supposed to connect from Tamale to Bolgatanga and then, Bolgatanga to the Burkina Faso; the Sahelian country so that we could evacuate power and sell in those areas. Indeed,
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 12:33 p.m.
Now, Leadership?
Hon Member for Dormaa East?
Mr Paul Apreku Twum-Barimah (NPP -- Dormaa East) 12:33 p.m.
Mr Speaker, thank you for the opportunity to contribute to the Motion moved by the Hon Minister for Energy, Dr Matthew Opoku Prempeh.
Mr Paul Apreku Twum-Barimah (NPP -- Dormaa East) 12:53 p.m.
Mr Speaker, the energy sector has been a turbulent one over the years. Indeed, moving from 2014, 2015 to 2021 was a turbulent one with “dumsor” crisis.

Mr Speaker, in 2015, during the dumsor crisis, when companies were losing their jobs and people were being sacked, I was not a Member of this House but I remember that on pages 89 to 92 of the 2015 Budget, the then solution that was brought to this House was that deep freezers should be switched off. When people were losing their jobs and companies like cold stores were shutting down, they were told to shut down their deep freezers. That is on pages 89 to 92 of the 2015 Budget.

Mr Speaker, in 2020, we realised that the energy sector suffered a lot as I said earlier. Indeed, West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude oil went to a negative crude price. Brent Crude came down to about 20 and below.

In all this, the Ministry of Energy survived and strived on. Looking at what they did in 2020, it clearly gives us the indication that going forward, they are going to do better and sustain this industry.

If we look at some of the things that were done in 2020, it was clearly to sustain the energy sector and to ensure that businesses stayed afloat because the businessman and industry need cheap energy to survive. That is what the Report in front of us which was given to this country stated.

Mr Speaker, moving on to 2021, clearly, there is a lot that they are saying we would do to support this. If we look at renewables, they would add about seven per cent of renewable energy and this is clearly an indication that you do not go out to be able to achieve the 10 per cent industry target that we want to achieve by the SVG as stated.

There is another thing that was proposed in 2020 and in 2021, this Budget wants to continue with it which is the Energy Hub. The Energy Hub is an industrial area that is going to generate over 700,000 jobs. Indeed, over US$60 billion would be injected into the economy when this hub comes to stream. This Budget is supporting this hub and it is an idea that we all have to support.

Mr Speaker, the Voltaian Basin is another area that we have to also promote and looking at this Budget, it clearly gives us an indication of how they would support this area and ensure that the Voltaian Basin also comes to the mainstream.

I am aware that in the upstream sector that ENI S.p.A. is about to come out with one of their wells in terms of block 4. I am also aware that Tullow Oil would come up with about five wells. All these wells would come in to ensure that we are going to increase the industry in terms of opening up. This Budget is going to support the upstream sector. If you look at the upstream sector, you can see the records achieved in 2020 and going forward, what they intend to do to promote these Opportunities Industrialisation Centres (OIC) to ensure that all these wells that they want to drill come to light.

Mr Speaker, if we look at the Tsatsadu 45kWs mini hydroelectric power station that was constructed, it was to ensure that we enable Ghanaian companies to also start participating in renewable energy. This Budget also goes ahead to support that sector.

If we look at what this Budget has put forward, in terms of renewable energy, it is something that we may have to side and promote. This is because they intend to help us to bring on board the Renewable Energy Authority, they would complete the installation of the 912kWs solar power project at the Jubilee House, commencement of installation of the

55 mini grid. These clearly shows that this Budget would help us with promoting the Energy.

If you look at the transmission, indeed, my Hon Friend on the other Side said that it was less than one per cent but clearly, if you look at the amounts given to us in this Budget, they would increase it to a different amount. So, it is very important that we support the energy sector.

Mr Speaker, in conclusion, these estimates really support the economy and gives hope to the energy sector. I would encourage this House for us to support and approve the GH¢854,053,704 for the services of the Ministry of Energy for the year ending 31st December, 2021.

Thank you.
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 12:53 p.m.
Thank you, Hon Member. Hon Deputy Minority Leader?
Mr James Klutse Avedzi (NDC -- Ketu North) 1:03 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I would want to contribute and ask that the House approves the sum of GH¢854,053,704 for the services of the Ministry of Energy for the year ending 31st December, 2021.
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 1:03 p.m.
Mr Speaker, this really is not to contribute but the issue raised by the Hon Deputy Minority Leader is very important. He said that the Ministry at the time substituted the list that came to this House whereupon the Hon First Deputy Speaker who presided gave a directive. He concluded that those communities in the Volta Region at the time were denied and perhaps, some other communities benefitted. We need to investigate because it may even not be true that the communities in the newly designated areas benefitted.
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 1:03 p.m.
Hon Members, I would invite the Hon Minister to wind up.
Dr Prempeh 1:13 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I would like to assure my Hon Colleagues that my first responsibility
is an Hon Member of this House, and I take things that we do in the House as seriously as I should. If this incident happened, it has not come to my notice even though I have been served notice of a Question of a similar nature to what the Hon Deputy Minority Leader complained about. We would investigate fully and restore that if necessary.

The power of the House, is in the control of the purse and since Parliament has agreed to certain things, if it means that we have to institute remedial measures, we will quickly do so and I can assure you.

