Debates of 2 Jun 2021

MR SPEAKER
PRAYERS 12:24 p.m.
VOTES AND PROCEEDINGS AND THE OFFICIAL REPORT 12:24 p.m.
Mr Speaker 12:24 p.m.
Hon Members, the item numbered 3 -- Correction of Votes and Proceedings and the Official Report. I have a copy of the Votes and Proceedings of Tuesday, 1st June, 2021. And we will start with that.
Page 1, 2, 3 … 7 --
Dr Hamza Adam 12:24 p.m.
Mr Speaker, page 7 --
Mr Speaker 12:24 p.m.
Hon Member, you do not need to announce the page number; you just need to be on your feet and then, you would catch my eye. But then, I have so many of you on your feet especially the Ushers. There are too many Ushers walking around, what is the problem?
Yes, Hon Member, page 7?
Dr Adam Hamza 12:24 p.m.
Mr Speaker, my name has been captured as somebody who was absent with permission meanwhile, I was in the Chamber.
Mr Speaker 12:24 p.m.
Please, can you tell us the name and the number on page
7?
Dr Adam Hamza 12:24 p.m.
Mr Speaker, the item numbered 3, number 1.
Mr Speaker 12:24 p.m.
Dr Adam Hamza, Hon Member for Kumbungu?
Dr Adam Hamza 12:24 p.m.
Yes, Mr Speaker.
Mr Speaker 12:24 p.m.
Table Office, please take note.
Mr Jacob Iddriss Abdulai 12:24 p.m.
Mr Speaker, page 7, the item numbered 4, item listed 2. Mr Speaker, I was present.
Mr Speaker 12:24 p.m.
Table Office, please take note.
Page 8, 9, 10 --
Mr Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa 12:24 p.m.
Mr Speaker, page 9, the item numbered 6: the name of the Hon Minister for Health, Hon Kwaku Agyeman-Manu is supposed to be hyphenated.
Mr Speaker 12:24 p.m.
It is not supposed to be; it is. It is a compound name. Table Office, please take note.
Mr Habib Iddrisu 12:24 p.m.
Mr Speaker, just to bring you back to page 8; the Majority Chief Whip is on Pan- African Parliament. He has brought his leave of absence letter and the Majority Leader -[Inaudible] He has been marked absent; it should be marked absent with permission.
Mr Speaker 12:24 p.m.
Table Office, kindly take note.
Mr Frederick Yaw Ahenkwah 12:24 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I am sorry to take you back to page 8, the item numbered 7, I have been placed on the absent list meanwhile I was here yesterday.
Mr Speaker 12:24 p.m.
Yes, you have been marked absent and you want us to know that you were present.
Mr Ahenkwah 12:24 p.m.
Yes, Mr Speaker.
Mr Speaker 12:24 p.m.
Table Office, Hon Ahenkwah Frederick Yaw, an Hon Member for Jaman North was present yesterday.
Mr Habib Iddrisu 12:24 p.m.
Mr Speaker, on page 8, the item numbered 23; the Hon Member for Mfantseman, Hon Mrs Ophelia Mensah Hayford is also
at the Pan-African Parliament, and permission was sought.
Mr Speaker 12:24 p.m.
Table Office, kindly take note. It is for some of these reasons that we would put in our Standing Orders ‘roll call'. We will do roll call on daily basis so that we will capture those who are actually present. We would not have these difficulties.
Page 10 --
Mr Ablakwa 12:24 p.m.
Mr Speaker, the item numbered 9 at page 10; the way ‘the World Preeclampsia Day' has been captured, the ‘Day' is not also captured as ‘pregnancy induced hypertension'; it is the preeclampsia which is also referred to as such not the day, so it has to be tidied up. We could just have left it as ‘World Preeclampsia Day which is marked on the 28th of May every year but the way it has been presented here is quite convoluted.
Mr Speaker 12:24 p.m.
Table Office, kindly take note of the correction.
Page 11, 12 and 13.
Hon Members, the Votes and Proceedings of the Fifth Sitting of the Second Meeting of the First Session held on Tuesday, 1st June, 2021 as
Mr Speaker 12:37 p.m.
corrected, is adopted as the true record of proceedings.

