Debates of 26 Mar 2021

MR SECOND DEPUTY SPEAKER
PRAYERS 11:24 a.m.
VOTES AND PROCEEDINGS AND THE OFFICIAL REPORT 11:24 a.m.
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 11:24 a.m.
Hon Members, Corrections of Votes and Proceedings of Thursday, 25th March, 2021.
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 11:34 a.m.
Hon Members, the item numbered 5?
Mr Frank Annoh-Dompreh 11:34 a.m.
Mr Speaker, I come under the strength of Standing Order 53 and also, with the consent of my Hon Colleagues in Leadership on the other Side, we wish to implore your kindness to vary the order of the day and take the item
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 11:34 a.m.
Hon Members, the item listed 5. There is a Statement that stands in the name of the Hon Member for Damango, and Minister for Lands and Natural Resources on United Nations Day of Forest which he wants to deliver to the nation.
Hon Minister?
STATEMENTS 11:34 a.m.
Minister for Lands and Natural Resources (Mr Samuel A. Jinapor) (MP) 11:34 a.m.
Mr Speaker, in 2012, the United Nations General Assembly declared 21st March of every year as the International Day of Forests. This day is set aside to
create global awareness on the importance of all types of forests and trees outside forest enclaves. This decision was taken in response to national and international concerns on the high rate of deforestation and forest degradation recorded across the globe.
Mr Speaker, further, the consequential adverse impact of climate change on the livelihoods and economic development of many nations, especially developing countries, contributed significantly to this global consciousness on the need to protect the global eco-system. On each International Day of Forests, countries are encouraged to undertake local, national and international efforts to organise activities involving tree planting campaigns.
Mr Speaker, today, before the representatives of the Ghanaian people, the Government and people of Ghana join the world in recommitting ourselves to the principles which animated the United Nations General Assembly to designate 21st March, as the International Day of Forests.
Mr Speaker, the global theme for the celebration is
“Forest Restoration: A Path to Recovery and Well-Being”.
We, in Ghana, have, however, modified this global theme slightly to meet our National Policy on Forestry as
“Forest Landscape Restoration: Planting 5 Million Trees in A Day”.
So, on this day, not only should we renew our commitment to plant trees, but we must also commit ourselves to nurture and, indeed, preserve existing forests and trees outside forest enclaves. Since taking office as Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, I have, in accordance with the vision of the President of the Republic, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, initiated a project dubbed: The Green Ghana Project. This Project will see to the planting of five million (5,000,000) commercial and other trees, in all sixteen (16) Regions, in one day.
Mr Speaker, we are all going to “Plant A Tree to Green Ghana”. Tentatively scheduled for 11th June 2021, President Akufo-Addo will plant a commemorative tree on that day, with the Vice President, the Right Hon Speaker of Parliament, and my Lord, the Chief Justice all doing same. Other prominent citizens of our society such as His Majesty the Asantehene, His Majesty the Yaa- Naa, and a host of other distinguished personalities will be called upon to support this project with their
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 11:44 a.m.
Thank you Hon Minister. I am going to invite two contributors from each Side, then Leadership would conclude.
Hon Member for Wa Central?
Alhaji (Dr) Abdul-Rashid Hassan Pelpuo (NDC -- Wa Central) 11:44 a.m.
Mr Speaker, thank you for the opportunity to contribute to this very important Statement made by the Hon Minister for Lands and Natural Resources. Logically, he should be the one to demonstrate leadership in leading Ghana to observe this very important day.
It is a day of self-reflection, a day we would think about ourselves regarding the environment we live in
and know that this environment defines who we are. If we live in an environment that does not reflect to our very nature, hopes, aspirations and wishes, it appears that we do not know in which direction we are moving.
Mr Speaker, I am happy that in dealing with this issue, the Hon Minister made reflective efforts on Ghana's Green Ghana Project. This is a project which seeks to plant trees in Ghana, restore the forest and give us a practical application of how we can revamp the environment. This is something that we should be doing not just because it is a project in Ghana but because we must make sure that the environment is the last place of man on earth.
In other words, as Gandhi said, “when the last tree dies, the last man dies”. The environment which is made up of trees among others, reflects the life of man because we feed on them and the flora and fauna also defines the nature of man. So, this is a very important time and I call on Hon Members of Parliament to demonstrate much more than listening and talking.
We should go back to our various constituencies and organise such that the concept of the Green Ghana Project would have practical
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 11:44 a.m.
Thank you Hon Member. Let me invite the Hon Member for Sunyani West.
Minister for Employment and Labour Relations (Mr Ignatius Baffour-Awuah) (MP) 11:54 a.m.
Thank you Mr Speaker.
I want to add my voice in thanking the Hon Minister for Lands and Natural Resources who made the Statement.
Perhaps, this Statement could not have come at any better time than now because we are marking the beginning of the rainy season. If we are talking about planting trees, this is perhaps the best time to be able to conscientise the minds of Ghanaians.
Mr Speaker, why I say this topic is so important is that I am just casting my mind back to the environment around the area I grew up in as a young man. When I go back to that same community, I noticed that there has been a serious climactic change.
This is because growing up, I lived in the midst of a very thick forest but now, when I go back, the whole area is a savannah area? This means that within a span of 50 years, the vegetation of the area has totally changed.
Should we give ourselves anther 50 years, what is going to happen? It is likely the situation would be worse. So, it is about time we began to make conscious efforts to re-green the very vegetation that we have devastated through our actions.
Mr Speaker, I once took a trip from Sunyani to Pô in the Southern part of Burkina Faso. I noticed that along the way, the vegetation was coming down and came down so close to that of a desert, just after Bolgatanga. However, the moment we entered Burkina Faso, we saw the vegetation coming up again.
All things being equal, one would have expected that Burkina Faso, being far north from Ghana, would have vegetation worse than ours, but the converse is the case. So, one would ask what has given them the opportunity to maintain their green vegetation and in our case, ours is getting devastated? So, I think that it is good that my Hon Colleague is drawing the nation's attention to the
need for us to have a critical look at issues of forests and forest cover.
Geographically, we fall within the tropics and one would expect that we would be a net exporter of wood. However, if you look at some of the wooden poles used by the Volta River Authority (VRA) and the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) in extending electricity to our communities, you would notice that some of the wood are imported. So, why should a tropical country like ours that has everything and even the ability to grow every tree that we may need, be it economical or otherwise, import trees at this stage?
So Mr Speaker, I think that this is a call we should all be involved. I am a tree farmer and must admit that there are so many gains in being a tree farmer.

Equally, there are difficulties when it comes to accessing land even for it especially, for the Forestry Commission to release degraded lands to prospective forest developers. Even after the plantation when it gets to harvesting time the kind of ordeal and the bureaucracy people go through sometimes, is a limiting factor.
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 11:54 a.m.
I would invite the Hon Member for Atwima-Nwabiagya North. I understand he is a forester who owns large track of forest.
Mr Benito Owusu-Bio (NPP -- Atwima-Nwabiagya North) 12:04 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I thank you for the opportunity to contribute to the Statement ably made by the Hon Minister for Lands and Natural Resources.
Mr Speaker, it is good that such an important Statement has been presented on this day on the way for us to increase our forest cover and especially, with the introduction of the event beginning “Ghana Day Event'' which if we all get involved, would help to decrease the forest cover.
Mr Speaker, yes, I am a tree planter and a tree farmer but I would have to acknowledge the role played by the Hon Member for Asutifi South,
Mr Collins Dauda. At that time, he had just been made the Hon Minister for Lands and Natural Resources and when I told him that I was interested in the planting of trees, he connected me to the Forestry Commission which had degraded lands and they helped me to source a compartment to grow my trees.

Mr Speaker, that opportunity exists for Hon Members who are interested in planting and growing trees as an economic venture. The new Hon Minister for Lands and Natural Resources would help Hon Members who are interested in doing that.

Mr Speaker, in supporting the Statement, I would like to say that this particular event and idea of greening Ghana and the fact that on that day, we shall be planting 5 million trees, will go a long way in augmenting the role being played by the youth in afforestation. These youth are doing well and just last year, they planted over 10,000 hectares of trees and that is encouraging except that their allowances are in arrears and we plead that the Hon Minister for Finance would assist in releasing funds for their payment.

There is one particular aspect that has to do with anybody who cultivates

the habit of tree planting; he must always be very careful and interested in the welfare of trees.

Mr Speaker, when we grow trees, hardly will we want that tree felled by somebody and so, it is important that we introduce that culture into the youth especially our children in school so that as they grow, they will attain that habit and this will help future generations to ensure that our forest cover is not depleted.

The Hon Suhuyini Sayibu mentioned the fact that we should not just plant trees but also think about how to nurture them and make sure they attain the age we all anticipate.

Mr Speaker, the role of nurturing the trees has to be done by all of us as Ghanaians. We are all supposed to help in nurturing the trees. At the same time, the Forestry Commission will also have to play their role very well.

However, the Forestry Commission is a bit handicapped when it comes to their role in protecting the forest; they are in the forest reserves and that is where they play their roles efficiently. Once we move out of the forest reserves to the oak reserve areas where we have trees on farms and in our towns and villages, the Forestry Commission

does not play a major role in the control of trees here. Their role is only when someone fells the tree in a farm or the oak reserve and that person decides to make use of it economically, that is when the Forestry Commission comes in.

So, the role in protecting trees that are off reserve, we will need the Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAs) to also play their roles. The MMDAs are in our districts and communities and can help through bye-laws to make sure that at least, a permit is needed to fell a tree even in one's house.

Mr Speaker, I remember years ago that the Committee on Lands and Forestry went to Uganda and over there, during our discussions, we were informed that in the city of Kampala, one dares not cut a single tree without an official permit from the city council even if you planted that tree in your house. Lo and behold, in Ghana, we see people just felling trees and I would have to commend this Government because quite recently, an innovation in that aspect has been introduced in Ghana and that is the National Cathedral Construction works going on behind Parliament House; we saw videos of the huge mahogany trees being uprooted and transported to different places.

In fact, through my own will, I have followed it up and wanted to find out where those uprooted trees were being re-planted. It is at the Parks and Gardens premises in Cantonments. When we drive past this place, on the left of the road, one will see those huge trees that have been re-planted and they are not dead. That is an innovation that we have to support.

Mr Speaker, my attention has been drawn to the fact that we have more work to do and as such, I will end by supporting the Hon Minister for Lands and Natural Resources for making this good Statement.
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 12:04 p.m.
Thank you Hon Member.
Hon Leader, hold on. I would want to give the opportunity to Hon Collins Dauda.
Alhaji Collins Dauda (NDC - Asutifi South) 12:14 p.m.
Mr Speaker, thank you very much. I associate myself with the Statement made by the Hon Minister for Lands and Natural Resources and to say that any call on Ghanaians to plant trees is a call for life. It is said that ‘when the last tree dies, the last man dies'.
Mr Speaker, we have a very serious challenge on our hands as far as managing our forests are concerned as we are in a very critical situation now. Ghana used to boast
of a forest cover of about 8.2 million hectares; today, we can only talk about 1.6 million. So, 8.2 million hectares down to 1.6 million of forest cover is a very serious matter and it keeps going down at a very fast rate.
As has been indicated, in areas where we used to have forest cover, when one goes there today, he would not even find ‘enfufum' to wit, secondary forest but we rather have grass. Therefore, we are walking slowly towards getting into a desert environment and the call at this time is a welcomed one and I support it.
Mr Speaker, however, growing trees is not something that was started today but has been started long ago. We have grown and grown trees, let us ask ourselves what we do with those trees? I remember during the time of former President Kufuor, he started an afforestation programme and a lot of trees were grown by the Forestry Commission and individuals.
During the era of former Presidents Atta-Mills and Mahama, - I remember when I was privileged to be the then Hon Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, I introduced a plantation programme and trees were grown.
Mr Speaker, there are some areas where we did the plantation around
my Constituency and from time to time, I visit to check.

It will surprise you that the trees that we have spent state resources to grow, we allow chainsaw operators to cut these trees. I would invite the Hon Minister for Lands and Natural Resources and the Forestry Commission to visit the forest reserve which is between Tepa and my Constituency. I am sure that this visit would enable the Hon Minister to appreciate the fact that it is not just growing, but also conserving and protecting it.

Mr Speaker, a lot of the trees that were planted during the era of former President Kufuor and former President Mills are no longer there. They are all gone. There is motivation for the chainsaw operators to operate because there is a ready market for the trees that they cut. There is ready market for them when they cut and mill the trees. Mr Speaker, we have always tackled chainsaw operations in the forest only, but we do not tackle the chainsaw activities in the cities where the wood finally ends up. The wood is cut in the forest but are brought to the timber markets in Accra.

Mr Speaker, if the Hon Minister for Lands and Natural Resources would be courageous to visit the timber markets, he would find wood that were cut by chainsaw operators. Yet, we try to behave like hypocrites; we know the solution to the chainsaw problem. Let us visit all the timber markets and see whether the chainsaw operator would be able to operate? Mr Speaker, they would not be able to operate because when they mill, they would not get any place to sell their wood.

If we do not do this, then we would plant the trees but the trees would not grow to the point that we would want to harvest them.

Mr Speaker, I think there would be an opportunity for us to discuss this matter exhaustively and I am sure we cannot use the floor of this House to exhaust this issue. There is always an opportunity to meet with the Hon Minister and further discuss what we can do together to conserve our forests and plant more trees.

Mr Speaker, I would conclude that the way forward is plantation development. As for the trees, we would continue to cut because we need them. So long as population would not stagnate, we would continue to depend on the forests, but depending on the forests in an
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 12:14 p.m.
Hon Member, thank you very much.
rose
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 12:14 p.m.
Hon Leader, I thought you yielded to Hon Dauda?
Mr Ahmed Ibrahim (NDC -- Banda) 12:14 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I thought that was ex-officio slot by virtue of the fact that Hon Dauda is a former Hon Minister for Lands and Natural Resources.
Mr Speaker, permit me to say a few things which are very important with regard to this Statement. While associating myself with comments made by my Hon Colleagues, I also want to state that it is not enough to plant trees. We know what to do when we talk about greening Ghana and we also know the causes of environmental and land degradation. Mr Speaker, much was said in the Seventh Parliament concerning the activities of
the Forestry Commission. Mr Speaker, may the soul of the former Chief Executive Officer, Kwadwo Owusu Afriyie, popularly known as Sir John, rest in perfect peace. I remember the late Sir John vigorously embarked upon an afforestation programme.
Mr Speaker, this House would want to know the number of people who were recruited into the Forestry Commission to embark on the national afforestation programme. If we know this, then we must also be interested to know the number of trees that were planted by the people who were recruited. Mr Speaker, after this, we must also be interested to know the status of those areas and the trees that were planted. When we know all these then we can plant more, and just like the former Hon Minister said that during his time, they planted some trees but if he goes there now, the trees have been felled.
Mr Speaker, beyond this, we must also control the extent of burning for charcoal. It is in this regard that during the Mills-Mahama Administration, this nation vigorously considered the activities of Ghana Gas Company and invested heavily in the company such that we discouraged the use of charcoal and encouraged the use of Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG). This is the way to go and it was on this
note that the price of LPG was subsidised heavily. Mr Speaker, we cannot say we want to make Ghana green, but LPG is not subsidised because this would encourage people to burn trees for charcoal. Mr Speaker, a lot of people use charcoal to the extent that we even export charcoal to Europe. After exporting charcoal we then say we want to make Ghana green meanwhile the raw material for charcoal is the tree.
Mr Speaker, the issue of greening Ghana cannot just be simplified, and I believe that the Committee for Lands and Forestry must be resourced by this House to embark on monitoring programmes nationwide. The Committee should visit our forest reserves and report to the House, then we can support the young Hon Minister to green the country.
Mr Speaker, in conclusion, I would want the Hon Minister for Lands and Natural Resources to take a strong position on what we value. Is it the trees or the mineral resources in the forest? Mr Speaker, I am asking this because when we go into the forest reserves, the lands that were acquired compulsorily throgh legislative and governmental fiat -- once they prospect and they find bauxite, gold or diamond in the forest reserves, then the forest becomes valueless and the
interest now shifts to the minerals that have been found. If that is our cherished value, then we cannot say we want to make Ghana green, yet we deplete forest resources simply because we are exploring for precious minerals in the forest and not the trees that are providing vegetation cover.
Mr Speaker, with these comments, I thank the Hon Member who made the Statement and invite him to take a decisive position between the minerals in the forest or the trees in the forest. Mr Speaker, I rest my case and may God bless all of us.
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 12:14 p.m.
Hon Leader, if you are desirous to get answers to the questions you have raised in your contribution, you know what to do. You can file a Question for the Hon Minister to provide answers.
Mr A. Ibrahim 12:14 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I made an appeal to you that we should invite the Committee on Lands and Forestry to pay a working visit to the areas that the trees have been planted so that the Committee would give recommendations and the House would support the Hon Minister on the way forward.
Mr Speaker, but if you wish that I should file a Question, I do not think that I want to be so inquisitorial, but I
Mr A. Ibrahim 12:24 p.m.
want a collective input so that the Hon Minister would get a working document to advise himself. So, it is a support I am appealing from the Committee and from Hon Members of both Sides.

This is because on the Committee, we have former Ministers, former deputy Ministers and long-serving members of the Committee on Lands and Forestry in this House. He has just come, and I think he would need their support and institutional memory to guide him. It is on this note that I made that appeal, Mr Speaker.
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 12:24 p.m.
Thank you very much.
Mr Frank Annoh-Dompreh (NPP -- Nsawam-Adoagyiri) 12:24 p.m.
Mr Speaker, let me try and be snappy in contributing to the Statement. Facts be told, unless my Colleague is saying that this matter had to be flagged, already, the Committee is clothed with the powers to do that oversight work, and so they do not need any direction from the Speaker, with the greatest of respect. They already have that mandate and can perform that role.
First of all, I would want to join the Hon Member in commending the
Hon Minister for the Statement by bringing the issues to the fore for appreciation by this House. As I listened to contributors, particularly my good friend and senior Colleague, Hon Collins Dauda, who put matters in context, and also Hon Benito Owusu-Bio, I found two relevant variables in this whole discussion. Hon Suhuyini could not have captured it better when he talked about the enforcement of laws and education.
However, the question is: do we have the relevant laws to pursue this crusade? Indeed, we have the laws. Do we have the institution that would be able to facilitate and ensure that we do the needful to achieve what we want to achieve? Yes, we have the institutions.
Mr Speaker, not to bore you, I took the pain to run through a chronology of relevant international conventions we have ratified as a country. Even in our Constitution and other Acts of Parliament that are relevant in protecting our forest and our environment, for instance are;
the United Nations Convention of Biological Diversity has been ratified by our country;
we have the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora ratified by Ghana accordingly;
the International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resource for food and Agriculture also ratified;
the International Tropical Timber Agreement ratified;
the Forest Protection Act, and Mr Speaker, I can go on and on.
We have all these laws and the institutions. The begging question is what the problem is? The problem is our own attitude as a people. Our inability to enforce the relevant laws and our inability to put up punitive measures to people who flout the laws altogether and conspire to make our situation worse, and we have to look into our faces and tell ourselves the truth.
As Hon Ibrahim mentioned, the production of charcoal with its ramifications, there are linkages; with housing since we have to roof our houses; the linkage of energy because we have to use energy for our daily lives. What we have to do is that there must be inter-sectoral efforts. It cannot only be the Hon Minister for Lands and Forestry. He alone cannot do it. There are other Ministries that are relevant, and there are other agencies that have a role to play in this fight. This is why we expect more responsibility from these Ministries and agencies.
Mr Speaker, finally, I think Members of Parliament have a role to play. We, as opinion leaders in
society, what has been our pronouncements, statements and actions? More often than not, because forest matters are not bread and butter issues per se, we do not seem to focus on it. We should change the paradigm.
Today, Ghana is respected; if you go to the Inter-governmental Panel on Climate Change (IPC), we have doctors from Ghana who are serving on these bodies. We are respected so much, yet day in day out, we are destroying our forest cover as if there is no tomorrow.
I would want to appeal that the Hon Minister would involve all the stakeholders including all relevant Ministries and agencies and our traditional leaders. When we were growing up, when a chief tells you that there is a particular taboo that all are supposed to respect or told not to cut trees we respected it. Today, modernity has taken the order of the day, and we are turning to gloss over all these fundamentals that help to protect lives and property.
Mr Speaker, the plantation of trees is towards the protection of our livelihood on this planet. It is not just for the beauty of it. In the capital city of an industrialised country like Germany, all the trees in the capital have been counted.
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 12:34 p.m.
Thank you very much.
Hon Members, there is another Statement. That Statement stands in the name of the Hon Member for Ho West, Hon Emmanuel Kwasi Bedzrah. The Statement is in honour of the Late Hon Francis Aggrey Agbotse, a former Member of Parliament. After the Statement is read, I would invite only two contributors; one from each Side.
Hon Member, you may take the floor?

Tribute to the Late Hon Francis Aggrey Agbotse
Mr Emmanuel K. Bedzrah (NDC - Ho West) 12:34 p.m.
Mr Speaker, on
Saturday, 2nd January, 2021, Ghanaians, particularly the good people of Ho West Constituency, received the sad news of the passing on of one of the eminent Statesmen, illustrious and revered son of the land, Hon Lawyer Francis Aggrey Agbotse.
“Abide with me! Fast falls the eventide; the darkness deepens; Lord, with me abide! When other helpers fail and comforts flee, Help of the helpless, oh, abide with me” - Henry Francis Lyte.
Born on 10th October, 1944, Lawyer Agbotse was a revered Lawyer and an astute politician who hailed from Kpedze in the Volta Region. He was a devout Christian.
Lawyer Agbotse began his political journey actively in 1996 when he contested and won an election to Parliament to represent the people of Ho West Constituency on the ticket of the National Democratic Congress. He was a Member of the Council of Elders of the Volta Regional Branch of the National Democratic Congress.
The people of Ho West Constituency, in recognition of his outstanding performance in discharging his representational obligations in the Second Parliament of the Fourth Republic, re-elected
Lawyer Agbotse in 2000 and 2004 to represent them in Parliament in the Third and Fourth Parliaments of the Fourth Republic.
During his time in Parliament, Lawyer Agbotse served on the Committees on Subsidiary Legislations and Health. He was also Ghana's representative at the ECOWAS Parliament. Records on parliamentary proceedings during his tenure in Parliament revealed that Lawyer Agbotse was an MP who asserted legislative oversight to ensure that the Executive was accountable to the people through questions and contributions to debates on motions before this august House.
Lawyer Agbotse's questions to Ministers in Parliament and his statements were focused on development issues, which included the construction of roads, domestic violence issues such as rape and defilement, drug trafficking and its impact on the youth of this country, the plight of pensioners as well as the role of radio in public education, promotion of cultural values and entertainment.
Indeed, whenever he had the opportunity to make contributions on the Floor, he often did so by not only drawing the attention of the Executive to developmental challenges
confronting his constituency but also other parts of the country. This was a remarkable attestation of Lawyer Agbotse's statesmanship.
Mr Speaker, on Friday, 20th May, 2005, Lawyer Agbotse made a Statement in this august House on the revival of Volta Star FM station, the only public FM Station in the Volta Region at the time. The FM Station, for more than two months, had not been operational due to technical challenges and unresponsiveness of those in authority, a situation which deprived the people of the Region of vital information. He later donated an amount of GH¢10,000.00 to the station as part of his personal contribution in purchasing a standby generator.
Lawyer Agbotse's conviction and emphasis while making the Statement, which most of his colleagues at the time associated with, was that the Ghanaian State through its public officials must ensure that citizens were informed about happenings across the nation through its regional FM stations. Many of us in this august House still subscribe to this conviction as the sustenance of our fledgling multi-party democracy depends on access to information.
Mr Speaker, in this vein, I join others to appeal to the Ministry of
Mr Kobena M. Woyome (NDC -- South Tongu) 12:34 p.m.
Mr Speaker, thank you for the opportunity to add to the tribute that was ably read by the Member of Parliament for Ho West, eulogising Hon Francis Aggrey Agbotse.
Mr Speaker, those were the days when some of us were in business and others were schooling, and we had very good and wonderful friends in this august House that from time to time, we paid visit to. Among those friends was the man we are eulogising today. We saw them as the pillars of the Volta Region and we saw the pedigree and the works and humility with which they handled situations and attended to issues, particularly with regard to the Volta Region.
Mr Speaker, we were so enthused and had to admire them from afar. Some, we admired at close range and sometimes we paid visits and took advice.
Mr Speaker, the late Francis Agbotse was ever ready to give solutions to the problems that we always took before him. One particular day in 2009 when we had
been ushered in as fresh Members of this august House, he paid a visit to my Hon Colleague. I was at that meeting and I admired his demeanour and the way he went about admonishing and advising us as to how we ought to go about our work. He even assured that from time to time, he would be paying visits and he did so religiously. He would come to look for us and would always want to know how everything is going and prescribe how to handle the challenges. We have actually lost a gem -- someone who is readily available at any time we call on him and he would always offer what he thinks should be the solution to issues. His demeanour and the way he carried himself and issues made him so approachable.
In fact, I would want us not to just listen to him being eulogised and maybe, on the day of burial, we would go and bury him and that ends it. I would want to suggest that my Hon Colleagues of the Volta Caucus come together to see how we can immortalise his works in the constituency so that at least, others can also emulate his good works and footprints.
In fact, his works in this House have been articulated and I think that is well-researched.
Mr Kobena M. Woyome (NDC -- South Tongu) 12:44 p.m.
My condolences to the family -- the wife and children, constituents, chiefs and people and all those who have in one way or the other learnt under him and had close relationship with him. My condolence also goes to the members of the party who have all seen him as a unique fellow and have actually worked with him closely and have benefited from his wisdom and intelligence and have been guided in so many ways.