Mr Speaker, I have carefully listened to the contributions of various Hon Members and I have taken them on board hoping that we will support the Motion for the Budget Statement to be approved for us to start serious work.
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 1:13 p.m.
Hon Minister, thank you.
Question put and motion agreed to.
Resolved accordingly:
That this honourable House approves the sum of
GH¢854,053,704 for the services of the Ministry of Energy for the year ending 31st December, 2021.
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 1:13 p.m.
Mr Speaker, item numbered 10?
NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT 1:13 p.m.
PLANNING COMMISSION 1:13 p.m.
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 1:13 p.m.
Hon Majority Leader, hold on a bit. Hon Member for Bongo?
Mr Edward A. Bawa 1:13 p.m.
Mr Speaker, thank you very much.
As we speak, the Hon Members of the Finance Committee are all in a meeting. We have called our Members to come to the Chamber because they will be able to speak to the Report and they are all currently engaged in a meeting while the Motion is being taken.
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 1:13 p.m.
Mr Speaker, first of all, it is inaccurate for my Hon Colleague to say that all the Members of the Finance Committee are not here. I am here as a Member of the Finance Committee and as well in the capacity of a caretaker Minister for Finance.
Mr Speaker, this comes without any controversies at all and there is a sticking point with respect to the Finance Ministry's own Budget and we requested that they go to reconcile that. The agreement is that we can
Mr Avedzi 1:13 p.m.
Mr Speaker, the Hon Majority Leader --
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 1:13 p.m.
Hon Minority Leader, are you seconding?
Mr Avedzi 1:13 p.m.
Mr Speaker, he has not moved any Motion but he raised an issue in which he mentioned my name. The issue of whether we should take Motion numbered 10 on the Estimates of the NDPC was truly raised by the Hon Leader and I also raised the same concern as other Hon Members are raising that, Members of the Finance Committee from our Side who were at the meeting and know what went on, are all in a Finance Committee meeting. The three of them are all Finance Committee Members and they do not attend meetings and will push their Reports to us.
So, we will take this Motion but subsequently, we will not allow if none of our Committee Members is here, simply because of another engagement of the Committee.
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 1:13 p.m.
Well noted. Please, let us allow this particular Motion.
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 1:13 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I gave an indication that the Hon Deputy Minority Leader was determined to support this Motion and the time he was landing, he proved that he was not crush landing and has been quite supportive of this. Well, to correct a statement that the three of us here do not attend Finance Committee meetings, he knows that the Statement is incorrect but I will not litigate it because he knows even in his dreams that the statement is incorrect.
Mr Speaker, however, as I was saying, the remit of the NDPC is defined by the Constitution and as I said, at the Committee, the Estimates for the NDPC came without any controversies at all. I have always insisted that we should look at the composition of the NDPC. If we want the NDPC to serve the purpose defined for it by the Constitution, if they have to perform the functions, we should de-robe the NDPC of any
political colouration. Unfortunately, the Constitution, by the construct that it imposes on the composition of the NDPC, becomes difficult to do this.
However, if we have to look at reviewing the Constitution, I think one of the areas that we should look at, is the composition of the NDPC, short of that I believe we should support the allocation to the NDPC.
Mr Speaker, I so move accordingly.
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 1:13 p.m.
Yes, Hon Majority Chief Whip?
Mr Frank Annoh-Dompreh 1:13 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I beg to second the Motion and in so doing, present the Committee's Report.
1.0 Introduction
The 2021 Annual Estimates of the National Development Planning Commission (NDPC) was laid in the House and referred to the Finance Committee for consideration and report in accordance with the 1992 Constitution and the Standing Orders of the House.
This followed the presentation of the 2021 Budget Statement and Economic Policy of the Government
by the Minister for Parliamentary Affairs, Majority Leader and Leader of Government Business, Hon. Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu for the 2021 Financial Year.
The Committee met with the Director-General of the Commission, Dr Kodjo Esseim Mensah-Abrampa, the technical team from the Commission and the Ministry of Finance and reports as follows:
2.1 Background
The National Development Planning Commission exists to ensure the effective formulation, implemen- tation and monitoring of policies that makes for economic growth and development of the nation.
The core functions of the Commission are to:
a. Formulate comprehensive national development planning strategies and ensure that the strategies, including conse- quential policies and programmes, are effectively carried out;
b. Undertake studies and strategic analysis of macro- economic and structural reform options and make
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 1:23 p.m.
Hon Deputy Minority Leaders?
Mr James K. Avedzi (NDC -- Ketu North) 1:23 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I beg to support the Motion on the Floor.
Mr Speaker, looking at the expenditure returns for 2020 on page 5 of the Report, Table 1 shows clearly, the budgeted amount that was approved by Parliament, the released figures for Goods and Services and Compensation and the actual expenditure. However, one would see a variance and this actually tells us the difference between the budgeted figure and the actual expenditure.
Mr Speaker, I am not sure that this gives us any good information so the Committee should have actually done a variance of what was budgeted and what was released. Also, they should have done a column for balance to show the difference between the released amount and the actual expenditure because just saying
budgeted figure minus expenditure, then they are actually not showing us a good -- [Interruption] Mr Speaker, the released would have been lodged with the NDPC and not something that Ministry of Finance is still holding on to. So, next time the Committee should provide better information.
Mr Speaker, also nothing was allocated to Capex for 2020, fortunately in 2021, the NDPC has been allocated a sum of GH¢2,092,500 for Capex and so we urge the Ministry of Finance to ensure that the money is released to NDPC so that they would undertake this project. I believe that part of this would be expenditure for vehicles that they could use for their operations and probably office furniture and equipment. The Ministry should be able to do this.
Mr Speaker, the Committee recommended that the Ministry should come up with the necessary framework to help and ensure that negotiations would be completed within the course of the year with those donor partners for the NDPC to benefit. I do not think that there is any framework that the Ministry can come up with. The only framework is that if they are able to complete the negotiations before the mid-year
budget review, then additional allocation can be made to NDPC for the donor support. Mr Speaker, apart from that, by our financial regulations and laws, there is no framework that the Ministry can come up with. So, they should speed up the negotiations with the donors so that by the mid- year budget review, they can have concrete figures for Parliament to approve in the mid-year budget review for additional support for the
NDPC.
Mr Speaker, with these few words, I support the Motion.
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 1:23 p.m.
Hon Deputy Minority Leader, thank you.
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 1:23 p.m.
Mr Speaker, the issue raised by the Hon Deputy Minority Leader is germane. However, capturing the anticipated amount in the budget; which amounts are intended to form part of the expenditure is difficult when we have not concluded. Yet, when the amount is received, it is anticipated to be spent so I think it is the reason the Committee is recommending that the Ministry of Finance -- [Interruption] it is not only in respect of the NDPC but all MDAs to have a formulation so that we are able to trace and track, and it is for the benefit of Parliament to know that these are
Mr Avedzi 1:23 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I agree with the Hon Majority Leader that it would be difficult for the Committees to track some extra budgetary expenditures. That is why the Public Financial Management Act (PFMA) made it clear to have the mid-year budget review as part of the ways in which the Ministry of Finance can correct certain things that they were not able to capture during the preparation of the Budget Statements.
Mr Speaker, the Budget is prepared in November each year and there are certain things that come up during the course of the year that may not have been known at the time of the Budget preparation. So, the PFMA made it that by the middle of the year, certain new developments may have taken place for which there would be a need for the revision of figures. So, they would come within the course of the year through a mid- year budget review to effect those revisions and then Parliament can approve those new figures.
If we do not do it this way and the Ministry of Finance has also not made provision for that -- [Interruption] For instance, with the global figure we are approving for the Ministry of Finance, if no provision has been made in that and they spend beyond what
we have approved then that is against the law. I am saying that there is no framework that the Ministry can come up with to spend. Are we going to allow the Ministry to come with a framework to spend and they report to Parliament later? No, we cannot do that.
So I am saying that it would be difficult for us to have a framework apart from the mid-year budget review because we need to approve the figures for the Ministry to spend. This is the point I am raising and not any other thing. If we do not approve and they spend, it is a violation of the financial laws we have in the country.
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 1:33 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I am not sure that we are speaking at cross purposes. The Mid- Year Review is not a substitute for a Supplementary Budget. It consigns and confines you to spending what has been approved. If you need to go beyond that, you must come with Supplementary Estimate.
This is why I am saying that we are not talking at cross purposes. All that is being said here through the recommendation of the Committee is that we should conform, and if we
have to conform, how do we factor in the expenditure matters that have not been concluded by which Parliament is aware?
Mr Speaker, this is all that the Committee is recommending. I believe it is just to situate it within the context of the Constitution.
Mr Speaker, I thank you very much.
Question put and Motion agreed to.
Resolved Accordingly:
That this honourable House approves the sum of GH¢14,491,269 for the services of the National Development Planning Commission (NDPC) for the year ending 31st December, 2021.
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 1:33 p.m.
Mr Speaker, if we can deal with item numbered 12?
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 1:33 p.m.
Item numbered 12 -- Motion?
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 1:33 p.m.
Mr Speaker, if the House indulges me, I would want to move the Motion for and on behalf of the Attorney-General and Minister for Justice.
PROSECUTOR 1:33 p.m.
Chairman of the Committee (Mr Kwame Anyimadu-Antwi) 1:33 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I beg to second the Motion and in so doing present the Committee's Report.
1.0 Introduction
1.1 The Budget Statement and Economic Policy of the Government for the 2021 Financial Year was presented to Parliament by the Hon Minister for Parliamentary Affairs, Mr. Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu, on Friday, 12th March, 2021 in accordance with article 179 of the 1992 Constitution.
1.2 Pursuant to Orders 140(4) and 179 of the Standing Orders of the House, the Annual Budget Estimates of the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) was referred to the
Committee on Constitutional, Legal & Parliamentary Affairs for consideration and report.
2.0 Deliberations
The Committee met with the Deputy Special Prosecutor, Ms Cynthia Lamptey and Officials of the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP). Officials of the Ministry of Finance were also in attendance to assist in the deliberations.
3.0 Reference Documents
The Committee referred to the following documents during deliberations:
i. The 1992 Constitution;
ii. The Standing Orders of the Parliament of Ghana;
iii. The Office of the Special Prosecutor Act of 2017 (Act 959); and
iv. The Budget Statement and Economic Policy of the Government of Ghana for the 2021 Financial Year.
4.0 Vision Of The OSP
The vision of the Office of the Special Prosecutor is to become a world class exemplary anti-corruption institution.
5.0 Mission of the Osp
The mission of the Office is to investigate and prosecute alleged corruption or corruption-related offences; to recover the proceeds of corruption and corruption-related offences, and take steps to prevent corruption, to the end that it promotes good governance, transparency, accountability and probity in Ghana's constitutional governance towards the aspirations stated in the preamble of the 1992 Republican Constitution.
6.0 Core Functions of the Osp
The OSP is mandated by law to perform the following functions:
i. To investigate and prosecute cases of alleged corruption or corruption-related offences under the Public Procurement Act of 2003 (Act 663);
ii. To investigate and prosecute cases of alleged corruption and corruption-related offences under the Criminal Offences Act of 1960 (Act 29) and other relevant laws involving public officers, politically exposed persons
and persons in the private sector involved in the commission of the offence;
iii. To recover and manage proceeds of corruption;
iv. To disseminate information gathered in the course of investigation to competent authorities;
v. To co-operate and coordinate with competent authorities and other relevant locals and international agencies in furtherance of its mandate;
vi. To receive and investigate complaints on matters involving corruption and corruption-related offences;
vii. To receive and act on referrals on investigations of alleged corruption and corruption-related offences from Parliament, the Auditor- General, Commission on Human Rights and Admini- strative Justice, Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO) and other public bodies; and
viii.To perform other functions connected with the objects of the Office.
Mr Bernard Ahiafor (NDC -- Akatsi South) 1:43 p.m.
Mr Speaker, thank you for the opportunity to contribute to the Motion that this honourable House approves the sum of GH¢124,103,085 for the Services of the Office of the Special Prosecutor for the year ending 31st December,
2021.
Mr Speaker, the Office of the Special Prosecutor is to prevent, investigate and prosecute corruption and corruption-related offences and become a world- class exemplary anti-corruption institution. The Office is to do all these to promote good governance, transparency, probity and accountability in Ghana.
Its functions are elaborated very clearly in paragraph 6.0 of the Committee's Report under reference.

