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Mr Second Deputy Speaker

Hon Members, Correction of Votes and Proceedings of Wednesday, 24th March, 2021.
Page 1…12 - -

Mr Speaker, the item numbered 8 (b) on page 12, the Chairman of the Committee on Youth, Sports and Culture, I believe the name should be Mr Johnson Kwaku Adu. The “Johnson” has not be captured accurately.

Mr Second Deputy Speaker

Thank you, Hon Member.
Table Office, please take note.
Page 12…14 --

Mr Annoh-Dompreh

Mr Speaker, I would have to take you back to page 13. The laying of the Reports of the Committee on Defence and the Interior, I recall the Hon Majority Leader sought the permission of the Speaker for the Reports to be laid by the Vice Chairman, and not the Chairman of the Committee. It has been captured as having been laid by the Chairman of the Committee, Hon Ken Ohene Agyapong. It was rather laid by the Vice Chairman, who is Hon Ophelia Hayford.

Mr Second Deputy Speaker

Thank you, Hon Leader.
Table Office, please take note.

Mr Adjei Mensah

Mr Speaker, yesterday, I was present but my name does not appear here.

Mr Second Deputy Speaker

Table Office, please take note.
Page 15… 30 --

Mr Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa

Mr Speaker, at page 39, item numbered 2(xxxii) “Ms Docas Toffey” has not been captured correctly. The letter “r” is certainly
missing so if it can be amended to read “Ms Dorcas Toffey”.

Mr Second Deputy Speaker

Thank you, Hon Member. Clerks-at- the-Table, please, take note.
Page 40 and 41.

Mr Ablakwa

Mr Speaker, on page 41, item numbered 3(i), the Hon Minister responsible for National Security should be “Albert Kan- Dapaah” and not “Albert Kan- Depaah” as has been captured here.

Mr Second Deputy Speaker

Clerks-at-the-Table, please, take note.
Hon Members, in the absence of any corrections, the Votes and Proceedings of the Thirteenth Sitting of the First Meeting of the First Session held yesterday, Wednesday, 24th March, 2021, are adopted as the true record of proceedings.
Hon Members, there is an Urgent Question for the Hon Minister for Education, and it stands in the name of the Hon Member for North Tongu, Hon Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa.
Hon Okudzeto Ablakwa, the Floor is yours.

Mr Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa (North Tongu)

Mr Speaker, I beg to ask the Minister for Education whether the following publications
(a) “History of Ghana, Text Book 3”, by Badu Nkansah Publications, authored by Badu Nkansah and Nelly Martison Anim; and
(b) “Golden English, Basic 4”, authored by Okyere Baafi Alexander, both of which contained bigoted content and relate to the Ewe ethnic group, have come to the Ministry's attention, and if so, whether the Ministry granted approval for those publications and what possible steps are being taken to purge our schools and bookshops from offensive, divisive, and incendiary publications of this nature.

Minister for Education (Dr Yaw Osei Adutwum)

Mr Speaker, the Ministry of Education (MoE) has worked over the years to provide quality, relevant and inclusive education for all Ghanaian children. The MoE works through its Agencies to provide education that will equip learners the needed knowledge, skills,

Minister for Education (Dr Yaw Osei Adutwum)

attitudes and values to make them productive and competitive nationally and globally.
The role of quality textbooks is crucial in achieving this goal. The Ministry is therefore mindful of the quality of textbooks that learners use in schools, hence the rigorous and robust process of assessment before books are approved.
The National Council for Curriculum and Assessment (NaCCA) is the agency responsible for approving teaching and learning materials for use in pre-tertiary schools. These include but are not limited to: textbooks, supplementary materials, E-materials or digital content, non-text materials such as manipulatives. The list of approved books can be accessed on http:// www.nacca.gov.gh.
Mr Speaker, the MoE's attention was drawn to two unapproved books on the market which contained bigoted content and relates to the Ewe ethnic group on the 14th of March, 2021. These are:
1. History of Ghana, Textbook 3; published by Badu Nkansah Publications, and authored by Badu Nkansah and Nelly Martinson Anim; and
2. Golden English Basic 4 published by New Golden Publications, and authored by Okyere Baafi Alexander.
Mr Speaker, the MoE would like to state unequivocally that, NaCCA has not approved these books for use in schools. On 15th March, 2021, NaCCA issued a press release confirming the unapproved status of these books and asked the publishers to withdraw them from the market with immediate effect.
It might interest the House to know that, History of Ghana, Textbook 3 was submitted to NaCCA on 12th July, 2020 to go through an assessment and approval process. After the first phase of the process, the publisher was asked to do further work on the book, based on the assessors' report. Unfortunately, NaCCA did not hear from the publisher until 8th January, 2021 when they resubmitted the book.
Golden English, Basic 4 was first submitted for assessment on 5th March, 2021. Assessment on this particular book is yet to begin.
Mr Speaker, below is an excerpt from the letter NaCCA wrote to Badu Nkansah Publications on the status of their book, and evidence of the submission made by New Golden Publications.
History of Ghana Book 3, Published By Badu Nkansah
Publications
Submission: This book was submitted to NaCCa on 24th July, 2020 by Gershon Azazu, a worker from Badu Nkansah Publications with a covering letter dated 23rd July, 2020 and signed by Regina Badu Nkansah.
Report: The first assessment report was issued to Badu Nkansah Publications on 25th September, 2020. The covering letter captioned “Pending Approval” requested the publisher to update the material for resumption.
Resumption: The book was resubmitted on 8th January, 2021 for verification.
Remarks: NaCCA received a verification report on the status of the book from the external chief verifier on Friday, 19th March, 2021.

Mr Speaker, the report from the External Chief Verifier indicates that the content of the book has factual inaccuracies. In addition, pictorial representations do not largely depict respectable African and Ghanaian image, neither do they correlate with

the content of the book. Furthermore, the book has language issues. The Chief Verifier therefore, advised the publisher to use historical research reference materials to correct factual inaccuracies and improve upon the quality of the book, Golden English Basic 4, published by New Golden Publications.

Mr Speaker, submission; this book was submitted on 5th March, 2021 by Muntari Salaman, a worker from New Golden Publications with a forwarding letter dated 4th March, 2021 and signed by Okyere Baafi Alexander.

Mr Speaker, remarks

the book is yet to be assigned to assessors.
Mr Speaker, NaCCA has taken the following steps to purge schools of such unapproved books. On the 6th of March, 2021, NaCCA issued a press statement cautioning heads of institutions, publishers and the general public against the use of unapproved textbooks. NaCCA has also informed stakeholders about imminent, random visits to schools to check and withdraw unapproved books.
Mr Speaker, with respect to the two unapproved books, NaCCA has written to the publishers asking them to withdraw these books and any other unapproved books that they

Mr Second Deputy Speaker

Thank you Hon Minister.
Hon Member, any further question?

Mr Ablakwa

Mr Speaker, I commend the Hon Minister for the response. My first supplementary
question is; the Hon Minister informs this House that NaCCA has written to publishers to withdraw the offensive publications but the Hon Minister does not indicate if there has been a follow up by the Ministry to ensure that the directive has been complied with? Is the Hon Minister able to tell this House if the Ministry and its agencies NaCCA and G. E. S. are following through with their directive to the publishers? Are they supervising the withdrawal of these books?

Dr Adutwum

Mr Speaker, I have been assured by the NaCCA that they have given out the directive and they are also sending out people to the various bookshops to check. As we rightly know, the Ministry of Education has not procured these books for distribution in our schools so; anything that they are doing is random checks in private schools which is also supported by the National School Inspectorate Authority (N.S. I. A.) to make sure that these books are not in our private schools.

Mr Ablakwa

Mr Speaker, my second supplementary question; it would appear that the Ministry is treating the publishers with kid's gloves. What they have done is very grave but for the general quality; the character of the Ghanaian to be forgiving and to be conciliatory, this
could have sparked something else. The fact of the matter is that people really felt aggrieved. We saw the statement from the Volta Regional House of Chiefs; our youth groups were up in arms; many people are very offended. And indeed, not only members of the Ewe ethnic group, Ghanaians generally, even from other ethnic groups are not happy at all. They are really livid by these two publications.
And I do not know if the Hon Minister has seen the books; I have copies here, the publishers put your stamp on the cover and it says based on the new NaCCA syllabus, this is Golden History of Ghana, Basic 6. If we take the Golden English Basic 4, your stamp is on it too and it says based on the new NaCCA syllabus; this one, History Book of Ghana, Textbook 3 based on the new NaCCA syllabus and it bears your stamp. So, you have not granted them approval but they are using your name to perpetrate this illegality and they are profiting from it. Should you not be sanctioning these publishers, at least even banning them for some years? Are there going to be some sanctions for what they have done; using your name and NaCCA's logo illegally and going onto the market when they have not received final approval? Can we expect the Ministry
to apply stiffer sanctions either than just asking them to apologise?

Dr Adutwum

Mr Speaker, we are all scandalised by what we saw in the publications but we are a nation of laws. I wish I could just jump and go to them and tell them to take the books away from here. The Ghana Book Development Council Bill that came before this House and which is supposed to be worked on, has those provisions for sanctions to be taken against publishers like these.
Unfortunately, the NaCCA Act does not make provisions for that so; inasmuch as we are scandalised and do not want to see such things happening, in terms of the legal framework within which NaCCA operates, unfortunately, we do not have the room to do that but the Ghana Book Development Council Bill, which is before this is going to cure these inefficiencies that it got the opportunity to enforce. And once that is done, the sanctions are there clearly and they would be applied accordingly.
Mr Speaker, but I would want to say that the Ministry of Education would not in any way save or condone anything that is expressly written in this book, and the NaCCA consequently has not approved this. The Ghana Book Development Council Bill would give us the tools to do just what my Hon Colleague has espoused.

Hon Member, this is your final supplementary question.

Mr Ablakwa

Yes, please, Mr Speaker. My final supplementary question is a double barrel. Can the Hon Minister assure this House that the new standard-based curriculum is not the cause of this because people are asking out there that how is it that we see these publications suddenly just when we develop a new curriculum? Is the Hon Minister able to assure us that that is not what is contained in the new curriculum which is causing publishers to take us on this perilous path; this path of perdition?
Related to that is also the claim by the heads and the union leaders that since you did the new standard-based curriculum, it has not come up with the appropriate textbooks and so, there is a vacuum and that is why some of these publishers see an opportunity because of the vacuum to cash in so; they are taking advantage based on the Ministry of Education's inability to produce new textbooks after the Ministry came out with the new curriculum.
Mr Speaker, I thank you.

Dr Adutwum

Mr Speaker, the question about the new curriculum being the cause of the shoddy work
done by publishers, is of course emphatic no!

That would not be the reason anybody writes such a shoddy book and talk about things that they are not supposed to talk about. So, it is an emphatic no to your first question.

In terms of text books that have not yet been procured, we are in the process of doing the procurement and very soon, the books would be distributed to our schools. But I am glad that the books are not out yet and would be out now.

So, I just want to assure the House that the Standards-Based Curriculum has nothing to do whatsoever with this issue that we are discussing and those textbooks that have not been procured should not be the reason private schools are resorting to textbooks that are not accurate on content and facts.

Mr Peter Kwasi Nortsu-Kotoe

Mr Speaker, in the Hon Minister's Answer to the Question, he mentioned that the Ghana Book Development Bill is before the House for consideration. As far as I know, there is no Bill before this House; that was the last Parliament. I would want to
find out from him how soon the Bill would be re-laid for consideration?
Also, could the Hon Minister forward a copy of the new curriculum to the Committee on Education for us to study and see if really, the contents that are in those books are not in the curriculum?

Dr Adutwum

Mr Speaker, the Hon Ranking Member is right that it was the last Parliament, so it would have to come back to this Parliament.
In terms of the curriculum, of course the Committee on Education must have access to anything that we have, so I would be more than happy to submit the curriculum that the Hon Ranking Member has rightly requested for.

Mr Emmanuel Kwasi Bedzrah

Mr Speaker, I would want the Hon Minister to confirm or deny to this House that the Ministry does not have power to withdraw any book from the shelves of a publisher?

Mr Second Deputy Speaker

Hon Member, is it a statement or a question?

Mr Bedzrah

Mr Speaker, he said that he is bringing a legal framework to this House. As at now,
it means the Ministry does not have power to withdraw any published books from the shelves. That is what I want the Hon Minister to confirm.