We have done well. We need to emulate all that he stood for and did for us.

Mr Speaker, may his soul rest in perfect peace.
Mr James Klutse Avedzi (NDC -- Ketu North) 12:44 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I beg to support the Statement made by the Hon Member for Ho West, Hon Bedzrah, in honour of the late Hon former Member of Parliament (MP) for Ho West, Hon Francis Agbotse. Mr Speaker, my contribution is also to add to the condolences we have paid to the people of Ho West Constituency, and the immediate family of the late Hon Colleague.
Mr Speaker, I was privileged to meet Hon Agbotse in the Fourth
Parliament when he was serving his third term, and I had entered as a fresh Hon MP. As one of the senior MPs from the Volta Region, we the young ones at the time had to learn from them and there was a lot that we took from the work he did as an MP: His contributions on the Floor on issues were tabled and his contribution in the form of Statements that he made on issues that affected his constituency as well as the nation as a whole. Personally, I learnt a lot from Hon Francis Agbotse.
Mr Speaker, he was also a member of the ECOWAS Parliament. It is not surprising that his successor, Hon Bedzrah, is also a member of the ECOWAS Parliament. Probably, ECOWAS Parliament is reserved for MPs from Ho West Constituency. Congratulations, Hon Bedzrah, on following the steps that your predecessor laid before you.
As the servant of the people of Ho West Constituency, he played his role to ensure that development projects were brought to the people in the constituency. I keep saying from time to time that that is all everybody can do. At the point, you cannot satisfy everybody in your constituency, and you cannot satisfy all the needs of your constituency.
As human beings, once you are alive, your needs are insatiable; they cannot be completed. Today, you need this, but tomorrow, you need a different thing. If you are walking on the road and you see somebody riding a bicycle to bypass you, you wish you had that bicycle. The following day, if you are given a bicycle, you would be the happiest person, and if a motor rider passes you, you would wish you had that. It continues like that.
Hon Francis Agbotse played his role as an MP, and he left it off after three terms, and a new person took over. He lived on this earth for 76 years, and he is no more. This is the only thing that we can do to remember him as a former Hon MP who was a servant, played his role and served his people. One day, each of us here would go through the same process because death is inevitable.
Mr Speaker, I just want to add my voice to thank the Hon Member who made the Statement, and paid tribute to his predecessor, and also consoled the immediate family and the people of Ho West Constituency on the loss of Hon Francis Agbotse.
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 12:44 p.m.
Thank you, Hon Leader.
Hon Majority Chief Whip?
Mr Annoh-Dompreh 12:44 p.m.
Mr Speaker, with your leave, we would go on to the Budget Estimates and take the item numbered 25 on page 10 of the Order Paper.
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 12:44 p.m.
Hon Members, item numbered 25 on page 10 of the Order Paper - Motion, by the Minister for Lands and Natural Resources.
ANNUAL ESTIMATES, 2021
MINISTRY OF LANDS AND 12:44 p.m.
NATURAL RESOURCES 12:44 p.m.
Minister for Lands and Natural Resources (Mr Samuel Abdulai Jinapor) (MP) 12:44 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I beg to move, that this honourable House approves the sum of GH¢847,376,632 for the services of the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources for the year ending 31st December 2021.
Mr Speaker, the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources and its sector agencies were allocated an amount of GH¢847,376,632 for the 2021 financial year. This amount is made up of GH¢373,533,512 from Government of Ghana sources; GH¢330,031,680 came from retained internally generated funds; GH¢22 million also came from Annual Budget Funding Amount (ABFA)
Mr Speaker, the rest are 12:44 p.m.
To organise national dialogue on small scale mining;
continue with the implementation of Government's policy on community mining scheme;
support the operations of the Ghana Integrated Aluminium Development Corporation (GIADEC) and the Ghana Integrated Iron and Steel Development Corporation (GIISDEC);
support the Ghana Geological Survey Authority to undertake more mineral exploration activities in the country, and
support the Ghana Boundary Commission in protecting both the country's land and maritime boundaries.
Thank you.
Question proposed.
Chairman of the Committee (Mr Francis Manu-Adabor) 12:44 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I beg to support the Motion and also to present your Committee's Report.
1.0 Introduction
The Budget Statement and Economic Policy of the Government of Ghana for the 2021 Financial Year was presented to Parliament on Friday, 12th March, 2021 by the Hon Minister for Parliamentary Affairs, Majority Leader and Leader of Government Business, Mr Osei Kyei- Mensah-Bonsu, in accordance with article 179 (1) of the 1992 Constitution.
Subsequently, the Budget Estimate of the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources was referred to the Joint Committee on Lands and Forestry and Mines and Energy for consideration and report pursuant to Orders (140) (4), 177 and 188 of the Standing Orders of the House.
The Committees on Lands and Forestry and Mines and Energy met on 22nd March, 2021 and 23rd March 2021 respectively and considered the 2021 Budget Estimates of the Ministry
of Lands and Natural Resources. Present at the meeting were the Hon Minister for Lands and Natural Resources and Technical Officers from the Ministry and its Agencies as well as Ministry of Finance.
The Committee is grateful to the Hon Minister and his team and the schedule Officers of the Ministry of Finance for their assistance.
2.0 Reference Documents
The Committees referred to the following documents during its deliberations:
i. The 1992 Constitution of the Republic of Ghana;
ii. The Standing Orders of 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 Medium-Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF) for 2020-2024 and the Programme - Based Budget Estimates for 2021 of
the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources (MLNR).
3.0 Agencies under the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources
3.1 The Ministry is segmented into three (3) sub-sectors, namely:
Forestry Sub-Sector;
Lands Sub-Sector; and
Mining Sub-Sector.
3.1.1 The Forestry Sub-Sector is managed by the Forestry Commission (F.C.) and consists of the following divisions:
Forest Services Division;
Wildlife Division;
Timber Industry Development Division; and
Plantation Development Fund Board.
The Lands Sub-Sector is managed by the Lands Commission (L.C.), Ghana Boundary Commission (GBC) and the Office of the Administrator of Stool Lands (OASL). The Lands
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 12:54 p.m.
Thank you, Hon Member.
Hon Ranking Member?
Ranking Member (Alhaji (Dr) Abdul-Rashid Hassan Pelpuo): Mr Speaker, I beg to support the Motion to approve an amount of GH¢847,376,632 for the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources for it to accomplish its mandated duty assigned it by the Constitution of this country.
Mr Speaker, the Chairman has mentioned many of the issues that we observed are critical and needed attention, but there are few things that I think we should bring to notice. The Mineral Resource Development and Management Programme has some key challenges, and it is trying to address them sufficiently but has been limited by the amount of allocation given to the Programme. The expectation is that, a lot more attention would be given to this sector because one of the key area it aimed at is to make sure it provides specific areas where minerals can be found in the land so we do not have people guessing and digging everywhere in
order to find gold and thereby destroying the lands. This duty was recommended generally by the Committee.
Mr Speaker, in the recommendations, there are a few of them that I just need to mention and put emphasis on; the one boundary commission. We noticed that the boundary commission is very limited in the provision of resources so the Committee was alarmed at the equipment they were using and the personnel at their disposal and the small amount of money allocated to them. And we are of the opinion that if we want to make sure we have our Ghanaian boundary properly demarcated and controlled, we need to put more emphasis on this area of endeavour so that we can have more resources and control over our boundaries.
Mr Speaker, of essence is the reduced turn-around time for land title registration, which is of concern to us and has been raised last year, with expectation that the Ministry would take it up much more forcefully but the Ministry did not appear to have responded to our request. The turn- around time for registration of land and getting the documents available to clients is still extended and people can spend full length of time trying to
register land and take their documents. One of the areas we emphasised is for the Ministry to make sure this is addressed adequately and sufficiently, so that when people go in to register lands, they do not spend too much time there.
Mr Speaker, essential also is the fact that we observe that only an amount of GH¢106 million was allocated for the Youth in Agriculture Programme. In our expectation, we thought that we should have had much more input in this area given the huge number of young people who are all about looking for jobs to do and the need for us to have more commitments in the provision of such kinds of services to them where they can go in and make a living. So, we were urging for more efforts to be put in securing this opportunity for our young people so that we can have more young people going in to protect the land and also getting jobs for themselves.
Mr Speaker, my last observation is on the underfunding of capital projects of the Ghana Geological Survey Authority. It looks like this is a very critical area; it is an area that is capable of defining the land areas where minerals can be allocated. It is an area that can also generate a lot of income to the Ministry, and yet, it is thoroughly underfunded. And we
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 12:54 p.m.
Thank you, Hon Member.
Hon Members, I would like to say that when we look at the Order Paper for today, there are so many things that we need to attend to and therefore, I will invite a contributor from each Side, and perhaps, if Leadership may also conclude?
Hon Member for Subin?
Mr Eugene Boakye Antwi (NPP - Subin) 1:04 a.m.
Mr Speaker, I am most grateful.
I beg to contribute to the Motion on the Floor seeking to approve the sum of GH¢847,376,632 for the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources.
Mr Speaker, I wish to add my voice to the call for support for the Youth in Afforestation Programme. The Ghanaian youth have excellently and marvellously done well in ensuring that our country is and would be green again.

These are tough times for everyone and Government has excelled in giving all the financial constraints. I would like to make a special plea to the New Patriotic Party (NPP) Government, led by H. E. Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo to settle their three-month salary arrears and also do well to pay them on time for this 2021 financial year to boost their morale to work harder.

Mr Speaker, with these few words, I want to support the Motion.

I am most grateful for the opportunity.
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 1:04 a.m.
Thank you very much for making it very short.
Mr Suhuyini Alhasan Sayibu (NDC -- Tamale North) 1:04 a.m.
Thank you, Mr Speaker, for the opportunity to associate myself with the call for the House to approve for use of the Ministry of Lands and Natural resources, an amount of
GH¢847,376,632.
Mr Speaker, while I associate myself with the call for the House to approve this amount for the Ministry, I wish to make a few observations. At the Committee, it came to the attention of Hon Members, that an amount of over GH¢200 million was expended through the Ministry by the Ministry of Finance, even though, that was not in the Budget that was approved for the Ministry during the consideration of the 2020 Budget Estimates.
The Report seemed to have suggested an overspending of the Ministry's budget and we at length went through what led to this expenditure. We came to the conclusion that perhaps, the problem may be with the reporting staff or more seriously, the discretionary power of the Ministry of Finance which we think is too much and must be checked.
For the Ministry of Finance to be allowed to spend in one case, GH¢201,883,153 on behalf of a Ministry, even though that figure was
not budgeted for is against the Ministry's expenditure for 2020 which is quite problematic. We think that discretion of the Ministry of Finance, if not checked, could be abused in future and lead to the misapplication, misappropriation or even worse, corruption. We think that it must be properly checked and every money should be accounted for appropriately.
Mr Speaker, for example, in the case of the Lands Commission which is an agency under the Ministry, it turned out some compensation was paid for land. We think that these are things that the agency could have budgeted for and argued for it to be included in the Ministry's budget appropriation for it to be passed for closer monitoring. For that discretion to be allowed the Minister for Finance to determine as and when he releases funds to settle such liabilities, we think is problematic. Moving forward, we think that it must be checked.
Mr Speaker, also, the Committee commended the land sector for its achievements chalked in the year 2020 by way of revenue mobilisation although there was a general decline in business across the country. We also had issue with the agency's attitude towards reducing the turnaround time for land title registration. We think that as a
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 1:04 a.m.
Thank you very much.
Hon Deputy Minority Leader, do you want to have a bite?
Mr James Klutse Avedzi (NDC -- Ketu North) 1:14 p.m.
Thank you, Mr Speaker. I rise to support the Motion.
Mr Speaker, there is a serious issue that I would want to draw your attention to. The 2020 Budget approved for the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources under internally generated funds (IGF) was GH¢272,329,915. According to them, all these funds have been released to the Ministry and I want the Hon Minister to pay attention and listen to what I am saying. This is his budget and his attention should not be somewhere else but here.
The amount approved according to the Report before us on page 7, that is Financial performance by economic classification as of December, 2020. The total amount approved for IGF was GH¢272,329,915.29 and all these funds have been utilised. This means that even when you collect IGF, you spend everything but that is not the issue.
Mr Speaker, if you go to page 255 of the 2021 Budget Statement,
Appendix 11B, on the 2020 non-tax revenue actuals and 2021 projections, you would see on the third paragraph, Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources.

Under the 2020 actuals, it would be realised that first, the projection was GH¢418 million but the actual collection was GH¢438.4 million and what they were supposed to retain was GH¢330.5 million. This means that they had collected GH¢438 million and retained GH¢330 million and yet the Report indicated that they retained GH¢272 million and spent all. What do they want to tell us? Which of the two Reports should we take? The report from the Hon Minister for Finance indicated that they retained GH¢330 million and the Report of the Committee indicated they retained GH¢272 million and they spent all.

Mr Speaker, on the same page 255, under the “Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources'', the retention percentage for the Agencies under the Ministry for example, the Forestry Commission was to retain 66 per cent of their collection but in actual fact they collected GH¢103.7 million and they retained all the amount, which is a violation of the Capping Act. They were supposed to retain 66 per cent
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 1:14 p.m.
Hon Deputy Minority Leader, we could extend the message to the new Hon Minister, who I believe has listened carefully to the concerns you have raised.
Hon Minister, you have to address those issues.
Question put and Motion agreed to.
Resolved Accordingly:
That this honourable House approves the sum of GH¢847,376,632 for the services of the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources for the year ending 31st December
2021.
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 1:14 p.m.
Hon Majority Leader?
Mr Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 1:14 p.m.
Mr Speaker, we could take item numbered 23 but if I may before we get there, seek your indulgence to have some of the Reports that are ready presented to the House. So, we could take item numbered 6 (d).
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 1:14 p.m.
Hon Members, item numbered 6 - Presentation of Papers.
Item numbered 6 (d), by the Hon Chairman of the Committee?
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 1:14 p.m.
Mr Speaker, item numbered 6 (d), is the Report of the Committee on Health, so if I may lay it on behalf of the Committee?
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 1:14 p.m.
Very well.
PAPERS 1:14 p.m.
- 1:14 p.m.
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 1:14 p.m.
Mr Speaker, item numbered 6 (e) (i).
By the Majority Leader (Mr Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu) on behalf of (the Chairman of the Committee)
-- 1:14 p.m.
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 1:14 p.m.
Mr Speaker, item numbered 6 (f).
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 1:14 p.m.
Item numbered 6 (f)?
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 1:14 p.m.
That is so, Mr Speaker.
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 1:24 p.m.
Hon Members, item numbered 6 (f) on page 4 by the Hon Chairman of the Committee.
By the Chairman of the Committee --
Report of the Committee on Food, Agriculture and Cocoa Affairs on the Annual Budget Estimates of the Ministry of Food and Agriculture for the year ending 31st December,
2021.
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 1:24 p.m.
Mr Speaker, item numbered 6(h) on the same page.
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 1:24 p.m.
Mr Speaker, item numbered 6 (i) on page
5.
By the Chairman of the Committee --
Report of the Committee on Local Government and Rural Development on the Annual Budget Estimates of the Ministry of Local Government, Decentralisation and Rural Development for the year ending 31st December, 2021.
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 1:24 p.m.
Mr Speaker, item numbered 7 (a) to (e) on page 6.
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 1:24 p.m.
Hon Members, item numbered 7 - Presentation and First Reading of Bills on page 6 (a) by the Minister responsible for the Ministry of Finance.
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 1:24 p.m.
Item numbered 7 (b).
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 1:24 p.m.
Item numbered 7 (c).
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 1:24 p.m.
Item numbered 7(d).
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 1:24 p.m.
Item numbered 7 (e).
BILLS -- FIRST READING 1:24 p.m.
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 1:24 p.m.
Mr Speaker, if we may deal with item numbered 23 on page 10 of the Order Paper.
ANNUAL ESTIMATES, 2021
MINISTRY OF GENDER, 1:24 p.m.
CHILDREN AND SOCIAL 1:24 p.m.
PROTECTION 1:24 p.m.
Minister for Gender, Children and Social Protection (Ms Sarah Adwoa Safo) 1:24 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I beg to move, that this House approves the sum of GH¢330,325,556 as Estimates for the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection to undertake its programmes and activities for the year 2021.
Mr Speaker, in the year 2021, the Ministry will continue to implement its planned programmes and projects in line with its sector objectives and with the National Medium-Term Development Framework and that of the President Coordinated programmes of economic and social development policies as follows.
Minister for Gender, Children and Social Protection (Ms Sarah Adwoa Safo) 1:34 p.m.
We shall focus on the following programmes and areas;
1) Gender, equality and equity programmes.
2) Child right protection, promotion and development programmes.
3) Social development.
4) Inclusion of persons with disability.
5) Social protection.
6) Human trafficking and domestic violence.
7) The Ghana School Feeding Programme.
8) Livelihood Empowerment Against Poverty (LEAP).

Mr Speaker, I therefore, humbly move that this august House approves the Ministry's Budget Estimates of GH¢330,325,556 for the fiscal year ending 31st December, 2021 captured as motion numbered 23 on page 10 of the Order Paper.

Mr Speaker, I so move.
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 1:34 p.m.
Hon Minister, thank you very much.
Hon Chairperson of the Committee?
Chairperson of the Committee (Ms Francisca O. Mensah) 1:34 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I beg to second the Motion and in so doing present your Committee's Report.
1.0 Introduction
The 2021 Budget Estimates of the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection was referred to the Joint Committee on Gender and Children, and, Employment, Social Welfare and State Enterprises for consideration and report, pursuant to Orders 140 (4), 175 and 184(1) of the Standing Orders of the House. This followed the presentation to Parliament of the 2021 Budget Statement and Economic Policy of the Government on Friday, 12th March, 2021, in accordance with article 179 of the 1992 Constitution and Order 140(2) of the Standing Orders of the House.
The Minister for Gender, Children and Social Protection, Hon. Sarah Adwoa Safo, the Chief Director and a technical team from the Ministry, its Departments and Agencies, as well as officers from the MoF, assisted the Committee during its deliberations.
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 Gender, Children and Social Protection on the actual releases and expenditure of the Ministry for the 2020 financial year.
3.0 Vision, Mission, Mandate and Strategic Overview of the Ministry
The Ministry of Gender, Children & Social Protection (MoGCSP) was established by the Civil Services Instrument of 2013 (E.I.1) and is mandated to ensure gender equality through the mainstreaming of gender considerations, and promote the welfare and protection of children and to empower the vulnerable, the excluded, the aged and persons with
disabilities through social protection interventions to contribute to national development.
The Ministry's Vision is to create a harmonious society in which the survival and development of the sexes, children, the vulnerable, the excluded and thus persons with disability are guaranteed and identify themself with two development dimensions in the National Medium Term Development Plan Framework (NMTDPF). These are Social Development and Governance, Corruption and Accountability, which the Ministry translates into the following Policy Objectives:
Attain gender equality and equity in political, social and economic development systems and outcomes;
Promote the economic empowerment of women;
Ensure food and nutrition security;
Strengthen food and nutrition security governance;
Promote full participation of People with Disability (PWD) in social and economic development of the country;
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 1:34 p.m.
Hon Ranking Member?
Ranking Member (Ms Helen A. Ntoso): Mr Speaker, thank you for the opportunity to contribute to the Motion on the Floor.
Mr Speaker, the mandate of the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection is enormous, but considering the budget allocation for the year 2020, the Committee realised
that the releases were unduly delayed. As a result of this, their budget for donor was GH¢30 million but an amount of GH¢127 million was donated to the Ministry so it means that they overspent the approved budget. Mr Speaker, this was as a result of the delay in the release of funds by the Ministry of Finance.
Mr Speaker, for 2021, we realised that the amount that the Ministry of Finance has allocated to the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection is woefully inadequate. As a result of this, the Ministry would not be able to do a lot of the projects that they have to do especially on services. For instance, with regard to the Livelihood Empowerment Against Poverty (LEAP) programme, the release for 2020 was GH¢200,746,481 and in 2021, this figure has been reduced to
GH¢197,534,538.
Mr Speaker, considering the condition of COVID-19 as we have now, a lot of people are affected in their livelihoods especially women and children. So, we were expecting that the figure for LEAP in 2021 would increase instead of the reduction. We would urge the Ministry of Finance to consider this item in the mid-year budget review so that the amount would be increased.
Mr Speaker, the Committee also recommends that the School Feeding
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 1:34 p.m.
Hon Member, thank you.
Before I put the Question, Hon Leader, do you want to have a bite?
Mr James K. Avedzi (NDC -- Ketu North) 1:44 p.m.
Mr Speaker, thank you for the opportunity to contribute to the Motion and to draw your attention to page 8 of the Report on the Annual Estimates for the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection.
Mr Speaker, at page 8 of the Report, Table 4, 2020 Budget Performance, Donor, this is a donor fund, and we do not know which item the money has been spent on. They just said “donor”. Whether it is spent on item numbered 2, which is Goods and Services or item 3 which is Capital Expenditure. It is not indicated in the Report at all.
However, if you look at the previous tables, for GoG, you would see the breakdown of the expenditure for Compensation, Goods and Services and Capital Expenditure but for donor, we do not know. If the Minister could provide that information; that the amount spent on the donor funds, which amount was spent on Goods and Services or Capital Expenditure? We do not have that information, and it does not help at all.
Meanwhile, more importantly, the budget approved for the donor was
GH¢31.1 million, but the amount released to the Ministry is GH¢127.9 million. This is another serious issues. The House approved GH¢30 million and the Ministry of Finance released almost GH¢128 million, yet how they spent that money is not clear. Should we go ahead and approve this Report? First is a violation of the Appropriation Act we passed in this House, where we approved GH¢30 million, then they went and gave GH¢127.9 million.
Mr Speaker, in section 32 of the Public Financial Management Act, there is a procedure to follow. If the Ministry of Finance violates the Act by giving them more than the House has approved, they should tell us how they even spent the money?
Without this information, I urge the House to reject this Report until better particulars are provided. The Hon Minister should be able to give us how the GH¢127.9 million was spent.
Mr Ahmed Ibrahim 1:44 p.m.
She was not there.
Mr Avedzi 1:44 p.m.
But the Chief Director and the civil servants are there. They have the records; they should give us.
Again, it looks as if I am lamenting too much for asking that I need this.
We should do the right thing. The public is watching us. We should not gloss over many of these issues.
Mr Speaker, I leave this one to you.
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 1:44 p.m.
Thank you; I appreciate your concerns, and I believe the Hon Minister has taken critical look at those concerns. Like I said to the Hon Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, our sister is also new in the Ministry. So I believe she would take the concerns on all the issues you have raised and address them as she goes into the Ministry.
Meanwhile, Hon Minister, my issue has to do with the feeding. The SHSs, as we know, enjoy free feeding even though the day students enjoy one hot meal. When we come to the primary schools, they also enjoy free feeding, but between the primary schools and the senior high schools it is the junior high schools who appear not to enjoy that policy. Please look at that particular area.
On that basis, I could conclude the debate and put the Question.
Question put and Motion agreed to.
Resolved Accordingly:
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 1:44 p.m.
Hon Deputy Minority Leader?
Mr Avedzi 1:44 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I hope you directed the Hon Minister to bring the details of the expenditure to the House? I just want to confirm that is the directive you gave, that she brings details of the expenditure of GH¢127.9 million from the donors to this House.
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 1:44 p.m.
Hon Deputy Majority Whip?
Mrs Lydia Alhassan 1:44 p.m.
Mr Speaker, item 17 on page 8 - Motion on the Annual Estimates for the Ministry of Fisheries and Aquaculture Development.
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 1:44 p.m.
Hon Members, page 8, item 17— Motion.
Minister for Fisheries and Aquaculture Development?
MINISTRY OF FISHERIES AND 1:44 p.m.
AQUACULTURE 1:44 p.m.
DEVELOPMENT 1:44 p.m.
Minister for Fisheries and Aquaculture Development (Mrs Mavis Hawa Koomson) (MP) 1:44 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I beg to move, that this honourable House approves the sum of GH¢374,592,204 for the services of the Ministry of Fisheries and Aquaculture Development for the year ending 31st December, 2021.
Mr Speaker, this would enable the Ministry to formulate and implement sector development policies and strategies in line with the National Development Policy Framework and also coordinate all development interventions to accelerate the transformation of the fisheries and aquaculture sector.
Question proposed.
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 1:54 p.m.
Thank you, Hon Minister. Before the Hon Chairman of the Committee seconds the Motion, I extend Sitting beyond the prescribed Sitting hours.
Chairman of the Committee (Mr John Frimpong Osei) 1:54 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I beg to second the Motion that this honourable House approves an amount of GH¢374,592,204.00 for the Ministry of Fisheries and Aquaculture Development for the financial year ending, 31st December,
2021.
Mr Speaker, in so doing, I present the Committee's Report.
1.0 Introduction
The Budget Statement and Economic Policy of the Government of Ghana for the 2021 Financial year was presented to Parliament on Friday, 12th March, 2021 by Hon. Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu, Minister for Parliamentary Affairs, Majority Leader and Leader of Government Business in accordance with articles 179 and 180 of the 1992 Constitution of Ghana.
Pursuant to Standing Orders 104(4) and 176, Rt. Hon Speaker referred the Estimates which relates to the Ministry of Fisheries and Aquaculture Development (MoFAD) to the Committee on Food, Agriculture and Cocoa Affairs for consideration and report to the House.
1.1 Deliberations
The Committee met on 19th and 23rd March, 2021 with the Minister for Fisheries and Aquaculture Development, Hon Mavis Hawa Koomson and officials of the Ministry of Fisheries and Aquaculture Development and examined the 2021 Budget Estimates of the Ministry.
The Committee is grateful to the Hon. Minister and the Officials of the Ministry of Fisheries and Aquaculture Development for their insightful inputs and clarifications.
1.2 Reference Materials
In considering the Budget Estimates of the Ministry, the Committee was guided by the following documents:
i. The 1992 Constitution;
ii. The Standing Orders of Parliament;
iii. The Budget Statement and Economic Policy of the Government for the 2021 Financial Year;
iv. The Medium-Term Expenditure Framework for 2021-2024; and
Chairman of the Committee (Mr John Frimpong Osei) 1:54 p.m.
v. The Budget Statement and Economic Policy of the Government for Year 2020 Financial Year.
1.3 Policy Objectives of the Ministry
The policy objectives of the 2018- 2021 National Medium Term Development Policy Framework (NMTDPF) core to the Ministry of Fisheries and Aquaculture Development are to;
i. Conserve marine areas;
ii. Enhance the application of Science, Technology and Innovation;
iii. Ensure sustainable development and management of aquaculture;
iv. Ensure sustainable development and management of Fisheries Resources; and
v. Enhance capacity for policy formulation and coordination.
1.4 Goal
The goal of the Ministry of Fisheries and Aquaculture Development is to
“Transform the fisheries and aquaculture sector into a viable economic segment to contribute to national development.”
1.5 Core Functions
The core functions of MoFAD are to;
i. Formulate and implement sector development policies and strategies in line with National Development Policy Frameworks;
ii. Facilitate the development of Aquaculture sub-sector to increase domestic fish production;
iii. Enforce fisheries Laws and Regulations to protect fisheries resources;
iv. Promote sustainable management of fisheries resources for national benefits;
v. Develop sector medium-term development plans to be consistent with National Development Policy Frameworks;
vi. Conduct periodic socio- economic studies/ research
on “Topical” Fisheries related development issues for policy formulation and planning;
vii.Coordinate all development interventions to accelerate the transformation of the Fisheries and Aquaculture sector; and
viii. Have oversight responsibility of all Agencies in the sector, including the Fisheries Commission.
2.0 Performance Review for the
2020
2.1 Financial Performance
For the 2020 financial year, the Ministry of Fisheries and Aquaculture Development was allocated an amount of one hundred and twenty eight million, eight hundred and seventy nine thousand one hundred and twenty nine ghana cedis (GH¢128,879,129.00) for the implementation of the Ministry's activities. Out of this amount, GH¢78, 202,831.99 was released, representing 60.7per cent of the total approved budget.
Table 1: 2020 Financial Performance by Economic Classification & Funding Source