Mr Speaker, I became so sad and depressed when I saw the expenditure trend or the performance of the 2020 Budget of the Special Prosecutor.

Mr Speaker, Table 1 of the Report shows that this House, in the year ending 2020, approved a total sum of GH¢188,084,732 for the Office of the Special Prosecutor. But for the year under review, the releases to the Office of the Special Prosecutor was GH¢40,802,636.37. Out of these releases, the actual expenditure of the Office of the Special Prosecutor was only GH¢625,417.41.

Mr Speaker, in our quest to know why the Office of the Special Prosecutor's expenditure was very small and is only on compensation, we were told that the abysmal budget performance was as a result of lack of office accommodation for the Special Prosecutor, resulting in the inability of the Office of the Special Prosecutor to employ personnel for the services of the Office.

Mr Speaker, in the year under review, they did not even have the Entity Tender Committee to do the procurement. As a result, for Goods and Services and Capital Expenditure, they have not been able
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 1:43 p.m.
Hon Members, the Rt Hon Speaker, would take the Chair.
Mr Ahiafor 1:43 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I was shocked to the bone that several years after the enactment of the Office of the Special Prosecutor's Act, consequent upon which the Special Prosecutor was appointed, the 2021 Budget Statement and Economic Policy of Ghana is telling us that the office strength of the Office of the Special Prosecutor is only two personnel. The rest are all seconded staff.
MR SPEAKER
Mr John A. Kumah (NPP -- Ejisu) 1:46 p.m.
Mr Speaker, thank you very much for the opportunity to contribute to the Motion for the Annual Budget Estimates of the Office of the Special Prosecutor.
Mr Speaker, the Office of the Special Prosecutor is very important in the nation's agenda to fight against corruption and as stated in their mission, it is to investigate and prosecute alleged corruption or corruption-related offences to recover proceeds of corruption and corruption-related offences and take steps to prevent corruption in the country.
Mr Speaker, this is a very important mission and we know that in this country, one of the key cankers that fights against our national
Mr John A. Kumah (NPP -- Ejisu) 1:53 p.m.
development is the problem of corruption and that led to the establishment of this unique office; the Office of the Special Prosecutor to help us address these challenges.
Mr Speaker, it is true that this new Office has been faced with a number of challenges both internal and to some extent, external and the Hon Ranking Member rightly stated that they could not utilise the allocations that were made to the Office in the 2020 Budget.

Mr Speaker, Table 1 indicates that out of the GH¢40,802,636.37 that was released to the OSP, the Office could actually spend only GH¢625,417.41. Indeed, this was woefully inadequate. It indicates that not much work was done in the year 2020, and we seriously need to see a new trend from the OSP in the year 2021. With the lookout for 2021, one of the key challenges was the lack of office space for them to work.

Mr Speaker, in 2019, the Office received financial clearance to recruit 249 staff but unfortunately that has not been done. The excuse was that there was no office space to accommodate

the employees if they are recruited. We have been told by the OSP that some of the key activities are:

to partition the allocated office block that has been given to them already;

to quickly recruit the 249 for effective and efficient operation of the OSP; and

to provide logistics with the procurement of vehicles, computers, accessories among other things.

We believe that with the assurance from the OSP, they now have a permanent space and the preparedness of the Government to release funds to them on time. We will see a lot of action in the fight against corruption and also explore with Government the criminalisation of unexplained wealth, not only among public servants, but also private citizens for us to be able to reduce, if not totally remove, the problem of corruption from our society.

Mr Speaker, I believe that with these assurances from the OSP, despite the numerous challenges that happened last year, if this allocation

is approved, GH¢124,103,085.00, it will enable the Office to become much more effective and efficient in the fight against corruption.

Mr Speaker, on this note, I support the Motion.
Mr Speaker 1:53 p.m.
Yes, Hon Minority Leader?
Minority Leader (Mr Haruna Iddrisu) 1:53 p.m.
Mr Speaker, let me thank you for the opportunity to contribute to the Motion. In doing so, I would refer you to page 5 of the Committee's Report.
Mr Speaker, Table 2 is on Details of the Annual Budget Estimates of the OSP for the 2021 Financial Year. If you would note, there is Management and Administration, GH¢80,630,042.00; goods and services, GH¢30,166,002.00; other expenses, GH¢20,464,040.00. If we add up GH¢80,630,042.00 to compensation of employees, which is GH¢43,473,043.00, it gives us
GH¢124,103,085.00.
So, we may have to take away the allocation for management and administration, which is item numbered 1. In my view, that is the sums of GH¢30,166,002.00, GH¢20,464,040.00 and
GH¢30,000,000.00. There is something wrong with the Table. So, if the Hon Chairman of the Committee will look at it and correct it, I would be happy?
Mr Speaker, on the merits, on page 3, the OSP was allocated GH¢188,084,732.00; the budget was revised to GH¢138,146,482.40 and actual releases was just GH¢40,802,636.37. Again, there is the lack of commitment to mobilise adequate financial resources for the OSP to work in concept with other anti-corruption institutions to combat economic crime, graft, nepotism and conflict of interest. I am not satisfied with what happened in 2020.
Mr Speaker, it gives me a lame faith even as I look at the numbers for 2021 which appears on page 5. Appropriation is not the same as actual releases, and there is no difficulty appreciating what this Office will do. We all tout the one who was appointed the Special Prosecutor as a man of integrity, who is committed to saving the public purse.
Mr Speaker, I believe that in considering this matter, we should not hesitate in advising the President to appoint somebody with integrity, pedigree and political will to the high Office of Special Prosecutor. Since the appointment of the SP, what records do we have of corruption
Mr Speaker 1:53 p.m.
Hon Minority Leader, just a minute. I would want to apply Order 40(3), that in view of the state of Business before the House, Sitting be held outside the prescribed period.
Yes, Hon Member you may continue?
Mr Iddrisu 2:03 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I will end here, and urge that a Special Prosecutor be appointed, be given free political will to work, and adequate resources to work. The matters raised by Mr Martin Amidu must have the attention of the President going forward in our collective quest to fight corruption. I am not convinced about these numbers, but we would see how the years go in terms of what actual releases go to that particular Office.
Mr Speaker 2:03 p.m.
Please, just a moment. Let me allow the Hon Chairman to clarify the issues in Table 2 on page 5 of the Report.
Mr Anyimadu-Antwi 2:03 p.m.
Mr Speaker, the Minority Leader is right so, “Management & Administration” should take care of “Goods and Services”, “Other Expenses”, and “Non-financial assets” excluding “Compensation of Employees”. I succumb to that correction.
Mr Speaker 2:03 p.m.
So, what do we do?
Mr Anyimadu-Antwi 2:03 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I seek your leave to delete the first item “Management & Administration” which is
GH¢80,630,042 as that had been covered already by “Goods and Services”, “Other Expenses”, and “Non-financial assets”. So, I seek your leave to delete the first row.
Mr Speaker 2:03 p.m.
Hon Members, it is not just the leave of the Speaker. It is also with the leave of the House. The Hon Chairman has sought our leave to amend the Report of the Committee by the deletion at Table 2 of page 5 numbers, 2, 3 and 4 on Table 2. I think with the submission of the Hon Minority Leader, it shows that those are captured under “Management & Administration”, and so, I would grant the leave that it be deleted.
rose
Mr Speaker 2:03 p.m.
Is it on the same issue?
Mr Dafeamekpor 2:03 p.m.
Mr Speaker that is so.
Mr Speaker, if the Hon Chairman of the Committee may take a look at paragraph 8.0 which reads, “Key Achievements of the OSP in 2019”. I believe it should be “2020”, and not
“2019”.
Mr Speaker 2:03 p.m.
That is a different issue. Let us finish with this one, and we can go to that paragraph.
Mr Anyimadu-Antwi 2:03 p.m.
Mr Speaker, it is indeed not the Table. What my Hon Colleague seeks to draw attention to is paragraph 8.0 on page 3 of the Report. The title is “Key Achievements of the OSP in 2019”. Mr Speaker, “2019” should read “2020”, and I seek your leave and that of the House that this is inadvertent and so we would want to correct it to “2020” instead of “2019”?
Mr Speaker 2:03 p.m.
Thank you very much, Hon Member, for drawing our attention. It is likely the printer's devil. Leave is granted. “2019” and “2020” inserted thereby.
Hon Members, I think we have had enough debate on this, and so, I will proceed to put the Question.
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 2:03 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I have just a few observations. I thought the Hon Chairman would have effected those corrections? One has to do with paragraph 8.0 on page 3. Mr
Speaker, “Key Achievements of the OSP in 2019” should have referred to 2020.
Mr Speaker 2:03 p.m.
We have done that already.
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 2:03 p.m.
On page 3?
Mr Speaker 2:03 p.m.
Yes.
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 2:03 p.m.
All right.
Mr Speaker, paragraph 11.2 reads 2:03 p.m.
“The Committee was informed that, the OSP continues to operate from its three-bedroom temporary office …” It is not a three-bedroom temporary office, but a three-unit temporary office or if you like, a three-room temporary office. They are not bedrooms -- [Interruption] If they are three bedrooms, are they still bedrooms? Do they sleep there? They do not sleep there, so, it is a three-room or unit facility. That is the difference.
Mr Speaker, the word which begins line 9 of the first paragraph on page 6 of the Report is “re-purposed. . Is it “repossessed” he means? Mr Chairman, I should think the word should be “repossessed” and not
“repurposed”. Hon Chairman, have you seen it? It is in the ninth line of the first paragraph on page 6 of the Report.
Mr Speaker 2:03 p.m.
Hon Majority Leader, I did not get the paragraph you referred to. Did you say third paragraph of page 6?
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 2:03 p.m.
I said first paragraph of page 6. It is still paragraph 11.2. In the ninth line, there is something there. The first word in the ninth line --
Mr Speaker 2:03 p.m.
It says “repurposed as required”. [Pause]
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu) 2:13 p.m.
Mr Speaker, those are the observations.
·Mr Speaker, it is also important in dealing with the fight against corruption - for the records, in dealing with the Bill that established OSP, I am not too sure that anybody said that it is the panacea to fight corruption. I am not too sure as the Hon Minority Leader said that anybody said it here.
Mr Speaker, what we all know is that the OSP was to join ranks with other bodies, including the Commission for Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ),
Parliament itself and the Auditor- General in the fight against corruption. We all know that it is systemic.
Mr Speaker, the other day, I related to the declaration of assets for instance. We are required to submit assets declaration forms to the Auditor-General. Mr Speaker, the Constitution provides that if a person makes a false declaration, appropriate sanctions should be exacted. How would the Auditor-General know that false declaration has been made without looking at it?