We will now move on to the Official Reports, and I have three Reports, starting from Tuesday, 9th March, 2021. Any corrections?
Mr Speaker 12:37 p.m.
We would consider the Official Report of Wednesday, 10th March, 2021. Any corrections?
rose
Mr Gyamfi 12:37 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I picked my Votes and Proceedings and the Order Paper from my pidgin hole in the mails rooms and I did not see any Official Report. I have also looked round the Chamber and I do not see Hon Members with copies of the Official Report.
Mr Speaker 12:37 p.m.
Any corrections?
Mr Speaker 12:37 p.m.
We have the Official Report of Wednesday, 26th May, 2021. Any corrections?
rose
Mr Speaker 12:37 p.m.
Yes, Hon Member?
Mr Ablakwa 12:37 p.m.
Mr Speaker, with regard to the second paragraph of column 010, the proper arrangement should be “DACF'' and not “DAFC'' as it has been captured.
Mr Speaker, again, the next paragraph on the same column which captured what the Hon Minority Leader said as “by getting the Minister for Roads -- it is a sheer responsibility'', clearly, does not convey what he said. This is because he criticised the Hon Minister for Road, so, it could either be “shared irresponsibility'' -- or the Table Office or the Hansard Department may want to listen to the audio recording again because what has been captured does not carry what the Hon Minority Leader said. There is something amiss so if that could be corrected.
Mr Speaker 12:37 p.m.
Hansard Depar- tment, please, crosscheck from the audio recording to be sure whether it is “shared responsibility” or “shared
irresponsibility''. Any further corrections?
Hon Members, the Official Report of Wednesday, 26th May as corrected is adopted as the true record of proceedings.
Hon Members, item numbered 4 -- Statements.
Hon Members, we would try as much as possible to take as many Statements as possible for today because I have admitted a lot of them. When I am tired, the Hon Second Deputy Speaker would take over. If leadership could give guidance as to the presence or otherwise of these Hon Members; Mr Morris Elvis Donkoh, Dr Yelviel Baligi Bakye, Mr Isaac Adjei Mensah --
Mr Habib Iddrisu 12:37 p.m.
Mr Speaker, the Hon Member for Lambussie, Dr Baligi Bakye is in the House and he is ready to make his Statement.
Mr Speaker 12:37 p.m.
The Hon Member for Lambussie has a Statement on “Resolving Resource Governance and Management Conflicts among Stakeholders of Kamba Tributary and Banwon Bawo Forest Reserves in the Lambussie Constituency''.
Hon Member, you may make your Statement.
STATEMENTS 12:37 p.m.
Dr Yelviel Baligi Bakye (NPP -- Lambussie) 12:37 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I am sincerely grateful for this opportunity to make my maiden Statement on a critical issue of natural resource governance and management conflicts, as it borders on the livelihood, subsistence and survival of the inhabitants of seven communities namely: Samoah, Suke, Sina, Kongo, Nabaala, Billaw, and Banwon, all of the Lambussie Constituency.
Mr Speaker, natural resource management and governance comprises multiple actors of which, community members are part. Mr Speaker, Graham et al., (2003) defined natural resource governance to include how resource decisions are taken, and how citizens or other stakeholders have their say in relation to the natural resource in question and how these resource decisions affect the quality of life for both the present and future generations.
Dr Yelviel Baligi Bakye (NPP -- Lambussie) 12:47 p.m.
Mr Speaker, the Kamba Tributary Forest Reserve and the Banwon Bawo Forest Reserves, both in the Lambussie Constituency, were established in 1948 and 1956 respectively, following the enactment of the first Forest and Wildlife Policy in 1948. This policy, which sought to regulate commercialisation of timber trees, was fundamentally protective and preservative, thus, witnessed a massive, centralised, and forceful demarcation and reservation of forest reserves in Ghana, undermining the ownership and user rights of indigenous people.
Mr Speaker, it is an undisputable fact that forests and forest resources, apart from their socio-economic and cultural benefits, also present enormous environmental and ecosystem/ecological dividends and wellbeing, most especially, in the wake of climate change and variability.
Mr Speaker, since there was no consultation and agreement of a sort in the creation of these forests, people whose homes and farms were captured were forcefully evicted and prohibited, without compensation, from farming, settlement, animal grazing or collection of any resources in the forest.
Mr Speaker, the Forestry Commission, which is the agency tasked with the administration of forests and forest resources abandoned affected communities and directly affected individuals to their own destiny. Mr Speaker, to add insults to injuries, some community members were arrested and detained, resulting in their consequent abscondment from the communities.
It is an incontrovertible fact Mr Speaker, that, agriculture is the main source of livelihood for most rural households as mine, thus, the confiscation of farmlands and consequent prohibition of access to the appropriation of Non -- Timber Forest Products from same, without compensation, or alternative livelihoods amid growing population, violates the fundamental human rights and freedoms of forest fringe communities.
Mr Speaker, article 20 clause 3 of the 1992 Constitution provides; Mr Speaker, with your indulgence, I quote:
“where a compulsory acquisition or possession of land effected by the state in accordance with clause (1) of this article involves displacement of any inhabitants, the state shall resettle the displaced inhabitants on suitable alternative land with due regard
for their economic wellbeing and social and cultural values”.
Mr Speaker, alternative to this form of centralised way of governing the natural resources is the Community- Based Natural Resource Manage- ment (CBNRM) which seeks to encourage the participation of communities and other users of natural resources in the governing and decision-making process.