2.2 Programme Performance for

2020

The Ministry of Fisheries and Aquaculture Development committed its 2020 budgetary allocations to the following activities and had the following outcomes.

2.2.1 Management and Administration

The Ministry continued with the construction of Phase-1 of the Anomabo Fisheries College which is currently at 93 per cent completion. The Ministry in collaboration with the University of Cape Coast, is preparing to second teaching and non-teaching staff to the College. The Ministry partnered with the private sector and other agencies under the Fisheries Input Support Scheme to provide 2,297 units of outboard motors and distributed fishing gear to fishers through various Ministries, Departments and Agencies.

The Ministry also facilitated the supply of 101,749,500 litres of premix fuel to three hundred landing beaches.

The Ministry extended support to fish processors with a total of 460 deep freezers and 1,646 aluminium basins to reduce post-harvest losses.

The Ministry continued education on COVID -19 protocols to prevent and contain the spread of the virus in various fishing communities. Assorted items including 4,500 pieces of hand sanitisers, 65,000 pieces of nose masks, 500 veronica buckets and stands were also distributed.

2.2.2 Fisheries Resource Management

The Tuna Sub-Sector observed a two month closed season from January to February in 2020. The Artisanal, inshore and industrial sub- sectors, however, could not observe same due to inadequate consultations with stakeholders as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. To enhance the regulation and access to fisheries resources, the Ministry registered 14,000 canoes in the marine sub- sector under the Canoe Identification System (CIS) and distributed 10,138 Canoe Identification Cards.

The Fisheries Co-Management Policy was approved by Cabinet for implementation in November, 2020. The Ministry through the support of USAID under the Sustainable Fisheries Management Programme piloted the Policy at Ada, Ankobrah, Densu and Pra Estuaries in the fourth quarter of the year.

2.2.3 Aquaculture Development

The Ministry rolled out the Aquaculture for Food and Jobs Programme in 13 regions namely Ashanti, Ahafo, Bono East, Central, Eastern, Greater Accra, Oti, Upper East, Upper West, Volta, Western and Western North Regions. Six Senior High Schools, one Training College, four Prison Camps, 13 Youth Groups and one fish farmers' Association were supported under the programme, to construct 108 ponds and 16 cages and 499 bags of fish feed. Forty-eighth (48) fish ponds and four cages have also been stocked with fingerlings.

Rehabilitation work continued on two hatcheries located at Sefwi Wiawso and Dormaa Ahenkro. An upgrade of the Vea Hatchery was carried out to increase the supply of quality fingerlings. Aquaculture production increased by 22 per cent from 52,350mt in 2019 to 64,004mt in 2020.

MoFAD initiated the implementation of the National Aquaculture Centre and Commercial Farms to complement the efforts in ensuring extensive fish farming in Ghana.

2.2.4 Fisheries Law Enforcement

The Ministry intensified sea and land patrols as well as quayside inspections which resulted in 18 arrests during the year under review. A total of 519 observer missions were carried out on board industrial vessels to monitor and report compliance with fisheries legislations at sea. Sixty (60) fishing communities were sensitised on the Fisheries Act and Regulations to ensure voluntary compliance. The Ministry also submitted a request to Cabinet, seeking to amend the Fisheries Act as part of the Fisheries Legal Review in response to emerging changes in the industry.

2.2.5 Aquatic Animal Health and Post-harvest Management

MoFAD in collaboration with development partners, constructed and distributed eighty (80) “Ahotor” ovens to fish processors across the coastal regions. These ovens are more energy efficient and durable with improved combustion system to produce quality fishery products to meet international standards. A total of 13 fish processing facilities were certified under the “Class 1 Certification Scheme” to meet international market standards. The Ministry vaccinated a total of 3,099,984 fingerlings across 13
FUNDING SOURCE 1:54 p.m.
Mr Eric Opoku (NDC -- Asunafo South) 1:54 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I rise to support the Motion and in doing so, I would like to make some few comments.
Mr Speaker, on table 1 on page 3 of the Report, in 2020, the approved budget for the Ministry was GH¢10,481,087.00. But at the end of the period, the Ministry exceeded its compensation budget by a whopping GH¢1.2 million. The simple explanation was that in the course of the year, some salary areas were paid and that was not budgeted for. In the view of the Committee, that is inappropriate. The Ministry should endeavour to factor all salary arrears into their compensation budget so that some of these budget overruns would not occur again.
Mr Speaker, apart from that, we are told that the Anomabo Fisheries College is at 93 per cent completion. This was initiated by Prof. Mills somewhere in 2011 to provide the needed expertise that will use fisheries to transform the Ghanaian economy. Unfortunately, we have not been able to complete this project even though there was a promise last year to complete and operationalise the facility.
Mr Speaker, this year, an allocation of GH¢5 million has been made and we think that it is inadequate to fully complete Phase 1 of the project.
Mr Speaker, another important area is point 3.33 -- Fisheries law enforcement. Even before that point, on table 3, page 6, the Ministry, in 2021 has been given an allocation of GH¢374,592,204 but out of this amount, the donor component is GH¢292,494,735. The donor component constitute 78.08 per cent. So clearly, the Ministry is heavily dependent on donor support but when we look at releases from last year, even though some GH¢29 million was budgeted as the component of the donors, there was no release to that effect and this year, the whole Budget - 78.08 per cent is expected to fall from donors.
Mr Speaker, Government of Ghana is to contribute just 21.92 per cent of the total budgetary allocation to the Ministry of Fisheries and Aquaculture. So if what happened last year repeats itself, what it would mean is that the Ministry would not be able to implement the policies that they have outlined in the budget.
Mr Speaker, Fisheries Law Enforcement. This is very important. The law enforcement is very critical to achieving the goals of the Ministry. Unfortunately, we have witnessed a lot of infractions in that sector and we need to look at that seriously.
Mr Eric Opoku (NDC -- Asunafo South) 2:04 p.m.
Mr Speaker, since 2019, the Vessel Monitoring System has not been functioning. The simple reason is that the transpondence of the Vessel Monitoring System broke down and the Ministry is unable to fix it. But CLS, a French company that controls the airtime still takes 900 from vessel owners annually. They transmit the information but because the system is not functioning, the Ministry is unable to monitor activities on sea. This is seriously affecting fisheries development. It is affecting our income.
Mr Speaker, it is unfortunate to note that last year, the Korean embassy declared the eastern part of our waters, specifically from Keta to Benin as high risk area because of the numerous pirate attacks. Some of these pirates, in some cases, took hostage of the captains and most of the captains are the Koreans. So that part of our waters is a risk area now and the captains are no longer using that part of our area. It is seriously affecting fish production in this country. So we urge the new Minister to the sector to look at how some of these issues can be handled.
Mr Speaker, my last point has to do with releases to the Ministry. In fact, last year, the approved budget was GH¢128 million.

The Ministry received GH¢78 million out of that. When you take the percentage, the Ministry of Finance released 60.68 per cent of the approved budget so, the Ministry could not implement most of the items they outlined.

The most important thing is that once Parliament approves of the Budget Statement, and allocations are done to the various agencies under the Ministry, pay their compensation, and we deny them the resources to serve the good people of this country, then, we have not done anything to this nation. Let us look at how sensitive Ministries that have the potential to engender growth and increase incomes in this country to create jobs for our people are properly resourced to enable them accomplish their goals.

Mr Speaker, on this note, I support the Motion moved by the Hon Minister.
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 2:04 p.m.
Hon Members, I will invite one contributor from each Side, and it may include Leadership.
Meanwhile, Sitting is suspended for five minutes.
2.06 p.m. -- Sitting suspended.
2.09 p.m. -- Sitting resumed.
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 2:04 p.m.
Hon Member for Atwima-Nwabiagya South, you can take the Floor.
Mr Emmanuel Agyei Anhwere (NPP -- Atwima-Nwabiagya South) 2:04 p.m.
Thank you, Mr Speaker, for the opportunity to contribute to the Motion on the Floor regarding the budget approval of the Ministry of Fisheries and Aquaculture Development.
Mr Speaker, I rise to support the Motion for the approval for the budget for the Ministry of Fisheries and Aquaculture. Mr Speaker, the Ministry sought Cabinet approval to amend the Fisheries Act. The Hon Ranking Member, Hon Eric Opoku reiterated the fact that there is the need to review the law.
Mr Speaker, the amendment to the law would give the sector the flexibility in responding to emerging technical fisheries issues. Mr Speaker, Hon Eric Opoku in referring to the Fisheries Law Enforcement Act was of the view that the legal implications of the Act need to be reviewed, and l also want to state that the Act needs to be looked at.
Mr Speaker, I would want to urge the Hon Minister for Fisheries and Aquaculture Development that as she has assumed the post as the sector Minister, she should expedite action in seeking amendment to the Act so that the fisheries industry would get the full benefit of the Ministry.
I urge the House to support the Motion for the approval of budget estimates for the Ministry so that they could continue with their operations.
Thank you.
Dr Godfred Seidu Jasaw (NDC -- Wa East) 2:04 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I rise to support the approval of the budget estimates for the Ministry of Fisheries and Aquaculture Development.
Mr Speaker, I would want to add just a few comments so that hopefully, the new Hon Minister would take them on board in the discharge of her mandate. We appreciate that fish is an important commodity especially in the open market of African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), and once we can increase and improve arrangement in marine and aquaculture areas, we would be able to harvest more for fish development and export as a product and that may increase our foreign exchange earnings and also, incomes to households that are involved in the fishing industry.
Dr Godfred Seidu Jasaw (NDC -- Wa East) 2:14 a.m.


Mr Speaker, I would just like that I would emphasise that the new Minister, in taking this Budget, take urgent steps to be able to improve the management of the premix fuel sector because from the Committee hearings, we observe that there were a lot of challenges in that sector but I am happy to note that there are arrangements in place to automate the premix fuel industry. Once it is automated, then, we would be able to put a good monitoring lid on them and make sure that the smuggling that has been reported in that sector and the leakages can be plugged to save this country of the needed revenue.

Mr Speaker, the other issue that I think that the Ministry would have to take very urgent again, to avert further troubles in there in the distribution of outboard motors to fisherfolks. I think that the last regime of 2,297 outboards that have been distributed, was bereft with a lot of challenges and there are various accusations of the outboard motors going into the wrong hands. In some cases, party executives were selling them and so on. Some investigations, we are told, have been carried in that respect, and we hope that the Hon Minister would take steps to streamline that industry and

open the distribution arrangements to be fair to everybody that is a fisher folk in the respectful areas.

Mr Speaker, the other observation that is of interest is the Vessel Monitoring System where they call it observations; we noticed that in the last year, the Ministry undertook 519 observations. What is not pleasant is the financial arrangement of compensation for this vessel monitoring. Largely, they take some support from the vessel owners who may even be foreigners to be able to pay for those people who are observing them. And I think that it is an area that we have to look at the arrangements properly; how can I be monitoring you, looking out for possible crimes that you may commit and you would be paying me to do the monitoring?

Mr Speaker, but that said, I wish the new Hon Minister well and I call on the House to approve an amount of GH¢374,592,204 for the Ministry of Fisheries and Aquaculture Development.

Mr Speaker, I thank you very much.
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 2:14 a.m.
Thank you, Hon Member.
Mr Ahmed Ibrahim (NDC -- Banda) 2:14 a.m.
Mr Speaker, I have gone
through the document and I would like to support the Motion, but in supporting the Motion, I would like to make few comments.
Mr Speaker, I have gone through the Ministry's 2020 Budget, and I compared it with the 2021 Budget. Going through the budget, in 2020, the total budgeted figure was GH¢128,879,95. However, the actual release was only GH¢78,202,582. And when we go through the 2021 Budget, Government is budgeting to release GH¢374,592,204. My worry is, it is not enough to budget just by writing figures; when we budget, we must be checking the accuracy of our Budget. How come we budgeted for GH¢128 million throughout the whole year, you were able to release only GH¢78 million? And this year, just a year, they are now budgeting to release GH¢374 million for the same Ministry.
Mr Speaker, we hear a lot of comments and talks about the Ministry of Agriculture of which Aquaculture is part of Planting for Food and Jobs and Rearing for Food and Jobs. Look at the amount that Government released to the Ministry of Fisheries and Aquaculture Development only
GH¢78 million out of GH¢122 million. And I am not surprised; as for fishermen, they are not interested in the figures we are approving, they are interested in the actual life; what goes to the coastal areas.
Mr Speaker, you would bear me out that the loan release of GH¢50 million by Government to the Ministry of Fisheries and Aquaculture Development reflected in the election results in the coastal areas. We must take our fishermen very seriously; this GH¢374 million, I pray that Government would walk the talk and make sure that he releases the GH¢374 million for the Ministry of Fisheries and Aquaculture to make a positive impact on the lives of our fishermen along the coastal areas.
Mr Speaker, I thank you for the opportunity.
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 2:14 a.m.
Thank you, Hon Deputy Minority Whip.
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 2:14 a.m.
Hon Minister, would you have a concluding message?
Ms Koomson 2:14 a.m.
Mr Speaker, no, except to say a very big thank you to the Members of Parliament, and especially, the members of the Committee.
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 2:14 a.m.
Thank you, Hon Minister.
Hon Available Leader?
Ms Alhassan 2:14 a.m.
Mr Speaker, we could take Motion numbered 13 on page 8 of today's Order Paper.
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 2:14 a.m.
Hon Members, the item numbered 13; Motion on page 8, Ministry of Youth and Sports?
MINISTRY OF YOUTH AND 2:14 a.m.
SPORTS 2:14 a.m.
Minister for Youth and Sports (Mr Ussif Mustapha) 2:24 a.m.
Mr Speaker,
I beg to move that this honourable House approves the sum of GH¢34,412,805 for the services of the Ministry of Youth and Sports for the year ending 31st December, 2021.
Mr Speaker, this Budget would help implement the policies, programmes and projects of the Ministry and its agencies namely; the National Youth Authority, the National Sports Authority and the National Sports College.
Mr Speaker, in the year, the Ministry would focus on key priority projects and programmes finalising the regulation on the Sports Act and also finalising the regulation on the Youth Act.

We would continue with the preparation and activities towards the hosting of the 2023 African Games and also the implementation of the International Youth Policy.

Mr Speaker, I so move that this House approve the sum of GH¢34,412,805 for the services and programmes of the Ministry of Youth and Sports for the year ending, 31st December, 2021.

Thank you very much.
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 2:24 a.m.
Hon Member, thank you very much.
Now, the Committee Chairman.
Chairman of the Committee (Mr Johnson Kwaku Adu) 2:24 a.m.
Thank you, Mr Speaker, I rise to support the Motion and in so doing, present the Committee's Report.
1.0 Introduction
The Draft Budget Estimates for the Ministry of Youth and Sports for 2021 were referred to the Select Committee on Youth, Sports and Culture for consideration and report pursuant to Orders 140(4) and 187 of the Standing Orders of the House. This followed the presentation to Parliament of the 2021 Budget Statement and Economic Policy of the Government on Friday, 12th March 2021, 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 Hon Minister for Youth and Sports, Mr Mustapha Ussif, the Chief Director and a technical team, as well as officers from the Ministry of Finance, to consider the estimates, and reports 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 Youth and Sports on the actual releases and expenditure of the Ministry for the 2020 financial year.
3.0 Mandate, Vision and Mission of the Ministry
The Ministry of Youth and Sports is mandated to develop the capacity of the youth and integrate them into national development, whilst ensuring that the nation's values and aspirations are inculcated in them. Additionally, the Ministry is to ensure that Sports is used as a tool for national cohesion, the expression of national pride, and also serves as a platform for healthy living. The Ministry operates under the
SUB-PROGRAMMES 2:24 a.m.
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 2:24 a.m.
Thank you very much.
Hon Woyome?
Mr Kobena Mensah Woyome (NDC -- South Tongu) 2:24 a.m.
Thank you
Mr Speaker. I rise to contribute to the Motion.
I add my voice to the lamentations. I say lamentations because this particular Ministry over the years has still not been given its fair share of resources to enable it assert itself in its contribution to developing this country; for the youth and infrastructure for sports and then also for capacity building for sports development.
Last year, we approved the budget to the tune of GH¢40,244,155 and in that budget, there was an overrun. Clearly, it tells the story that the Ministry needs resources in order for them to perform and achieve their targets. We actually admonished the Ministry of Finance at the time that it is always prudent to give them whatever they request for because sports cannot play second fiddle in the youth development of the country. Whatever they request for, they must be given.
Mr Speaker, this year, we are again recording a similar situation that they have overrun their budget to the tune of over GH¢24 million. Again, with the breakdown indicating some infrastructural development and many
others, clearly, it is worth mentioning that we need to take this Ministry seriously. We should give then what they need to be able to perform.
In fact, if you look at their programmes, they have been putting them out in virtually every Budget. Maybe, due to lack of resources, they have not been able to execute them and they have found space in the current Budget that we approved. This gives an indication that if there should be any consideration for a Mid-Year Review, what is currently being allocated them should be increased.
If you look at what is ahead of them, that is the 2023 African Games, there seems to be a lackadaisical -- We are not seeing any signs or activities by the Ministry doing something that is geared towards ensuring that we have a seamless organisation in 2023. We have seen in the State of the Nation Address and Budget, a semblance of commitment towards hosting that event.
For all to probably appreciate the kind of hosting we are looking at hosting over 54 countries for the African Games. These include delegates and the total number would not be less than 10,000 athletes in this country. We must be ready with the Game Village and other facilities and
Mr Kobena Mensah Woyome (NDC -- South Tongu) 2:34 p.m.
we have less than two years to go. Even though they have been mentioned the Hon Minister has to be supported to deliver. The talk must result in action. We need to see more happening.
Mr Speaker, the Hon Chairman eloquently mentioned some of the infrastructure they have put together and intend carrying out. If you see all of them, for sports development, it is very important and for youth development, it is very key. Building on where the predecessor got to, I must say that you need money to do all these. If money is not released, I do not think we are being fair to the sector.
If you look at the current allocation of GH¢34,412,805, if care is not taken, we would once again see an overrun budget. In fact, there is the likelihood that it would happen and I think that the Acting Minister for Finance ought to be here to ensure that the PFM law and the laws that we pass here must be rigidly adhered to and complied to. We are just breaking the law.
Mr Speaker, may I quote a certain portion which would conclude my lamentation on this whole process, on behalf of the Minister, so that we can appreciate something? On page 17,
the second paragraph before the conclusion, it reads:

“The Committee was informed that there would be a special budget for the preparation towards hosting the All African Games. There is a need to increase allocation to the core centres…. to enable them maintain their facilities…''

Mr Speaker, this whole idea of the 2023 All Africa Games, started in 2015. I have with me a booklet of the All Africa Games, 2023 which at the time the then President had put together a comprehensive document and then the timelines within which to ensure that we had the 2023 hostess seamlessly so that every activity and when it ought to be ended and all that - it is good to continue and we are very uneasy where we are and I am afraid because with the way we are going, we might not even get there but I pray we get there with all of our support.

Mr Speaker, this budget allocation is nothing to write home about, so the lamentation continues and I pray that if there should be any review it must be done quickly -- and this must be on top of everything because when we host the 2023 All Africa Games,

it would have a positive multiplier effect in every area of the economy. At the end of the day, we would all be happy because this is a project that was started as an idea and carried on by the current Government and we believe it must happen. We are ready to support the Hon Minister to ensure it must happen and he needs the resources to make sure things happen.