If he receives it and dumps it in his safe and locks it up? The Auditor- General is supposed to look at this, in the first place, to assure himself or herself that what is required to be done by owners of the declared properties have been done including the payment of the appropriate fees, levies and taxes.

Mr Speaker, that is what obtains in other Constitutions. Our Constitution is silent on what the Auditor-General is supposed to do. But if it is silent and the Constitution provides that if a person makes a false declaration, how is the Auditor- General required to know if he does not assess or evaluate the report that we submit? And it is the reason why I
Mr Speaker 2:13 p.m.
Hon Members, I would want to take us back to the
beginning of the agenda of the day. I will vary the order of Business and I will take this opportunity to read a message from the President.
Hon Members would recall that the Secretary to the President, Nana Bediatuo Asante wrote to the House through me a letter dated 11th March, 2021, on recommendations of Government on the 2021 proposed estimates of expenditure for the Judiciary and the Judicial Service and also for Parliament and the Parliamentary Service. I conveyed the contents of the letter to the House and after that reacted verbally; and later followed it up with a letter. I again informed the House about what I had done for and on behalf of the House.
I drew the attention of the office that what the Executive Secretary did was unconstitutional and unlawful. His Excellency then initiated the process to negotiate in accordance with the provisions of our laws and the Constitution on the matter. It was not only with Parliament but with the Judiciary and the Ministry of Finance. And at the end of the day, His Excellency, has put pen and paper together and submitted the position of His Excellency, in accordance with the provision of the 1992 Constitution. And it is my duty once again, to inform the House and to read the contents of the message from His Excellency, The President.
They are three messages; the first is in response to my letter objecting to what the Executive Secretary did.
And that response is dated 23rd March, 2021. And it says:
COMMUNICATION FROM 2:13 p.m.
THE PRESIDENT 2:13 p.m.
Mr Speaker 2:23 a.m.
Hon Members, I am drawing the attention of the Special Budget Committee to the new recommendation and urge the Special Budget Committee to consider the Budget Estimates for Parliament and
the Parliamentary Service along those lines.
In respect of the Estimates for the Judiciary and the Judicial Service, H. E. the President once again has written to the House through me in a letter dated 23rd March, 2021 and it reads:
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 2:23 a.m.
Mr Speaker, we can take item numbered
11.
Mr Speaker 2:33 p.m.
Hon Members, item numbered 11, Motion, by the Minister for Finance.

ANNUAL ESTIMATES, 2021
OFFICE OF THE HEAD OF 2:33 p.m.
CIVIL SERVICE 2:33 p.m.
Mr Speaker 2:33 p.m.
The Hon First Deputy Speaker to take the Chair.
I am sorry -- I am in a virtual conference with our colleagues in Togo, so I have to rush to continue.
Hon Majority Leader, you may continue?
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 2:33 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I beg to move, that this honourable House approves the sum of GH¢33,173,838 for the services of the Office of the Head of Civil Service for the year ending 31st December, 2021.
Mr Speaker, the objectives and functions of the Office of the Head of the Civil Service are well defined and known to us. In 2020, the Office was allocated a sum GH¢34,708,833, given the expansion in the number of employees and also for Goods and Services, the allocation for this year has dropped to GH¢33,173,838.
Mr Speaker, accordingly, and giving the circumstances of the time, I should curtail the issues to be raised because I know the Hon Chairman of the Committee would fill in.
Question proposed.
Chairman of the Committee (Mr Kwame Anyimadu-Antwi) 2:33 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I beg to support the Motion
-- 2:33 p.m.
Mr Speaker 2:33 p.m.
Hon Chairman, do not forget that the Hon Majority Leader said that I must be consistent -- and you have to speak from your seat.
Mr Anyimadu-Antwi 2:33 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I would not challenge that but I thought that in the light of the COVID-19 pandemic we could move to places so if you would indulge me, I would move to my place.
Mr Speaker 2:33 p.m.
The COVID-19 pandemic has rather restricted us from moving to places. Remain where you are -- do not move to your places.
Mr Anyimadu-Antwi 2:33 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I beg to support the Motion and in so doing, I present your Committee's Report.
1.0 Introduction
The 2021 Programme Based Budget Estimates for the Office of the Head of Civil Service (OHCS) were laid in the House on Friday the 12th day of March, 2021 and referred to the Finance Committee for consideration and report in accordance with the Constitution and Standing Orders of the House. This referral followed the presentation of the 2021 Budget Statement and Economic Policy of Government to the House by the Hon Minister of State responsible for the Ministry of Finance, Mr Osei Kyei-Mensah- Bonsu.
The Committee, in considering the Estimates, met with a team of officials from the Office of the Head of Civil Service and the Ministry of Finance and hereby presents this report to the House.
MR FIRST DEPUTY SPEAKER
Mr Emmanuel Kwasi Bedzrah (NDC -- Ho West) 2:43 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I thank you for the opportunity to contribute to the Motion.
Mr Speaker, I have noticed that the Office of the Head of Civil Service was allocated GH¢34,708,833, last year but out of that only GH¢28,000,000 was released to them. The woeful release affected CAPEX which was clearly between GH¢1.5 and GH¢1.6 million. We all know that CAPEX is for development of the capital expenditure, infrastructure, et cetera, so if we want our Civil Service to grow and perform effectively, then the Government should do well to release more funds to them. However, as it stands now, GH¢1.5 million would not survive.
Mr Speaker, in addition to that I have noticed that this year's budget has been slashed down. It was GH¢34,708,833 last year but this year, it is GH¢33,173,838. Are we going forward or we are coming back? I expected that even though enough money was not released last
year, this year, their allocation at least, should have been increased so that the Head of Civil Service could perform efficiently and effectively.
Mr Speaker, the Report indicated that last year, when they opened their portal for recruitment, 20,537 people applied online and out of that 13,232 wrote the entrance examination but only 769 were recruited.

There are backlog of people who are willing to offer their services in the Office of the Head of Civil Service (OHCS). Out of 20,000 people, 13,000 wrote the examinations and only 769 people were recruited.

Mr Speaker, out of the 769 people who were recruited, only 327 received their induction training with the rest scheduled to receive theirs in the year 2020. This tells us where we stand as a nation with regard to civil service.

No wonder we criticise the Civil Service that they are not performing well. When one goes to an office to look for a file, it takes 100 years to find it because they are not effective, efficient and they are not doing their work because resources have not been allocated to that office.

So, it is my view that Government would continue to support and give them resources so that we can all say that the Civil Service is performing at its maximum output.

Mr Speaker, I have noticed from the Committee's Report, item numbered 6 (iii) and it reads:

“The Committee was informed that the OHCS is one of the implementing partners for the National Anti-Corruption Action Plan (NACAP) and as such the OHCS is committed to the agenda of making corruption a high risk, low gain venture”.

Mr Speaker, we can only thank them for this, but as to whether the reality is what we see at the Civil Service is another thing.