Mr Speaker, for local communities to engage in natural resource governance, they need to be aware of their rights as defined in laws and regulations. It is quite unfortunate that many local communities as mine, are often not aware of these rights or have same taken away by other actors. The Conservation Initiative on Human Rights (CIHR) (2010) came out with a stepwise approach for rights-based conservation which enforces the rights and culture of communities in natural resource governance.

Mr Speaker, Ghana ratified the African Charter on Human and Peoples' Rights in 1989 which enjoins member states to safeguard the human rights and freedoms of their citizenry by adopting legislative and regulatory measures to give effect to the rights recognised by the Charter. Article 22

of this Charter, defines right of people to include their ‘socio-economic and socio-cultural development and compels states to enforce it in a free and equal manner'. The African Commission has indicated that benefit sharing and the rights of indigenous people to their allocation, is a part of this right to development.

Mr Speaker, since the creation of the Gold Coast Forestry Department in 1908, there have been series of forest and natural resources governance policies and persistent reviews of same, in accordance with emerging trends and best practices.

In this regard, the 1994 Forest and Wildlife Policy got amended in 2012 with a major aim of ‘promoting and developing mechanisms for transparent governance, equity sharing and peoples' participation in forest and wildlife resources management'.

Mr Speaker, article 267 (6) of the 1992 Constitution outlines the benefit sharing formula in relation to Stool and Skin lands, where it indicates that, 10 per cent of all revenue accruing from these lands must be paid to the Office of the Administrator of Stool Lands (OASL) to cover administrative expenses. The remaining revenues are to be disbursed among the following constitutional beneficiaries: stool/skin (25 per cent), traditional authority (20 per cent), and district assembly (55 per cent).
Mr Speaker 12:57 p.m.
Hon Members, this is a constituency specific Statement. I may allow very limited comments on it. Even though it is a constituency specific Statement, it deals with a very important national issue - that of resource governance and how to manage conflicts amongst stakeholders.