Dr Adutwum

Mr Speaker, I would neither confirm nor deny, but all that I am saying is that the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment (NaCCA) Act does not give them the authority to do what the Hon Member expects them to do, that is to sanction. That is what I said, “to sanction”.
However, if the National Schools Inspectorate Authority (NASIA), visits a school and that school has unapproved textbooks, of course they can take them off their shelves. For the Ministry of Education however, if you ask me if the Ministry has the power, it does through our agencies. NASIA can visit a school and if they have unapproved textbooks, they have every authority to tell the school that they cannot use them and that they can be taken off their shelves.
So, I was very specific in terms of the agencies and the work that they do and not the Ministry in its entirety. Our agencies have authority to regulate schools and different aspects of schools. I was responding to NaCCA's authority and not NASIA's authority.

Mr Ahmed Ibrahim

Thank you Mr Speaker.
Mr Speaker, I would want to find out from the Hon Minister when we should expect Government sponsored well-researched textbooks for the new curriculum.

Dr Adutwum

Mr Speaker, I came to inherit a process that is ongoing and I am now settling down. So, what I can assure my Hon Colleague is that, we would act with speed but with caution, to make sure that the books that we are procuring are the right ones that we should procure, so that I am not called back here by my Hon Colleagues to answer questions on books procured at that time. So, you can understand that while I am cautious, it would be done at the appropriate time.

Mr A. Ibrahim

Mr Speaker, should we expect these textbooks to be procured by Government from the private sector or would Government commission a team to write in conformity with the curriculum that Government has brought?

Dr Adutwum

Mr Speaker, many years ago, the culture and the history
of publishing was that Government commissioned experts. That is why you would hear of F. K. Buah and Adu Boahen. These were authorities, distinguished individuals whose images were linked with the books that we read and when you picked the book up, you had no doubt in your mind that he would do justice to the content. That was then.
Now, we came to inherit a situation where in order to help private companies grow, they took centre stage in terms of publishing. I know previous Governments have done same, where they procured from the private sector but its evaluation is done by a committee of experts who ensured that the quality of the contents is without doubt what is research proven and addressed.
Mr Speaker, so, what I can say is that we are following what has been the precedent with private publishers but with rigorous and now, very rigorous review by individuals whose credentials are without question in their various fields.
Mr Speaker, thank you.

Mr A. Ibrahim

Mr Speaker, my last question. In view of the controversies and circumstances surrounding these private textbooks and looking at the capacity of NaCCA
- As we speak, I do not blame the Hon Minister nor NaCCA. Would the Hon Minister not just say they came to inherit this system, but consider reverting to the old system?
Since content is of utmost importance so long as education is concerned, would the Hon Minister consider commissioning a committee of experts to set the standard, so that those in the private sector would toe in that direction going forward?

Dr Adutwum

Mr Speaker, there are already panels of experts who review the books, but my nature is that I consider suggestions from everyone. So, I would consider anything that would make it better. We have a panel of experts and I would take a look at the list.
We want the best panel possible to evaluate all books at all times, so that the contents and facts would not be in doubt.
Thank you Mr Speaker.

Mr Frank Annoh-Dompreh

Mr Speaker, the Minister, as part of his answers said that the matter was brought to his notice on perhaps the 14th of March. I am interested in knowing the form in which the notification was brought to him and whether presently, we have a
mechanism existing in the Ministry that enables the Ministry to scan the environment and detect such materials?

Dr Adutwum

Mr Speaker, like most Ghanaians, I saw it on social media. One of the things that is going on is that NASIA has been resourced enough to inspect and be able to make sure that books that are being used by schools are up to the standards that we have set for them and in fact, approved by NaCCA. So, our best mechanism is through NASIA that does the monitoring of both public and private schools.

That is our best way to ensure that we do not have unapproved text books in any school and for that matter in this particular instance, in our private schools.

Mr Second Deputy Speaker

Hon Member, you have had your chance --

Mr Woyome

No, Mr Speaker.

Mr Second Deputy Speaker

Once the Hon Leaders have spoken -- we have a lot of Business to do today.

Dr Adutwum

Mr Speaker, I have alluded to that in my previous answer which was that there has been an evolution in the publishing industry and the evolution is from Government driven - initiative of a panel and a group of experts to write, and I gave an example of distinguished authors who have written great books in this country and then the evolution came till when there was private sector
involvement. It was appreciated because it means we are developing the capacity of our publishing industry because we have universities that offer courses in publishing.
Mr Speaker, with that evolution, what we came to inherit and has been around for some time is the situation where the private sector writes the books but Government and a panel of experts review the books to make sure that they meet the standards that have been set for book approval. That is the regime that we are in and that was why I alluded earlier that we need to ensure that we have experts who could do a better job to make sure that they perform their gatekeeping functions very well. They are the gatekeepers so a book could be written but it would not be out of the door, unless the panel of experts review and ensure that they are up to the standards that we have set for all publishers.

Mr Second Deputy Speaker

Hon Member, I believe the Hon Minister has done justice to the question that appears to rage the minds of many of Ghanaians?
Hon Minister, thank you very much for attending upon the House to respond to the Question. You are discharged.
Hon Members, we would take item numbered 5.
The Rt Hon Speaker, has admitted a Statement which stands in the name of the Hon Member for North Tongu, Mr Okudzeto Ablakwa, on the appellant conflict between the rights of the child and school rules as highlighted by the current national debate that has arisen due to the plight of two Rastafarian students, denied admission into the Achimota Secondary School.

Mr Second Deputy Speaker

Yes, Hon Deputy Majority Chief Whip?

Mr Annoh-Dompreh

Mr Speaker, I acknowledge that the Statement has been admitted but I come on the strength of Order 53 to seek your kindness and your leave to vary the order of Business and take item numbered 21. When we are done with that item again, with your leave, then we could come and take the Statement.

Mr Second Deputy Speaker

Leadership, is that the concern?

Mr A. Ibrahim

Mr Speaker, that was the plan. The Hon Ranking
Member for the Committee on Defence and Interior has already asked his question on the on-going vetting at the Appointments Committee and the Committee is waiting for the Hon Member for North Tongu, Mr Ablakwa to come and ask his question. I would have agreed with the Hon Majority Chief Whip but I would want to plead with him that once the Hon Ranking Member is in the Chamber because he has already asked his question, we could allow the Hon Member for North Tongu, Mr Okudzeto Ablakwa, to make his Statement so that the contributions would be restricted and he could go and ask his question. That is the best way we could go.

Mr Annoh-Dompreh

Mr Speaker, the Hon Deputy Minority Whip is my good friend and we have often had agreements. What he said is reasonable but I also want to appeal to him -- item numbered 21, is the Annual Estimates for the Ministry of Defence. I equally agree that the Statement is one that has generated a huge public interest and therefore it is very important. I am also an Hon Member of the Appointments Committee and I wait on my turn to ask my questions.
Mr Speaker, with the greatest of respect to my good Friend, Mr Ablakwa, let us just allow the Hon

Mr A. Ibrahim

Mr Speaker, I have been assured by the Hon Ranking Member that they would not speak for too long, so we could take item numbered 21 after which we could come back to the Statement.

Mr Second Deputy Speaker

Hon Members, item numbered 21
ANNUAL ESTIMATES, 2021

Minister for Defence (Mr Dominic Bingab Aduna Nitiwul)

Mr Speaker, I beg to move, that this honourable House approves the sum of GH¢2,102,103,946 for the services of the Ministry of Defence for the year ending 31st December, 2021.
Mr Speaker, this amount would cover the activities of the Ministry of Defence under the Ministry of Defence Headquarters, the General Headquarters of the Ghana Armed Forces, the Ghana Army, the Ghana Navy, the Ghana Air Force, Ghana Armed Forces Command and Staff College (GAFCSC), Military
Academy and Training Schools, Kofi Annan International Training Centre, Veterans Association, 37 Military Hospital and Defence Advisors and any other activities that the Ministry of Defence would intend to take within the year.
Mr Speaker, this budget would continue to play a very big role to satisfy the activities that the Ministry of Defence would intend to undertake during the year. In the Report that would be presented by the Hon Chairman of the Committee, these are areas that talk about debts and this essentially arose because the Government decided in the fight against terrorism, to empower the Ministry of Defence to set up Forward Operating Bases.
“Forward Operating Bases'' are military bases that our troops would move to stay other than their usual barracks. In the north for example, we used to have just one main barracks in Tamale but we have since established other regiments in Wa and Bolgatanga which are mechanised brigades. We would build them gradually to become mechanised brigades which would contain a little over 800 soldiers.

However, we had initiated the process to build and we have started

procuring the materials and that is the reason for the debt we had in the Supplementary Budget Statement in the year 2020 to be able to secure the northern part of our country by building13 operating bases and 12 logistics centres spread across the entire northern region and that is why we see this here. This Budget Statement will automatically continue with that process.

Also, in the coastal belt, to be able to protect our exclusive economic zone which is in the area of the sea that is, three-quarters of the land mass of Ghana, we are putting up a forward operating base for the Navy at Nzulezu in the Jomoro district of the Western region and it is about 10 to 15 per cent complete. The contractors are on site and are currently working and if any Hon Member is within that area, they can pass by to look at it. This Budget Statement will also help to continue to put that project in place. There are several other activities that the Ministry will do including re-equipping the Air Force, Navy and the Army because of contemporary threats and the fact that all our neighbours are re- equipping their Armed forces.

Mr Speaker, the threats that we have today are real and bigger than what we have seen before and what

is happening in the northern part of our neighbouring countries will attest to the fact why we need to invest more in protecting ourselves.

I call on Hon Members to support this Motion in approving this amount for the Ministry of Defence to continue to do that. It may obviously not be enough and it may just be a drop in the ocean. I am sure as the Hon Chairman will read the Motion, we will realise how little a drop in the ocean it is for what the Ministry really needs to be able to protect all of us in the year 2020. However, we will do with what we have until maybe, the latter part of the year when we will surely be coming back to this House to ask for more.

Mr Speaker, I so move.

Mr Second Deputy Speaker

Thank you, Hon Minister. Hon Chairman?

Chairman of the Committee (Mr Ken Ohene Agyapong)

Mr Speaker, I beg to support the Motion and in doing so, present your Committee's Report.
1.0 Introduction
On Friday, 12th March, 2021, the Budget Statement and Economic Policy of the Government for the 2021

Mr Second Deputy Speaker

Thank you very much Hon Member. Hon Member for Klottey Korle?

Dr Zanetor Agyeman-Rawlings

Mr Speaker, thank you. I rise to support the Motion for the approval of an amount of GH¢2,102,103,946 for the services of the Ministry of Defence for the 2021 financial year.
Mr Speaker, I would start with the fact that the Ghana Armed Forces (GAF) are key to the security of our nation and defending our territorial integrity either by air, sea or land.
Currently, Ghana finds itself in the sub-region where there is a lot of concern with regard to violent extremism and we know the situation which is very dire in terms of security in Burkina Faso which is threatening our borders. We also appreciate the fact that because a lot of these conflict stricken countries are landlocked, Ghana remains a prime target. Therefore, for the Ministry of Finance to not provide the Ministry of Defence with the necessary financial support
that it needs to equip our GAF, is to have them under resourced and incapable of fully satisfying their constitutional mandate to protect.
Mr Speaker, one thing that is quite clear is that the 48 Engineer Regiment is a very capable one and as the President has declared 2021 to be another year of roads, it would be encouraging to say that they have been included as part of those to receive contracts for road construction so that they may, by so doing, retain some IGF that can be used for some of the projects that the Ministry of Finance seems to be struggling to release funds for.
To give credit to the Ministry, compensation is generally paid in full but to adequately pay our security personnel their full salaries and to under resource them, is not only a drain on our resources as a nation but it also does not support the morale of the men and women who have put their lives on the line for this country.
Mr Speaker, in referring to the 37 Military Hospital, it has now become a perennial pain in the neck as every year at the Committee level, we talk about the needs of the hospital which is our national disaster and emergency hospital and also a United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS) level 4 hospital for the sub-region and
none of which it satisfies fully because it is under resourced and in dire need of an upgrade.
Currently, the IGF of the 37 Military Hospital is used to service the bills of the entitled personnel which means there is no money left for any other requirements that the hospital may need and constantly, resources are being diverted to other ways.

Mr Speaker, the security situation in the sub-region is so severe and I think that at some point, the Ministry of Finance needs to appreciate the fact that in other countries where their security is so compromised, it does not matter how much money they have or how many sectors they provide money to, nothing can operate if we do not have that sense of security. Mr Speaker, that is what the Ghana Armed Forces hope to provide if they are better resourced.