With these few words, I pray that the Ministry would release all the funds this year to the OHCS so that they can perform their duty as mandated by law.
Mr James Klutse Avedzi (NDC -- Ketu North) 2:43 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I beg to support the Motion and in so doing, I would like to draw the attention of the House to some few areas of the Report.
On page 3 of the Report, the Committee indicated that the 2020 Budget, an amount of GH¢5.7 million was allocated for CAPEX from donor partners and then GH¢1,075,116 for Goods and Services on the same page. We could clearly see that no releases were made from the donor partners. The Report failed to tell us the reasons for non-release of funds from the donor partners.
I think the Committee Report should have indicated a little that a total of over GH¢6 million which was approved under donor partners, not even a single cedi was released to the OHCS and the reasons would be stated but there is nothing.
Mr Speaker, so, we do not know why despite a donor partner amount of over GH¢6 million, no amount was released to the OHCS? The Report would have been more helpful if we had a paragraph explaining that portion.
The other area to which I would want to draw the attention of the House to is the challenges facing the OHCS, and this is on page 10 (xiv) -- “Key Challenges” which I read with permission:
“The Committee was informed that challenges facing the OHCS include delays in the creation of
Mr First Deputy Speaker 2:43 p.m.
Majority Leadership?
Very well.
Question put and Motion agreed to.
Resolved Accordingly:
That this honourable House approves for the sum of GH¢33,173,838 for the services of the Office of the Head of Civil Service for the year ending 31st December,
2021.
Mr First Deputy Speaker 2:43 p.m.
Yes, Hon Majority Leader, which Motion can we take now?
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 2:53 p.m.
Mr Speaker, many of the Reports are now being printed and so, we may have to take a suspension of about two hours.
Until we do so, there is a pending Statement by the Hon Member for Jomoro if he would be allowed space to make the Statement and maybe, we have a contributor each from either Side of the House then we can suspend Sitting.
Mr First Deputy Speaker 2:53 p.m.
What is happening at Jomoro? I did not get that part.
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 2:53 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I said that the Statement is from the Hon Member for Jomoro.
Mr First Deputy Speaker 2:53 p.m.
I am not aware because there is no Statement before me and I do not know when it was admitted?
Hon Member for Jomoro, you may read your Statement?
STATEMENTS 2:53 p.m.
Ms Dorcas Toffey (NDC -- Jomoro) 2:53 p.m.
Mr Speaker, thank you for the opportunity to deliver a Statement on the urgent need to address the negative repercussions as a result of the continuous closure of international entry points in my constituency and the need to regularise land-border crossings at key locations such as Elubo, Jaway Wharf, New Town, Alenda Wharf and other border towns in Ghana.
Mr Speaker, the closure of these borders on the Executive authority of President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo since 22nd March last year, was as a result of our collective determination to fight the COVID-19 pandemic, which I do acknowledge
Mr Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah (NDC -- Ellembele) 3:03 p.m.
Mr Speaker, thank you for the opportunity, and I would also thank the Hon Member for a well- researched Statement.

Mr Speaker, the Statement underscore the urgent need for Government to review the decision to close our land borders.

Mr Speaker, the point that has been made, especially the hardship faced by businesses due to extreme and reduced patronage, loss of capital and a lot of the challenges that have been stated including a concern that was raised by the Minister for the Interior that people are using unapproved roads and in some occasions have recorded incidents of bribery at these borders. I am sure that this Statement that is being made does not apply to only Elubo but to a lot of our land borders across the country.

Mr Speaker, it is very urgent and important. Yes, COVID-19 has really created a lot of challenges, and there was really the need for us to take critical measures to protect ourselves as a country. Perhaps, the time has come for us to review that policy based on the information that has been provided.

The Hon Member who made the Statement was very clear about the number of passengers that enter through the Kotoka International Airport. Almost 90,000 passengers as

compared to 4,000 a day. We have been able to manage that with a lot of critical protocols including the controversial test.

However, what is important is that, it has been done at the Kotoka International Airport. It means that we can basically look at the measures that we would want to put in place to make sure that we put in place the very urgent COVID-19 protocols and at the same time open the borders.

What is so important is that the Hon Member who made the Statement also pointed out Ghana's position as the lead country of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) so the free movement of goods and people is the key to our economic transformation in this century and beyond because the last we made a point here about the volumes and numbers, about US$460 billion, and Africa is not even able to trade among ourselves to the tune of US$60 billion. There is really an opportunity for Ghana to lead.

Mr Speaker, the COVID-19 has been with us and is dangerous. We do not even know what is coming next. We must brace ourselves to

strategically think about what we do under all these challenging circumstances to make sure that this policy of making sure we can trade among ourselves as exemplified.

Mr Speaker, it is very true that the border is the mainstay on which the people of Jomoro survive. It impacts all the communities. Ellembele is next door to Jomoro and Evalue, and so if the Border is closed - There is a big market at Elubo on Wednesdays and there is one other on Saturdays. They have all come to a halt, and the impact on small businesses and women especially is great.

So the call on Government to review this policy across our land borders is a very important one and timely. I would want to thank the Hon Member who made the Statement.
Ms Dzifa Abla Gomashie (NDC -- Ketu South) 3:03 p.m.
Thank you very much, Mr Speaker. I would like to commend the Hon Member who read the Statement and to add my voice that I have also written to the Speaker on the same issue because I also represent the people of Ketu South which has the busiest border in our country, the Aflao Border.
The effect of the closure of the Border is almost like a perpetual lockdown. I do not recall any
Mr First Deputy Speaker 3:03 p.m.
Leadership?
Mr James Klutse Avedzi (NDC -- Ketu North) 3:03 p.m.
Mr Speaker, thank you.
I rise to contribute to the Statement and would want to thank the Hon Member for Jomoro for a well- researched Statement. The Hon Member who made the Statement pointed to major issues having negative effects on the continuous closure of the borders in Jomoro. Definitely, the Hon Member limited her Statement to the effects on Jomoro, but it would affect border towns in Ghana including those in Ketu North and Ketu South.
Mr Speaker, the negative effects of the border closure is about the local economy. Most of our people depend daily on business. They go into the other side to buy goods and come out to sell, and vice versa. So they depend on that. I can talk of Ketu North where the people of Dzodze always cross the border to buy goods to sell, and the same applies to the people of Jomoro.
The continuous closure of the border would definitely have a negative effect on our people, and so the Hon Member who made the Statement is calling on the Government to consider reopening the borders. This is something that the Government can do.
Mr Speaker, there is another aspect to it. In the case of the airport, when an aircraft lands, one does not need to pass through any other
border before we accept him into our country. But in the case of the land borders, if we open our side and the other side is not opened, one cannot have access.
So there must be the need for some foreign diplomatic arrangement where we use our ambassadors or staff in our embassies or even the President to talk to his counterparts that the effect the continuous closure is having on our local economy is probably affecting his side as well.
Why can we not open the boarders and put measures in place to ensure protection and control of the spread of the COVID-19? If Ghana opens its borders, La Cote d'Ivoire, Togo and Burkina Faso would as well open their borders so that there would be easy flow of persons.
I just wanted to add this aspect, that yes, the Government of Ghana can open its side of the border, but if the neighbouring countries do not do the same, we are not moving anywhere.
As we ask the President to open the border, it is not only to open that of Ghana but to have this negotiation with the neighbouring countries to ensure that they also open. Then we would be solving the problem.
Mr Speaker, this is the aspect I want to add to the Statement made by the Hon Member.
Thank you, Mr Speaker.
Mr Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu (NPP -- Suame) 3:13 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I also share the sentiments expressed by the Hon Member for Jomoro in the Statement that she presented to the House.
Mr Speaker, the closure of our borders has indeed contributed to diminishing trade across our land borders. Many of the communities that fringe our borders really belong to the countries where we have these borders. So we have Ghanaian communities that may have some families on the other side of the border.
Mr Speaker, that the closure of the borders have affected trade, the health of the citizens, social lives and the local economies, come without dispute. But we must also accept that these measures were resorted to for the greater good of the generality of our citizenry. We must concede to that.
Mr Speaker, I think in the circumstance, the neighbouring countries should also be as proactive
Mr Speaker 3:13 p.m.
Very well. That brings us to the end of Statements.
On this note, your suggestion was that we suspend Sitting.
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 3:13 p.m.
Yes, Mr Speaker. We should suspend Sitting for -- it is 3.20 p.m. now so we can come back at 5. 00 p.m. They are bringing some of the documents to us. We need to look at them and come back and see what we can do.
Even if we are able to do some two hours, at least, we would do something before we adjourn.
Mr Avedzi 3:13 p.m.
Mr Speaker, coming back at 5.00 p.m. should be 5.00 p.m. So let us make sure that we come back at 5.00 p.m. so that we -- Usually he gives time to come back and he, the Leader of Government business would not be on time. So I am reminding him that he said 5.00 p.m.
Mr First Deputy Speaker 3:13 p.m.
Very well. Sitting is suspended until 5.00 p.m.
3.21 p.m. -- Sitting suspended.
6.27 p.m. -- Sitting resumed.
MR SECOND DEPUTY SPEAKER
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 3:13 p.m.
Yes, Hon Majority Leader?
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 3:13 p.m.
Mr Speaker, we can deal with item numbered 13.
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 3:13 p.m.
Hon Members, item numbered 13 -- Motion.
NATIONAL COMMISSION 3:13 p.m.
FOR CIVIC EDUCATION 3:13 p.m.
Majority Leader (Mr Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu) 3:13 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I beg to move, that this honourable House approves the sum of GH¢68,318,151.00 for the services of the National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE) for the year ending 31st December, 2021.
Mr Speaker, the NCCE is a constitutional creature which is mandated to create and sustain within society the awareness of the principles and objectives of the Constitution as the fundamental law of the people of this country. They are also charged to educate and encourage the citizens to defend the Constitution at all times against all forms of abuse and violations.
They formulate for the considera- tion of Government from time to time programmes at the national, regional and district levels aimed at realising the objectives of the Constitution as especially encapsulated under the Directive Principles of State policy.
They formulate, implement and oversee programmes intended to inculcate into the citizens of Ghana the awareness of their civic responsi- bilities and appreciation of their rights and obligations as free people.
Mr Speaker, they also access for the information of Government, the limitations to the achievement of true democracy arising from the existing inequalities between different strata of the population and make recommendations for re-dressing these inequalities.
Mr Speaker, for this purpose, this year, an allocation of GH¢68,318,151.00 has been made to the Commission and it is for this reason that I move this Motion for the House to approve of the allocation to the Commission.
Question proposed.
Mr James Klutse Avedzi (NDC -- Ketu North) 3:13 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I beg to support the Motion for the approval of GH¢68,318,151.00 for the services of the NCCE for the 2021 fiscal year.
Mr Speaker, I would want us to look at the amount if it would be adequate for the NCCE? If you look at paragraph 7.2 on page 9, the
Committee observed that there is lack of adequate resources to meet the logistics requirement of the NCCE. We all know that even the work we do as Hon Members of Parliament, NCCE is mandated under the Constitution to undertake civic education. There are a lot of our constituents who do not know the role of a Member of Parliament vis-à-vis that of the district assembly.
So, our constituents think that as a Member of Parliament, you are solely the development agent and for that matter, anything about development of the communities, the Member of Parliament is the first point of call. Some do not even know that the DACF is not handled by the Member of Parliament; they think that it is also under the control of the Member of Parliament.
So, they call on us all the time to do any development project while there are the district assemblies which have a chunk of the money and the assemblies are not disturbed by our constituents.
It is the NCCE that must do the public education so that our constituents will know that it is the duty of the assemblies to do A, B, C and D and it is the duty of the Member of Parliament to do something else.
Mr Speaker, so approving a meagre amount of GH¢4.2 million for NCCE to work for the entire country, Mr Speaker, I am afraid we will only be paying salaries because their salaries alone is GH¢62.7 million. We will pay them, but at the end of the day, they will not have resources to work with.
They will sit in their offices. We will not derive any benefit as a country. If we really want the NCCE to perform the functions well for all of us, we should reconsider the amount of money that we would give to them under goods and services. For the NCCE to be given GH¢4.2 million for goods and services for the whole country, I do not know what we will do with that money?
Mr Speaker, capital expenditure is GH¢1.1million. They do not have vehicles; their vehicles are as old as 10 years, and they have been given GH¢1.1 million. How many vehicles can they buy out of this? I am sure they can buy one vehicle. Maybe, they will use it to buy computers and printers.
Mr Speaker, look at the amounts that development partners give to NCCE. Are they losing interest in the work of the NCCE? Development partners are supporting them with GH¢119,000.00. The Acting Minister
Mr James Klutse Avedzi (NDC -- Ketu North) 6:37 p.m.
for Finance should listen to the point I am raising. No, this is laughable; it is not good. I think we should even reject that money; it is an insult to us.