Mr Speaker, we do not want to see overrun budgets, so the Ministry should release the money now. However, I want to add my voice to approve the paltry sum of GH¢34,412,805 for the Ministry of Youth and Sports and hope that it would be increased in the course of the year.

Mr Speaker, I thank you.
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 2:34 p.m.
Thank you Hon Ranking Member.
Hon Members, I said earlier, I would invite only one contributor from each Side. The one contributor, may include the leadership. So it means, if somebody speaks from either Side leadership is proscribed to speak.
Mr Yves Hanson-Nortey (NPP -- Tema Central) 2:34 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I rise to support the Motion.
Mr Speaker, I have perused through the Report and it is obvious that the allocated sum is woefully inadequate for the litany of capital intensive project that the Ministry would undertake within this fiscal year, most especially the 2023 13th All African Games.
Mr Speaker, we expect over 10,000 supporters and ancillary jobs that would be created out of this games. In view of that what the Ministry of Finance has allocated a CAPEX of a little over GH¢2 million which cannot take care of the needs of the Ministry.
Mr Speaker, the second issue I want to raise is with regard to staff shortage the Ministry faces. In 2017, they had about 337 staff but it was reduced to 289 in 2020. However, the kind of services that they would recruit are specialised activities, so the Ministry would need them for its activities. Luckily, they have had approval from the Office of the Civil Service but they are yet to get clearance from the Ministry of Finance. So, I want to urge the Ministry of Finance to take a look at the situation.
Mr Speaker, page 12 of the Report indicated that the approved IGF was a little over GH¢500,000. The Ministry was able to raise over
Mr Benson Tongo Baba (NDC -- Talensi) 2:44 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I thank
you for the opportunity to contribute to the Motion.
Mr Speaker, it is abundantly clear that year in year out, the allocation given to the Ministry of Youth and Sports is always indequate, which has resulted into the Ministry always going in for extra funding which we have termed as “overrun of the budget''.
Mr Speaker, it was because the idea of Sports Fund was mooted and factored into the last Budget Statement in 2020. I would want to urge the Ministry that they should bring to conclusion the formulation of a Legislative Instrument (L. I.) which would cure this problem. They need to have other sources of funding. There is no government anywhere in the world that can fund sports on its own. There are a lot of examples, even in the most advanced countries like the United States. In London 2012, the city of London derived their money for the hosting of the Olympic Games and the construction of sports facility through sports funding via the route of sports lottery.

Mr Speaker, it appears that we are given half-hearted attention to sports. The policy that should regulate the operations of the Ministry of Youth and Sports and its Agencies have still

not been passed. Even though the Act for the Ministry was passed in the year

2016.

In referring to the Sports Act of 2016 (Act 934) and also the National Youth Authority Act of 2016 (Act 939). If we want to develop sports then we must have the appropriate regulations governing the operations of sports.

Mr Speaker, another important issue is the lack of facilities. Since Ghana will be hosting the 2023 African Games, we thought that by now, the construction of the Olympic sports complex would have taken off. We do not wait till the year of, or a year to the Games before construction starts and as a host nation, it seems we do not know the value of the African Games.

May I say that it is qualification games for all the disciplines and for that reason, all the international federations; the International Olympic Committee (IOC), the Common- wealth Games Secretariat and the Continental Federations will all be troOping down to Accra to ensure that the facilities meet the requirements for it to be classified as a qualification tournament for the African Games?

Even if the logo that will be used to attract sponsors is not yet ready and if we want to move forward and have

the support of the private sector then some of these activities should have been concluded.

Mr Speaker, looking at the composition of members of the local organising committee, I wish to recommend that if we want to successfully host the Games then the membership should be expanded to include other professionals who have the expertise to support us in the successful hosting of the Games.

Most of the members cannot be ‘jack of all trades'. They have their specialisation and I think that there are other specialised agencies that can play a very useful role for the hosting of the Games.

Mr Speaker, I am dwelling too much on this because that is my passion. I have been the longest serving president of the Ghana Olympic Committee for almost 15 years. I have seen different countries hosting African Games and what it means to do so. The Ministry of Youth and Sports needs to be encouraged and the people of Ghana need to be carried along because it is Ghana hosting the Games and so, everybody in Ghana must be carried along.

Another important thing is that because we do not have a policy, we do not even have coaches at the
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 2:44 p.m.
Thank you very much, Hon Baba. Hon Members, listening to the Motion and the contribution from both Sides, one thing is clear and that is, inadequate budgetary allocation to the Ministry. Unfortunately, the Minister for Finance is not available but I think that the sports industry and the youth formation in the country is very critical
and so, the needed funds must be made available.
So, we hope that subsequent Budgets, specifically, the Budget review which is the Mid-Year Review, may have to take a look at this particular area.
On that note, I will conclude the debate.
Question put and Motion agreed to.
Resolved Accordingly.
That this honourable House approves the sum of GH¢34,402,805 for the services of the Ministry of Youth and Sports for the year ending 31st December, 2021.
Hon Minister, do you have any concluding message?
Mr Ussif 2:44 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I just want to thank the Committee as well as Hon Members of Parliament for the effective work done. This is also to assure them that the African Games come 2023, Government is on track and land has been secured and the current protocol agreements between the AU and the Government of Ghana is being worked on. So, very soon we will see the projects in its physical form.
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 2:44 p.m.
Thank you Hon Minister. Yes, Hon 2nd Deputy Majority Whip?
Ms Lydia S. Alhassan 2:44 p.m.
Mr Speaker, item numbered 18 on page 9 of the Order Paper.
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 2:44 p.m.
Hon Members, item numbered 18?
MINISTRY OF THE INTERIOR 2:54 p.m.
Minister for the Interior (Mr Ambrose Dery) 2:54 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I beg to move, that this honourable House approves the sum of GH¢3,410, 881, 573 for the services of the Ministry of the Interior for the year ending 31st December, 2021.
Chairman of the Committee (Mr Ken Ohene Agyapong) 2:54 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I beg to second the Motion and in so doing present your Committee's Report.
1.0 Introduction
In compliance with article 179(1) of the Constitution, the Hon. Minister for Parliamentary Affairs, Mr Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu presented the
2021 Budget Statement and Economic Policy of the Government to Parliament on Friday, 12th March,
2021.
In accordance with Orders 140(4) and 158 of the Standing Orders, the Rt. Hon. Speaker, referred the Annual Estimates “for the Fiscal year 2021 of the Ministry of the Interior to the Committee on Defence and Interior for consideration and report.
1.1 Committee Deliberation
The Committee met on Monday 22th March and Tuesday, 2rd March, 2021 to consider the Estimates of the Ministry. Those who assisted the Committee to thoroughly deliberate on the estimates were the Hon. Minister for the Interior, Mr Ambrose Dery, Heads of the Agencies under the Ministry and officials of the Ministry of Finance.
The Committee is grateful to the Minister and all the officials for their support.
2.0 Reference Documents
The Committee referred to the following documents during its deliberations:
MTID, NRSA, DVLA, 2:54 p.m.
Mr Peter Lanchene Toobu (NDC -- Wa West) 2:54 p.m.
Mr Speaker, thank you very much for the opportunity to contribute to the Motion on the Floor.
Mr Speaker, we all know that without security there cannot be development and the Ministry of the Interior happens to be the lead agency on matters of internal security, it is of great importance for us to look at the budget of this huge Ministry with several agencies under it.
The Constitution provides under articles 200(3) and 205(2) that the State shall equip and maintain the Ghana Police Service, the Ghana Immigration Service and all the Services under the Ministry of the Interior. Mr Speaker, on many occasions, we provide few vehicles and few logistics and then we say that they have been adequately equipped, yet we never talk about maintenance.
Mr Speaker, 97 per cent of the budget is for compensation and three per cent would be for goods and services and capex. Mr Speaker, what can three per cent do for a huge Ministry like the Ministry of the Interior?
Mr Speaker, we have optimism bias and we are on the performance of security services. When we procure and supply a few vehicles we want the whole world to know that these services are being equipped. For
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 2:54 p.m.
Hon Member, thank you.
Question proposed.
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 2:54 p.m.
Hon Members, I would take a contribution each from either Side so if a Hon Leader yields to another Hon Member on their Side, then it means you have proscribed yourself from contributing.
Hon Member for Akwapim North?
Nana Ama D. Asiamah-Adjei (Akwapim North) 3:04 p.m.
Mr Speaker, thank you and I rise to support the Motion on the Floor.
Mr Speaker, the Ministry of the Interior oversees 12 agencies and these agencies are tasked with promoting law and order and maintaining internal security.

Mr Speaker, this implies that the role they play are very vital, and we would have a very chaotic society if they were not available. Mr Speaker, permit me to commend them for the key role they play; for the proficiency, professionalism, resilience and in some extreme cases where they do not have adequate gadget for their innovation in pulling through.

Mr Speaker, on the Ghana National Fire Service, I can confidently say that they have performed beyond our expectations. I know the government has done some investments in them. In the past year, they got some new fire tenders as well as other gadgets to help fight fire. However, as with Oliver Twist, we would always ask for more.

Mr Speaker, they would need more fire tenders, they would need excruciating equipment to assist in saving accident victims. Everything they need to quench and fight fire outbreaks must be made available to them, including water and in some cases fuel to move.

We encourage that the government inject some positive funds into the Capital Expenditure Budget of the Ghana Immigration Service. There
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 3:04 p.m.
Thank you, Hon Member.
Hon Member for Krachi West?
Ms Helen A. Ntoso (NDC -- Krachi West) 3:04 p.m.
Thank you, Mr Speaker, for the opportunity to contribute to the Motion on the Floor for the approval of the sum of GH¢3,410,881,573 for the services of the Ministry of the Interior for the 2021 financial year.
Mr Speaker, we all know for a fact that security is paramount. If we want peace, security and to sleep well, there is the need for our security agencies to be well resourced so that they perform the functions for which they have been established.
Mr Speaker, on the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO), Act 517 of 1996 was amended to Act 927 in 2016, which therefore changed the core functions of NADMO from coordinating to managing disasters.
Ms Helen A. Ntoso (NDC -- Krachi West) 3:14 p.m.
National Fire Service. There is the need for the Ghana National Fire Service to be equipped to even train more volunteers because when it comes to response, volunteers are the first to go to disaster scenes. So there is the need for them to train more volunteers.
Mr Speaker, when it comes to the Ghana Prisons Service, we never know when you would even be a victim of an unfortunate circumstance. So there is the need for us as a country, to look at the Ghana Prisons Service, build more houses, train inmates so that they would come out to have something doing.

Mr Speaker, in all, what I would want to say is that if we look at the 2020 budget of GH¢3,411,979,634 that was allocated to the Ministry of the Interior, the actual was GH¢3,488,313,426.24 and we have a huge variance of

GH¢76,333,774.24.

So, Mr Speaker, we urge this House that since security is paramount, we approve GH¢3,410,881,573 for the Ministry of the Interior for the year ending, 31st December, 2021.

Thank you, Mr Speaker, for the opportunity.

Question put and Motion agreed to.

Resolved Accordingly.

That this honourable House approves the sum of GH¢3,410,881,573 for the services of the Ministry of the Interior for the year ending 31st December, 2021.
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 3:14 p.m.
Hon Minister you may give your concluding message.
Mr A. Dery 3:14 p.m.
Thank you, Mr Speaker.
Mr Speaker, I would want to thank Hon Members for the support and encouragement. This House has always been behind the Ministry of the Interior and I look forward to working with this House to make good the Government's goal to make people feel safe in this country.
Thank you very much, Mr Speaker.
Ms Alhassan 3:14 p.m.
Mr Speaker, item numbered 16 on page 8 of the Order Paper.
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 3:14 p.m.
Item numbered 16 -- Minister for Works and Housing?
MINISTRY OF WORKS AND 3:14 p.m.
HOUSING 3:14 p.m.
Minister for Works and Housing (Mr Francis Asenso- Boakye) 3:14 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I rise to move that this honourable House approves the sum of GH¢175,046,585 for the services of the Ministry of Works and Housing for the year ending 31st December, 2021.
Chairman of the Committee (Mr Isaac K. Asiamah) 3:14 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I rise to second the Motion ably moved by the Hon Minister for Works and Housing and in doing so, I present your Committee's Report.
1.0 Introduction
Further to Standing Order 140(4) of the Standing Orders of the House, the 2021 Annual Estimates of the Ministry of Works and Housing were committed to the Committee on Works and Housing for consideration and report following the presentation of the Budget Statement and Economic Policy of the Government for the financial year ending 31st December, 2021 by the Hon Minister for Parliamentary Affairs and Leader of Government Business, Mr Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu on Friday, 12th March, 2021 in accordance with article 179 of the 1992 Constitution of the Republic of Ghana.
2.0 Deliberations
The Committee was assisted in its deliberations by the Hon Minister for Works and Housing, Mr Francis Asenso Boakye, the Hon Minister of State at the Presidency in charge of Works and Housing. Mrs Freda Prempeh, the Chief Director, Mr Solomon Asoalla, and a technical team from the Ministries of Works and Housing and Finance.
The Committee is grateful to the Hon. Minister, the Minister of State, and the technical team for the cooperation and assistance.
3.0 Reference
The Committee referred to the under-listed documents during its deliberations:
a) The 1992 Constitution of Ghana;
b) The Standing Orders of the Parliament of Ghana;
c) The Budget Statement and Economic Policy of the Government of Ghana for the 2020 Financial Year;
d) The Budget Statement and Economic Policy of the Government of Ghana. for the 2021 Financial Year;
- 3:14 p.m.
Mr Vincent O. Asamoah (NPP -- Dormaa West) 3:24 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I rise to support the Motion ably moved by the Chairman of the Committee for the approval of the sum of GH¢175,046,585 for the services of the Ministry of Works and Housing for the year ending 31st December,
2021.
Mr Speaker, as the Chairman said, in the year 2020, GH¢226 million was allocated to the Ministry for their
activities. I remember the former Minister had a lot of issues with the allocation that was made to the Ministry. But this year, the allocation has been reduced to about GH¢175 million and we all know how important the Ministry is to the country. We have lots of communities that are at the mercy of the tidal waves. Coastal protection - we need to protect our coastal communities. Besides that, we all know the problem we have with housing in this country.
The Chairman mentioned that we have a debt overhang of almost GH¢1 billion as a Ministry and if an allocation of GH¢175 million is made to a Ministry that has a debt overhang of about GH¢1 billion, I wonder how the Ministry is going to run.
We all know the onset of the rains and the flooding situation in Accra and we need to desilt the major drains in Accra and most of the major communities. Looking at the allocation that has been made to the Ministry, I think the Government should have considered that. Most of the promises that were made in our Budget Statement - there are a lot of sod cutting in the Budget Statement and if a promise is made and we do not even have allocations to fulfil those promises, a time would come that everybody would be thinking that politicians cannot be trusted.
So, going forward, I believe that the Accra drainage system is so important to reduce the flooding situation here. Besides that, we all know that most of the high capital- intensive projects that are going on at most of our coastal communities - Keta, Ada and other places. We need to ensure that a lot of investment goes into that area. The Chairman mentioned that out of the infrastructural budget, we only had 4 per cent to the Ministry of Works and Housing. So if our Minister would be very effective and the people would benefit from the Ministry, I believe that we have to make a lot more allocation to this important Ministry.

Mr Speaker, on that note, I would suggest to the House to approve the sum of GH¢175,046,585 for the year 2021 so that the Ministry would be able to implement most of the programmes and activities that have been outlined for the year.
Mr David D. T. Vondee (NDC -- Twifo Atti Morkwa) 3:24 p.m.
Thank you, Mr Speaker, for this opportunity to contribute to this very important matter before us. I would want to thank the Hon Ranking Member for the good guidance, and the Hon Chairman of our Committee. He was very good at
the Committee meeting, and I recommend that he is given more of that opportunity.
Mr Speaker, I would want to look at page 9 of the Report. When you look at the figure that is allocated, it is GH¢175,046,585. Mr Speaker, the Budget Estimates of the year 2020 is close to GH¢230 million. When you look at what the 2020 budget was able to do, you would realise that Osei Tutu housing project and some other houses were completed and handed over to TDC.
Mr Speaker, that is what the Ministry did with almost GH¢230 million. I wonder how GH¢175 million would do something more appreciable. I therefore submit that the Ministry of Finance should look at the Budget Estimates again because the Ministry of Works and Housing is a very important area in our economy. Since the budget is very small, I believe that the Ministry would want to engage in so many strategic approaches in order to make a very good impact.
Mr Speaker, take the rural housing project for example, and I would recommend that we engage local products in building houses for the local environment. When you take the districts for example, why do we not go for bricks which are relatively
Mr David Ansah Opoku (NPP -- Mpraeso) 3:24 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I rise to support the Motion moved by the Hon Minister for Works and Housing.
Clearly, housing is essential in achieving Sustainable Development Goal 11, which states that there is the need to make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable. Mr Speaker, during the delivery of the Message on the State of the Nation by the President to this
august House, he made it clear that he would support the Ministry to achieve this very Goal.
Mr Speaker, during the vetting of my very good Friend and Brother, Hon Asenso-Boakye, who is the sector Minister, he gave some solid assurance that he would ensure that the perennial flooding that is experienced in Accra and elsewhere would be stopped. So, I am a bit worried looking at the allocation assigned to the Ministry.
I would want to use this occasion urge the Government, especially the Ministry of Finance to ensure that in the mid-year budget review, some more allocation is given to the Ministry to ensure that the very vision that the young Hon Minister has would be attained.
Mr Speaker, on that, I support the Motion as tabled.
Question put and Motion agreed to.
Resolved Accordingly:
That this honourable House approves the sum of GH¢175,046,585 for the services of the Ministry of Works and Housing for the year ending 31st December 2021.
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 3:24 p.m.
Hon Minister, may you conclude taking into cognisance some of the contributions Hon Members made?
Mr Asenso-Boakye 3:24 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I have nothing more useful to add except to express my profound appreciation to the House for the approval and to the members of the Committee for their support. I am very grateful.
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 3:24 p.m.
We shall take the item numbered 29 on page 11 of the Order Paper.
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 3:24 p.m.
Hon Members, item numbered 29 on page 11-- Minister for Local Government, Decentralisation and Rural Development?
.
MINISTRY OF LOCAL 3:24 p.m.
GOVERNMENT, 3:24 p.m.
DECENTRALISATION AND 3:24 p.m.
RURAL DEVELOPMENT 3:24 p.m.
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 3:34 a.m.
Thank you, Hon Minister.
Question proposed.
Chairman of the Committee (Mr Emmanuel Akwasi Gyamfi) 3:34 a.m.
Mr Speaker, I beg to second the Motion, and I take the opportunity to present the Committee's Report:
1.0 Introduction
Pursuant to article 179 of the Constitution and Order 140(1) and (2) of the Standing Orders of the House, the Hon. Minister for Parliamentary Affairs, and the Leader of Government Business, Mr Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu, on Friday, 12th March, 2021, presented to Parliament the Budget Statement and Economic Policy of the Government of Ghana for the 2021 Financial Year. In accordance with Order 140(4) of the Standing Orders of the House, the Rt. Hon Speaker referred the Annual Draft Estimates of the Ministry of Local Government, Decentralisation and Rural Development to the
Committee on Local Government and Rural Development for consideration and report.
The Committee met on Wednesday 24th March, 2021 and considered the Annual Estimates of the Ministry.
The Committee is grateful to the Hon. Minister for Local Government, Decentralisation and Rural Development, Mr. Daniel Botwe, Officials from the Departments and Agencies of the Ministry and Officials from the Ministry of Finance for their invaluable contributions and inputs during the consideration of the Estimates.
2.0 Reference Documents
In considering the Estimates, the Committee relied on the following documents;
i. The 1992 Constitution;
ii. The Standing Orders of Parliament;
iii. The Budget Statement and Economic Policy of the Government of Ghana for the 2021 Fiscal Year;
iv. The Medium-Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF) for 2019-2022- Programme Based Budget
Estimate for the Ministry of Local Government, Decentralisation and Rural Development for 2021;
v. The Budget Statement and Economic Policy of the Government of Ghana for the 2020 Fiscal Year;
vi. The 2020 Annual Estimates of the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development; and
vii.Report of the Committee on Local Government and Rural Development on the 2020 Annual Estimates of the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development.
3.0 Vision of the Ministry
The Ministry exists to ensure good governance, equitable and balanced development at the local level through the promotion of good governance on urban and rural communities and the formulation of policies and plans, coordination, monitoring and evaluation of programmes using highly trained and motivated staff and the adoption of appropriate technology for national development.
4.0 Policy Objectives
The policy objectives of the Ministry as contained in the National Medium-Term Development Policy Framework (NMTDPF) are as follows:
Ensure improved Public Investment;
Improve population management;
Promote resilient urban development;
Enhance quality of life in rural areas;
Deepen political and administrative decentralisation;
Improve decentralised planning;
Strengthen fiscal decentralisation;
Strengthen the coordinating and administrative functions of the Regions;
Improve popular participation at regional and district levels;
Enhance capacity for policy formulation and coordination; and
Chairman of the Committee (Mr Emmanuel Akwasi Gyamfi) 3:34 a.m.


that H.E. the President should reconsider bringing the three Development Authorities under the policy directions of the Minister for Local Government, Decentralisation and Rural Development.

9.6 Vocational Training Institutes

The Committee noted that the Department of Community Development has a number of training institutes for vocational training across the country. These vocational training institutes are under the policy direction of the Ministry of Local Government, Decentralisation and rural Development.

The Committee is also aware that there are a number of training centres that also provide vocational and skills training under the supervision of the Ministry of Youth and Sports. There are also technical institutes across the country that provide technical and vocational skills training for the youth under the control and direction of the Ghana Education Service (GES) and the Ministry of Education.

It has been observed that most of these training institutions/centres are poorly resourced and lacked basic tools and equipment to provide the requite skills training for the youth.

It was further noted that whereas students who enrol in the technical institutes under the control of GES benefit from the Government's Free Senior High School (SHS) Policy, participants who enrol under the Community Development Vocational Training Institutes (CDVTI) or the Youth Training Centres (YTC) under the Ministry of Youth and Sports do not benefit from the Free SHS Policy.

It is the considered view of the Committee that majority of participants at CDVTI and YTC are mostly from poor backgrounds and in need of financial aid to support their training and development. The Committee is therefore recommending to Government to consider extending the Free SHS Policy to cover students who enrol into these vocational institutes/centres.

The Government should also consider a rationalisation of technical and vocational training in the country to bring it under the control of one Ministry or Agency to ensure harmonisation and coordination and efficient and effective utilisation of the limited resources available.

10. Conclusion

To ensure good governance, equitable and balanced development at the local level as well as to enable the Ministry to implement its

programmes and activities, the Committee recommends to the House to adopt its report and approve the total sum of one billion, five hundred and ninety-nine million, three hundred and twenty-two thousand, five hundred and fifty-seven Ghana Cedis (GH¢1,599,322,557.00) for the Ministry of Local Government, Decentralisation and Rural Development and its Departments and Agencies for the 2021 fiscal year.

Respectfully submitted
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 3:34 a.m.
Thank you, Hon Chairman.
Mr Thomas Nyarko Ampem (NDC -- Asuogyaman) 3:34 a.m.
Mr Speaker, I beg to support the Motion for this House to approve the sum of GH¢1,299,322,557 for the services of Ministry of Local Government, Decentralisation and Rural Development for the year ending 31st December, 2021.
Mr Speaker, your Committee has done a diligent job and if we look at paragraph 6.2 on page 4 of the Report, we would see that the 2020 expenditure returns as provided in that table shows clearly that there was a Budget overrun of more than 36 per cent of the allocation to the Ministry for the year. And this is becoming a
trend that if you listened to the Hon Members on this Floor, it is something that is becoming repetitive, so this House would have to take a critical look at this new trend.
Mr Speaker, but it was interesting to note and to hear from the Ministry that the Ministry provided a budget donor partner funding and the Ministry of Finance reduced the ceilings but at the end of the day, because they received the money, they went ahead to spend far in excess of the ceiling that this honourable House approved. And so, what one wonders is that are we looking at a situation where we want to present a Budget and say that the Budget is only 5 per cent donor funded or something like that, and that is why we are limiting or reducing the ceilings as provided by this? We have to look at that because it does not present a very good picture of the situation.
Mr Speaker, in paragraph 7.1, the Ministry has developed a new decentralisation policy strategy from 2020 to 2024. There was an earlier policy strategy that spanned the period of 2015 to 2019 and the review of that strategy revealed clearly that the indicators were not achieved mainly because of funding challenges. And you would recall that in 2017, this House approved a reduction of tax revenue that was paid into the
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 3:34 a.m.
Thank you very much, Hon Member.
Hon Members, the Motion has been moved and seconded. As has been the practice for the day, I will invite one contribution from each Side, including Leadership.
Ms Mavis Nkansah-Boadu (NPP -- Afigya-Sekyere East) 3:44 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I am grateful for the opportunity to contribute to the approval of the sum of GH¢1,599,322,557 for the Ministry of Local Government, Decentralisation and Rural Development.
Mr Speaker, I would start by commending the Hon Minister and the Government for ensuring the passage of the Birth and Death Registration Act, (Act1027) and to also commend the Government for the decentralisation effort, especially in the area of birth and death registration.
Mr Speaker, birth certificate is one of the most important documents to every nation. Unlike our country, it is very close to impossible to actually attain birth certificate, but in Ghana, it has not been so.