Mr Speaker, with regard to the construction of the Forward Operating Bases, it is hoped that the Ministry of Finance would make the necessary financial allocations available to the Ghana Armed Forces to ensure that our men and women who are protecting our territory and ensuring that our borders are secured

in collaboration with the Ghana Immigration Service, can actually fully satisfy the requirements that we place upon them. Furthermore, with regard to the increase in the number of officers that are being trained, whether in the Ghana Armed Forces Command and Staff College, Kofi Annan International Peacekeeping Training Centre or at the Military Academy, as we increase the number of recruitment, we must also look at an increase in the infrastructure available, for example, at the Ghana Armed Forces Command and Staff College as well as the directing staff. Otherwise what would happen is that too much pressure would be put on a few staff and the resources that are there and the Ghana Armed Forces Command and Staff College would have to run more courses than they are meant to per year.

So, as we look at the budget and allocations to this Ministry, we must bear in mind that as recruitment is increased, we must also look ahead and not find ourselves constantly on the back foot of providing accommodation as well as infrastructure for equipment and training the staff.

Mr Speaker, in conclusion, the Government managed to pass the Regulation L.I. 1332 on the prolongation of service of our

Mr Second Deputy Speaker

Hon Member, thank you.
I would take a contribution each from either Side and conclude the debate.
Hon Member for Mfantseman?
Hon Member, you are not standing in your place. Per the directive given by the Rt Hon Speaker, every Hon Member is to speak from their place.

Mrs Ophelia M. Hayford (NPP -- Mfantseman)

Mr Speaker, I rise to support the Motion on the Floor and discuss it with regard to the health sector.
Mr Speaker, the Ministry in their budget seeks funding to upgrade the 37 Military Hospital and other medical facilities in the country including the Tamale Hospital. The 37 Military Hospital is the second largest medical facility in the Greater Accra Region and the third largest in the country. Mr Speaker, this facility serves not only the military but the civilian population as well. The facility when upgraded and re-equipped would also foster Agenda 111 by the President, which aims to promote medical tourism in the country. It would also go a long way to generate income and revenue to support the Government's budget.
Mr Speaker, the Tamale Hospital, when upgraded, would also serve the northern part of the country as well as the middle belt and this would also go a long way to help the Agenda 111.
Mr Speaker, the Ministry of Defence also seeks to build the capacity of the military and the people within the country by upgrading the Kofi Annan International Peacekeeping Centre, the Ghana Armed Forces Command and Staff College, and the Military Academy. We all know that these facilities do not serve only the military, but the civilian population, including Hon Members of Parliament as well as our neighbouring countries. [Hear!
Hear!] Therefore, it would be prudent for all of us to support this budget to enable these facilities to be upgraded.
Mr Speaker, in conclusion, I would entreat all Hon Members to support this Motion to enable the Ministry of Defence to undertake these projects to the benefit of all Ghanaians.
Mr Speaker, thank you.

Mr Second Deputy Speaker

Hon Member, thank you.

Mr Bawah M. Braimah (NDC -- Ejura/Sekyedumase)

Mr Speaker, thank you for the opportunity to contribute to the Motion on the Floor.

Mr Speaker, at the Committee meeting, we observed that the Ministry lacked a lot of resources to be able to carry out its programmes and regrettable among them was that, we found out that from the budget for goods and services, about 80 per cent is spent on defence advisors who are attached to our missions abroad. It also came to light that the number of defence advisors had increased from

five to 14 thereby putting pressure on the budget for goods and services for the Ministry.

If a Ministry could spend about 80 per cent of its budget for goods and services for the defence advisors, it would be virtually left with nothing to carry on with the rest of the programmes of the Ministry. This is because, looking at it, the Ministry projected about GH¢33,036,800 but the Ministry of Finance gave a ceiling of just GH¢1,761,692 which is woefully inadequate. I would therefore, urge the Ministry of Finance to find a way of supporting the Ministry to cater for the services of these defence advisors attached to our missions.

Mr Speaker, looking at the enormity of the challenges that face the Ministry as has been elaborated by the earlier speakers, I would only urge Hon Members of this House to support the Ministry by approving the Motion and the Budget of GH¢2,102,103.946 for the services of the Ministry.

I thank you, Mr Speaker, for the opportunity.

Mr Second Deputy Speaker

Hon Member, do you want to speak to the Motion? I gave each Side one opportunity to contribute.

Mr Second Deputy Speaker

I rise to support the Motion on the floor of the House. We have to commend the Ghana Armed Forces for the effective and major role they played by assisting with the distribution of Resources during the pandemic restriction period. It is also refreshing to note that the Government and its partners during the COVID- 19 era managed to complete a naval command centre to facilitate training and capacity enhancement for our officers and men and women in uniform.
Mr Speaker, to maintain the high morale in the Ghana Armed Forces, we would all need to encourage the government to positively inject funds into projects like the Barracks Regeneration Project and the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) Building at Burma Camp as we have witnessed in the past four years.
Mr Speaker, Ghana is very well respected and noted for its standing with peace support operations within the United Nations Missions. I wish to urge the Ministry of Finance to take a critical assessment of the model as a business opportunity akin to some
bilateral partners to ensure a strong reserve base to our officers. We therefore require extra support for our goods and services. Without the Ghana Armed Forces, the country would have serious administrative gaps.
Mr Speaker, I wish to encourage our government to increase the capital expenditure of the Ghana Armed Forces for 2021 to adequately support and allow the Ghana Navy to push away all the threats in our maritime territory. It is important to note that in 2020, the Gulf of Guinea was reported to be the most dangerous maritime zone due to the activities of pirates. Maritime piracy imposes direct cost on humanitarian assistance and hurts the maritime economic activities.
Mr Speaker, it is reported that, annually, the damage of piracy is estimated to be between GH¢6.6 billion and GH¢6.9 billion with commercial fraud, delay of cargo and in most cases loss of cargo.
Mr Speaker, with Ghana being a coastal country where some inland countries depend on our ports for their cargo with location and security of our oil rates. Considering the implications of piracy in our maritime territory on
international trade, it is in our interest to adequately retool and equip the Navy to fight this menace thoroughly.

Question put and Motion agreed to.

Resolved Accordingly:

That this honourable House approves the sum of GH¢2,102,103,946 for the services of the Ministry of Defence for the year ending 31st December, 2021.

Mr First Deputy Speaker

Hon Leader?

Mr Annoh-Dompreh

Mr Speaker, as accordingly agreed earlier, we can now take the Statement from the Hon Member.

Mr Second Deputy Speaker

Hon Member for North Tongu, you can now take the Floor?

Mr Samuel O. Ablakwa (NDC -- North Tongu)

Exceedingly grateful to you, Right Honourable Speaker for the opportunity to make this statement on an important matter of considerable national interest.
Mr Speaker, a vigorous national debate is raging outside the confines of this hallowed chamber following the decision of management of Achimota School to deny two Rastafarian students wearing dreadlocks admission unless they are willing to cut their hair and conform to the school's rules.
It is worth noting that the insistence by the school's management continues despite the students: Tyrone Marhguy and Oheneba Kwaku Nkrabeah having qualified for admission under the Computerised School Selection and Placement System (CSSPS) and despite an earlier directive from the Ghana Education Service (GES) instructing that the students be admitted.

Mr Second Deputy Speaker

Yes, Hon Member for Wa Central?

Dr Abdul-Rashid Hassan Pelpuo (NDC -- Wa Central)

Mr Speaker, I thank you for the opportunity to contribute to this very useful Statement, which has to do with the present circumstances surrounding an individual person who has dreadlocks seeking entry into the Achimota Senior High School.
Mr Speaker, Ghana has travelled far. Our democracy, our forbearance, our determination to be Ghanaians, and allow for free choice: free religion, has taken place at a very high level to the extent that it is a big question for us to answer when the Achimota SHS is refusing entry of this individual who qualified and got six “1s” to be able to enter and pursue his ambition.
Mr Speaker, the issue of dreadlocks is not a new one at all. We would remember that in the 1930s, a singular individual from Jamaica, Marcus Garvey who campaigned a lot to free the Africans from the mentality held by the

Mr Second Deputy Speaker

Yes, Hon Member for Kwesimintsim?

Dr Prince Hamidu Armah (NPP -- Kwesimintsim)

Mr Speaker, I thank you very much for the opportunity to contribute to this important Statement. I thank the Hon Member who made the Statement for bringing this matter to this august House.
Mr Speaker, the Hon Member who made the Statement cites very important constitutional provision, which rightly guarantees children the right to education and also the issue of discrimination against children and people on the basis of gender, race, colour, ethnic, origin, religion and other social and economic statues.
Mr Speaker, the issue must be looked at from different perspectives. Rightly, the 1992 Constitution guarantees children and everybody the right to education, but there are certain conditions within which these rights should be exercised. It is for this reason that, for example, the liberty of children are curtailed within the context of the boarding house system.
Mr Speaker, article 14 (1) (e) specifies the conditions under which the liberty of children or the right to education can be curtailed. Mr Speaker, with your permission, I beg to read:
“Every person shall be entitled to personal liberty and no person shall be deprived of his personal liberty except in the following cases and in accordance with procedure permitted by law --
(e) for the purpose of education or welfare of a person who has not attained the age of eighteen years.”
Mr Speaker, so it is clear that children have rights to education, but these rights and liberties are exercised within the confines of the law. We have curtailed the liberty of children in their freedom of movement because of this imperative. Children are required to wear certain dresses because of this imperative.
Mr Speaker, rules and regulations are created for order and to ensure that people live within certain norms. So, in this House, there are Standing Orders with rules and regulations which specify how we should dress. Yesterday, an Hon Colleague had a tie without a suit, and he was asked to go and dress properly. Do we want

Dr Prince Hamidu Armah (NPP -- Kwesimintsim)

to stress the argument of the Hon Member who made the Statement on how a person's hairstyle determines the content of a person's character? One would also ask, how does a person's dress code in Parliament determine the content of his character? It is for the purpose of ensuring that there are certain norms that are followed in the House.
Mr Speaker, there are certain norms that are followed in the House. People from all backgrounds come to the schools and for the purpose of discipline, schools set regulations. So, there is a clash between the right of the child and rights that are curtailed by our Constitution in respect of our education.

Mr Speaker, I think this will be an important test if our courts can provide a definitive position on this because the schools themselves operationalise their rules and regulations under the expectations and imperatives of the 1992 Constitution.

Mr Speaker, GES has clearly espoused certain rules and regulations for which the schools pursue, and the parents have also raised concerns that the children are being discriminated against on the basis of beliefs. Mr

Speaker, if we were to go along that tangent, next year, you would see a number of people also coming with different forms of dressing also under the guise of their religious beliefs and expectations.

I believe that the position of the school should be looked at within the context of article 14(1)(e) of the 1992 Constitution, and also, the right of the child which Act 560 talks about needs to be looked at. Clearly, there is a clash between the rights of the child under the enabling Children's Act and article 14(1) (e) of the 1992 Constitution which requires that the liberty of children less than 18 years be curtailed under certain conditions.

Mr Speaker, having said so, I thank you for the opportunity to contribute to this Statement.

Mr James Agalga (NDC -- Builsa North)

Thank you, Mr Speaker, for giving me the opportunity to contribute to the Statement ably made by my Brother, the Hon Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa.
Mr Speaker, the Hon Member who made the Statement has touched on very important constitutional matters before this august House. Mr Speaker, first of all, he has alluded to article 17 of the 1992 Constitution which talks about non-discrimination
on the basis of one's creed, religion et cetera. He further took us to article 28(4) which is very explicit on the matter which informed his decision to make this all-important Statement.

Mr Speaker, article 28(4) of the 1992 Constitution clearly states that

“No child shall be deprived by any other person of medical treatment, education or any other social or economic benefit by reason only of religious or other beliefs.”
Mr Speaker, I have followed the debate that has ensued in the wake of the decision taken by Achimota School in the face of a clear directive by the GES. Mr Speaker, the earlier directive of the GES was that the decision of authorities of Achimota School not to admit students on the basis of the fact that they are Rastafarians was wrong.
Mr Speaker, what is Rastafarianism? Rastafarianism is a religion with many followers across the African continent and others, including the Americas, and even Europe in recent times. Some of the basic underpinnings of the Rastafarian faith is that the late Emperor Haile Selassie of Ethiopia is the reincarnation
of Jesus Christ. That is the religious belief of the Rastafarian community.
As a country, we must be tolerant of the religious beliefs of those who subscribe to that faith. One of the tenets of that faith is the wearing of dreadlocks, and so, if Achimota School and its authorities denied the students in question admission on the basis of wearing locks, they have sinned against articles 17 and 28(4) of our 1992 Constitution. The matter is as simple as that.