Mr Speaker, on page 7 of the Report -- as I said earlier, we should not pay these workers without providing them the resources to work with.

In July, 2021, when there will be the Mid-Year Budget Review, if there is an opportunity to have a supplementary budget, the Minster for Finance should consider giving support to NCCE in the form of more resources so that they can do their core mandate of civic education to educate our people. Everybody would benefit because our constituents would not come to us all the time demanding what Hon MPs are not supposed to do.

Mr Speaker, I thank you very much.
Mr Frank Annoh-Dompreh (NPP -- Nsawam-Adoagyiri) 6:37 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I rise to speak in support of the Motion. My good Friend, the Hon Deputy Minority Leader, has shown
enough lamentations regarding the NCCE. He is right, and he has raised reasonable grounds.
I recalled in the Seventh Parliament, the concerns about the NCCE and the Commission for Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ) often came up at the Special Budgets Committee, and has always been a matter of concern. Mr Speaker, I do not think we need to belabour this point. It is an important call. We may have to devise innovative means to raise some funding to complement the needs of the NCCE. We do not need to be told the importance of this constitutional body in the development of our country.
Mr Speaker, I would like to limit myself to the achievements of the NCCE in 2020. Mr Speaker, on page 3 of the Report, item (g) talks about the establishment of “Inter Party Dialogue Committees (IPDC) which sought to mediate electoral disputes, during and after elections in all districts and regions”. I found that feat very interesting and worth emulating going into the future.
Again, in paragraph 6.0, “Outlook for 2021”, on page 5 of the Report, the NCCE intends to “Organise sensitisation programmes on the National Anti-Corruption Action Plan
(NACAP); E-Quiz competitions for SHSs; E-Quiz competitions among tertiary institutions (Civic Challenge)”. I find this very relevant especially in the face of COVID-19 so, I support it, but I would want to suggest --
Mr Speaker, portions of the Report talks about how the NCCE depends on the meagre resources of the various district assemblies. Probably, I do not know how it comes as a legal approach. Maybe, the District Assemblies Common Fund (DACF) could also find a way of supporting, and complemented by Hon MPs if we may. We can also make some resources available to the NCCE. Clearly, they find themselves in a difficult situation, and it has been repetitive. Every financial year, this matter comes up, we talk about it, and we allow it to rest.
I would want to conclude by making a strong suggestion that we find an innovative approach to deal with this crisis as faced by the NCCE. Mr Speaker, I support the Motion and the amount quoted by the Hon Member who moved the Motion.
Mr Ahmed Ibrahim (NDC -- Banda) 6:37 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I rise to speak in support of the Motion. In supporting the Motion, I would want to make a few comments.
Mr Speaker, the NCCE is not asking for too much. If you look at the figures before us, their compensation budget was about GH¢52 million in the year 2020. In 2021, the compensation budget is GH¢62 million and we are to approve a budget of GH¢68 million. Mr Speaker, it looks as if people would be paid, and they would be accused of not doing their work. It is not because they do not want to do their work. The answer is that, they are highly incapacitated to do the work for which they are paid.
We are to approve a budget of GH¢68 million and GH¢62 million of it is for compensation. If you look at the capital expenditure itself, what they have asked for is GH¢11 million to buy 50 pickups; GH¢6.8 million to buy 16 cross country vehicles; GH¢600,000 for office furniture; GH¢1 million for office building; GH¢700,000 for computers and accessories.
In this era of not encouraging social gatherings, if the NCCE has asked for GH¢700,000 to buy computers and accessories to work digitally, such moneys should be released to them. When you quantify all those things, the
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 6:47 a.m.
Thank you, Hon Member.
Question put and Motion agreed to.
Resolved Accordingly.
That this honourable House approves the sum of GH¢68,318,151.00 for the services of the National Commission on Civic education for the year ending 31st December, 2021.
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 6:47 a.m.
Hon Majority Leader?
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 6:47 a.m.
Mr Speaker, we could deal with the item numbered 14.
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 6:47 a.m.
Hon Members, the item listed 14?
PUBLIC SERVICES 6:47 a.m.
COMMISSION 6:47 a.m.
Mr Avedzi 6:47 a.m.
Mr Speaker, I rise to second the Motion.
Let me draw the attention of the Chairman that the figure captured in the Motion on the Order Paper is different from what the Committee is asking the House to approve. I think it is a typographical error. I think the difference is GH¢6, and that is coming from Goods and Services. It should read: GH¢4,036,606 but he made it GH¢4,036,600. The total figure should read: GH¢12,479,838. That is the correction.
Mr Speaker, we all know what the Public Services Commission does. Early on, when we were looking at the Head of Civil Service's Report, the Finance Committee made a recommendation that the Head of Civil Service should consult Public Services Commission and the Ministry of Finance to create vacancies and to create opportunities for promotions and recruitments. So, we know what they do in ensuring that the Public Sector is adequately provided in terms of human resources to undertake their work.
If we look at what was granted to the Public Services Commission in the 2021 Budget Statement, for Goods and Services it is almost the same as what was given to the NCCE. And if we want to compare the coverage or the extent of work of these two organisations, the NCCE is not fairly treated. If Public Services Commission can be given GH¢4,036,606 for Goods and Services and the NCCE is given almost the same amount, I think that the issue about looking at the NCCE's figure comes in again.
I support that we approve the amount of GH¢12,479,838 for the services of the Public Services Commission.
Question put and Motion agreed to.
Resolved Accordingly:
That this honourable House approves the sum of GH¢12,479,838.00 for the services of the Public Services Commission for the year ending 31st December, 2021.
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 6:47 a.m.
Hon Majority Leader?
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 6:47 a.m.
Mr Speaker, we would now deal with the item numbered 16.
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 6:47 a.m.
Hon Members, the item listed 16, Hon Majority Leader?
NATIONAL MEDIA 6:47 a.m.
COMMISSION 6:47 a.m.
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 6:57 p.m.
Any seconder?
Mr James Klutse Avedzi 6:57 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I beg to second the Motion.
Mr Speaker, I looked at the Budget for 2020 for the Media Commission and for Compensation, GH¢2,175,410 was approved for the Media Commission. However, the actual expenditure is GH¢3,581,695.27. The Committee also observed on page 7, under paragraph 9.1 of excess expenditure. The Committee observed that for the year 2020, the Media Commission overspent their Compensation budget.
Mr Speaker, we have procedures to follow if an agency needs to spend more than what has been approved by the House. The Media Commission only explained that this situation arose as a result of upward
review of salaries by Government. We always know that whatever budget is being prepared, if you do not factor in the expected increase in salaries for the year concerned, the Ministry of Finance needs to follow a procedure before paying more than approved.
Does it mean that the House can approve a budget and the Minister for Finance would not go according to the ceilings provided in the budget and exceed the budget by a whopping 64 per cent? They overspent their budget by 64 per cent for Compensation. What do we do? Do we just gloss over it? Is it only the Media Commission whose salaries have been increased during the course of the year, and only they overspent for Compensation?
If it were as a result of increase in salary by Government, then it should be something that is applied to all Government agencies. However, they alone overspent by 64 per cent. Does it mean salaries increased by 64 per cent? I do not think that the explanation given by the Media Commission is adequate enough as a reason for the overspending of their budget for 2020.
That is one area that we need to talk about and probably get answers from the Chairman of the Committee