I believe that with the passage of this Act, it would make it very easy for us to reduce the fraud associated with people acquiring birth certificates. In the same vein, it would reduce the bureaucracy in getting such a certificate. It would also give strength to the Registry and make their work very effective.

Mr Speaker, with that being said, I would go straight to the Department of Community Development. Last year, two Community Development, Vocational and Technical Institutes were retuned and upgraded. We have 25 of them in Ghana. This year, they are planning on retuning and upgrading another two.

If you look at the pace at which the Development is doing its work, it might take us years to upgrade all these institutions. Unfortunately for us, if we go back to our constituencies, we can see that there are lots of social vices going on. There is a saying that the devil finds work for the idle hands, so I believe that if these institutions
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 3:44 p.m.
I want to give the opportunity to the Hon Member.
Mr Dominic Napare (NDC -- Sene East) 3:44 p.m.
Mr Speaker, thank you for the opportunity to contribute to the Motion.
A lot has been said about the budget overruns by previous speakers, but what is worrying is the fact that in spite of the huge budget overrun of up to about GH¢75 million, we have not seen any significant change in the development pattern. That has been the problem because if funds are released and over-released, we have to see the corresponding increase in the projects and programmes of the Ministry. Unfortunately, it has always been the same pattern, so one wonders and asks where these additional funds released were channelled to?
Another concern the Committee raised during the consideration is that there was no resort to parliamentary approval for this expenditure overrun and as the Committee has recommended, in future, the Ministry
of Finance would have to get approval from Parliament before these additional funds are released and spent.
Mr Speaker, when you go to paragraph 9.2, my Hon Colleague mentioned the Birth and Deaths Registry. The Committee noted that the Birth and Deaths Registry is facing accommodation challenges. It also noted their temporarily being housed in a place which does not facilitate the effective performance of their duties.
Last year, they were to be relocated to a new site but when the Committee requested to know the state of preparedness of the new place, the Committee was informed that nothing had been done so far. It is the belief of the Committee that something would be done, looking at the importance of the Birth and Deaths Registry with regard to data collection which has its positive impact on the development of the country.
Mr Speaker, one thing that we also mentioned last year which has not been taken care of is allowing these income generating agencies to retain part of their IGF for development. We believe when that is done, these agencies would be more willing to
generate a lot more revenue. Some of these agencies are the Births and Deaths Registry, as I have mentioned and the Department of Parks and Gardens.
We noted that the Department of Parks and Gardens has increased their revenue generation from GH¢400,000 last year to GH¢600,000 this year. The Committee noted that they have a lot more capacity to generate more IGF. However, the fact is that when they generate this IGF and it is sent to the Ministry of Finance, what is given to them for their performance is woefully inadequate. For that reason, they do not have the urge to generate more revenue.
Mr Speaker, we are appealing that the Ministry of Finance consider permitting these agencies to retain part of their IGF, so that they would be able to embark on more developmental programmes.
With these words, Mr Speaker, I thank you and urge the House to approve the 2021 Budgetary Estimates for the Ministry of Local Government, Decentralisation and Rural Development.
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 3:44 p.m.
Hon Minister, conclusion?
Mr Daniel Botwe 3:44 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I thank the Hon Members of the Committee for the valuable contributions they made and we would probably take all on board. We would have regular meetings to make sure that some of the concerns and suggestions that have been raised would be put into the implementation of the Ministry's operations.
I thank the House for approving this sum for the Ministry of Local Government, Decentralisation and Rural Development for this year.
Thank you, Mr Speaker.
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 3:44 p.m.
Thank you very much Hon Minister.
Question put and Motion agreed to.
Resolved Accordingly:
That this honourable House approves the sum of GH¢1,599,322,557 is hereby approved for the services of the Ministry of Local Government, Decentralisation and Rural Development for the year ending 31st December, 2021.
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 3:44 p.m.
Respectfully, Leader of the House.
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 3:44 p.m.
Mr Speaker, can we take item numbered 24 on page 10?
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 3:44 p.m.
Hon Members, item numbered 24 on page 10, Motion, by the Minister for Health.
MINISTRY OF HEALTH 3:44 p.m.
Minister for Health (Mr Kwaku Agyeman- Manu) 3:54 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I beg to move, that this honourable House approves the sum of GH¢8,533,590,223 for the services of the Ministry of Health for the year ending 31st December, 2021.

Mr Speaker, the figure on the second line of the Motion which is GH¢8,261,640,223 is the correct figure and not what was indicated as

GH¢8,261,640,224.
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 3:54 p.m.
Hon Minister, may you come up with the figure again, please?
Mr Agyeman-Manu 3:54 p.m.
Mr Speaker, the figure is GH¢8,533,590,223. That is the correct figure. The figure in the Order Paper is wrong.
Minister for Health (Mr Kwaku Agyeman-Manu) 3:54 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I beg to move, that this honourable House approves the sum of GH¢8,533,590,223 for the services of the Ministry of Health for the year ending 31st December, 2021.
Question proposed.
Chairman of the Committee (Dr
Nana Ayew Afriye) 3:54 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I beg to support the Motion and in so doing, I present your Committee's Report.
1.0 Introduction
1.1 On Friday, 12th March, 2021, the Hon. Minister for Parliamentary Affairs, Majority Leader and Leader of Government Business, Mr Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu, presented the Budget Statement and Economic Policy of the Government of Ghana for the 2021 Financial Year to Parliament, in accordance with article 179 of the Constitution.
1.2 Pursuant to article 103 of the Constitution and Standing Orders 140 and 178 of the House, Mr Speaker referred the Annual Budget Estimates of the Ministry of Health for the 2021 Financial Year to the Committee on Health for consideration and report.
1.3In pursuance of the Referral, the Honourable Minister for Health, Mr. Kwaku Agyeman-Manu, the Chief Director of the Ministry of Health, Mr. Kwabena Boadu Oku-Afari and other Officials of the Ministry of Health were invited to come and assist the Committee.
2.0 Reference Documents
2.1 During the deliberations of the Committee, the following were referred to:
a) The 1992 Constitution of the Republic of Ghana;
b) The Standing Orders of Parliament;
c) The Budget Statement and Economic Policy of the Government of Ghana for the 2020 Financial Year;
d) The Budget Statement and Economic Policy of the Government of Ghana for the 2021 Financial Year;
e) The Annual Budget Estimates of the Ministry of Health for the 2020 Financial Year;
f) Report of the Committee on Health on the Seventh Parliament of the year 2020
Nana Ayew Afriye) 3:54 p.m.


Annual Budget Estimates of the Ministry of Health.

3.0 Mission of the Ministry

3.1 The Mission of the Ministry is “to continue with the socio-economic development by promoting health and vitality through access to quality health for all people living in Ghana using well-motivated personnel” (Ministry of Health).

4.0 Agencies of the Ministry

4.1 Main Ministry

a. Headquarters;

b. Ghana Health Service (Health Facilities other than teaching hospitals);

c. Biomedical Engineering Unit;

4.2 Teaching Hospitals

a. Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital- Main;

i. Blood Bank;

ii. Ghana Radiotherapy;

iii.National Cardiothoracic Centre;

b. Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital;

c. Cape Coast Teaching Hospital;

d. Tamale Teaching Hospital;

e. Ho Teaching Hospital

4.3 Regulatory Bodies

a. Food and Drugs Authority;

b. Medical and Dental Council;

c. Pharmacy Council;

d. Nursing and Midwifery Council of Ghana

e. Allied Health Professionals Council;

f. Traditional Medicine Practice Council;

g. Health Facilities Regulatory Agency;

h. Ghana Psychology Council;

4.4 Subvented Agencies

a. Centre for Scientific Research into Plant Medicine;

b. Ghana College of Pharmacists;

c. Ghana College of Physicians and Surgeons;

d. Ghana Institute of Clinical Genetics;

e. College of Nurses and Midwives;

f. National Ambulance Service;

g. St. Johns Ambulance;

4.5 Psychiatric Hospitals

a. Pantang Hospital;

b. Accra Psychiatric Hospital;

c. Ankaful Hospital;

4.6 Other Establishments under the Ministry

a. Health Training Institutions;

b. Christian Health Association of Ghana (CHAG);

5.0 Core Functions of the Ministry

5.1 The Ministry is mandated to:

i.“Formulate, coordinate and monitor the implementation of

sector policies and programmes.

ii. Provide public health and clinical services at primary, secondary and tertiary levels.

iii. Regulate registration and accreditation of health service delivery facilities as well as the training and practice of various health professions regarding standards and professional conduct.

iv. Regulate the manufacture, implementation, exportation, distribution, use and advertisement of all food, medicines, cosmetics, medical devices and house hold chemical substances as well as the marketing and utilisation of traditional medicinal products in the Country.

v. Conduct and promote scientific research into plant/ herbal medicine.

vi. Provide pre-hospital care during accidents, emergencies and disasters”. (Medium Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF) for

2021-2024);
Nana Ayew Afriye) 3:54 p.m.


6.0 Overall Goal of the Health Sector

6.1 “To have a healthy and productive population that reproduces itself safely” (Medium Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF) for 2021-

2024).

7.0 Performance for 2020

Management and Administration Programme

7.1 As part of its efforts to improve health waste management in 2020, the Ministry of Health in collaboration with the Ministry of Environment developed and launched the Health Waste Management Policy. The Ministry also completed and launched the Universal Health Coverage (UHC) Road Map as well as the National Health Policy to support healthcare delivery in Ghana.

7.2 The Ministry of Health continues to make progress in the area of the National Health Insurance Scheme membership coverage due to the introduction of the mobile renewal platform system, previously. The Ministry through the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) was able to increase the membership strength of the National Health Insurance

Scheme (NHIS) to about 13.6 per cent, from 12.29 million number of subscribers in 2019 to 13.96 million in 2020. The Authority also piloted family planning in selected districts for possible inclusion into the NHIS benefit package. The benefit package of NHIS has been expanded to include Herceptin for the treatment of breast cancer.

7.3 The Ministry of Health through the support of government, made significant efforts to help curb the upsurge of the Coronavirus Pandemic or COVID-19 in the Country. Government supported the Ministry of Health by enacting the Imposition of Restrictions Act of 2020 (Act 1012) and the Executive Instrument (E.I.) 164 to make adherence to the COVID-19 protocols including the wearing of nose masks to be compulsory. Coronavirus Disease Strategic Plan and Guidelines for case management, treatment and laboratory testing for such infectious ailments was also developed.

The Ministry in collaboration with other Ministries, also developed the National Strategic COVID-19 Response Plan (2020-2024) which has even been revised. The Ministry further composed a multi-sectoral committee to see to the procurement

and distribution of COVID-19 commodities including Personal Protective Equipment (PPEs) to all private and public health facilities and institutions across the Country. Bi- weekly press briefings were also held to inform the general public about the disease and the response activities undertaken to deal with the Pandemic. To reassure health workers, an insurance scheme and tax waivers were also instituted for frontline health workers in the Country.

Health Service Delivery Programme

7.4 The Ministry, in pursuance of the Government's commitment towards the Agenda 111 (a major infrastructural drive in the health sector), have identified some sites and the process of procurement and engagement of consultants has begun. The Agenda 111 is for the purpose of ensuring the availability of health facilities in deprived communities.

7.5 During the onset of the Pandemic, the Noguchi Memorial Institute or Medical Research was the only lab providing COVID-19 testing services. In its efforts to increase testing facilities across the Country, the Ministry supported other testing sites: Kumasi Centre for Collaborative Research, National Public Health

Reference Laboratory, Veterinary Services Department Laboratory Services, the University of Health and Allied Sciences, the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research and some private sector operators.

Human Resource for Health Development and Management

7.6 The Ministry is currently exploring international collaboration and partnership for human resource for the Health Sector just as it facilitated the recruitment and exportation of 95 Ghanaian Nurses to Barbados in

2020.

7.7 In operationalising His Excellency, the President's commitment made on insurance package for health workers who would contract COVID-19, the Ministry and its Agencies put in place systems to roll out the scheme. The insurance cover currently targets ten thousand (10,000) health workers beginning from 30th March, 2020 to 30th March, 2021. By the end of December 2020, fifty-one health workers who contracted the virus in the course of their duty had been paid.

7.8 As a motivation, the President also announced 50 per cent increase in the basic salary of frontline health workers as incentive package during the beginning of the pandemic.
Nana Ayew Afriye) 3:54 p.m.


Ghana to carry out operational and procurement issues relating to COVID 19. This contained in Appendix 4A on page 226 of the Document.

9.0 Economic Classification of 2020 Annual Budget Estimates and Actual Releases for 2020
Mr Kwabena Mintah Akandoh (NDC -- Juaboso) 4:04 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I am most grateful for the opportunity to contribute to the Motion.
Mr Speaker, at the Committee meeting, we detected a lot of discrepancies in the figures as contained in the main Budget Statement and the Medium Term Expenditure Framework. So, the Committee directed the Agencies and the Ministry to reconcile the figures to tally with what is contained in the main Budget Statement that has been approved by the House.
Mr Speaker, I cannot debate the budget of the health sector without reference to the Abuja Declaration which requires that as a country, we should invest not less than 15 per cent of our annual budget in the health sector. Sadly, the 15 per cent is
supposed to be around GH¢16.5 billion but we struggle to do about 7.8 per cent, which is around GH¢8.5 billion. It is important to note that we have a very weak health sector, especially when it has been exposed by the COVID-19 pandemic and therefore, we need to invest more in the health sector.
Mr Speaker, the CAPEX which would probably drive a lot of infrastructure in the Ministry of Health is inadequate. The Government's contribution to the CAPEX is around GH¢13 million which is about 1.29 per cent of the total amount allocated to the CAPEX. We have relied so much on foreign donors which is not reliable, so I want to recommend that the Government should pump more money into the health sector by way of CAPEX.
Mr Speaker, there was a profound statement in the Medium Term Expenditure Framework in the second paragraph of line 6 on page 18, which says and I beg to quote:
“The proportion of Government of Ghana being the major component of the budget from 2018 to 2020 is mainly due to the compensation of employees. From 2018 to 2020, compensation took up 99.08
per cent, 97.86 per cent and 92.45 per cent''.
Mr Speaker, this year is no exception. It means that after compensation, there is virtually nothing to do any other thing in the Ministry.

Mr Speaker, pages 273 and 274 contain the expenditure on COVID- 19 pandemic and it sums up to about GH¢19 billion and during the Committee meeting, we tried to draw the attention of the Hon Minister to other expenditure on COVID-19 related issue in the Budget Statement. At page 249 of the Budget Statement, we see some commitments like US$130 million and US$25 million.

Mr Speaker, the shocking news is that the parent Ministry leading the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic could only account for GH¢600 million out of the GH¢19 billion. To be fair to the Hon Minister, he indicated to us that he could only account for that money because some of the moneys were released to other Ministries. So, this should not end at the Budget Estimates because it is very important and I invite the House to constitute a bipartisan committee to investigate the expenditure on the COVID-19 pandemic because a lot
Mr Kwabena Mintah Akandoh (NDC -- Juaboso) 4:04 p.m.


is expected of us as Hon Members of Parliament.

Also, the state of our teaching hospitals in this country is nothing to write home about; they lacked a lot of things such as MRI, regular supply of water, oxygen, and even CT scanners. If a teaching hospital lacks CT scanners or MRI, it does not even qualify to be called a teaching hospital. That is exactly the situation we find ourselves as a country and therefore, there is the need for us to invest more in the health sector.

Mr Speaker, with these few words, I urge the House to support the allocation of GH¢8,533,590,223 to the services of the Ministry of Health.
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 4:04 p.m.
Thank you, Hon Ranking Member. Hon Member for Manhyia North?
Mr Akwasi Konadu (NPP — Manhyia North) 4:04 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I beg to support the Motion, that this House approves, as corrected by the report, the sum of GH¢8,533,590,223 for the Ministry of Health and all other allied agencies under the Ministry of Health.
Mr Speaker, in the 2021 Budget Statement, Government, through the
Ministry of Health has set up some priority areas to which, if this Budget is approved and implemented, will go a long way in improving our health sector in this country, and key among those areas is Government and the Ministry's agenda in improving the health infrastructure of this country.
Mr Speaker, driving this agenda is Agenda 111, which seeks to improve the spatial distribution of our health facilities as well as addressing the travel time that people spend in accessing health facilities in this country. This would also give people an opportunity to have specialised care in some of these institutions.
Mr Speaker, on page 9, Government seeks to implement the COVID-19 strategic plan that seeks to have a hedge immunity for this country to manage the COVID-19 pandemic by allocating about GH¢929,296,610 for the procurement and distribution of vaccines.
Mr Speaker, I would like to add my voice to the exclusion of some Agencies under the Ministry from capping. If we cannot exclude them at all, we can increase their retention of the IGF. Key among these Authorities is the Food and Drugs Authority (FDA) which has a very high attrition rate. Currently, the FDA
does not have a legal representative and for a regulatory Authority that does not have legal representation is very worrying and so, if not at all, we can, however, increase their retention of IGF so that they can use part of that to procure the services of some of these specialised individuals to be able to man their post.
I would also like to touch on the Ghana National Ambulance Service (GNAS). Government also seeks to increase the number of ambulances we have by procuring 100 more. Though they have a Bill, the Legislative Instrument that will make the Bill operational is still not available. If that process could be quickened to make the Bill operationalised into an Act - and also have a dedicated source of financing to sustain the operations of the GNAS.
Mr Speaker, I would also like to bring to the attention of this House, the role played by the National Blood Service (NBS) in the treatment of COVID-19 patients together with the FDS where they were able to have the COVID-19 convalescent plasma treatment for critically ill patients. I believe this went a long way in helping to manage the situation at that time.
I would like to end by saying that COVID-19 pandemic brought to the fore the need to have a well-motivated
frontline workers for our health Institutions, and if the Ministry and Government can put in place some form of standardised motivation package, I believe that would go a long way.
Mr Speaker, with these few words, I call on this House as the people's representative, to approve the sum of money stated in Motion numbered 24 in today's Order Paper of GH¢8,533,590,223 for the operations of the Ministry of Health. [Hear! Hear!] --
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 4:04 p.m.
Thank you, Hon Member. Hon Member for Techiman North?
Mrs Elizabeth Ofosu-Adjare (NDC— Techiman North) 4:04 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I beg to support the Motion that this honourable House approves the sum of GH¢8,533,590,223 for the services of the Ministry of Health for the year ending 31st December,
2021.
Mr Speaker, the health sector is a critical one, especially when a pandemic stares us in our faces. So, as the Hon Ranking Member said, we expected that reference to the Abuja Declaration, about 15 per cent of the country's budget would be allotted to the Ministry of Heath but what we got was only 7.8 per cent. At the fore
Mrs Elizabeth Ofosu-Adjare (NDC— Techiman North) 4:14 p.m.


front of this pandemic were the hardworking and selfless staff of the Ministry of Health. The President gave them 50 per cent of their basic salary as allowances and I reference you to page 6 of the Report where it says 50 per cent should go to them as a way of incentive and the 2021 Budget Statement has, on page 273, allotted GH¢80 million for the health workers and only GH¢52 million has been paid. This has really de-motivated the staff of the MoH and we pray, as a matter of urgency, for the Ministry of Finance to release the remaining amount so that the health workers would be energised to work for us in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Mr Speaker, one area that every Hon Member of the Committee has spoken about is the policy of capping. A look at page 14 of the Report indicates that the Health Committee of the Seventh Parliament prayed this honourable House that all Agencies under the health sector should not be capped.

However, here we are again with our 2021 Budget, the agencies are still capped. Mr Speaker, one agency that has been badly affected is the Food and Drugs Authority (FDA). In 2018,

nine staff resigned and two vacated post, in 2019, six staff resigned, in 2020, 11 staff resigned and we are now in March 2021 but three staff have already left and still counting.

Mr Speaker, if they are not capped and are able to retain all their IGF, I think it would go a long way for them to retain their critical staff. The FDA is responsible for the safety of our food and drugs so if they are not well- equipped to do this work, we know what will happen to us as a country. Mr Speaker, so we pray that if this Budget Statement is reviewed in the future, the capping of Food and Drugs Authority especially should be considered for them to be able to execute their mandates.

Mr Speaker, the FDA has a regulatory function to ensure that our food and drugs are safe, but they do not even have one lawyer just because they are unable to retain one. Mr Speaker knows very well that they have to be able to pay before they can retain a lawyer and they must retain their IGF before they can do this.

Mr Speaker, with these few words, I support the Motion.
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 4:14 p.m.
Thank you very much.
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 4:14 p.m.
Hon Minister, any concluding remarks?
Mr Agyeman-Manu 4:14 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I would just thank my Hon Colleagues who have worked at the Committee level since the referral of the documentations and estimates to this stage of supporting the Motion on the Floor. They contributed to the Report to enable the House approve the Motion.
Mr Speaker, I am very grateful and especially to Hon Muntaka who helped us at the Committee level. Mr Speaker, thank you so much.
Question put and Motion agreed to.
Resolved Accordingly:
That this honourable House approves the sum of GH¢8,261,640,224 is hereby approved for the services of the Ministry of Health for the year ending 31st December, 2021.
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 4:14 p.m.
Hon Majority Leader?
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 4:14 p.m.
Mr Speaker, we would take one more Estimate before we suspend Sitting,
but before that we can lay the items numbered 6 (b).
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 4:14 p.m.
Hon Members, presentation of Papers. Item numbered 6.
PAPERS 4:14 p.m.
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 4:14 p.m.
Mr Speaker, we would now take item numbered 26 on page 10 of the Order Paper.
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 4:14 p.m.
Hon Members, item numbered 26 -- Motion.
MINISTRY OF 4:14 p.m.
ENVIRONMENT, SCIENCE, 4:14 p.m.
TECHNOLOGY AND 4:14 p.m.
INNOVATION 4:14 p.m.
Minister for Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation (Dr Kwaku Afriyie) (MP) 4:14 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I beg to move, that this honourable House approves the sum of GH¢457,839,044 for the services of the Ministry of Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation for the year ending 31st December, 2021.
Question proposed.
Chairman of the Committee (Dr Emmanuel Marfo) 4:14 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I beg to second the Motion and in so doing present your Committee's Report.
1.0. Introduction
The Budget Statement and Economic Policy of the Government of Ghana for the 2021 Financial year was presented to Parliament on Friday, 12th March, 2021, by Hon
Osei Kyei Mensah-Bonsu, Minister for Parliamentary Affairs and Minister responsible for Finance in accordance with article 179 of the 1992 Constitution of Ghana.
Rt Hon Speaker, pursuant to article 103(3) of the 1992 Constitution of Ghana and Standing Orders 140 (4) and 185 referred the Programme Based Budget Estimates of the Ministry (MESTI) to the Committee on Environment, Science and Technology for consideration and report.
2.0. Deliberations
The Committee met with the Sector Minister, Hon Dr Kwaku Afriyie and a team of technical officers of the Ministry of Environment, to deliberate on the 2021 Draft Estimates of the Ministry.
The Committee is grateful to them for their insightful inputs and clarification.
3.0. Reference documents
The following documents were referenced by the Committee during deliberations on the 2021 programme Based Budget Estimates of the Ministry of Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation:
i. The 1992 Constitution of Ghana;
ii. The Standing Orders of Parliament of Ghana;
iii. The 2020 Budget Statement and Economic Policy of the Government of Ghana;
iv. The 2020 Programmed Based Budget Estimates of the Ministry of Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation;
v. The 2021 Budget Statement and Economic Policy of the Government of Ghana; and
vi. The 2021 Programme Based Budget Estimates of the Ministry of Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation.
4.0 Mission statement of the Ministry
The ministry of environment, science, technology and innovation seeks to ensure accelerated socio- economic development of the nation through the formulation of sound policies and regulatory framework to promote the use of appropriate environmental friendly science and technological practices.
Core Functions
The ministry performs the following core functions:
i. Provide leadership and guidance for environment, science, technology and innovation within the broad sector of the economy through sound policy formulation and implementation;
ii. Ensure the establishment of the regulatory framework and setting of standards to govern the activities of science, and technology and the management of the environment for sustainable development;
iii. Promote activities needed to underpin the standards and policies required for planning and implementation of sound scientific and technological development activities;
iv. Ensure the coordination, supervision, monitoring and evaluation of activities of environment, science, technology and innovation while fulfilling national benefit- sharing commitments;
Chairman of the Committee (Dr Emmanuel Marfo) 4:14 p.m.


communities with 996 direct beneficiaries.