Mr Speaker, the question to ask is

now that this Statement has been admitted and read before this House, what should be our attitude? Fortunately, the Hon Minister for Education is here with us. Mr Speaker, the reversal of the earlier decision by GES itself was completely misplaced. Now that we are seized with the matter, I would urge you not to allow the Statement to pass without making a directive to ensure that the proper thing is done.
Mr Speaker, I have read on social media some attempts by the Chairman of the Parent-Teacher Association (PTA) of Achimota School to distinguish between the treatment they have meted out to the students who have been denied admission into that school and Caucasian students who are allowed

Ms Sheila Bartels (NPP -- Ablekuma North)

Mr Speaker, I would like to add my voice to the discussion on the Rastafarian child who was refused admission to Achimota School. I speak also as an old student, and a beneficiary of the ideals and values that Achimota School holds.
I believe that when the student got admission to this school, he had already looked at this school and determined that it was a school that would help him achieve his goals in life. Achimota School, since its establishment in 1927, has been known as one of the best.

Mr Speaker, Achimota School which we fondly call Motown, is a school that teaches educational curriculum just as we learn our family values at home. Each school has what is important to them and this is prescribed in our code of conduct. I believe that an institution like the Achimota School has educational leaders or those who are responsible for the students at the time when they are just about turning teenagers or they have just become teenagers.

And as parents, we know that it is very difficult to manage teenagers. Most of us who stayed home during the COVID-19 era with our children — in fact, it got to a time when we wanted them to go back to school. The environment of Senior High School is different from the home environment and we must allow rules and regulations to work. At the same time, we all agree that we are in an evolving society. There are so many things that were relevant in 1957 but are no more relevant today. There are so many things, especially in the area of technology that have advanced the way we do things.

Mr Speaker, secondary school is a place where we learn a lot. In fact, we all know that education is meant to change us for our own good, and also for the good of others and society. Now, in our school regulations, I would quote a song that we sing which is “From Gambaga to Accra”. In a line of this song, it says that:

“…so to subjugate ourselves that we may rule”.

It means that we bring ourselves under domination or control of the school's regulations so that we can become leaders because as we all

understand, a good leader is the one who learns to serve.

Mr Speaker, Achimota school teaches leadership by service, and that is why when most of us were interested in joining this school, we agreed to subject ourselves to the codes of conduct of the School.

Mr Speaker, however, with this issue about the young man who performed excellently in school and for that reason wanted to be admitted into the school but has been refused entry, has brought a lot of debate. Even my school is split; many AKORAs have discussed this on various platforms, and one of my mates said to me when I asked him, what he thinks - his name is Richard Pappoe. He said and I quote:

“AKORAs are split; the nation is split; it appears even the law is split; maybe we need the law court to help determine what works best for Ghana”.

Mr Speaker, inasmuch as I agree that the codes of conduct of every school is important, it is also important that we do not turn our schools into places of robotic learning.

Mr Speaker, as the world evolves, it is important we create a synergy between the school and the home. A

Mr Second Deputy Speaker

Hon Member, please, wind up?

Ms Bartels

Mr Speaker, thank you.

Mr Second Deputy Speaker

Hon Members, we have so many things to do today; let me give the opportunity to Leaders.

Mr Second Deputy Speaker

Mr Speaker, I would come to you; let me give it —

Mr Samuel Nartey George (NDC -- Ningo-Prampram)

Mr Speaker, I beg to contribute to the Statement made by the Member of Parliament for North Tongu and congratulate him on making such an important Statement.
The question we should ask ourselves is: as a country, are we more interested in the knowledge we impart into young men and women who would form the next generation of leaders or interested in what they carry on their hair? Is there any scientific proof to show that cutting your hair low is correspondent to being a responsible citizen? Being a Rastafarian -- and listening to one of the students in question, it is shocking that any school would want to deprive such an intelligent young man the opportunity to further his education.
Mr Speaker, article 17 (2) of the 1992 Constitution is clear that nobody shall be discriminated on any grounds. Why is he carrying dreadlocks? Is it a fashion statement or as a result of a religious belief? Our understanding is that it is as a result of a religious belief. Are we then going to say that the rules and regulations of Achimota School supersede the 1992 Constitution? We cannot accept this.

Mr Second Deputy Speaker

Hon Member, hold on.

Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu

Mr Speaker, let my Hon Friend who is on his feet, give better examples and not draw me into this. [Laughter] We all believe in nature but not all of us believe in Rastafarianism. So, the fact that it is at the heart of whatever it is, the Hon Member does not know the full complements of what Rastafarianism stands for and he
should not pretend he knows. So, he should not draw us into it. He is making his argument and should restrict himself to what he knows and not draw other people into it, especially when he is not in control of the full facts relating to Rastafarianism.

Mr George

Mr Speaker, if he wants us to debate the full facts and merits of Rastafarianism, we could go into that. In my view,, the point I seek to make here which is very simple is that the gentleman is carrying dreadlocks, not as a fashion statement. Yes, that is the fact that has been made. He has ascribed to the Rastafarian religion and so, carrying dreadlocks cannot be seen as the reason he should be deprived of an education in this country.
Mr Speaker, it is this kind of discrimination -- and I call it discrimination because the same Achimota School has Caucasian girls with long hair which is against the rules and regulations of Achimota School. So, we need to ask ourselves, is it because this young man is a Ghanaian whose father or mother may not be a ‘somebody' in our society? Is that why he is being treated that way, while in that same school, there are foreign students and Caucasians also carrying long hair in the same school?
Where was Achimota School's rules and regulations when the foreign students were allowed to carry long hair? The headmistress who is imposing that rule is herself wearing an artificial wig but we think that it is wrong for somebody to carry dreadlocks.
Mr Speaker, it must ignite a larger debate in this country. We are stuck in our colonial thinking and mentality. Respectfully, that is why we still have our judges of the Supreme Court and Lawyers having to appear wearing horse wigs which are relics of the colonial past. That is why today, you would hardly see a Speaker of Parliament except during ceremonies, sit in that Chair without wearing a suit and tie instead of any of our African or Ghanaian fugus or clothing.
We need to expand this conversation. It is good that the Hon Minister for Education is here and Mr Speaker, I would invite you to make a definitive directive or ruling in this matter. This is because these boys are students and citizens and we must respect articles 17 (2) and 21 of the 1992 Constitution and make the distinction that these student' rights to a fair education must be respected by Achimota School.
Thank you and Jah bless you.

Mr Second Deputy Speaker

Thank you very much.
Majority Leadership?

Mr Annoh-Dompreh

Mr Speaker, with your indulgence, I would rather yield to the Minister for Education.

Mr Second Deputy Speaker

Hon Majority Chief Whip, you can yield to somebody else because I would allow the Hon Minister for Education to conclude.

Mr Annoh-Dompreh

Then I would rather yield to Hon Habib Iddrisu.

Mr Habib Iddrisu (NPP -- Tolon)

Thank you, Mr Speaker.
I think that this is a very serious and delicate issue, considering the fact that it involves parents and students. The 1992 Constitution has made it clear as the Hon Member rightly said, in articles 17(2), 28(4) and 21(1). However, considering the fact that everybody has the right to attend school and be admitted and with this computerised system, it is not like in the past where there was a face-to face interaction between students and admission officers in various Senior High Schools. This enabled them to

Mr Habib Iddrisu (NPP -- Tolon)

have a first-hand interaction with students before they were admitted.
Now, we have a computerised system where students can be sent to any school and at the moment, this very student has been sent to Achimota School. The debate has however, gone beyond Rastafarians. It has now gone to other schools rejecting Muslim students who are in veils. This is also a problem, looking at the 1992 Constitution which states that everybody should be allowed to be educated irrespective of your religion.
So, as the Hon Minister for Education is here, I think that the best way to go is for the authorities of the School to sit down with the parents of the student, so that they would have a conversation. This is because the child cannot be denied admission on the basis of wearing long hair. Equally, the school authorities' rules and regulations on the conduct of students cannot also be undermined. So, it is an open conversation that the parents of the student and the authorities of the school should have.
Ghana is one of the first countries to have ratified the Convention on the Right of the Child and it has made it clear that the child has the right to education. So, for the fact that you have long hair -- Even though I
disagree with what the Hon Member for Ningo-Prampram, said which is actually, in my view, in contravention with our Standing Orders. He described the headmistress as also wearing artificial long hair. I think that it is in breach of our Standing Order 93 (2) because that is not a very good statement to make against the headmistress of the School.

The person is not here and when such statements are made it is an attack on the person's personality and it is completely uncalled for.

I would conclude by saying that there is more to this Rastafarianism. It is a social movement and it is how a person is able to interpret that social movement. I would want to call on the Ministry of Education, Ghana Education Service (GES), NAGRAT, and the school authorities to have a roundtable discussion because I believe that the children should not be denied their right to admission into the school, likewise the laws, codes of conduct and the school authorities should also not be undermined.

Mr Speaker, I thank you.

Mr Joseph Osei-Owusu (NPP -- Bekwai)

Mr Speaker, I thank
you very much for the opportunity to contribute to the Statement.
I did not listen to the Statement myself but I had the opportunity to listen to contributions by Hon Colleagues and indeed, I have followed discussions in the mainstream media and the social media on this issue which originally started as a local issue but has become a national issue because it has generated discussions across the country.
Mr Speaker, first, I am worried when we interpret the refusal of Achimota School to admit the young man into the school as a denial of his right to education. I beg to differ. Every young Ghanaian person has a right to enter Achimota School but it is only those who attain a certain pass mark who are allotted that school. It does not mean that those who do not attain those pass mark have been denied the right to school at Achimota School.
The condition is that the young man has been offered admission at the Achimota School, having obtained the appropriate grades but the only issue is that the school has rules and regulations -- a person could use the school for his or her training if he or she would abide by the rules and regulations. Does that amount to
denying the young man the right to education? That it is the question we must answer. He participated in the Basic Education Certificate Examination, he qualified and he was placed in that school -- but the Board of Governors of the school have made rules and those rules must be complied with. If the person chooses not to comply with the rules, I do not think it should lie in the person's mouth to say that he or she has been denied education.
Achimota School is one of the schools in the country -- there may be other schools which may choose to overlook but those are the rules made by the governors of the school. I was not fortunate to gain admission in any of those big schools but even in my small Juaben Secondary School, my headmaster, the late Mr Daniel Atakorah -- may his soul rest in peace, was so strict on wearing our shirts and buttoning it up to the neck tie. A person could be dismissed if he did not button his shirt up to the neck tie. That was the rules of the school and they indicated that “a breach of common sense is the breach of school rule''. That was how the students in that school were brought up.
Mr Speaker, I also get worried about the attempt to rope in Rastafarianism as a religion. If we do, then we would complicate the matter

for the young man. The reason is that Rastafarianism involves the smoking of weed and weed is an illegal substance -- it is not a substance that is permitted to be smoked. It would be recalled in this House that one of the persons that have been brought before this House for contempt of Parliament was one person who claimed to be a Rastafarian who said on air that Hon Members of Parliament smoked weed. He was brought to the House, put before the Privileges Committee and he was found guilty of contempt of Parliament. He was made to apologise to the House and told to go and sin no more.

Mr Speaker, references to religion and so on, may complicate the matter for the young man if we look at it from the point of view of whether Achimota School has the right to prescribe a way of dressing appearance for its school which includes hair style. If we look plainly from that point of view, we could discuss the matter across board. I hold no opinion on that one but just that if we bring in religion, I am afraid that we would complicate the matters.

The lawyers, for example, may have come across a particular case which was popular and I always remember professor Kwamena

Ahwoi when it comes to that case. It is called the “Kwamena Ansah Nyameneba vrs the Republic''. It was a sect which said they had found the tree of life and members were encouraged to smoke a weed from the tree of life as part of their worship. They were arrested, prosecuted and found guilty. Later, he appealed and said that he had heard of weed as a banned substance but what he had found was the tree of life and that he did not know it was weed. So, the issue became whether the ignorant of fact is an offence - the ignorant of law is known to be no defence but the ignorant of fact that whether a person does not know a particular substance is weed and he or she smokes it, he or she could be accused of smoking weed.