because we cannot just gloss over it. If not, all agencies would come and give reasons for which we would not have anything to do but just to accept. So, that is the only concern I have while I support the Motion.
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 6:57 p.m.
Hon Members, at the conclusion of the debate, I would put the Question.
rose
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 6:57 p.m.
Hon Deputy Minority Leader?
Mr Avedzi 6:57 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I raised a concern and if the concern I raised is not relevant, just tell me that my concern is not relevant. I raised a genuine concern that an agency overspent their budget by over 64 per cent and I even invited the Chairman of the Committee to probably tell us something. Would nothing be done about it? Please, something must be done about it.
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 6:57 p.m.
Hon Deputy Minority Leader, I know your concern would be taken care of in the Mid-year Review. You prescribed the solution in the previous discussion.
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 6:57 p.m.
Mr Speaker, there are two issues here. The first one relates to the over-
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 6:57 p.m.
Hon Deputy Minority Leader, I believe you are all right with the explanation? Now, I would put the Question.
Question put and Motion agreed to.
Resolved Accordingly:
That this honourable House approves the sum of GH¢6,859,109 for the services of the National Media Commission for the year ending 31st December, 2021.
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 7:07 p.m.
Hon Majority Leader?
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 7:07 p.m.
Mr Speaker, we would take item numbered 18.
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 7:07 p.m.
Very well.
MINISTRY OF FOREIGN 7:07 p.m.
AFFAIRS AND REGIONAL 7:07 p.m.
INTEGRATION 7:07 p.m.
Mr Frank Annoh-Dompreh on behalf of (the Chairman of the Committee) 7:07 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I beg to support the Motion and in so doing, I present your Committee's Report.
1.0 Introduction
Pursuant to article 179 of the 1992 Constitution and Order 140( 1) and (2) of the Standing Orders of the House, the Hon Minister for Parliamentary Affairs and the Leader of Government Business, Mr Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu, on Friday, 12th March, 2021, presented to Parliament the Budget Statement and Economic Policy of the Government of Ghana for the 2021 Financial Year. In accordance with Order 140(4) of the Standing Orders of the House, the Rt. Hon Speaker referred the Annual Draft Estimates of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration to the Committee on Foreign Affairs for consideration and Report.
The Committee met on Friday, 19th March, 2021 and considered the Annual Estimates of the Ministry. The Committee is grateful to the Hon. Minister for Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration, Ms. Shirley Ayorkor Botchway, the Acting Chief Director, Officials of the Ministry and representatives from the Ministry of Finance for their invaluable contributions and inputs during the consideration of the Estimates.
2.0 Referenced Documents
In considering the Estimates, the Committee relied on the following documents;
i. The 1992 Constitution;
ii. The Standing Orders of Parliament;
iii. The Budget Statement and Economic Policy of the Government of Ghana for the 2021 Financial Year;
iv. The Medium-Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF) for 2021-2024 - Programme Based Budget Estimates for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration;
v. The Budget Statement and Economic Policy of the
rose
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 7:07 p.m.
Hon Member, please, which constituency do you represent?
Mr Okofo-Dateh 7:07 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I am the Hon Member for Jaman South.
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 7:07 p.m.
Very well.
Mr William Okofo-Dateh (NDC -- Jaman South) 7:07 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I thank you for the opportunity to contribute to the Motion.
Mr Speaker, I would want to refer to paragraph 514 on page 101 of the Budget Statement, where the Ministry is said to have evacuated over 10,000 Ghanaian nationals abroad during the COVID-19 pandemic.
At the Committee meeting, the Hon Minister admitted that most of the people who were evacuated from the Gulf States had gone through some unfortunate ordeals -- and most of the people who were evacuated are from my constituency, Jaman South. The Hon Minister also admitted that most of the people that were evacuated had gone back to their original places where they were taken from.
Mr Speaker, I would want to encourage the Hon Minister that when such people are brought in, they should find a way to integrate or help them to settle into the system. This is because when they come back and they do not have anything to do, they get desperate and eventually go back to the same situation. So, it would be appropriate if the Ministry could even liaise for instance, with ministries like the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection or the Ministry of Employment and Labour Relations or any other ministry that could help so that these people would be prepared to stay and have some form of training.
Mr Speaker, in a constituency like mine where most of these people come from, the Ministry could establish a vocational training centre which could train them or anything that would help them settle. In doing that most of them would not go back to where they came from.
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 7:07 p.m.
Hon Member, next time you should speak from your seat as directed by the Rt Hon Speaker. I could not identify your name because the name appeared as “Hon Eric Opoku”.
Mr Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa (NDC -- North Tongu) 7:17 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I thank you for the opportunity.
Mr Speaker, I had to run into the House after receiving a call from my Leadership that our Report has been laid and that it would be taken today. This is not a standard practice because ordinarily, the Hon Chairman, the Hon Ranking Member and Hon Members of the Committee are supposed to know that our Report would be taken today.
We have worked under the assumption that the Hon Minister would return from her travel tomorrow, Thursday and the Report would be taken on Friday, so that she could be in the House to respond to the issues that would arise from the debate but we have been taken by surprise. The Hon Minister is not in the jurisdiction, the Hon Chairman of the Committee is not in the House and most of the Hon Members of the Committee are also not in the House.
I can understand that there is the need for some expedition but in the process, if care is not taken, we may sacrifice a lot in carrying out our oversight duties because there are major issues that came up at the Committee meeting.

Mr Speaker, one of those major issues is that if you look at the Budget Statement that was presented by Hon Kyei-Mensah- Bonsu on the 12th of March, 2021 at APPENDIX 2A s tatus of COVID-19 Alleviation programme- CAP 1 on page 273. There are two items there in the name of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration (MFARI). Item numbered 4 - Transfer to GoG COVID-19 Account for MFARI.

When I drew attention to this at the Committee level and sought to find out how the Ministry will account for this sum of GH¢19,335,533, the Hon Minister and the representative of the Ministry who were at the meeting indicated that they were seeing this for the first time and that they are not aware of any such account at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration and they do not know when this sum of money was transferred.

So, this is a major issue and where is the GH¢19,335,533 and in which account can we find that? Who did the transfer and where is it in the Budget Statement in the name of MFARI? That is a matter that we must resolve.
Mr Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa (NDC -- North Tongu) 7:27 p.m.
because it remains our only prime conference facility. It has really served us well; recently when former President Rawlings passed away, that was where he was laid in state as well as the United Nations secretary- general -- Mr Kofi Annan and many other dignitaries were all laid in state there.
However, if we go to the underground and we see how -- I do not want to cause fear and panic but it is really dangerous and not good for us. I am surprised that for the second year running, the Government could not find an allocation in the Ministry's budget to take care of the work.