5.1.5 In addition, a national Task Team was inaugurated in 2020 by the Ministry with support from UNESCO to develop Ghana's STI for SDGs Roadmap. The STI for SDGs roadmap is a forward-looking policy framework to continuously guide effective actions to utilise STI to achieve the SDGs with country-wide scope. The final document, which covers seven of the SDGs (1, 2, 3, 4,5,6,8 &9) will be finalised in 2021.

Research and Development Programme

The Ministry through the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) deployed technical expertise in virology and molecular genetics of infectious diseases to support the on- going COVID-19 RT-PCR based testing at both Noguchi Memorial Institute (NMIMR) and KCCR.

5.2.1 The Biomedical Laboratory of the Water Research Institute (CSIR-WRI) was also upgraded to Level 2, where some district hospitals have been assigned to send suspected COVID-19 samples for testing in collaboration with the COVID-19 coordinating team.

In support of the SDG Target 2.1 aimed at ending hunger and ensuring access by all people to safe, nutritious, and sufficient food all year round, the Ministry through the CSIR released four varieties of sweet potato. The attributes of the 4 varieties are as follows:

i. SARI suyolo: Potential yield - 23.7t/ha, early maturing (3- 4 months), high dry matter, light orange flesh colour;

ii. SARI JanLow: Potential yield: 25 t/ha, early maturing (3-4 months), orange flesh colour with high pro-vitamin A content, medium to high dry matter;

iii. SARI Tiemeh: Potential yield: 20.4 t/ha, late maturing (4-5 months), High dry matter, low sweetness, tolerance to sweet potato weevil, pale yellow flesh colour; and

iv. SARI-Nyoriberi-gu: Potential yield: 20.5 t/ha. Maturity 4-5 months, high dry matter, high root, and foliage yield, tolerant to sweet potato weevil, Cylas sp. Pale yellow to orange flesh colour, larger storage roots.

5.2.2 As per best international practices, the Ghana Nuclear Power Programme is being developed based on the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Milestones Framework. Out of the three phases of the milestone framework, Ghana has completed the phase 1 technical activities needed to make a knowledgeable commitment to a nuclear programme.

The Ghana Atomic Energy Commission (GAEC) together with key stakeholders (Nuclear Regulatory Authority and Nuclear Power Ghana) have developed a Programme Comprehensive Report (PCR) which details out all technical activities needed for Government to make the needed knowledgeable commitment. The PCR has been submitted to Government to adopt its content and in turn communicate to the local and international communities to formally usher the programme into phase 2 even though some phase 2 activities have already started.

The programme has also completed a nationwide perception survey which will greatly inform the programme on how to further engage the populace.

The Ghana Atomic Energy commission (GAEC) monitored 1,046 telecommunication masts and assessed 809 base stations for compliance as well as 1,997

occupationally exposed workers involved in ionizing radiation. The Commission also screened 11 samples (sachet and bottled water) for gross alpha-beta levels.

Environmental Protection and Management

5.3.1 In support of SDG Target 12.6 which seeks to encourage companies, especially large and transnational companies, to adopt sustainable practices and to integrate sustainability into their reporting, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issued 11,506 environmental assessment permits and 47,588 chemical licenses in line with L.I 1652.

A team of officers from the Accra Regional Police Command and EPA also arrested some eight (8) scrap dealers for allegedly engaging in open burning of electronic waste at Agbgbloshie, in Accra. Enforcement notices were issued to the non- compliant undertakings for cessation of activities whilst imposition of administrative charges were also applied to such companies.

5.3.2 The Ghana Integrated E- waste Programme through an extensive stakeholder consultation has successfully deployed 65 high priority product Harmonised System (HS) Codes via the new Integrated Customs Management Systems
Chairman of the Committee (Dr Emmanuel Marfo) 4:14 p.m.


(ICUMS). The advance eco-levy collection on ICUMS is now fully linked to the E-waste Fund under the control of the Fund Administrator. The full operationalisation of the scheme will lead to the formalisation of the informal sector, and the creation of decent and sustainable jobs along the e-waste value chain.

5.3.3 As part of its Environmental Quality Monitoring Programme (EQMP), the Agency monitored air quality at 13 regulatory and 10 non- regulatory sites. The results indicated that M10 levels were above the Ghana Standards. The Agency also monitored over 124 industries for effluent quality and the results were higher than the Ghana Standards mark.EPA developed Draft Environment Regulations (DER) for onshore & offshore oil & gas operations and submitted to the Attorney General's Department for final drafting. In addition, Draft Pesticides Regulations (DPR) and Industrial Chemicals Regulations (ICR) are all at various stages of development to regulate the use of chemicals and pesticides in the country.

5.3.4 The Nuclear Regulatory Authority (NRA) authorised 368 radioactive sources and devices for use. An additional 260 permits were issued for import, export, transport

and storage of radioactive sources and devices over the period to ensure the protection of human and the environment from the harmful effects of radiation. It is important to state that enforcement notices were served to 11 non-complying facilities to enforce corrective actions and ensure safety of radiation workers and patients.

5.3.5 Additionally, two Regulations (Basic Ionizing Radiation Regulations, Safeguards Regulations) were approved by the NRA Board and ready for promulgation.

Human Settlements and Spatial Planning

In addressing human settlement issues, the Zoning Guidelines, Planning Standards, Manuals and Permitting Guidelines have been published on the Land Use and Spatial Planning Authority (LUSPA) website to enhance land use and spatial planning and development, and access by the public. In addition, data collection for the preparation of spatial plans for Ghana's Petroleum hub area in Jomoro District was also commenced by the Authority.

Again, the Regional Spatial Planning Committees (RSPCs) of the six (6) newly created Regions were successfully inaugurated by LUSPA.

5.5. Biosafety Development Programme

5.5.0. The Ministry through the National Biosafety Authority (NBA) completed pre-planting inspections at the Crops Research Institute of the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR-CRI) NEWEST Rice Confined Field Trials site. The

Institute was planting the event to assess its drought tolerance. The Authority in addition, inspected the Crops Research Institute's Biotechnology Laboratory to assess its status for GMO work. This is in line with SDG Target 12(a) which seeks to strengthen scientific and technological move towards more sustainable patterns of production and consumption.

5.6. 2020 Budget Performance of the Ministry

Table 1: 2020 financial performance by economic classification
Chairman of the Committee (Dr Emmanuel Marfo) 4:14 p.m.


Programme Based Budgeting of
MESTI 4:14 p.m.
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 4:24 p.m.
Thank you, Hon Member.
Hon Ranking Member?
Mr Ebenezer O. Terlabi (NDC -- Lower Manya Krobo) 4:24 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I rise to support the Motion under consideration. In doing so, I would like to say that if there is any time in the history of this country that science is needed to be recognised, it was in 2020.
Mr Speaker, the Ministry of Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation has a lot of institutions that are doing very well. We must commend them for their contributions. Today, if you are eating corn, it is from the Centre for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), if you are eating cassava and its various varieties, it is from the CSIR.
However, Mr Speaker, one thing that sustains research and development is funding. Therefore, interacting with the institutions, the problem that runs through is the fact that they do not have enough funding. If we would want science to drive our development, we need to really put in some more efforts.
Mr Speaker, we know it is difficult since we do not have unlimited resources, but Government, being the highest spender in this country can consciously spend in that direction. When you go to paragraph 747 of the Budget Statement in page 138, the Minister in his presentation
commended the CSIR in their contribution towards the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic. When we were in trouble and the need arose to test for the COVID-19 and we nee needed to find out who carried the virus, it was these institutions that mobilised to support the Government in finding solutions to that problem.
Mr Speaker, unfortunately, when it got to the time to make some small money to support their activities, we decided to award the testing of COVID-19 at the airport to frontiers instead of giving it to the CSIR. At least, some amount of money could have been retained in helping them to progress.
Secondly, in the Planting for Food and Jobs Programme for instance, I mentioned the fact that most of the seeds we use in this county are developed by the CSIR.
Unfortunately, the contract for the supply of seeds and seedlings are given to others other than these institutions. I am not doing this because of mischief, but the fact is that it is difficult for Government to get money to support these institutions. Therefore, if the opportunity comes to empower them by spending on these institutions, we have to do that. In doing so, out of their IGF, they would cover up areas they are lacking
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 4:24 p.m.
Thank you, Hon Ranking Member.
Hon Members, again, I am inviting one contribution from each Side.
Hon Member for Anyaa/ Sowutuom?
Dr Dickson Adomako Kissi (NPP -- Anyaa/Sowutuom) 4:34 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I am very delighted to talk about the Ministry for handling environment, science, technology and innovation.
It is very difficult to argue for research funding in any institution, but I would take this opportunity to reiterate the need for us to push very hard on research work on our country. This cuts across on the agricultural front in terms of improving on our tubers, managing pest, and it cuts through other departments on how well we were prepared to deal with a very tiny organism, a virus, which has brought many nations on their knees. I would take this opportunity to plead that bio-research is now much more important than weaponry of any sort.
As we were all aware, the Americas has the largest weaponry in the world, but they have been brought to their knees by a very minute item in this world as we all know to be COVID-19. So I urge our House to think carefully about funding for research in our country and the need to be better prepared for the future. This is because, as it is, we had many variants Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) and COVID-19 has proven that any such virus can trouble our nation in terms of our economic activities.
I would tie research and development into moving forward as a nation. I would plead that as our government signed an agreement for plastic management, it is something we can all do something about in our various constituencies. Plastics are causing a havoc. I have always proposed that we reduce our usage of plastics which would cut down our cost because we cannot seem to manage plastics well. It is causing flooding issues in a way because our drains are filled with plastics; our water ways are filled with plastics and are very difficult in terms of the bio degradation of plastics.

On this note, I would say two things. First of all, the budget looks good but they need more because research work is difficult to appreciate but the impact can be largely appreciated when and if the findings hit something large. The request for GH¢457,839,044 is great and I support it.

Thank you, Mr Speaker for this opportunity to say a few things about this Ministry.
Dr Hamza Adam (NDC -- Kumbungu) 4:34 p.m.
Mr Speaker, thank you very much for the opportunity. I rise
to support the Motion to approve an amount of GH¢457,839,044 for the Ministry of Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation. I am very happy to be associated with this discussion. Coming from a research background, I have always joined my colleagues to cry that we have inadequate funding for our research and having this opportunity to be associated with the policy, I am most grateful to be talking about the issues.
Mr Speaker, the Committee was happy with the Ministry. We had a very useful interaction but one thing that came out very strongly and earlier contributors alluded to, is the fact that we have serious inadequate funding for science and technology.
Meanwhile, we cannot develop as a country without proper development of our scientific industry. Looking at the Budget, Capital Expenditure and Goods and Services have gone down in 2021 when compared to that of 2020. In 2020, the capital expenditure that was assigned to the Ministry was GH¢35 million. But in 2021, we have just about GH¢5.5 million, which is far lower than what we saw in 2020.
Mr Speaker, in 2020, Goods and Services was around GH¢21 million. This year, it is around GH¢8 million. So an area that needs huge support; that has to receive more funding, looking at the performance of science
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 4:34 p.m.
Hon Majority Leader?
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 4:34 p.m.
Mr Speaker, before we take the suspension, there are two documents to be laid by the Chief Whip on page 5, item numbered 6(j) (i) and (ii).
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 4:34 p.m.
Hon Members, item numbered 6 -- Presentation of Papers.
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 4:34 p.m.
Mr Speaker, the third one is not ready. So we can take a suspension now and come back at 6 o'clock.
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 4:34 p.m.
Hon Members, Sitting is suspended for an hour and 20 minutes. We are coming back at exactly 6 o'clock.
4.44 p.m. -- Sitting suspended.
6.51 p.m. -- Sitting Resumed.
MR SECOND DEPUTY SPEAKER
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 4:34 p.m.
Hon Members, you are welcome.
Mr Annoh-Dompreh 4:34 p.m.
Mr Speaker, we may take the item numbered 6(k)(i) on page 5 of the Order Paper -- Presentation of Papers.
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 4:34 p.m.
Hon Members, item numbered 6(k)(i) -- Presentation of Papers.
PAPERS 4:34 p.m.
Mr Annoh-Dompreh 4:34 p.m.
Mr Speaker, we may take the item numbered 20 on page 9 of the Order Paper.
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 4:34 p.m.
Hon Members, item numbered 20 on
Dr Kwaku Afriyie 4:34 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I beg to move this Motion on behalf of the Hon Minister for --
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 4:34 p.m.
Hon Member, you are not the Minister.
Mr Ffrank Annoh-Dompreh 4:34 p.m.
Mr Speaker, with your leave, we would like the Hon Minister for Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation to move the Motion instead of the Hon Minister for Tourism, Arts and Culture.
Mr James Klutse Avedzi 4:34 p.m.
Mr Speaker, the Hon Majority Chief Whip has asked permission for the Hon Minister for Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation to move the Motion for the Hon Minister for Tourism, Arts and Culture. At least, he should tell us the reason for the absence of the substantive Minister in the Chamber. We are to approve the Budget Estimates that the Hon Minister would supervise and manage. He must be here so, there must be something that would take him out of the House. We would want to know that for the record.
Mr Annoh-Dompreh 4:34 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I agree with the Hon Member. Truth be told, the Hon Minister was on his way earlier in the afternoon and he had an emergency. My good Friend would attest that the Hon Minister for Tourism is one who normally attends to calls to come to the House. He has not shown any sign of disrespect to Parliament. He was coming, but had an emergency. That is the truth.
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 4:34 p.m.
Hon Leader, we are very grateful for drawing our attention.
Hon Minister for Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation you can move the Motion on behalf of the Minister for Tourism, Arts and Culture.
ANNUAL ESTIMATES, 2021
MINISTRY OF TOURISM, ARTS 4:34 p.m.
AND CULTURE 4:34 p.m.
Chairman of the Committee (Mr Johnson Kwaku Adu) 4:34 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I beg to second the Motion, and in so doing, I present your Committee's Report.
Introduction
Following the presentation to Parliament of the 2021 Budget Statement and Economic Policy of the Government, on 12th March, 2021, in accordance with Article 179 of the 1992 Constitution and Order 140 (2) of the Standing Orders of the House, the Annual Budget Estimates of the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture (MOTAC) were referred to the Joint Committee on Trade, Industry and Tourism and Youth, Sports and Culture for consideration and report pursuant to Orders 140(4), 159 and 187 of the Standing Orders of the House.
To consider the Annual Budget Estimates, the Committee met with the Hon Minister, Dr Ibrahim Mohammed Awal, the Chief Director and a technical team from the Ministry as well as officials from the Ministry of Finance, and reports as follows:
Reference Documents
The following documents served as reference guide during the Committee's deliberations:
i. 1992 Constitution of the Republic of Ghana;
ii. 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;
v. Report of the Ministry on its actual releases and expenditure for the 2020 financial year; and
vi. The Public Financial Management Act of 2016
Background
The Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture (MOTAC)) is mandated to provide a strong, stable policy environment for effective mainstreaming of Ghanaian culture into all aspects of national life and to ensure
Chairman of the Committee (Mr Johnson Kwaku Adu) 4:34 p.m.


which is celebrated by the Nkonya Wurupong community, to the National Calendar of Festivals.

The Hohoe Municipal Chief Executive (MCE) was engaged on the possibility of redeveloping the abandoned Tourism Information Centre at the Wli Waterfalls and also the revamping of the entire waterfalls site to an international standard.

The Ministry, in partnership with the Ghana Tourism Authority, continued with the development of the GTA Savannah Regional Office at Damongo and the renovation of the Larabanga and Gushiegu Receptive Centres.

The Ministry, in collaboration with the Ghana Tourism Authority, completed the Face- lifting of Odweanoma Paragliding site and feeder roads which were officially re-opened on 21st September, 2020.

A Zip line has been provided at the Kintampo Waterfalls to enhance the activities of the site and ensure protection and safety standards at the Waterfall.

Under the Product Development Programme of the Ministry, the following Projects have been undertaken within the year:

a. The Construction of various facilities at the Tafi Atome Monkey Sanctuary and Cultural Village which includes; Construction of a Receptive facility, Construction of a Tourist Information Centre.

Pavement of the Car Park, Construction of a seven seater toilet facility, Construction of three summer huts, Pavement of access ways and Landscaping of the site.

b. The Rehabilitation of Tetteh Quarshie Cocoa Farm and Exhibition Centre with the following facilities; Construction of French Razor Wall around the farm, Construction of Video and Reception Hall, Conversion of existing Receptive Facility to a Souvenir Shop, Photo and Product Exhibition Halls, Rehabilitation of existing Summer Huts,

c. The Completion of Design Works of of Aburi Botanical Gardens, including the

Redesigning of two entrances, event grounds, toilet facility, children playing and parking areas at Kintampo.

The Ghana Tourism Authority undertook an assessment of nine potential tourist sites in the Volta and Oti Regions (GTA). The sites include Shairi ‘the hanging village', Bowiri-Abohiri waterfalls and caves, Tiizo Soba waterfalls at Liati Sabo, Nkonya Wurupong Mountains, Old German buildings, Beach front development at Nkonya, colonial buildings at Mafi, Mount Afadjato, Tagbo Falls at Laiti Wote and the Amedzofe Ecotourism sites.

iii. Tourism Research and Marketing Programme

The second phase of the Industry Call Centre and the Industry Single Window project (harmonization and Automation) has been completed and is currently in use by the Ghana Tourism Authority. You may visit the portal www.visitghana.com for in-depth tourism experience.

In order to better position Ghana on the World Tourism Market,

the Ministry in collaboration with some Private Sector Organizations participated in some International Fairs and Exhibitions, FITUR in Madrid- Spain (January 2020), Matka Scandinavian, Helsinki, Finland, (17th - 20th January, 2020), Vakanthiebeurs, the Netherlands, (16 th - 19 th January, 2020), the Ghana Results Fair (14th -16th January, 2020) and the Ghana International Trade Fair (27th - March 8th February, 2020).

The Ministry will continue to embark on its marketing strategy of participating in international fairs and exhibitions to attract the needed investments to the sector and promote Ghana as a preferred tourism destination in Africa and the world at large.

The Ministry in collaboration with its Agencies organised two Regional Tourism Awards programmes in the Central and Northern Regions. The other Regional celebrations were deferred to September.

2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Ministry together with its Agencies sensitised stakeholders of
CAPEX 4:34 p.m.
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 7:01 a.m.
I would respectively invite one Member from each Side.
Hon Member for Tema Central?
Mr Yves Hanson-Nortey (NPP -- Tema Central) 7:01 a.m.
Mr Speaker, I thank you for the opportunity to side with my Hon Colleagues in asking the House to approve the budget for the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture (MoTAC) for the year ending 31st December, 2021.
Mr Speaker, this Ministry happens to fall under two Committees - Committee for Youth and Sports and Committee for Trade, Industry and Tourism. But I would say that my Hon Colleagues from the other Committee have mentioned everything there is to mention so I do not need to belabour the point, except for the fact that the Committee scrutinised how the 2020 Budget performed, considering the policy objectives covering the 14 agencies and subvented organisations under the Ministry.
Mr Yves Hanson-Nortey (NPP -- Tema Central) 7:11 p.m.


It was quite alarming to note that out of the GH¢103,859,165 that was allocated to the Ministry, only GH¢37 million was released to them - a paltry 64 per cent of the total budgetary allocation. Meanwhile within the period, the Ministry with its agencies were able to launch a whole lot of programmes, famous of which is the Year of Return with its associated Beyond the Return launch which could not see the light of day because of COVID-19.

Mr Speaker, the tourism industry, if it would survive, would need to have a lot of investments with regard to developing tourism sites and improving infrastructure as far as patronage is concerned. Unfortunately, since 2019, Government of Ghana has not released a penny to capex for this Ministry. It has therefore, become very difficult for the MoTAC to roll out any meaningful developmental project as far as tourism infrastructure is concerned.

Mr Speaker, we would plead that if it is possible, the Ministry of Finance should have a look at the Ministry's budgetary allocation once more and see if they could accept to add a few more millions for them to undertake their projects.

It might interest us to also note that the Ministry requested for 50 vehicles and a few other equipment to help them provide the best of services to the patrons. Unfortunately, these were not considered at all by the Ministry of Finance.

In 2021 however, the budget has been reduced to GH¢98 million, which has about GH¢66 million of it going into compensation alone. So, this means that the Ministry and its agencies have only about GH¢32 million to cover capex, goods and services.

I would conclude by saying that if it would be possible the Ministry of Finance should consider topping up the allocation to this agency during the Mid-Year Review for them to be able to carry out their duties perfectly.

Mr Speaker, with these few words, I support the Motion.
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 7:11 p.m.
Yes, Hon Deputy Minority Leader?
Deputy Minority Leader (Mr James Klutse Avedzi): Mr Speaker, I also rise to support the Motion.
Mr Speaker, you would realise that on the page 4, Table 1, the total release to the Ministry of Tourism was only GH¢37.5 million which works out to 36 per cent of the total budget for the Ministry. This year, an amount of GH¢98 million is being approved for the Ministry. My prayer is that they should be given 100 per cent of that.
If in 2020, we approved GH¢103 million for the Ministry and only GH¢37 million was released, my prayer this year is that all the GH¢98 million should be released to them. Then we can call for more. This is because I am not sure that all this GH¢98 million would be released to them. So, our prayer should be that the GH¢98 million should be released to them.
The Hon Minister says that they want to make tourism a business and we need money to move the sector. He also promised that his vision is to have one constituency, one tourism site which is another promise. If you are given 36 per cent of your budget, how can you achieve that? So my prayer is that 100 per cent of the GH¢98 million should be released to them, then we can measure the Hon Minister on his promise of one constituency, one tourism site.
Mr Speaker, this is the only thing that I want to talk about and I ask that the House approves the amount for the Ministry of Tourism Arts and Culture. Thank you.
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 7:11 p.m.
Thank you Hon Deputy Minority Leader.
Question put and Motion agreed to.
Resolved Accordingly:
That this Honourable House approves the sum of GH¢98,761,174 for the services of the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture for the year ending 31st December,
2021.
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 7:11 p.m.
Respectfully, Hon Majority Chief Whip?
Mr Annoh-Dompreh 7:11 p.m.
Mr Speaker, if we may take item numbered 6 (c) on page 4 of today's Order Paper?
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 7:11 p.m.
Hon Members, Presentation of Papers, page 4, item numbered 6 (c) by the Hon Chairman of the Committee.
Mr Annoh-Dompreh 7:11 p.m.
Mr Speaker, if we may take item numbered 11 on page 7?
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 7:11 p.m.
Hon Members, page 7, Motion numbered 11.
ANNUAL ESTIMATES, 2021
NATIONAL LABOUR 7:11 p.m.
COMMISSION 7:11 p.m.
Minister for Employment and Labour Relations (Mr Ignatius Baffour Awuah) 7:11 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I beg to move, that this honourable House approves the sum of GH¢6,315,798 for the services of the National Labour Commission for the year ending 31st December, 2021.
Mr Speaker, I think that if this amount is so approved to the National Labour Commission, it would help
them to carry out their duties. They are responsible for adjudicating labour related cases, especially between workers and their employers. I would want to believe that if we want to have a healthy industrial relationship, we need to be able to fast-track cases which go before the Commission. They can do so if they are well resourced.
Besides that, currently, they are limited in their operations to Accra and two other places in Ghana. It is their objective to be able to spread out to other parts of the country and they would need this money to be able to do that.
So, on this note, I want to urge the House to approve this amount for the National Labour Commission.
Chairman of the Committee (Mr Philip Basoah) 7:21 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I rise to support the Motion and to thank you for giving me this opportunity. In so doing, I would like to present your Committee's Report.
1.0 Introduction
Pursuant to article 179 (1) of the 1992 Constitution, the Hon Minister
for Parliamentary Affairs, Mr Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu, presented the Budget Statement and Economic Policy of the Government of Ghana for the 2021 financial year to Parliament on Thursday 12th March 2021, in line with article 179 of the 1992 Constitution.
In accordance with Standing Orders 140(4) and 184 of the House, the Rt Hon Speaker referred the Annual Budget Estimates of the National Labour Commission to the Committee on Employment, Social Welfare and State Enterprises for consideration and report.
The Committee subsequently held a meeting with the Executive Secretary of the National Labour Commission, Mr. Ofosu Asamoah and his technical team on Tuesday, 23rd March, 2021 and considered the referral.
The Committee expresses its appreciation to the Executive Secretary and his team for their support. The Committee also acknowledges the assistance provided by the schedule officers from the Ministry of Finance in the consideration of the Estimates.
2.0 Reference Documents
The Committee referred to the following documents during the consideration of the Estimates:
i. The 1992 Constitution of Ghana;
ii. The Standing Orders of Parliament of Ghana;
iii. The 2020 Budget Statement and Economic Policy of the Government of Ghana;
iv. The 2020 Annual Budget Estimates of the National Labour Commission;
v. The 2021 Budget Statement and Economic Policy of the Government of Ghana; and
vi. The 2021 Annual Budget Estimates of the National Labour Commission.
3.0 Mandate of the Commission
The National Labour Commission exists to develop and sustain industrial peace and harmony, by promoting co- operation among labour market players, and facilitating the settlement of industrial disputes through the application of effective conflict resolution mechanisms.
The Commission, having regard to its mandate, performs the following key functions:
Chairman of the Committee (Mr Philip Basoah) 7:21 p.m.