Mr Speaker, let us not get into those battles anymore. Let us focus on whether Achimota School is entitled to make rules and regulations or whether it is the Governing Board that has the power and authority to make rules that have been stated. If that is so, is that the appropriate arrangement we want for our country? This would only give us the opportunity to probably review some of the things we have held and allowed to fester over the years. However, encouraging discipline and obeisance to rules is extremely important.

Mr Speaker, looking around us, one of the least things Ghanaians do is to voluntarily obey rules. Even in Parliament, some entrances have been boldly indicated “MPs only'' but nobody respects that rule. Everywhere, the rules are clearly stated, for example, it could be stated “no parking'' but we would park there. We should look at it from that point of view also. Would we encourage disrespect for rules? If not, is that the appropriate rule? I always have a problem - if we do not agree with the rules, we should change it, but if it is the rule, then we are bound to obey it.

Mr Speaker, my view is that this matter has engaged the country for too long. It is a critical individual matter but we have made it a national issue. It is important for the young man but I think that the GES and the Ministry should be left to manage it locally. Let us think big and focus on the bigger things because this country has so many important things to discuss.

Mr Second Deputy Speaker

Thank you, Hon First Deputy Speaker.
I would give the final opportunity to the Hon Minister for Education to react taking cognisant of the fact of the raging debate going on in the country and what has transpired in the House.
However, before the Hon Minister contributes, I would like to direct that Sitting be extended.

Minister for Education (Dr Yaw Osei Adutwum) (MP)

Mr Speaker, I commend the Hon Member for North Tongu, Mr Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa for the well-researched and eloquently presented Statement.

Mr Speaker, Achimota School has been defined by its history of inclusion; the school that travels the length and breadth of Ghana recruiting students. The students have a story to tell on how Achimota School changed them and made them leaders who have led this country, families, communities and have done a fantastic job in various professions.

Achimota School is defined by a history of inclusion and one that has given hope to many as I have already said. The Ghana Education Service (GES) provides opportunity for all students to blossom and to have quality education.

Mr Second Deputy Speaker

Thank you, Hon Minister.
This brings us to the end of the Statement time. Hon Leader, any indication?

Mr Annoh-Dompreh

Mr Speaker, if we may go back to item numbered 6 (h) and (i)?

Mr Second Deputy Speaker

Item numbered 6 - Presentation of Papers.

Mr Second Deputy Speaker

Hon Majority Chief Whip, any indication?

Mr Sam N. George

Mr Speaker, we have no objection to that.

Mr Second Deputy Speaker

Hon Members, Sitting has been accordingly suspended for two hours. The time is 2 o'clock and we are coming here at exactly 4 o'clock.
Sitting suspended -- 2.05 p.m.
4.47 p.m. -- Sitting resumed

Mr Second Deputy Speaker

Hon Majority Chief Whip, any indications?

Mr Annoh-Dompreh

Mr Speaker, we can take item numbered
14.

Mr Second Deputy Speaker

Hon Members, item numbered 14 -- Motion.
Hon Minister for Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs?
ANNUAL ESTIMATES, 2021

Chairman of the Committee (Mr Johnson K. Adu)

Mr Speaker, I beg to second the Motion and in so doing present your Committee's Report.
1.0 Introduction
The Budget Estimates of the Ministry of Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs for 2021 was referred to the Select Committee on Youth, Sports and Culture for consideration and report pursuant to Order 140 of the Standing Orders of the House. This followed the presentation to Parliament of the 2021 Budget Statement and Economic Policy of the Government in accordance with article 179 of the 1992 Constitution and Order 140 (2) of the Standing Orders of the House.
The Committee met with the Minister for Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs, Hon Ebenezer Kojo Kum. The Chief Director and the Heads of Departments and Agencies, as well as officers from the Ministry of Finance to consider the estimates, and report as follows:
2.0 Reference Documents
i. The 1992 Constitution of the Republic of Ghana;
ii. The Standing Orders of the House;
iii. The Budget Statement and Economic Policy of the Government of Ghana for the 2021 Financial Year;
iv. The Budget Statement and Economic Policy of the Government of Ghana for the 2020 Financial Year; and
v. Report of the Ministry of Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs on the actual releases and expenditure of the Ministry for the 2020 financial year.
3.0 Vision and Mission of the Ministry
The Ministry of Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs exists to operate as the primary and apex body in policy formulation, implementation and co- ordination in the Chieftaincy and Religious Sectors. The Ministry pursues the prime objective of safeguarding the values that promote and enhance a stable united and safe society, thereby creating opportunities for all Ghanaians to build a prosperous nation.
The prime objective is that the Ministry sets the framework and the necessary mechanism to ensure that the Chieftaincy and Religious bodies promote and enhance peace and the environment that creates the space for government and government institutions to bring and spread development to the citizenry.
The Vision of the Ministry is to preserve, sustain and integrate the regal and traditional values and religious practices to accelerate wealth creation and harmony for total national development.
4.0 Functions of the Ministry
The Ministry of Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs exists to undertake the following functions:

Mr Second Deputy Speaker

Thank you very much.
We take a contribution each from either Side.
Ranking Member (Mr Kobena M. Woyome): Mr Speaker, I rise to contribute to the Motion on the Floor as moved by the Hon Chairman.
Mr Speaker, all these years, it appears that this Ministry has been taken for granted and I say so because all the times that we have approved various sums for appropriation, it just does not suffice looking at the enormity of work the Ministry has to do; an implication of their actions, and when done properly, it would definitely impact on the accelerated development, social, economic and cultural sectors of the country.
Mr Speaker, we can attest to the fact that a number of their activities have to do with settlement of disputes. Aside the preservation of our culture and tradition and the full establishment of what is needed to promote chieftaincy, I do not think much is being done to support this Ministry to be able to resolve the numerous disputes; succession to stools and skins, problems relating to land and so on.
Mr Speaker, looking at their performance last year for instance, the Ministry was allocated GH¢34,512,155 and they ended the year overrunning their budget. Per the discussions at the Committee level, the representative of the Ministry of Finance could not support it with any review that might have taken place in the course of last year.

They just overspent. If the government knew this, I thought they could have just gone ahead to originally allocate to them the budget that they actually requested for, meanwhile they cut same down drastically and gave them that paltry sum of GH¢34 million only for them to end the year with an overrun budget to the tune of over GH¢8 million. Looking at it, it is not good enough.

If we proceed to look at the 2021 budget, they requested for an amount of GH¢197,073,599 to enable them undertake series of very important projects and assignments and to ensure peace and proper adjudication at the various regional judicial committees at the various Houses of Chiefs. You would realise that they ended up with just about GH¢35 million. So they were brought down from GH¢197 million to just GH¢35 million, and I believe strongly that by the end of this year, they might end up with an overrun budget again. I do not think this is a good practice.

Let us look at some of the key things they are supposed to be doing, which is extending to this year. They were able to look at few things like adjudication of cases. Two main challenges were observed one of which is the lack of the service of

legal practitioners by the various Judicial Committees. Also, they actually talked about the fact that the remuneration and salaries are not attractive and so they are not able to get people to do the work for them and also because of the number on the panel as by the Constitutional Instrument (C.I.) establishing it making it three, any time one person does not come, there is no sitting. Continually, this makes the discharge of their duties a lot difficult.

Going forward, the Committee made some key observations, and I ask the Hon Minister, going forward, to facilitate the work on the amendments needed to be effected on Legislative Instrument 798 and Constitutional Instrument 27 to enable them increase the number of the panel members to help them discharge their work even when one person is absent.

Also, going forward, we realised that, they have a lot of activities lined up for the year. I just hope that they would be able to do justice to all of them, and in the Mid-Year Budget review, if there should be any review, they are considered for an upward adjustment to be able to do what is expected of the Ministry.

It is a very important Ministry, and I think we should be able to support them to enable them do their work

Mr Yves Hanson-Nortey (NPP - Tema Central)

Mr Speaker, I rise to support the Motion before this august House that this honourable House approves the sum of GH¢35,739,287 for the services of the Ministry of Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs.
Mr Speaker, perusing through the Budget and the Estimates of the Ministry, it is obvious that we do not
take the Ministry seriously. Just as my colleague on the other Side alluded to, the Chieftaincy Ministry plays a vital role in our society. The chiefs are the custodian of our history, culture and belief systems, yet their funds are woefully inadequate.
In the 2020 Budget, they had nothing for capital expenditure. Therefore, they could not do any investment whatsoever. In the 2021 Budget, there was a slight improvement. They requested for GH¢141 million but got a little over GH¢1.1 million, which is just about 0.8 per cent.
Mr Speaker, the Ministry of Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs plays a vital role in our society, especially when it comes to conflict prevention, and as we all say, “Prevention is better than cure”. Few hours ago, we had our sister Ministry here, the Ministry of Defence, and an approval of over GH¢2 billion was given to them to cure future conflicts. Meanwhile, the Ministry of Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs is asking for a little over GH¢197 million to prevent conflicts. This tells where our priority lies.
Mr Speaker, perusing through the Budget Estimates, you realise that the Ministry's focus has always been on the Chieftaincy side, but their responsibility is beyond chieftaincy. It
is about chieftaincy and religious affairs. The Ministry raises no internally-generated funds, which I sincerely believe is not the best. They have to be innovative and find resources. They cannot just be spending without bringing in to the pot.
Mr Speaker, they should be looking out at how they would raise resources in the future through a regulatory body that could manage all the over 60,000 registered churches we have in Ghana. Even if we have GH¢60,000 registered churches, as the statistics show and they are levied GH¢5,000 for their developmental work as part of managing the proliferation of churches, this is over GH¢300 million that the Ministry could have access to. All the other ministries like the Ministry of Energy and others have regulatory bodies like the National Petroleum Authority (NPA) that helps them raise funds for some of the activities they carry out. The Ministry of Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs should also be looking in that direction.
Mr Speaker, with these few words, I urge my colleagues to support the approval of the amount of GH¢35,739,287 for the Ministry of Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs to carry out its activities.
Question put and Motion agreed to.
Resolved Accordingly:

That this honourable House approves the sum of GH¢35,739,287 for the services of the Ministry of Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs for the year ending 31st December 2021.

Resolved Accordingly.

Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu

Mr Speaker, we can deal with item numbered 9 on page 7 of the Order Paper.

Mr Second Deputy Speaker

Item numbered 9, page 7?
ANNUAL ESTIMATES, 2021

Mr Ahmed Ibrahim (NDC -- Banda)

Mr Speaker, I rise to second the Motion and in doing so, I would present the Committee's Report.
1.0 Introduction
Following the presentation of the Budget Statement and Economic Policy of the Government for the year ending 31st December, 2021 by the
Minister for Parliamentary Affairs and Leader for Government Business, Hon Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu on Friday, 12th March, 2021, the Rt Hon Speaker referred the 2021 Annual Estimates of the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ) to the Special Budget Committee for consideration and report in accordance with article 179 of the 1992 Constitution and Standing Order 140(4) of the Standing Orders of the House.
2.0 Delibrations
The Committee accordingly met with the Commissioner of CHRAJ, Mr Joseph Whittal, officials of the Commission and a technical team from the Ministry of Finance and discussed the Estimates. The Committee expresses its gratitude to the Commissioner of CHRAJ and the technical team for attending upon the Committee for the deliberations.
3.0 Reference Documents
In considering the Estimates of CHRAJ, the Committee referred to the following documents:
1. The 1992 Constitution of the Republic of Ghana;
2. The Standing Orders of the Parliament of Ghana;
3. CHRAJ Act of 1993, (Act
456);
4. The Budget Statement and Economic Policy of the Government for the 2021 Financial Year and;
5. The 2021 Programme Base Budget Estimates of the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ).
4.0 The Vision and the Mission of the Commission
As an independent constitutional body, the vision of the Commission is to ensure a society that is truly fair, just and equitable, where human rights and human dignity are respected, where power is accountable and governance is transparent and to ensure respect for Human Rights, hold power accountable and make governance transparent for all.
5.0 Mandate of the Commission
CHRAJ has three broad mandates, namely, Human Rights protection, Administrative Justice in Public Services and Anti-Corruption and enforcement of Code of Conduct for Public Officers under Chapter 24 of the Constitution.

Mr Second Deputy Speaker

Thank you, Hon Member. I would invite one contribution from each Side.