The disrepair is so bad that the engineers are recommending a total demolition so that a new facility is constructed and this matter should continue to engage our attention.

Mr Speaker, but having said that, there is a policy matter that I believe that it is now time for the Ministry to confront and that is the fact that the Ministry is still expanding and putting up more Embassies. If we look at their programme for this year, they want to open a new Embassy in Mexico and proposing to open an additional one either in Jamaica or

Trinidad and Tobago. This would bring us to about 59 Missions. Mr Speaker, we ask ourselves that if we are struggling to raise funds; Goods and Services have been cut substantially and we are so much in arrears of rent, utilities and so on Should we continue to open new Embassies or we should carry out a rationalisation exercise?

I think that doing a rationalisation would be the way forward; where some Missions abroad can be given concurrent responsibility across other jurisdictions. For example, like the Mission in Norway that takes care of other Scandinavian countries. We have a Mission in Brazil and that can continue to take care of our interests in South America or that part of the globe, but not to open an additional one in Mexico.

Mr Speaker, meanwhile we are struggling to cater for the existing 57 Embasies because when we travel we see what goes on. The last time we were in Malta, the vehicle that was used to pick us was a right-hand drive that had been imported from our Mission in Libya. We were the only people on the road with a right-hand drive vehicle in a country that uses left- handed vehicles. Mr Speaker, but we could only manage because that is what we had and there are many of our Missions where the Ambassadors even rent vehicles.

I believe the time has come for us to reconsider this expansive policy of opening missions. Last year we opened additional missions even in China; beyond Beijing, we opened a Mission in Guangzhou and so on, but we can rather give extra responsibility to the few existing ones and take good care of them.

Mr Speaker, the literature shows that under Dr Obed Asamoah as the Hon Minister for Foreign Affairs, there was a major rationalisation exercise. Eventually, it boosted morale and it helped us as a country. So I think that the Government would have to take a second look at opening new Embassies every year.

Meanwhile if we do a trend analysis of the allocations, there is a decline year after year particularly in capex and goods and services. I am not sure that we are on a sustainable path and this would eventually affect our image as a country when landlords are chasing us, our Foreign Service staff cannot take care of their obligations and when we all travel, we suffer the effects of these matters.

Mr Speaker, there are lots of issues in the sector but for the sake of time, I would like to end here and urge Hon Colleagues to support the Report. Though very meagre

resources, we can only wish the Hon Minister well and hope that the matter of rationalisation and cutting down the expansive philosophy of the President opening more embassies when we cannot take care of the ones we have, is a matter that we should look at.

Mr Speaker, finally, there is still one item that is outstanding. If you go through the text of the Budget Statement at paragraph 514 on page 101, we are told that Ghana evacuated over 10,000 stranded Ghanaians.

Yet, when in the Appendixes, only 2,221 have been accounted for and even with that the numbers are not adding up. So, the question is who is responsible for the evacuation of the over 7,000 that have not been accounted for and how do we track and be able to account for that evacuation that took place?

Mr Speaker, with these reservations, I would call on Hon Colleagues to support the 2021 Estimates of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration.
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 7:27 p.m.
Hon Member, thank you.
Hon Majority Leader?
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 7:37 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I believe I should express gratitude to Hon Colleagues who have made various comments on the performance of the Ministry in 2020 and also the allocation that the Ministry of Finance is granting to the Ministry this year.
Mr Speaker, I think that it is important for one or two issues to be related to. The issue raised by the Hon Ranking Member when he talked about the 19.3 million expenditure - that is COVID-19 related, the officials of the Ministry indicated at the Committee level that they did not know anything about it. I believe as a House this is something we must follow up to demand further and better particulars if that was said indeed.
It cannot be that some amount would be spent over, above or behind the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration. What I do know is that at the height of the COVID-19 era, some expenditures were made on account of the presentations that were made by the Ministry of Finance and the expenditures were made in the names of some of the MDAs.
That notwithstanding, if it happened that way, at least the Committee in Parliament should be made aware. If it is about being in the
position to trace and track expenditures, Hon Members and indeed the Committees, as part of our oversight responsibilities should be able to trace and track the expenditures.
It cannot be kept just at the Ministry of Finance, even if it is done there, the accounts should really show that this is being done in the name of the Ministry and the officials of the Ministry should also be in the position to know. So, if the Hon Ranking Member is telling us that the officers indicated that they did not know, then that is serious, and in my view it is a matter that should be pursued further.
Mr Speaker, the other issue related to returnees. On many occasions, as the Hon Ranking Member knows, they came by a chartered aircraft and on many occasions they were not even half-full, yet when they were ready they had to be airlifted. In that regard, the average cost of evacuating them escalated and this is not what should have happened ordinarily.
That would explain the high cost, but I would not pretend to know the full complement of the expenditure incurred per capita.
Again, if we have to look further into this, to me, it is fair and proper but one cannot conclude that it was an apparently wrongful placement of
expenditures. I would disagree with my Hon Colleague on that, but I agree that it is something that we should pursue further because I know as a matter of fact that many of the evacuees who came were on a chartered flight and as and when it was found necessary and prudent to bring them, they were airlifted here.
The airplanes were not full, but it had to be paid for and the cost per capita escalated. Mr Speaker, but we should know the details; how many flights came down and with how many people on the average were on board? This should satisfy the Committee on Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration.

Mr Speaker, again, I think there is some more work to be done in those areas.

Mr Speaker, the issue about the current state of the Accra International Conference Centre is something that is not new. I recollect that less than five years after the construction of that facility, engineers who did the assessment came and said there was a fundamental problem with the facility. It has lingered on up to now and is getting worse.

Mr Speaker, in my view, we should be looking at this. Our own Job 600 has been here since 1963 all this long close to 50 years until we rehabilitated it for use by Members of Parliament. When at the outset we brought in engineers to assess the structural integrity of this facility, it came out that it was about 80 per cent safe, more than 50 years after the construction. How come five years after the construction of a facility, we have difficulties? It means something went wrong at the very outset in the construction of the Accra International Conference Centre.

But this is a yesterday matter. If we have to pull it down to save lives, it might ultimately have to be done so that it protects lives and property and also ensure that whatever facility that comes out -- Maybe, perhaps, it would be a higher rise facility, given the fact that land in Accra is getting scarce, and we shall have a new design which would brighten the skyline of Accra.

But the important thing is to save lives. I believe that as we have been advised that this structure must come down within the next four to five years, it certainly must be complied with so that we save lives.
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 7:37 p.m.
Mr Speaker, we may want to go back to page 6 and allow for presentation of Papers, item (m).
PAPERS 7:37 p.m.
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 7:37 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I am informed the Report on the Annual Estimates for the Ministry of the Interior is not ready.
Rather, they would lay the Report on the Annual Estimates for the Ministry of Defence, which is captured in (m) (iii).
By the Chairman of the Committee --
(ii) Report of the Committee on Defence and Interior on the Annual Budget Estimates of the Ministry of Defence for the year ending 31st December, 2021.
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 7:37 p.m.
Mr Speaker, unknown to me, I understand the Report of the Committee on Interior and Defence on the Annual Estimates of the Ministry of the Interior is ready. So it could be laid. It is the last one.
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 7:37 p.m.
Hon Chairman?
By the Chairman of the Committee --
(iii)Report of the Committee on Defence and Interior on the Annual Budget Estimates of the Ministry of the Interior for the year ending 31st December,
2021.
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 7:37 p.m.
Hon Members, meanwhile the Rt Hon Speaker --
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 7:37 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I think the other Reports are not ready. We would have to take an adjournment until tomorrow. I have sent information to the Rt Hon Speaker that he should hold his horses till we come tomorrow.
Mr Ahmed Ibrahim 7:37 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I support the view of the Hon Leader of the House that we are in your hands, but just to add that we are getting to the end of the Meeting. We do not want to go home and be recalled.
We should begin sending signals to the powers that be that the names of our colleagues who would be deputy ministers should be presented to the House as soon as possible so that as the Business Committee would be meeting tomorrow morning, they could take all those things into consideration. Else we would adjourn next week only to be recalled that we are coming to vet Deputy Ministers.
Mr Speaker, this is just a reminder.
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 7:37 p.m.
Hon Majority Leader?
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 7:47 p.m.
Mr Speaker, we would adjourn until tomorrow at 10 o'clock in the forenoon.
But Mr Speaker, to assure my Colleague that he is not in the position to share the authority of nominating Deputy Ministers. It is not a shared responsibility. It is the President who has that responsibility.
Mr Speaker, certainly, at a propitious time, the names would certainly come but do not forget that
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 7:47 p.m.
Hon Members, thank you very much for your cooperation.
ADJOURNMENT 7:47 p.m.
  • The House was adjourned at 7.49 p.m. till Thursday, 25th March, 2021 at 10.00 a.m.