Table 2: comparative analysis of 2020 and 2021 Allocation

6.2 The above Table shows that there has been a reduction in the total budgetary allocation of the Commission from GH¢6,558,123.00 in 2020 to GH¢6,315, 798.00 in 2021. This represents a decline of 3.7 per cent in the Commission's budgetary allocation. However, Capital Expenditure has seen an appreciation of 15 per cent.

7.0 Outlook for 2021

The Commission intends to utilise its budgetary resources to implement the following programmes and activities, among others:

i. Resource its three regional offices in Ashanti, Western and Greater Accra Regions to enable them provide services to social partners in an effective and efficient manner;

ii. The Commission also plans to open one Regional Office in the Northern Region;

iii. The Commission will continue to settle industrial disputes and promote peaceful industrial relations. To this end, the Commission will hold more sessions to facilitate speedy resolution of complaints/disputes;

iv. The Commission will also continue to prioritise the application of mediation and arbitration as the preferred mechanism for settling disputes in place of court litigation; and

v. The Commission will step up its education and sensitisation drive to drum home the essence of good employer-

employee relationship with the view to minimising industrial disputes and facilitating timely intervention of industrial disagreements.

8.0 Observations and Recommendations

8.1 Shortfall in Compensation

The Committee observed that in year 2020, an amount of GH¢3, 218,901.00 was provided to the National Labour Commission to cater for compensation. As at 31st December, 2021, however, only GH¢1, 988,485.42 out of the total allocation for compensation had been expended, creating a significant shortfall of 38.2 per cent.

The Commission explained that part of the amount approved for compensation in 2020 was to enable the Commission recruit new staff for offices, which it had planned to open in the Northern and the Brong/Ahafo Regions. Unfortunately, the Ministry of Finance did not provide the needed financial clearance to enable the Commission undertake the recruitment exercise.

The Commission indicated that due to the Coronavirus Disease (COVID-

19), the Commission could not undertake certain planned activities and programmes. For instance, a planned promotion exercise for staff of the Commission could not take place due to the challenges imposed by the Covid-19 Pandemic.

Additionally, the Commissioners could not undertake their regular sittings to perform their dispute resolution functions due to the outbreak of the pandemic. The Commission was therefore able to manage with the amount released for compensation.

8. Allocation for Capital Expenditure

The Committee noted that almost the entire amount approved for capital expenditure in the Commissions' 2020 allocation was released and expended. The Committee lauded the release of the amount for capex, which enabled the Commission to open a new Regional Office at Tema. The Committee underscores the need for Government to support the Commission to open offices in all regions of Ghana to facilitate the settlement of disputes of the regions. This, the Committee observe, will eliminate the challenges associated with the current situation where many parties have to travel to Accra to have their cases resolved.
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 7:21 p.m.
Hon Ranking Member? Before you take your bite, the Rt Hon Speaker, would take the Chair.
MR SPEAKER
Dr Kwabena Donkor (NDC - Pru East) 7:25 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I thank you for the opportunity to support the Motion.
Mr Speaker, the Labour Commission, is one critical institution that has been historically underfunded and therefore it, has underperformed in terms of its remit.
The expectation of this House to set up the Commission was that the Commission's presence would be felt across the length and breadth of the country especially, to ensure harmonious industrial relations.
However, as I speak, about four regions out of the 16 regions have a skeletal Commission presence. Therefore, as the country forges ahead on its industrial growth and especially as the informal sector becomes formalised, we would need a properly funded, oriented and remunerated Commission to enhance the industrial climate particularly, in the year such as 2021 where the signs are indicative that the squeeze of public expenditure would create its own issues.
Mr Speaker, having said this I support the Motion with the caveat that in few months when the Hon Minister for Finance comes to the House for the Mid-Year Review, provision should be made to increase the allocation to the National Labour Commission.
Mr Kwame Anyimadu-Antwi (NPP -- Asante Akim Central) 7:25 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I thank you for the opportunity to support the Motion.
Mr Speaker, page 3 of the Report indicates that last year, the Labour Commission was given GH¢6.5 million and GH¢4 million was released to them. However, this year, they have been allocated GH¢6.3 million, which means that there has been a reduction of what was given them. This is a problem and it is my hope that the Ministry of Finance would release the money on time for the National Labour Commission.
Mr Speaker, what is worse is that with regard to their “Compensation'', an amount of GH¢3.2 million was budgeted for them but the release that was given to them was only GH¢1.9 million. This means that Commission would be affected because they want to open up offices. People would have to travel from the north for example, from Wa, Bolgatanga and Tamale to Accra and the Executive Officer complained that sometimes, they even have to pay for the transportation fare of people that come to settle disputes before them.
Mr Speaker, I support the Motion and it is my prayer that the National Labour Commission should be given the needed attention.
Minority Leader (Mr Haruna Iddrisu) 7:31 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I thank you for the opportunity to contribute to the Motion and to urge Hon Colleagues to support the resourcing of the National Labour Commission, which plays a critical role in the resolution of intended labour disputes. We need industrial peace and harmony for the purpose of increased productivity.
Mr Speaker, on paragraph 6.2 on page 5 of the Committee's Report, expenditure has seen an appreciation - is it “by 15 per cent'' or “15 per cent''? We have to encourage the Committee Clerks not just to submit Reports for our purposes with the tables and numbers but to provide some better details and clarity. It was stated that some number of disputes were resolved by the Labour Commission but it only said that the disputes were resolved in education. They should let us know which labour organisation threatened a particular conflict for the purpose of record and how that dispute was resolved?
Mr Speaker, as observed by the Hon Chairman of the Committee on Constitutional, Legal and Parlia- mentary Affairs, there is a drop in the budget from GH¢6.4 million to GH¢6.3 million and no satisfactory explanation was given.
Mr Speaker, page 3 stated that' “the Commission established a regional office in Tema as part of the efforts to establish the presence of the Commission in other parts of the country''. Then it further indicated that “during the year of review, the Commission settled 292 out of the total number of 641 complaints''. What happened to the outstanding cases and how does that relate to the threat to industrial peace and harmony of our country?
Mr Speaker, I am interested in the last words in “Awards for Compensation'' on paragraph 5.4, which says that; “this amount did not or does not include payments made directly to beneficiaries''. So, the amount of payment that went to beneficiaries was also not disclosed for our purposes.

Mr Speaker, my concern for the Clerk of the Committee at paragraph 5.5, ‘notably intervention' -- ‘the National Labour Commission (NLC) during the period under review intervened in a number of disputes of national interest involving Government as employer. Some of these disputes involved employees in the tertiary education and the hospitality industry. This is Parliament and so they should communicate well with us by telling

us which category of employees; is it Tertiary Education Workers Union (TEWU), lecturers or senior members? We need to know for the purpose of the records. They also say the hospitality industry and do not give us an indication as to who is affected.

They are reporting on the operational activities however, I wholeheartedly support this and I think that the NLC needs to have more of offices across the country. I do not know if the one in the Western Region has become functional because of the discovery of oil and gas? Many of the entities are operating there and if there are infractions, particularly, matters of personal safety, health and other grievances that are expressed by workers, they will need to resolve them.

So, I support it but the next time, the Committee should come with a Report and let us see the presence of the NLC in many other parts of the country as have been said.

Mr Speaker, thank you.
Mr Speaker 7:31 p.m.
Hon Members, at the conclusion of debate.
Question put and Motion agreed to.
Resolved Accordingly:
That this honourable House approves the sum of GH¢6,315,798 for the services of the National Labour Commission for the year ending 31st December, 2021.
Mr Speaker 7:31 p.m.
Yes, Majority Side, any guidance?
Mr Annoh-Dompreh 7:31 p.m.
Mr Speaker, certainly. We shall now take item numbered 12 on page 7.
Mr Speaker 7:31 p.m.
Hon Members, Motion by the Hon Minister for Employment and Labour Relations.
MINISTRY OF 7:31 p.m.
EMPLOYMENT AND 7:31 p.m.
LABOUR RELATIONS 7:31 p.m.
Minister for Employment and Labour Relations (Ignatius Baffour Awuah) 7:31 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I beg to move, that this honourable House approves the sum of GH¢208,063,127 for the services of the Ministry of Employment and Labour Relations for the year ending 31st December, 2021.
Mr Speaker, in doing so, I would like to add that the Ministry of Employment and Labour Relations is
Minister for Employment and Labour Relations (Ignatius Baffour Awuah) 7:31 p.m.


a Ministry whose activities cuts across the development of man beyond school time. What I mean by this is that after school, one needs to be engaged in employment and then while working, there is the need to foster good relations and welfare between the employer and employee. Even after working and one retires, the pensions of the retiree is still also handled by the same Ministry.

So, I will simply say that the Ministry is responsible for life after school and to enable us carry out our various activities which are scattered at the head office and at the 12 departments and agencies, we need a lot of money. Yet, after going back and forth with the Ministry of Finance, we had an approval of the recommended figure from them.

Mr Speaker, I would like to urge this House to approve this for us to enable us carry out our activities as stated in the Report and in doing so, I believe that we will be able to do a lot of the things we have earmarked to do. For instance, expanding the coverage of Youth Employment Agency (YEA), making sure that pension's outreach is also expanded across the length and breadth of the

country so that pensioners would not need to move all the way from various parts of the country to Accra before they can service their pensions. It is also to ensure that labour disputes are handled at the earliest possible time so that we can have peaceful industrial atmosphere.

So, on this note, I would like to urge the House to approve the allocation for us.
Chairman of the Committee (Mr Philip Basoah) 7:31 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I beg to second the Motion ably moved by the Hon Minister for Employment and Labour Relations and in doing so, I present the Committee's Report.
1.0 Introduction
Pursuant to article 179 (1) of the 1992 Constitution, the Minister for Parliamentary affairs, Majority Leader and Leader of Government Business, Mr Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu, presented the Budget Statement and Economic Policy of the Government of Ghana for the 2021 financial year to Parliament on Thursday 12th March, 2021, in line with article 179 of the 1992 Constitution.
In accordance with Standing Orders 140(4) and 184 of the House, the Rt Hon Speaker referred the Annual Budget Estimates of the National Labour Commission to the Committee on Employment, Social Welfare and State Enterprises for consideration and report.
The Committee subsequently held a meeting with the Executive Secretary of the National Labour Commission, Mr Ofosu Asamoah and his technical team on Tuesday, 23rd March, 2021 and considered the referral.
The Committee expresses its appreciation to the Executive Secretary and his team for their support. The Committee also acknowledges the assistance provided by the schedule officers from the Ministry of Finance in the consideration of the Estimates.
2.0 Reference Documents
The Committee referred to the following documents during the consideration of the Estimates:
i. The 1992 Constitution of Ghana;
ii. The Standing Orders of Parliament of Ghana;
iii. The 2020 Budget Statement and Economic Policy of the Government of Ghana;
iv. The 2020 Annual Budget Estimates of the National Labour Commission;
v. The 2021 Budget Statement and Economic Policy of the Government of Ghana; and
vi. The 2021 Annual Budget Estimates of the National Labour Commission.
3.0 Mandate of the Commission
The National Labour Commission exists to develop and sustain industrial peace and harmony, by promoting co- operation among labour market players, and facilitating the settlement of industrial disputes through the application of effective conflict resolution mechanisms.
The Commission, having regard to its mandate, performs the following key functions:
i. Facilitating the settlement of industrial disputes;
ii. Investigating labour related complaints, particularly unfair labour practices and taking the appropriate steps to prevent labour disputes;
PAPERS 7:31 p.m.
Mr Speaker 7:31 p.m.
I am informed that we are taking one contribution from each Side of the House as well as Leadership.
Dr Kwabena Donkor 7:41 p.m.
Mr Speaker, thank you for the opportunity to contribute and support the Motion.
Mr Speaker, the Ministry of Employment and Labour Relations is one of the most critical Ministries we have in the country. Its critical position is founded on the fact that the essence of politics, development and life is employment.

The end result of the huge sums of money being pumped into education either in the formal or informal sector, and/or to create in the minds of people the need for self-employment. So, this Ministry is a very critical one and if we compare the Budget of 2020 against 2021, the increase in allocation is less than GH¢300,000. Assuming that inflation is even in single figures, it means that in real terms the allocation to the Ministry has been eroded.

Mr Speaker, the President in his State of the Nation Address as well as in the presentation of the Budget Statement to this House by the acting Hon Minister for Finance, said that this was going to be a very difficult post-COVID year. Therefore, it is not surprising that as we speak, the tripartite group have not signed off a minimum wage negotiation. Therefore, this Ministry would be critical and this should reflect in the allocation of resources to the Hon

Minister and his team to be able to maintain cordial industrial relations.

Mr Speaker, so the increment which is even less than GH¢300,000 is woefully inadequate. Mr Speaker, this Ministry also superintends the YEA and when agency appeared before the Committee, a number of issues arose. One of the major issues, was the perpetual untimely and non- release by the Administrator of the District Assemblies Common Fund to YEA as per the law. Again, the GETFund is obliged by law to release some funding to YEA, but GETFund does the release as and when they want to and not as and when this House has directed.

So, the non-release especially by these two statutory entities to the YEA is an issue that must be taken seriously by this House. Also, YEA was born out of a crises that both parties went through in terms of youth employment programmes. Mr Speaker, YEA was meant to sanitise all the challenges that the previous youth employment programmes had suffered, yet traces are still found.

Mr Speaker, your Committee interrogated payments to service providers especially under the sanitation module and we found out that the women, usually uneducated but would wake up at dawn to sweep
Mr Speaker 7:41 p.m.
Hon Minority Leader?
Minority Leader (Mr Haruna Iddrisu) 7:51 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I rise to support the Motion on the Floor.
Mr Speaker, it is a very important Ministry if we appreciate how much compensation accounts as a percentage of Government's total revenue and also as a percentage of our GDP. As I read the Committee's
Report, what I require is for the Hon Minister to probably come and brief this House in the near future on the impact of COVID-19 on job creation. I note that the Committee has captured it somehow but we need to know the harm that COVID-19 has done to employment in Ghana and we need to know how it impacted industry, in order that it would inform Government's intervention to support some of those affected entities.
Mr Speaker, this would be a very trying year for the Hon Minister and one can understand. I heard the President speak to organised labour and he assured that there is no freeze on public sector wages for four years. Mr Speaker, but he carefully also added that labour should bear with us. It means that the social partners of a tripartite would have to engage in a win-win situation while ensuring that productivity is not compromised and they would give off their best.
Mr Speaker, I would conclude with two issues and refer to page 12 of the Committee's Report on National Pensions Regulatory Authority (NPRA). One of these days, we would need -- and thankfully we have a new Hon Chairman for the Committee, Hon Basoah, and he should maybe learn from the former Hon Chairman, Hon Anyimadu-Antwi -- to bring in SSNIT to answer to
Parliament how they are investing pension moneys and the returns thereon. Mr Speaker, many pensioners are unhappy but because they are old retirees they do not have a forum where they can voice out some of these disagreements. So, I would encourage the new Hon Chairman -- I note that the former Hon Chairman who is now the Hon Chairman of the Committee on Constitutional, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs, had a way of bringing state-owned enterprises to account to the Committee and Parliament.
Mr Speaker, when a person is paid his or her benefits, it is now understood that a person gets the pension contribution plus passed credit and returns on investments. However, it does not appear that SSNIT is doing this sufficiently. I am encouraged to hear that Government would revise the Pensions Regulatory Act (Act 766) because we need a unified pensions scheme in the country. The NPRA would have to open offices in other parts of the country, particularly in Wa and Bolgatanga in the Upper West and Upper East Regions respectively so that retirees could have easy access in order to deal with the regulator in this industry.
Mr Speaker, I would conclude with youth employment and as you may recall -- [Interruption] -- There is an unemployment crises in our country and to respond to this, there was an initiative on youth employment. We had to pass the Youth Employment Act in 2015 and further supported it with youth employment regulations. Mr Speaker, but the sanitation module still has problems. The women who do the cleaning are paid just a paltry GH¢180 and this is not acceptable.

Whatever it is, we should distinguish between beneficiary allowances from service charges of a service provider.

Mr Speaker, if we uniformly agree that every beneficiary gets GH¢400, let it be, then we can provide additional service charges to a service provider so that if he has to buy hand gloves or uniforms for them, it is treated separately. But how could he tell me today that a woman sweeping in Berekum each morning must go home with GH¢180. How? Or a woman in Nadowli or Tamale South who gets up early in the morning to sweep, at least give them GH¢400 which is even not enough, but to load their money onto a service provider --
Minority Leader (Mr Haruna Iddrisu) 7:51 p.m.


I referred you the Regulations. We said that the funds for the agency could be used for payment of the beneficiary allowances and also set aside a certain amount for the purpose of service charges. If we do not do this, we would not be helping the many people employed under the sanitation model. So I think that youth employment can even have their own dedicated payroll.

Mr Speaker, yesterday, they were confusing payment of allowances for goods and services. That is not acceptable when they are accounting to this House. If they have money for allowances, they cannot regard that under goods and services. It is compensation, and that has to be corrected.

Mr Speaker, I do not envy the Hon Minister. I should commend him for keeping the industrial peace and harmony of the country. This year, he knows that he has a lot of work to do, particularly with the silence on public sector wages. But I wish him well, and think that the Ministry of Finance must particularly and adequately resource him. He would know the consequence. If he is able to save even one per cent on compensation through negotiation, it is a lot of money. Yet he is not given

adequate resources to be able to engage the social partners.

If I should share my experience. There were days that I would have meetings with the Labour Commission, and even water for them to drink, as Minister, you would be struggling to get it for them. And even to travel for the International Labour Organisation (ILO) commitments, you are not able to do so as Minister. But that is where you would learn best practice in terms of them appreciating this because now Ghana is still talking about minimum wage. The world has moved to decent wages. How do we get there, we have to get the understanding of labour?

Mr Speaker, with this, I support the Motion.
Mr Speaker 7:51 p.m.
Hon Members, before I put the Question, I would want the Hon Minister or the Hon Chairman of the Committee to explain something. At page 11, under item 10.1, where it is stated in the Report that:
“10.1 The Youth Employment Agency has been allocated an amount of GH¢654,143,762 for the implementation of its programmes and activities for the 2021 financial year.''
That is only the Agency under the Ministry, yet the Motion is talking about GH¢208,063,127. I think we need an explanation as to the disparity in the differences of the figures?
Yes, Hon Minister?
Mr Awuah 7:51 p.m.
Mr Speaker, for the purposes of appropriation, the figure of GH¢208,063,127 is that which has been allocated to the Ministry, but that of the Youth Employment Agency which is GH¢654,143,762 is treated under other Government obligations. When the Finance Committee is looking at other obligations, they would look at it. It is there that they would make official request to this House to approve that figure.
With this one, it is because it was deliberated at the committee level that it has found space in the Report. However, in actual fact, we are not making recommendation that it should be approved here.
Mr Speaker 7:51 p.m.
Is it the case that it would be repeated under Government Obligations?
Mr Awuah 7:51 p.m.
Mr Speaker, exactly so.
Mr Speaker 7:51 p.m.
Then it should not have been captured in this Report.
Mr Awuah 7:51 p.m.
Mr Speaker, as I said --
Mr Speaker 7:51 p.m.
It is an agency under your Ministry, but its Budget is under Government Obligations.
Mr Awuah 7:51 p.m.
Yes, it is because it is a special funding from the Communication Service Tax.
Mr Speaker 7:51 p.m.
Yes, I know.
Mr Awuah 7:51 p.m.
It is a dedicated fund for it. In actual fact, they do not appropriate it under the Ministry of Employment Labour Relation's normal appropriation.
Mr Speaker 7:51 p.m.
That is why I thought that it should not then have been captured under your Ministry's allocation. Well it does not really fall within your budget, and so when I saw the difference, I raised the issue, and I am sure that is why they came to consult you.
The Committee would have to consider with the Ministry of Finance where to locate it. This is because this does not form part of the GH¢208,063,127. So that part of the
Mr Speaker 7:51 p.m.