Mr Frank Annoh-Dompreh (NPP -- Nsawam/Adoagyiri)

Mr Speaker, I rise to speak in support of
the Motion. I would be brief as my Hon Colleague has exhausted the key issues and portions of the Report.
Mr Speaker, I would speak to page 5 of the Report on Management Administration. The Report reads, the CHRAJ continues with reconstruction work at the Head Office. I know a bit of history to this reconstruction work. I recall in the Sixth Parliament, I served on the Committee on Special Budget and this matter came up strongly. It has been a lingering one for far too long. I would urge the management and leadership of the institution to expedite action and deal with it forthwith.
Mr Speaker, on the matter related to weakness on the Assets Declaration Regime Act of 1998, (Act 550) that came up strongly. I think in our quite life, we have had course to complain and comment to this effect. It is important this matter is highlighted and given all the attention it needs for the necessary amendments to be proposed accordingly to deal with the supposed loophole that exist in the Act.
Mr Speaker, on the face value of these, I think that more often than not, CHRAJ has been heard of and I recognise the achievement as captured in the Report. CHRAJ is usually heard
of when key political actors are in the news and it ends there. I do not think that is how it is supposed to be.
CHRAJ would also have to expand their scope of activities. Every Ghanaian matter and anything related to human rights abuses and anything relevant to their core mandates, they need to focus on that, and not necessarily focus on key political actors. I think if they are able to do this, it would be encompassing and Ghanaians would have more believe and confidence in CHRAJ as an independent State institution.
Mr Speaker, with these words, I would like to support the Motion for the approval of the advertised amount.

Mr Second Deputy Speaker

Thank you, Hon Member.
Yes, Hon Member for Afadzato South?

Ms Angela Alorwu-Tay (NDC -- Afadzato South)

Mr Speaker, I thank you for the opportunity to also support the Motion on the Floor of the House to approve the Budget for a very important institution like the
CHRAJ.
Mr Speaker, I would just lay emphasis on the need for the various district offices to be well equipped

Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu

Mr Speaker, we could deal with item numbered 19.

Mr Second Deputy Speaker

Hon Members, item numbered 19, on page 9, Motion by the Minister for National Security.

Minister for National Security (Mr Albert Kan Dapaah)

Mr Speaker, I beg to move, that this honourable House approves the sum of GH¢872,851,837.00 for the services of the Ministry of National Security for the year ending 31st December, 2021.
Question proposed.

Chairman of the Committee (Mr Ken Ohene Agyapong)

Mr Speaker, I rise to second Motion and in doing so, I would want to make
just one correction on the figures. The total amount for the allocation is GH¢872,851,837.00. The mistake is in the Report and not on the Order Paper.
Mr Speaker,
1.0 Introduction
The Hon Minister for Parliamentary Affairs, Mr Osei Kyei-Mensah- Bonsu presented the 2021 Budget Statement and Economic Plan of Government to Parliament on Friday, 12th March, 2021. Pursuant to Article 179 of the 1992Constitution and Orders 140(4) and 158 of Standing Orders of the House, the Annual Budget Estimates of the Ministry of National security was referred to the Committee on Defence and Interior for consideration and report.
2.0 Deliberations
The Committee met on Tuesday, 22nd March, 2021 with the Hon. Minister responsible for National Security, Mr. Albert Kan Dapaah, the Chief Director, Lt. Col. A. Serebour and a technical team from the Ministry of National Security as well as officials from the Ministry of Finance to deliberate on the 2021 budget of the Ministry.
The Committee is grateful to the Hon. Minister and all the officials for their cooperation.
3.0 Reference Documents
The following documents were used as reference guide during the Committee's deliberations:
i. The 1992 Constitution;
ii. The Standing Orders of the Parliament;
iii. The Budget Statement and Economic Policy of the Government of Ghana for the 2020 financial year;
iv. The Budget Statement and Economic Policy of the Government of Ghana for the 2021 financial year; and
v. The Draft Annual Estimates of the Ministry of National Security for the 2021 financial year.
4.0 Mission Statement and Objectives
In line with Sections 11 and 13 of the Civil Service Act of 1993 (PNDCL 327), Section 24 of the Security and Intelligence Agencies Act, 2020 (Act 1030) and by an

Chairman of the Committee (Mr Ken Ohene Agyapong)

shortfalls in allocations continuously disrupts the implementation of the programme of activities of the Ministry since its budgetary requirements are based on the costing of its programmes and activities. An increment in the allocation to the Ministry would consequently ensure an improvement in the quality of the security in the country.
The Committee accordingly recommends that the sum of eight hundred and seventy two million, two hundred and fifty one thousand, eight hundred and thirty seven Ghana cedis (GH¢872,851,837.00) be approved for the Ministry of National Security for the 2021 financial year.
Respectfully submitted.

Ranking Member of the Committee (Mr James Agalga): Thank you, Mr Speaker, for the opportunity to contribute to the Motion ably moved by the Hon Minister responsible for National Security.

Mr Speaker, the Ministry of National Security is a very important Ministry which is charged with the responsibility of coordinating the affairs of our security and intelligence

agencies. Currently, we are faced with emerging threats such as terrorism on our northern frontier; we have problems with our maritime domain and we have challenges with our cybersecurity.

However, one of the major challenges of the Ministry of National Security is the perennial inadequate budgetary allocation for the execution of its mandate. Mr Speaker, if you consider the fact that presently, we even have a framework for combating terrorism and violent extremism in our country in a new National Security Strategy, you would appreciate the point that there is urgent need for adequate budgetary allocation to be made for the Ministry of National Security to execute its mandate.

Going through the figures, I have no doubt in my mind that we have to look beyond this budget if we are to finance the activities of the Ministry of National Security to defend adequately against the threat of terrorism and violent extremism. Thus, it is important that these figures be approved as an interim measure, but moving forward, we need to up our game.

In the neighbouring countries, Burkina Faso is a clear example. The country has been taken over by bandits and terrorists. We do not want

to wait. They have their eyes on us so, we have to up our game, and provide the Ministry with the much needed resources to protect all of us.

I thank you for the opportunity.

Question proposed.

Mrs Ophelia Mensah Hayford (NPP --Mfantseman)

Mr Speaker, I rise to support the Motion before the House to approve the estimated budget for the operations of the Ministry of National Security.
Mr Speaker, the Ministry of National Security has five agencies, and it is mandated to initiate and formulate policies to ensure effective and efficient management of security issues as well as coordinate and evaluate. Mr Speaker, security is key to the development of a country. That is why our National Security apparatus ought to be resourced for effectiveness in the defence of our nation.
Mr Speaker, this Ministry is mandated with the collection of intelligence and data gathering. As such, it cannot be trampled upon when it comes to safeguarding the peace and security of our country. Mr Speaker, the peace we enjoy in the country is as a result of intelligence gathering which hindered and
sometimes thwarts the efforts of nation wreckers in their bid to destabilise the country. The efforts of Western Togoland secessionists were thwarted due to intelligence gathering.
Mr Speaker, the mandate of the Ministry of National Security is key to the peace we enjoy in the country. They have been mandated to promote political tolerance, stability and peace in Ghana, and in the sub-region. I therefore endorse the Motion, and encourage all and sundry to accept and approve the budget for the operations of the Ministry.

Mr Benson Tongo Baba (NDC -- Talensi)

Thank you very much, Mr Speaker, for giving me the opportunity to contribute to the Motion on the budget estimates for the Ministry of National Security.
Mr Speaker, as already outlined, the importance of the Ministry of National Security cannot be overemphasised. We all know what is happening in the sub-region. Therefore, the operations of the Ministry of National Security becomes paramount to safeguard this nation. Unfortunately, the budget allocation in previous years, and this year in particular, have not been adequate.

Mr Benson Tongo Baba (NDC -- Talensi)

Last year, the Committee had to
put in a strong case for the Ministry of Finance to ring-fence the outstanding budgetary allocation which was approved towards the end of the year. That was in 2019, and that was ring-fenced for them, and they were able to carry out some of their activities.

Regrettably, this year, their allocation has been reduced, and in percentage terms, it looks like we want them to underperform while in the actual sense, we want them to improve upon their performance.

Personal emoluments or compensation has even been reduced; if we come to goods and services, the percentage is too high to the extent that even the purchase of operational vehicles and equipment would become a serious challenge to the Ministry in this particular financial year.

I would therefore, like to urge the Ministry of Finance that in their Mid- Year Review, they should consider what the Ministry for National Security requested for. That is what would make them operational and efficient but if we reduce what they have requested for to a certain level,

it means that we are expecting them not to perform to the optimum; they would perform up to the allocations granted them and that would mean that the nation is going to suffer in their performance.

Mr Speaker, budgetary allocations everywhere for security operations are enormous, and this country cannot deny the National Security Ministry of the needed funds to be able to contribute to their core mandate.

Mr Speaker, with these few words, I would like to urge the House to support the Motion on the Floor for the approval of the estimate which have been stated and captured on the Order Paper as item numbered 19 on page 9 of today's Order Paper.

Mr Speaker, I thank you for the opportunity.

Mr Second Deputy Speaker

Thank you Hon Member.
Hon Minister responsible for the Ministry of Finance, the Hon Majority Leader, I have listened to all contributors and it appears all of them are talking about the slashing of the Budgetary Allocation to the Ministry of National Security so; if you could look at it again?

Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu

Mr Speaker, I do appreciate the concerns expressed by Hon Colleagues in respect of a major threat that is confronting this country especially from the northern flank, and we really need to re-tool and re-shape and re- structure our forces to confront the threat. For that reason, it would certainly become imperative that we find a way to re-tool the security agencies.
Mr Speaker, in the course of the year, something serious would have to happen by way of re-tooling our security forces. And in that regard, there is a meeting that is even being organised tomorrow involving some members of the Committee on Defence and the Interior; the Finance Committee; the Committee on Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration and the Leadership for some very important briefing which would enable us decide as a country the protection and indeed, holding fast to the stability and integrity of this country.
Mr Speaker, I appreciate the issues raised by the Committee but Parliament would take the appropriate steps in conjunction with the Executive to do what is needful.
Mr Speaker, I thank you very much.

Mr Second Deputy Speaker

Thank you Hon Majority Leader.
Question put and Motion agreed to.
Resolved Accordingly.
That this honourable House approves the sum of Gh¢872,851,837 for the services of the Ministry of National Security for the year ending 31st December, 2021.

Mr Kan Dappah

Mr Speaker, we are most grateful to the House, and we are equally grateful for the observations that were made by Hon Members who contributed.
I thank you very much.

Mr Second Deputy Speaker

Thank you, Hon Minister.
Hon Majority Leader?

Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu

Mr Speaker, we could take the item numbered 38 on page 13 of today's Order Paper.

Mr Second Deputy Speaker

Hon Members, the item numbered 38 on page 13of today's Order Paper; Motion?

Minister for Parliamentary Affairs and Majority Leader (Mr Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu)

Mr Speaker, I beg to move, that this honourable House approves the sum of Gh¢481,667,473 for the services of the Audit Service for the year ending 31st December, 2021.
Mr Speaker, the Audit Service exists to audit the public accounts of Ghana and all public officers and report the findings and recommenda- tions to Parliament.
Mr Speaker, it is instructive to emphasise this point that the Audit Service, and indeed, the Auditor- General should submit their reports to Parliament, and until they do that, their own functions remain incomplete. The point should be made that the chain should not be broken where before the reports come to Parliament, the Service has a very disingenuous way of leaking reports to the general public. And in many instances, when they come, it is found out that some mistakes have occurred and the people who are affected are taken to the cleaners table and bastardised and then, the Audit Service comes to Parliament and renders apology to those people.
It is the reason why we should join ranks to ensure that the proper thing is done.

When they finish the reports, they should submit those reports to Parliament, and until they do so, their responsibility is incomplete.

Mr Speaker, they audit the half year financial statements of the Foreign Exchange Receipts and Payments or Transfers prepared by the Bank of Ghana and report the findings and recommendations to Parliament. They are also required to carry out in the public interest such special audits or reviews as the Auditor-General considers necessary and submit reports to Parliament.

They ensure that the auditing activities of the Audit Service as spelt out in the Audit Service Act are carried out in accordance with international best practices. They monitor the use and management of all public funds, ensure value for money and report to Parliament. This covers all constitutional creatures and statutory or any other body or organisation established by an Act of Parliament. They ensure the effective implementation of the Assets and Liability regime established under the 1992 Constitution.

Mr Speaker, for this reason, the Audit Service has been allocated an amount of GH¢481,667,473. The amount allocated as is known to all, would be insufficient to deal with their responsibilities but as is usual, they are required to operate within a very tight regime. It is for this reason that I so move that the House approves this sum for the services of the Audit Service for the year ending, 31st December, 2021.

Mr Second Deputy Speaker

Hon First Deputy Minority Whip?