Report should not appear here. It should be under Government Obligations.
Mr Awuah 7:51 p.m.
Very well, Mr Speaker.
Mr Speaker 7:51 p.m.
Anyway, Hon Members, I would put the Question
Question put and Motion agreed to.
Resolved Accordingly:
That this honourable House approves the sum of GH¢208,063,127 for the services of the Ministry of Employment and Labour Relations for the year ending 31st December, 2021.
Mr Speaker 7:51 p.m.
Leadership, which item is next?
Mr Annoh-Dompreh 7:51 p.m.
Mr Speaker, if we may take item numbered 6(e) (ii) on page 4 of the Order Paper?
Mr Speaker 7:51 p.m.
Hon Members, item 6 is presentation of Papers. The following Paper captured as item numbered 6(e) (ii).
PAPERS 7:51 p.m.
Mr Speaker 7:51 p.m.
Yes, Hon Leader?
Mr Annoh-Dompreh 7:51 p.m.
Mr Speaker, if we may take item numbered 19 on page 9 of the Order Paper? If I may seek your leave for the Hon Majority Leader to take the Motion as the Hon Minister has an emergency?
[Pause].
Alhaji Muntaka 8:01 p.m.
Mr Speaker, let us set the records straight. If a Minister cannot find time to do his own Budget, I do not see what he or she can find time to do.
Mr Speaker, with the greatest respect, we would not accept any Minister not being here for other Ministers to move their Motions for them. If they are not ready for it, they can do it tomorrow, Monday or Tuesday. They must be here
themselves. If they cannot be here, they should tell the President that they cannot have time to do the work. Let us not tolerate a Minister moving the Budget motion for another Ministry. Where is this accepted?
Mr Annoh-Dompreh 8:01 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I appreciate the concern expressed by my Hon Colleagues. I only want to calm them down. I personally agree that Ministers should be here to take their own motions.
Mr Speaker, under this circumstance, the Minister is indisposed and he called accordingly to show respect to Leadership and I am conveying same to you. I am only pleading with our Hon Colleagues that the Hon Majority Leader takes the Motion. In due course, if there should be any further communication or engagement with the Minister, that can be done. I am only pleading with my Hon Colleagues on the other Side to understand. It can happen to all of us. Tomorrow, any of them can become a Minister and would be indisposed. Would they expect us to understand? [Interruptions] -- Under this circumstance, the Minister is indisposed.
Mr Speaker, I plead for your guidance in this matter.
Alhaji Muntaka 8:01 p.m.
Mr Speaker, if the Minister is indisposed, we are not rising today neither are we rising tomorrow. The Minister has up to Monday to be able to come and do that. If we start giving excuses, this behaviour would continue. Mr Speaker, you and I were here in the Seventh Parliament and that was what they were doing. Times have changed. They should wake up to reality that times have changed. If they are not ready to do the business, we would be ready to help them not to do it. If he is indisposed, today is Friday; we are Sitting tomorrow, Saturday and Monday - he has the opportunity to come. If by Monday, he is still indisposed, we can then consider it. But others are sitting and waiting.
Mr Speaker, let us consider those who are here and available to work so that we can do the work and stop, with the greatest respect, wasting time when it is already late.
Mr Annoh-Dompreh 8:01 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I do not intend to belabour this matter. I think we have been working as a team and there have been difficult moments where we understood one another. I am totally taken aback -- I can appreciate the concerns raised by my Hon Colleagues --
Mr Annoh-Dompreh 8:01 p.m.
Mr Speaker, with the greatest respect, I was saying the same thing. I said indisposed, relating to his health status then I went further to elucidate that he was indisposed. So the first point I established was that he had an emergency and then I said he was indisposed.
Mr Speaker, with the greatest respect, I am saying the same thing.
Mr Speaker 8:01 p.m.
No, you did not say that from the very beginning. It was after the objection that you said he was indisposed. But all the same -- [Interruptions]
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 8:01 p.m.
Mr Speaker, the information just trickled in that there was an emergency relating to the health status of the Minister responsible for Agriculture. Ordinarily, I would agree that particularly at the consideration of the Estimates relating to a Ministry, Department or Agency, the superintending Minister must be in the Chamber except that in this particular case just a few moments ago, less than 45 minutes ago, that the information came to us that the man has an emergency relating to his health status. But if you say that we should step it down because we may meet tomorrow, what if he is still indisposed tomorrow? What happens?
Mr Speaker, we intend to finish with the Estimates latest tomorrow as I indicated yesterday to free Monday for the consideration of the taxes and other levies, which is why we are giving this indication that, yes, it is not the best of circumstances but given the fact that it relates to health, it cannot be helped; especially where we are in a situation where Deputy Ministers have not been appointed. If the Deputy Ministers were in place, maybe we would have a situation where a Deputy Minister would take the place of the Minister. Unfortunately not. Deputy Ministers are not in place and if the man is indisposed, why do we say that we
should step it down until when he is well. Is that the case?
So, Mr Speaker, in principle, I agree that Ministers should be here to move their motions but in this particular case, the situation cannot be helped.
Mr Avedzi 8:01 p.m.
Mr Speaker, we have other Ministers here who are waiting for their budgets to be taken and we are here debating somebody who is not interested in his budget.
Mr Speaker 8:01 p.m.
You are doubting the reason they have given.
Mr Avedzi 8:01 p.m.
Mr Speaker, to me,
I -- 8:01 p.m.
Mr Speaker 8:01 p.m.
They said the person is indisposed. It is not that he is not interested in the budget. Unless you are doubting that.
Mr Avedzi 8:01 p.m.
Mr Speaker, if he is indisposed, we give him up to tomorrow. He should come tomorrow so that we take his budget.
Mr Speaker, we Hon Members of Parliament have been here since morning trying to ensure that the budgets are approved for the Ministers but they would not come
here. We are killing ourselves for them. Why should we be doing that?
Hon Majority Leader, please, this is the Parliament of the Republic of Ghana. [Interruptions] -- That is why I said we should do it tomorrow. If he is not here by tomorrow, we would do it on Monday.
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 8:11 p.m.
Mr Speaker, the only Minister here now is the Minister for Education. Unfortunately, the Report has some challenges that we are trying to deal with. It means that we cannot deal with his.

Mr Speaker, we did not call the Motion for the Attorney-General because we have no sign that he is indisposed. He must come tomorrow. For the other one in respect of the Hon Minister for Trade and Industry, we have no communication from him. We cannot take it.

This is the one that we have information that he is indisposed. So, if we are saying that we cannot take his because he is indisposed, I cannot simply understand this. If a person is sick, he is sick, and he communicates same to us, they say even though he is sick, he must be here. How does
Mr Speaker 8:11 p.m.
Hon Members, what I get from exchanges is that this is the only Report that is ready now to be taken, but the Hon Minister that is to move the Motion is indisposed. In other words, he is ill. Now, the Hon Majority Leader and Leader of Government Business has opted to move the Motion, but there is an objection to him moving the Motion so, the House would have to take a decision. It is not for the Speaker; it is for the House. The decision is not for the Speaker; it is for the House. The Leader of Government Business is in charge of Government Business, and he insists that we take the Motion.
Mr Ablakwa 8:11 p.m.
Mr Speaker, there are some Hon Ministers who we can sometimes consider when they show that they take their commitments to Parliament seriously. Hon Colleagues know that for this particular Hon Minister, that is not the case.
Mr Speaker, the other reason this Side of the House is quite unconvinced is that the last time this particular Minister issued a public statement on 18th March, 2021 that he was indisposed, the media exposed him campaigning in Kumasi
for the flagbearership contest. I have a copy of the statement here dated 18th March, 2021 that he had fever, and decided to go to Kumasi to go to rest only to be welcomed by NPP delegates.
Mr Speaker, this is the reputation of the Hon Minister especially when he says that he is indisposed then, you find out that he is somewhere in some part of this country campaigning and meeting NPP delegates. Mr Speaker, they cannot deny the track record of this Hon Minister. That is why this Side is not convinced especially in these times that some of them are campaigning to take over from H. E. Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo as flagbearer of the NPP.
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 8:11 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I wonder how the health
status of an Hon Minister would become the subject of a political debate to the extent that my Hon Colleague, the Hon Okudzeto Ablakwa, said “this Side of the House”? The health status also attracts the positioning of this Side of the House. I cannot understand this.
Mr Speaker, for the record, what statement that the Hon Ablakwa referred to, the man himself said he was sick, he reclined to his house in Kumasi, and people went to visit him. [Laughter] Mr Speaker, that is the official position of the man, and he issued a statement to that effect. The Hon Okudzeto Ablakwa cannot pretend not to have seen that statement. That is the official statement.
Mr Speaker 8:11 p.m.
Is the House prepared to accept an undertaking by the Hon Minister for Parliamentary Affairs and Leader of Government Business that the said Hon Minister for Food and Agriculture should submit, when he recovers, a medical report that he was indisposed? Would the House be prepared to accept that then we can go on with the Motion?
Mr A. Ibrahim 8:11 p.m.
Mr Speaker, seriously speaking, to defend the respect for the House, when the Minister-designate for Finance was
indisposed, even the President saw the need to give us that respect by electing one of our approved Ministers to be responsible for Finance. Mr Speaker, you were given a letter to that effect showing the kind of respect that the President of the Republic has for this House.
Mr Speaker, gradually, if Parliament decides to go on this path, it would come to a point Hon Ministers would not have respect for this House. Mr Speaker, I say this because the need surrounding parliamentary business is eroding gradually. I remember when we were on that Side, I had an encounter with one of our Hon Ministers. When I said he had to come to Parliament to do something as a Deputy Minister, he said he would go to Cabinet. I said wow. You have respect for Cabinet, and not for Parliament.
I was not happy.
This is how we lose it so, if the message goes to the Hon Minister that Parliament said that he should account for the money that was approved for him for 2020 and ask for allocation for 2021 -- Mr Speaker, if the Minister is indisposed and a messenger goes and tells him that Parliament approved his Budget Estimates for 2021, what would they take this House for? This is not a
Mr A. Ibrahim 8:21 a.m.
parliamentary question or an ordinary parliamentary Business; this is a business in connection with the power of the purse.
Mr Speaker, we just returned from a workshop and we were told that we should be watchdogs on the Executive and not guard dogs.

Mr Speaker, this is one of them so; Hon Majority Leader, come what may, we would help to approve the Government's financial economic policy for this nation to progress but let this message also go to the Minister; you must try - Hon Majority Leader, it would also help them to have respect for the Leader of Government Business.

Mr Speaker, as it is now, you know our Leader is overburdened; he is the Leader of Government's Business, he is the Minister for Parliamentary Affairs and he is the Minister responsible for Finance. The Minister for Food and Agriculture is also indisposed and we are saying the Majority Leader should discharge that duty? There is a saying in Akan which says Dua kro gye mframa, ebu; to wit, Hon Majority Leader, you alone performing these functions,

would become an improper fraction -- [Laughter] --

I do not want to go there but personally, I am of the view that Hon Majority Leader, with all due respect, we would support to pass this Parliamentary business but let us not go on that path; let every Minister - and Mr Speaker, I remember when I was serving under you in that place, Ministers who were not patronising Parliamentary business, you would let them come and sit in the morning and those who were punctual, when they came, we passed their business for them, and that encouraged other Ministers to patronise Parliamentary business and to know the kind of stress that Members of Parliament go through. But if now it happens that we even pass their budget and then, give it to them, how would they respect us and what would they take us for?

Mr Speaker, with these few comments, Hon Majority Leader, it is not as if we are feeling reluctant to pass Government's business; you know we have been consulting, we have been engaging and we worked enough up to this stage. Even tomorrow we would be here. On Sunday, Committees would be sitting here so; it is not that we are feeling reluctant but this is a signal that we are sending out there that at least they

must accord us that respect and dignity.

Hon Majority Leader, you have done what a Government should do but that is what you can do so; let the message go out there that every Minister should come and defend what they used the 2020 Budget for and why they are asking for the 2021 allocation?

Mr Speaker, with these comments, I thank you and I beg to say that we should not go on that path at all for, it would not help the sanctity and the integrity of this gold House.

Mr Speaker, I thank you for the opportunity.
Mr Avedzi 8:21 a.m.
Mr Speaker, we have said a lot; we have shown the Government Side our position on this that we do not want to take this Motion today but if they insist, then, they should move the Motion.
Mr Speaker 8:21 a.m.
I get the sense that the Hon Members are fatigued and you would prefer an adjournment. Sometimes we have to accommodate so that we can move together.
I see that the Majority Chief Whip wants to say something.
Mr Annoh-Dompreh 8:21 a.m.
Mr Speaker, with your leave, I think early on, the Majority Leader had indicated that the Report of Committee on Education was not ready but I have just been told that the Report is ready so; we take the item numbered 30 on page 11 of today's Order Paper.
Mr Speaker 8:21 a.m.
Well, Hon Members, Leadership is pleading with you to let us take one more item. Your response, from both Sides of the House was that you were fatigued but now Leadership insists that you take the item numbered 30 on page 11 of today's Order Paper.
Hon Members, the item numbered 30; Hon Minister for Education?
ANNUAL ESTIMATES, 2021
Ministry of Education
Minister for Education (Dr Yaw Adutwum) (MP) 8:21 a.m.
Mr Speaker, I beg to move, this honourable House approves the sum of GH¢15,631,637855 for the services of the Ministry of Education for the year ending 31st December, 2021.
Mr Speaker, the Ministry of Education comprises various agencies
Chairman of the Committee (Mr Kwabena Amankwa Asiamah) 8:31 a.m.
Mr Speaker, I rise to second the Motion and subsequently, present your Committee's Report:
1.0 Introduction
1.1 The Budget Statement and Economic Policy of Government for the 2021 Financial Year was presented to Parliament on Friday, 12th March, 2021 by the Hon Minister for
Parliamentary Affairs, Majority Leader and Leader of Government Business, Mr Osei Kyei-Mensah- Bonsu. This was in accordance with article 179 of the 1992 Constitution.
Pursuant to Order 140(4) and 186 of the Standing Orders of the House, the Rt Hon Speaker referred the Annual Budget Estimates of the Ministry of Education to the Committee on Education for consideration and report.
1.2 The Committee met on Tuesday, 23rd March and Wednesday, 24th March, 2021 and considered the referral. Present at the Committee's sittings were the Hon Minister for Education, Dr Yaw Osei Adutwum, the Chief Director of the Ministry of Education, Mr Benjamin K. Gyasi, officials of the Ministry of Education, Ministry of Finance, and the under- listed Agencies under the purview of the Ministry of Education:
i. Ghana Education Service
(GES).
ii. Ghana Tertiary Education Commission (GTEC).
iii. Commission for Technical and Vocational Education and Training (CTVET).
iv. National Service Scheme
(NSS).
v. National Council for Curriculum and Assessment (NaCCA).
vi. Ghana Library Authority (GhLA).
vii.National Teaching Council
(NTC).
viii.West African Examinations Council (WAEC).
.
ix. Ghana Book Development
Council (GBDC).
x. Centre for Distance Learning and Open Schooling
(CENDLOS).
xi. National Schools Inspectorate Authority (NaSIA).
xii.Ghana National Commission for UNESCO.
xiii.Non-Formal Education Division (NFED).
The Committee expresses its appreciation to the Hon. Minister, the Chief Director of the Ministry of
Education, Heads of the Agencies and officials of the Ministries of Education and Finance for attending upon the Committee to assist in its deliberations.
2.0 Reference Documents
The Committee availed itself of the following documents during its deliberations:
i. The 1992 Constitution of the Republic of Ghana;
ii. The Standing Orders of the Parliament of Ghana;
iii. The Budget Statement and Economic Policy of the Government of Ghana for the 2020 Financial Year;
iv. The Programme Based Budget Estimates of the Ministry of Education for the 2021 Financial Year; and
v. The Budget Statement and Economic Policy of the Government of Ghana for the 2021 Financial Year.
3.0 Mandate of the Ministry of Education
The mandate of the Ministry of Education is to provide equitable
Chairman of the Committee (Mr Kwabena Amankwa Asiamah) 8:31 a.m.
9.2 Total Budgetary Allocation for
2021
The Committee observed an increase of 17.5 per cent in the Ministry's total budgetary allocation for 2021 over the allocation of GH¢13,301,182,692.00 for 2020. The 2020 and 2021 budgetary allocation by source of funding is shown in Table 6 below.
Table 6: 2020 and 2021 Budgetary Allocation by Source of Funding
As evidenced in Table 6, the increase in the allocation for 2021 is due to an increase in the GoG, ABFA, Donor and IGF components of the budget. Worthy of note is the huge increase in the ABFA allocation from GH¢16,800,000.00 for year 2020 to GH¢776,180,024.00 for 2021.
Officials of the Ministry of Education informed the Committee that since 2018, funds for the
implementation of the Free SHS Policy have always been captured under the Office of Government Machinery. For 2021, however, this line of expenditure has been captured under the Ministry's Goods and Services. This development therefore accounts for the increase in the 2021 budgetary to the Ministry. For 2021, funds for the implementation of the Free SHS Policy amounts to
GH¢1,974,021,968.00.

The breakdown of the amount by source of funding is as follows:

GH¢

GoG 1,210,841,944.00

ABFA 763,180,024.00

TOTAL 1,974,021,968.00

The Committee noted that the allocation for the implementation of the Free SHS Policy, pencilled out of the Ministry's 2021 total budgetary allocation of GH¢15,631,637,855 leaves the Ministry with an amount of GH¢13,657,615,887 representing an increase of 2.6 per cent over the allocation of GH¢13,301,182,692.00 for 2020.

9.3 Ghana Education Service

(GES)

i 2021 Budgetary Allocation

An amount of GH¢7,776,744,630.00 has been provided to GES for the implementation of its programmes and activities in 2021. This comprises a GoG component of GH¢7,757,081,912.00, an estimated IGF of GH¢4,662,718.00 and a Donor component of GH¢15,000,000.00. The breakdown of the allocation by expenditure item is as follows:
Chairman of the Committee (Mr Kwabena Amankwa Asiamah) 8:31 a.m.
Commission as crucial if the Commission is to deliver on its mandate. The Committee therefore urges the Sector Minister to put measures in place to address the office accommodation need of the Commission.
9.6 National Service Scheme
(NSS)
i. 2021 Budgetary Allocation
A total amount of GH¢792,384,043.00 has been provided for the programme and activities of the Scheme in 2021. The amount is made up of a GoG allocation of GH¢773,413,703.00 and an IGF component of
GH¢18,970,340.00.
Out of the total allocation of
G H ¢ 7 9 2 , 3 8 4 , 0 4 3 . 0 0 ,
GH¢773,213,703.00 is for the payment of compensation, GH¢11,582,204.00 for Goods and Services, and GH¢7,588,136.00 for Capital Expenditure.
The Committee observed that for 2021, NSS will utilise its funds for the following activities, among others:
·Generation of Pins for a targeted number of 140,000
National Service Personnel for the 2021/2022 academic year.
Strengthening publicity and awareness campaign on rebranding the Scheme through campus orientation/virtual meetings.
Monitoring of personnel and operations of the Scheme across the country to ensure that National Service Personnel have duly reported and are at post.
Train staff in customer relations and management skills.
Complete and commence the operationalisation of the Scheme's Water Project in Medie, in the Greater Accra Region.
The Committee urges the Scheme to utilise its budgetary allocation judiciously in the implementation of its planned programmes and activities for the year.
ii. The Scheme's Critical Challenges
The Committee noted that the National Service Scheme is confronted with challenges such as rejection of service personnel by some user Agencies; unwillingness of some personnel to take up postings in
deprived communities; refusal of some non-subvented user Agencies to pay service charges; and inadequate office space.
It came to the attention of the Committee that the challenges confronting the Scheme has in the past, been a matter of concern at the consideration of Annual Budgets Estimates of the Ministry of Education. The Committee has therefore, on various occasions, made several recommendations to address these challenges. The Committee was therefore surprised to hear of the same challenges during this year's deliberations. This situation, in the opinion of the Committee, gives an indication that efforts are not being made to address the challenges.
The Committee is of the considered view that this state of affairs does not augur well for the attainment of operational targets. The Committee therefore urges the Sector Minister to put measures in place to address the challenges confronting the Scheme.
9.7 National Council for Curriculum and Assessment (NaCCA)
NaCCA is the entity mandated by the Education Regulatory Bodies Act, of 2020 (Act 1023) to develop

national curriculum and assessment standards for pre-tertiary education institutions other than TVET institutions.

The Committee noted that in year 2020, the Council developed the following among others:

training manuals on the Common Core Programme (CCP) subjects-curricula, teachers resource pack, learners resource pack and training manuals;

a Communication Plan for sensitisation on the CCP;

a National Pre-tertiary Learning Assessment Framework (NPLAF) Policy document;

a textbook short code (*920*65#) to enable Publishers to check on the status of books submitted to NaCCA for assessment.

For year 2021, NaCCA has been provided a budgetary allocation of GH¢2,158,258 to cater for its programmes and activities. This comprises GH¢1,358,258 for Compensation and GH¢800,000 for Goods and Services.

The Council plans to expend its budgetary allocation for year 2021 to monitor and evaluate the fidelity of
Mr Speaker 8:31 a.m.
Hon Chairman, before we go on, could you kindly tell me, out of the 2021 total Budget, how much does the allocation to the Ministry of Education work up to as a percentage?
Mr K. A. Asiamah 8:31 a.m.
It is about 15 per cent of the total Budget please.
Mr Speaker 8:31 a.m.
About 15 per cent? It is important that we get these percentages to see where we consider our priorities.
Mr K. A. Asiamah 8:31 a.m.
Mr Speaker, I would submit the answer.
Mr Speaker 8:31 a.m.
As we go along, it is important for us to know the commitments to education and health. As we debate, we have to take that into consideration and make recommendations to Government to try to abide by the internationally accepted percentages or according to the agreements and conventions that we have signed.
Mr Speaker 8:31 a.m.
Leadership?
Mr Bernard Ahiafor (NDC -- Akatsi South) 8:41 p.m.
Mr Speaker, thank you for giving me the opportunity to contribute to the Motion that this honourable House approves the sum of GH¢15,631,637,855 for the services of the Ministry of Education for the year ending 31st December,
2021.
Mr Speaker, it would be observed from the Report that the Ministry of Education in terms of compensation spent more than the approved budgetary allocation so clearly, there was expenditure overrun which affected most of the Agencies under the Ministry of Education.
Mr Speaker 8:41 p.m.
I would put the Question? -- [Interruption] --
rose
Mr Speaker 8:41 p.m.
I was going by the guidance from the leadership but if there is an exceptional reason he should be given the Floor, let me know.
Mr Avedzi 8:41 p.m.
Mr Speaker, there is a mistake that he needs to correct.
Mr Speaker 8:41 p.m.
Hon Member for North Tongu, Mr Ablakwa, kindly point it out.
Mr Ablakwa 8:41 p.m.
Mr Speaker, please, tables 2 and 3 on page 4 of the Committee's Report are
inconsistent. The correct one is table 3 -- the variance of the GH¢10.6 billion budgetary allocation and the actual expenditure GH¢11.1 billion that is GH¢438,571,675 - but in table 2, the GH¢438,571,675 has been captured as GH¢432,571,675. If we do the arithmetic, the total at table 3 is correct, so that should replace the first line at table 2.
Mr Speaker 8:41 p.m.
Under table 2, the figures for GoG -- GH¢10,666,211,542 the expenditure is GH¢11,104,783,217. That is what worked up to GH¢438,571,675 -
Mr Ablakwa 8:41 p.m.
Mr Speaker, it would be noticed that the same entry at the first line at table 2, GoG - GH¢10,666,211,542 and GH¢11,104,783,217 but the variance is different. It should be GH¢438,571,675 as captured at table 3, which would give the same percentage of 104.1 per cent. I do not know if the Hon Chairman of the Committee has seen it.
Mr Speaker 8:41 p.m.
Hon Chairman and Hon Minister, what do you say to that?
Mr Speaker 8:41 p.m.
Have you seen it? On table 2 at page 4, under GoG
Mr Speaker 8:51 p.m.
appropriated amount, expenditure, variance and then as percentage, then on the last column of table 3 where there is total, they are the same figures but the variance is not the same and then the actual percentage is also not the same.

So, he is drawing our attention to the fact that there are some errors in the figures in Table 2; the first GoG line and he says that the total figures on Table 3 are the right figures. Yes, the issue he has raised is correct; you cannot have the same figures with different variance and percentages.
Mr K. A. Asiamah 8:51 p.m.
Mr Speaker, it is a typological error because on this, the figure is ‘438' but when we look at the others, it is different and so, I think --
Mr Speaker 8:51 p.m.
Are you sure?
Mr K. A. Asiamah 8:51 p.m.
Yes. You can look on this document and so, we will correct it.
Mr Speaker 8:51 p.m.
Which one have you corrected?
Mr K. A. Asiamah 8:51 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I will do the correction.
Mr Speaker 8:51 p.m.
You will do the correction but we are to adopt the Report and so, we would want the corrected figures and then we adopt it. What the Hon Member is proposing is that the correct figures are at table 3, where we have ‘total' and so we should adopt that and delete those at table 2, the line with the GoG. When we come to the ‘variance and expressed at percentage of Budget'.
Mr K. A. Asiamah 8:51 p.m.
All right.
Mr Speaker, we will do the correction and let you have it.
Mr Speaker 8:51 p.m.
So, Hon Members, at table 2, the first column — GoG; when we come to the ‘variance', the figure should be GH¢438,571,675 and not GH¢432,571,675. That is the point he is drawing our attention to.
Hon Member, thank you so much.
Question put and Motion agreed to.
Resolved Accordingly:
That this honourable House approves the sum of GH¢15,631,637,855 for the services of the Ministry of Education for the year ending 31st December, 2021.
Mr Speaker 8:51 p.m.
Hon Member, any further item to be taken? Yes, Hon Majority Chief Whip?
Mr Annoh-Dompreh 8:51 p.m.
Mr Speaker, conferring amongst ourselves as Leadership, we think that we have exhausted Business for the day and we can accordingly adjourn to tomorrow 10.00 a.m.
Mr Speaker 8:51 p.m.
Hon Members, before I do so, I will take you back to item numbered 2 on the Order Paper that is, Formal Communication by the Speaker. It is actually a message from His Excellency the President dated 26th March, 2021.
COMMUNICATION FROM THE PRESIDENT 8:51 p.m.
Mr Speaker 8:51 p.m.
Hon Members, since Business Statement was deferred today, it will be delivered tomorrow. The House has agreed to Sit tomorrow and so, I will adjourn the House.
ADJOURNMENT 8:51 p.m.
  • The House was adjourned at 8.58 p.m. till Saturday, 27th March, 2021 at 10.00 a.m.