Mr Ahmed Ibrahim

Mr Speaker, I rise to support the Motion and in so doing, I would present the Committee's Report.
1.0 Introduction
The Hon Majority Leader and Minister for Parliamentary Affairs, Mr Osei Kyei-Mensa-Bonsu presented the Budget Statement and Economic Policy of the Government for the 2021 financial year to Parliament on Friday, 12th March, 2021 in accordance with article 179 of the 1992 Constitution and Section 21(3) of the Public Financial Management Act of 2016 (Act 921).
The estimates of the Audit Service were subsequently referred to the
Special Budget Committee for consideration and report in accordance with Order 140(4) of the Standing Orders of the House.
2.0 Deliberations
The Committee was assisted in its deliberations by the Ag. Auditor- General, Mr Johnson Akuamoah Asiedu, Officials of the Ghana Audit Service and the Ministry of Finance.
The Committee extends its profound appreciation to the Ag. Auditor-General and the other officials for their assistance.
3.0 Reference Documents
The Committee referred to the following documents during its deliberations:
a. The 1992 Constitution of the Republic of Ghana.
b. The Standing Orders of the Parliament of Ghana.
c. Public Financial Management Act of 2016 (Act 921).
d. The Audit Service Act of 2000, (Act 584).
e. The Budget Statement and Economic Policy of the

Mr Second Deputy Speaker

I would invite one contribution from each Side then leadership may also have their bite.

Mrs Angela Oforiwa Alorwu- Tay (NDC -- Afadzato South)

Mr Speaker, I thank you for the opportunity to contribute to the Motion.
Mr Speaker, when the Committee met with the Audit Service, we realised that the loan facility that they acquired to build 25 offices in the various districts would build only 19 offices because of the inability of the Ministry of Finance to give them the money to start the project. The reason the Auditor-General's Department gave was that the fact that there was the need for an external contractor to supervise the project, the Ministry of Finance needed an approval from Parliament for the funds to be
disbursed to them and because of that the money has been in the bank account and depreciated to the point that instead of them to have 25 district offices, they would have 19 offices.
Mr Speaker, we also noted with grave concern that at the various Assemblies, because the districts are the landlords of the auditors, they finally end up listening to them more than their bosses because their stationery is provided by them and everything is facilitated by the District Chief Executive (DCE) and the Assembly. So, the Committee is of the view that the Ministry of Finance, should as a matter of urgency come to Parliament for the necessary approval to enable them build the 19 district offices.
Mr Speaker, we also realised that their allocations are always delayed even after our leaders have intervened on their behalf. We know that the activities of the Audit Service are seasonal, so if they are given money in September when they conduct their audit from March to June, they would not be able to report to this House on time. We want to appeal to the Hon Minister for Finance, to release their money on time so that they can undertake their auditing and report to this House on time.
The Committee recommends to this House to approve this budget for the Audit Service.

Minority Leader (Mr Haruna Iddrisu)

Mr Speaker, I thank you very much for the opportunity to contribute to the Motion.
Mr Speaker, the Audit Service is a very important constitutional body which was created under the 1992 Constitution to exact accountability in terms of the use of public resources and money and to also supervise our asset declaration regime.
Mr Speaker, I want to refer to page 14 of the Report under “Expanding the scope of asset declaration regime''. In this country, we need to reform and revise our current asset declaration regime because everywhere in the world, unexplained wealth is criminalised. If a wealth cannot be explained or accounted for, the assumption is that it has not been acquired lawfully and probably, may be proceeds from acts of abuse or corruption. So as a country, we need to take a strong position to review our asset declaration regime and to further criminalise unexplained wealth. When public officials have huge sums of money in their bank accounts and it is not -

Mr Second Deputy Speaker

Hon Members, Order! There is too much noise in the House.

Mr Haruna Iddrisu

Mr Speaker, I want to deal with the matter of the Audit Service. They have sought facilities from “KfWs support to the Audit Service'' and they are not able to utilise the money because the Ministry of Finance and the Office of the Attorney-General and Ministry of Justice are yet to resolve an issue whether the matter should be brought back to Parliament or not. My advice is that as soon as practicable, the two Hon Ministers should resolve the issue because it would give the Audit Service GH¢13.5 million which could help them on some expenditure which would be capital related.
Mr Speaker, this is the third year we have reported on the non- utilisation of this amount. As I speak, there is no Auditor-General because the President has asked him to proceed on leave. In my view, it is not the best of decisions because it is not a good example for an accountable independent institution; and tomorrow, somebody may ask some other person somewhere to proceed on leave prior to retirement. It does not help governance in this country, it does not help trace sunshine on corruption, it does not help trace sunshine on misappropriation,

Mr Haruna Iddrisu

misapplication and embezzlement of public resources which is the bane of annual reports of the Auditor-General.
Mr Speaker, the Auditor-General assured us that he would conduct some audit on road construction, on procurement, and on matters of the COVID-19 pandemic, which is encouraging to hear. In 2020, the Auditor-General said that for some reason, they could not conduct audit in Ghana's foreign missions.
Mr Speaker, I want to conclude on paragraph 6.5 on page 14 of the Report, under “Development partners support to the Audit Service''. The Audit Service could not explain what the essence of the provision of an amount of GH¢34,195,253 was. I understand it was some grant from the United States of America's Government supported by the USAID GSAMA Project --
“purposed of it the United Agency for International Development in collaboration with the Government of Ghana and Care International is implementing a five-year project from 2015 to 2020 now extended to 2022 under the name Ghana Strengthening Accountability Mechanism''.
Mr Speaker, I requested for this report from the Auditor-General to justify the inclusion of the GH¢34,195,253. So, the GH¢34,195,253 would be added to their CAPEX so that at lease, some audit would be carried out in some 50 district assemblies.

However, it was disappointing that at the Committee level, the Audit Service could not explain what this 34 million grant coming from the US Government for CAPEX was to be provided for. They have just brought me the explanation to satisfy its inclusion.

Mr Speaker, so, there are matters to resolve with the Audit Service. The Supreme Court has given a ruling against the spirit and letter of the 1992 Constitution in article 187; I believe where it is settled in advance of Parliament considering the Report. That is not the way to go - convicting the innocent; one makes findings of the person before Parliament considers the findings, they have already gone public on it. We need to take a position on this particular matter because I trust that the Auditor- General remains a strong viable institution in our anti-corruption report or anti-abuse of public office effort and every year, over one to two billion

cedis is lost in the Auditor-General's Report and we cannot continue business as usual.

With these comments, I support the approval of the Motion.

Mr Second Deputy Leader

Yes, Majority Leadership?

Mr Alexander Afenyo-Markin

Mr Speaker, I thank you for the opportunity to add my voice to the Motion for the approval of the Budget Estimates of the Audit Service.
Mr Speaker, may I simply state that the Auditor-General's office and for that matter, the Audit Service has a responsibility in fighting corruption? That is correct and constitutional but the zeal to exercise a mandate must be so done within the confines of the law.
Most of the time, we are in a hurry to persecute and call names. I will say that considering the year-on-year improvement in respect of funds allocated the Audit Service, if we look at compensation, we can clearly see that the Government is so committed to helping them with the human resources; they have been given the space to recruit quite a lot of people. It is important for them to allow for due process in all their actions because
when they hurriedly go to the media only to realise that the one at the receiving end was denied his right of fair hearing, one cannot repair any damages caused thereto.
Mr Speaker, I would therefore, strongly add my voice to the call on the Audit Service as well as the Auditor-General to follow due process, exercise their zeal but limit it within the confines of the law and make Ghana a better place.
Having said all of these, I have no hesitation at all in inviting Hon Colleagues to approve of the sum as allocated to that Agency.
Mr Speaker, I am grateful for the space afforded me. Sorry about that. With your leave, suffice to say that the Motion was moved by the Hon Majority Leader and Leader of Government Business but Hon Member for Afadjato again moved for the - though it is superfluous to move the Motion twice, I think that she wanted to show how strongly she supported the Moiton and has of late, become a woman of procedure. So, I appreciate her zeal for procedure.
Thank you so much. You may put the Question.
An Hon Member -- rose --

Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu

Mr Speaker, my attention has been drawn to the fact that one Report in respect of item numbered 6 (l) is ready and could be laid.

Mr Second Deputy Speaker

Hon Majority Leader?

Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu

Mr Speaker, Motion numbered 25 on page 11.

Mr Second Deputy Speaker

Item numbered 25 by the Hon Attorney-General and Minister for Justice.

Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu

Mr Speaker, if you would indulge me, I want to move the Motion on behalf of the Attorney-General and Minister for Justice.

Mr Second Deputy Speaker

Hon Majority Leader, you can go on.
ANNUAL ESTIMATES, 2021

Mr Second Deputy Speaker

Any seconder?

Chairman of the Committee (Mr Kwame Anyimadu-Antwi)

Mr Speaker, I beg to second the Motion
and in doing so present your 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 B u d g e t Estimates of the Office of the Legal Aid Commission (LAC) was referred to the Committee on Constitutional, Legal & Parliamentary Affairs for consideration and report.
2.0 Deliberations
The Committee met with the Executive Director, Mr Martin Tieku Amoyaw and Officials of the Office of the Legal Aid Commission (LAC).
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 its deliberations:

Chairman of the Committee (Mr Kwame Anyimadu-Antwi)

Mr Speaker, my heart always bleeds when I look at the Estimates and the performance of the office of the Legal Aid Commission, which is supposed to perform this invaluable function for the indigenes of our country.
Mr Speaker, in the year under review, the Report tells us that the budgetary allocation for Compensa- tion was GH¢6,796,030.20 but in actual fact, the expenditure on Compensation amounts to a whopping GH¢21, 811,163.14. Mr Speaker, from GH¢6 million to about GH¢22 million means that after the passage of the Legal Aid Commission Act, a lot has happened. They have been able to harmonise the salary scale of the workers at the Commission, and I believe some arrears have been paid to them in order to see to it that the office of the Legal Aid Commission operates well.
However, in 2021, the Commission's compensation, which was in excess of appropriation from GH¢6 million to about GH¢22 million is now being allocated GH¢13,978,596. Mr Speaker, the difference between GH¢13 million and GH¢22 million is so huge. So, how would the Legal Aid Commission manage the Compensation when in the year under review, an amount of
GH¢22 million was spent but in the ensuing year, we are asking them to spend about GH¢13 million on compensation?
We are telling Ghanaians that the Commission must sack some of the existing staff that they have now, as a result of which the wages translated to about GH¢22 million and so in the year 2021, they can only be able to manage GH¢13 million for Compensation if some employees are sacked. Mr Speaker, I feel strongly that this is not good enough. At least, if we cannot budget accurately for this particular country, we should be able to budget nearly-accurately when it comes to issues relating to Compensation. Mr Speaker, because with issues relating to Compensation, the number of employees could be predetermined and the number that would be employed in the ensuing year should be known and budgeted for accurately.
Mr Speaker, in considering the budget under review, not only in respect of the Legal Aid Commission, we realised that there has been expenditure overrun when it comes to Compensation. This House promulgated the Public Financial Management Act (PFMA) and in section 96, it is a criminal offence to spend in excess of what Parliament has approved. So, expenditure in excess of appropriation is an offence
which is punishable to at least one year imprisonment.

So, in a situation where in a particular year, 2020, the budget allocation is GH¢22 million, but it is being reduced to GH¢13 million, then how will they meet the expenditure in the year 2021 for the employees?

Mr Speaker, the Legal Aid Commission Act, after its passage, makes it obligatory to have the offices of the Legal Aid Commission in all the districts we have in the country. It means that the Legal Aid Commission must have offices in all the regions and districts in this country. But look at the allocation for Goods and Services.

In 2021, for Goods and Services, they would only spend GH¢529,564. An agency which is supposed to open district offices in all the districts in the country, how on earth can their Goods and Services be only GH¢529,564? This is clearly near impossibility because there is no way by which an agency could establish and operate district offices in all the districts in Ghana using this amount of money. This is not all. Their Capital Expenditure (CAPEX) is only GH¢1,150,000. How can they operate in all the districts?

Mr Speaker, my plea is that the Legal Aid Commission is crawling; it is on its knes begging. Danger beget the Legal Aid Commission. It is the cry of distress that can summon relief for the Legal Aid Commission.

Mr Speaker, with these few words, I am done.

Mr Second Deputy Speaker

Thank you very much, Hon Member. I would invite one contributor from each Side. It could be a Leader or any Hon Member.

Mr Alexander K. Afenyo- Markin (NPP -- Effutu)

Mr Speaker, thank you for this treasured space.
Mr Speaker, Hon Ahiafor could not have put it any better than he did. A lawyer of many years in active practice, he knows what the ordinary Ghanaian suffers from on the streets in search of justice.
Mr Speaker, my practice took me to Dunkwa-on-Offin, a lower court, and what I saw there many years ago was that bad. Our Constitution has provided for legal aid, and if we are talking about its elevation from a Department to a Commission, quite obviously, we need to resource them. The law is not only practiced in Accra and not only for the rich, but for those

Mr Second Deputy Speaker

Hon Member for Madina, Hon Francis-Xavier Sosu, I observed from afar with interest that you took delight in offering pro bono services to the needy. Hon Member, let me hear you?

Mr Francis-Xavier Kojo Sosu (NDC -- Madina)

Thank you very much, Mr Speaker. I sincerely appreciate you for giving me the opportunity to contribute to this Motion.
Mr Speaker, I must say that issues of justice are at the heart of every democracy. And it is often said that if you would want to access the progress in any society, look at how it treats its most vulnerable people. I believe that the intention of the 1992 Constitution to establish a legal aid body is to fill in this gap for people who are vulnerable and do not have opportunities like others. That is why matters of legal aid are very critical.
Mr Speaker, as someone who has followed issues of human rights over the last 10 years, I can say without a shadow of doubt that there are several people around the country that would benefit immensely from the Legal Aid Commission if they are properly resourced and Ghanaians can readily have access to them. This is why I would support the Motion and say that when you look at Table 1, you would realise that in 2020, GH¢2 million was allocated to the Legal Aid Commission for its work. However, when you come to Goods and Services, paragraph 11.3, you would realise that the GH¢2 million has been reduced to GH¢529,564. Clearly, this cut in Goods and Services is not justifiable, given the role that the Legal Aid Commission is to play in our country.
Mr Speaker, despite the very difficult conditions under which the Legal Aid Commission has been working, they have been able to make some remarkable achievements and I make reference to paragraph 8 of the Report.

It says that they have been able to complete 1,115 cases, which included matters of maintenance, divorce, manslaughter, murder, rape, defilement, among many others.

Mr Speaker, I believe that if this Commission is resourced, many Ghanaians would tend to benefit and a sense of justice and fairness is going to increase in our society. As we speak now, the Legal Aid is supposed to service all the 16 regions and all districts in Ghana but they have only about 34 lawyers. How can 34 lawyers be available to meet the needs of all these Ghanaians across the country who are in need of legal aid?

Mr Speaker, I would plead and urge the House that in approving this, the Ministry of Finance would take cognisance of this concern that has been raised so that in their revised budget, they can make adequate allocation for the Office of the Legal Aid Commission.

Mr Second Deputy Speaker

Thank you, Hon Member.
Question put and Motion agreed to.
Resolved Accordingly:
That this honourable House approves the sum of GH¢15,658,160 for the services of the Office of the Legal Aid Commission for the year ending 31st December,
2021.

Mr Second Deputy Speaker

Hon Majority Leader?

Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu

Mr Speaker, it looks like we have to take an adjournment until tomorrow at 10 o'clock in the forenoon.
Mr Speaker, I would want to appeal to the Committee Chairs that we have a backlog of more than 34 outstanding Committee Reports. I would appeal to the Leadership of the various Committees that by tomorrow, they should submit all the Reports for us to be able to transact business. Tomorrow, if we have to close at 12 midnight, we shall do so.
The Committee Leadership, especially the Chairmen should be much more up and doing than they have done. Tomorrow, we shall have some very important meeting in the morning at 9.30. a.m. Notwithstanding, I guess the House would be in capable hands if those other Committees are meeting?
Mr Speaker, the Appointments Committee would be continuing to complete what efforts they started today and that other Committees would be meeting. But the rest of the Committees that have not finished their business should conclude them and submit their Reports to the House tomorrow so that we can do the business relating to the 34 remaining Estimates.
Mr Speaker, if we are not able to complete, certainly, we would continue on Saturday. This is because on Monday, we should clear the day for the consideration of the budget- related taxes. I think there are about five or six of them. We should be able to complete them and then we pave the way for the Appropriation Bill on Tuesday.
Thank you very much, Mr Speaker.

Mr Avedzi

Mr Speaker, I would want to add to what the Hon Majority Leader has said. Sometimes, even
when the Committees finish their work, printing also becomes another issue. So the Clerk should also provide the necessary tools and materials for the printing room to ensure that they also do the printing on time so that tomorrow, by the time we are Sitting, we should have enough Reports to deal with. I am sure that if we are able to do about 20 Reports out of the 34 tomorrow, we would be on course. So just to alert the
Clerks-at-the-Table to ensure that the printing is also done on time.
Thank you, Mr Speaker.

Mr Second Deputy Speaker

Thank you, Hon Members, for your cooperation.

Debates of 25 Mar 2021

PRAYERS 11:35 a.m.

VOTES AND PROCEEDINGS AND THE OFFICIAL REPORT 11:35 a.m.

Mr Second Deputy Speaker 11:35 a.m.

Mr Ablakwa 11:35 a.m.

Mr Second Deputy Speaker 11:35 a.m.

Mr Annoh-Dompreh 11:35 a.m.

Mr Second Deputy Speaker 11:35 a.m.

Mr Adjei Mensah 11:35 a.m.

Mr Second Deputy Speaker 11:35 a.m.

Mr Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa 11:45 a.m.

Mr Second Deputy Speaker 11:45 a.m.

Mr Ablakwa 11:45 a.m.

Mr Second Deputy Speaker 11:45 a.m.

ORAL ANSWERS TO 11:45 a.m.

URGENT QUESTIONS 11:45 a.m.

MINISTRY OF EDUCATION 11:45 a.m.

Mr Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa (North Tongu) 11:45 a.m.

Minister for Education (Dr Yaw Osei Adutwum) 11:45 a.m.

Minister for Education (Dr Yaw Osei Adutwum) 11:55 a.m.

Mr Speaker, remarks 11:55 a.m.

Mr Second Deputy Speaker 11:55 a.m.

Mr Ablakwa 11:55 a.m.

Dr Adutwum 11:55 a.m.

Mr Ablakwa 11:55 a.m.

Dr Adutwum 11:55 a.m.

Mr Ablakwa 11:55 a.m.

Dr Adutwum 12:05 p.m.

Mr Peter Kwasi Nortsu-Kotoe 12:05 p.m.

Dr Adutwum 12:05 p.m.

Mr Emmanuel Kwasi Bedzrah 12:05 p.m.

Mr Second Deputy Speaker 12:05 p.m.

Mr Bedzrah 12:05 p.m.

Dr Adutwum 12:05 p.m.

Mr Ahmed Ibrahim 12:05 p.m.

Dr Adutwum 12:05 p.m.

Mr A. Ibrahim 12:05 p.m.

Dr Adutwum 12:05 p.m.

Mr A. Ibrahim 12:05 p.m.

Dr Adutwum 12:05 p.m.

Mr Frank Annoh-Dompreh 12:05 p.m.

Dr Adutwum 12:15 p.m.

Mr Second Deputy Speaker 12:15 p.m.

Mr Woyome 12:15 p.m.

Mr Second Deputy Speaker 12:15 p.m.

Dr Adutwum 12:15 p.m.

Mr Second Deputy Speaker 12:15 p.m.

Mr Second Deputy Speaker 12:15 p.m.

Mr Annoh-Dompreh 12:15 p.m.

Mr Second Deputy Speaker 12:15 p.m.

Mr A. Ibrahim 12:15 p.m.

Mr Annoh-Dompreh 12:15 p.m.

Mr A. Ibrahim 12:15 p.m.

Mr Second Deputy Speaker 12:15 p.m.

MINISTRY OF DEFENCE 12:15 p.m.

Minister for Defence (Mr Dominic Bingab Aduna Nitiwul) 12:25 p.m.

Mr Second Deputy Speaker 12:25 p.m.

Chairman of the Committee (Mr Ken Ohene Agyapong) 12:25 p.m.

GOODS AND SERVICES 12:25 p.m.

CAPEX 12:25 p.m.

SHORTFALLS CREATED 12:25 p.m.

Mr Second Deputy Speaker 12:25 p.m.

Dr Zanetor Agyeman-Rawlings 12:35 p.m.

Mr Second Deputy Speaker 12:35 p.m.

Mrs Ophelia M. Hayford (NPP -- Mfantseman) 12:35 p.m.

Mr Second Deputy Speaker 12:35 p.m.

Mr Bawah M. Braimah (NDC -- Ejura/Sekyedumase) 12:45 p.m.

Mr Second Deputy Speaker 12:45 p.m.

Mr Second Deputy Speaker 12:45 p.m.

Mr First Deputy Speaker 12:45 p.m.

Mr Annoh-Dompreh 12:45 p.m.

Mr Second Deputy Speaker 12:45 p.m.

STATEMENTS 12:55 p.m.

Mr Samuel O. Ablakwa (NDC -- North Tongu) 12:55 p.m.

Mr Second Deputy Speaker 1:05 p.m.

Dr Abdul-Rashid Hassan Pelpuo (NDC -- Wa Central) 1:05 p.m.

Mr Second Deputy Speaker 1:05 p.m.

Dr Prince Hamidu Armah (NPP -- Kwesimintsim) 1:05 p.m.

Dr Prince Hamidu Armah (NPP -- Kwesimintsim) 1:15 p.m.

Mr James Agalga (NDC -- Builsa North) 1:15 p.m.

PRAYERS

VOTES AND PROCEEDINGS AND THE OFFICIAL REPORT

Mr Second Deputy Speaker

Mr Ablakwa

Mr Second Deputy Speaker

Mr Annoh-Dompreh

Mr Second Deputy Speaker

Mr Adjei Mensah

Mr Second Deputy Speaker

Mr Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa

Mr Second Deputy Speaker

Mr Ablakwa

Mr Second Deputy Speaker

ORAL ANSWERS TO

URGENT QUESTIONS

MINISTRY OF EDUCATION

Mr Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa (North Tongu)

Minister for Education (Dr Yaw Osei Adutwum)

Minister for Education (Dr Yaw Osei Adutwum)

Mr Speaker, remarks

Mr Second Deputy Speaker

Mr Ablakwa

Dr Adutwum

Mr Ablakwa

Dr Adutwum

Mr Ablakwa

Dr Adutwum

Mr Peter Kwasi Nortsu-Kotoe

Dr Adutwum

Mr Emmanuel Kwasi Bedzrah

Mr Second Deputy Speaker

Mr Bedzrah

Dr Adutwum

Mr Ahmed Ibrahim

Dr Adutwum

Mr A. Ibrahim

Dr Adutwum

Mr A. Ibrahim

Dr Adutwum

Mr Frank Annoh-Dompreh

Dr Adutwum

Mr Second Deputy Speaker

Mr Woyome

Mr Second Deputy Speaker

Dr Adutwum

Mr Second Deputy Speaker

Mr Second Deputy Speaker

Mr Annoh-Dompreh

Mr Second Deputy Speaker

Mr A. Ibrahim

Mr Annoh-Dompreh

Mr A. Ibrahim

Mr Second Deputy Speaker

MINISTRY OF DEFENCE

Minister for Defence (Mr Dominic Bingab Aduna Nitiwul)

Mr Second Deputy Speaker

Chairman of the Committee (Mr Ken Ohene Agyapong)

GOODS AND SERVICES

CAPEX

SHORTFALLS CREATED

Mr Second Deputy Speaker

Dr Zanetor Agyeman-Rawlings

Mr Second Deputy Speaker

Mrs Ophelia M. Hayford (NPP -- Mfantseman)

Mr Second Deputy Speaker

Mr Bawah M. Braimah (NDC -- Ejura/Sekyedumase)

Mr Second Deputy Speaker

Mr Second Deputy Speaker

Mr First Deputy Speaker

Mr Annoh-Dompreh

Mr Second Deputy Speaker

STATEMENTS

Mr Samuel O. Ablakwa (NDC -- North Tongu)

Mr Second Deputy Speaker

Dr Abdul-Rashid Hassan Pelpuo (NDC -- Wa Central)

Mr Second Deputy Speaker

Dr Prince Hamidu Armah (NPP -- Kwesimintsim)

Dr Prince Hamidu Armah (NPP -- Kwesimintsim)

Mr James Agalga (NDC -- Builsa North)

Mr Speaker, article 28(4) of the 1992 Constitution clearly states that