In the absence of any comments, we would move on to the next Statement. I do not know whether Hon Isaac Adjei-Mensah is in now, if not, we would listen to the Hon Member for Kpandai, Mr Nsala Wakpal. Is the Hon Member available?
Mr Nsala D. Wakpal 12:57 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I do not have a Statement to read today.
Mr Speaker 12:57 p.m.
Have you not filed a Statement on Viability of Yam Farming for export in the Kpandai
Constituency in the Northern Region of Ghana?
Mr Wakpal 12:57 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I am not aware because I have not yet filed it and so I do not know how --
Mr Speaker 12:57 p.m.
Well, I have the Statement here and it was recommended to me by your Hon Leaders and I admitted same. So, once it is not from you then you have no Statement before me. We can move on.
Hon Members, we would take a Statement from Hon Kobena Mensah Woyome on the Urgent Call on Government to Pay Attention for a Successful Ghana's Hosting of the All African Games in 2023.
Hon Member, you have the Floor.
Urgent Call on Government for a Successful Hosting of the All
African Games in 2023
Mr Kobena Mensah Woyome (NDC -- South Tongu) 12:57 p.m.
Mr Speaker, in October, 2018 at the 3rd Specialised Technical Committee Meeting on Youth, Sports and Culture (STC-YCS-3) held in Algiers, Algeria, a Ghana Delegation won the
bid for the rights to host and organise the 13th African Games in 2023. An effort continued from President Mahama's presidency, is just about two years away.
Mr Speaker, three years down the line, during the State of the Nation Address (SONA), His Excellency Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, President of the Republic of Ghana, confirmed the formation of a Local Organising Committee (LOC) and some progress of work they have done.
However, for such an international event of this magnitude, involving 54 nations and about 25 sporting disciplines, it is prudent that the preparations of the nation to host this number of athletes and officials, totalling from 7,000 to 100,000 would be expected for the Games.
Mr Speaker, there is also the task of preparing Team Ghana for all 25 disciplines, not only to participate but to win considerable amount of medals to improve the nation's continental rankings as well as qualifiers for the XXXIII Olympiad 2024 from 26th July to 11th August, 2024 in Paris, France.
For such a magnitude of continental games, we would have expected that within the last three years the Budget
Mr Kobena Mensah Woyome (NDC -- South Tongu) 1:07 p.m.
for the Games would have been presented to Parliament for our consideration and to further preview the Host Nation Agreement to be executed by the nation, Ghana, and the African Union Commission (AUC), the right owners of the Games. Yet, we are left with about two years to the Games.
The Hon Minister for Youth and Sports, Hon Mustapha Ussif (MP), during his vetting by the Appointments Committee of the House, promised to deliver the best African Games ever in the history of the continental games.
This is set against the pedigree of previous host nations since the inception of the Games in 1965 which was hosted by Congo Brazzaville; 1973 by Nigeria; 1978 by Algeria; 1987 by Kenya; 1991 by Egypt, 1995 by Zimbabwe; 1999 by South Africa; 2003 by Nigeria; 2007 by Algeria; 2011 by Mozambique; 2015 by Congo Brazzaville and the 12th edition by Morocco.
Mr Speaker, it is my thinking that such Games is considered as a National Project and managed under the leadership of the Ministry of Youth and Sports. We should consider beefing up the LOC with the requisite
expertise to ensure a hugely successful Games in 2023; believing that the COVID-19 pandemic would have been dealt with by then and not to necessitate the kind that bedevilled the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games to warrant a postponement to this year,
2021.
Again, in the era where every economy has placed the issue of sustainability at the fore of every project, especially sporting events, it will be prudent for the Hon Minister to work and provide a comprehensive analysis of any expected cash flow for the facilities to be constructed for the Games. We have heard on the airwaves that the proposed new 50,000 seater capacity stadium to be used for the opening and closing ceremonies as well as other facilities for the other disciplines would form the basis for a new University for Sports Development. It would be important for the working paper for this to be submitted to the House for review.
However, it would be prudent to ask about what has happened to the Winneba Sports College that this same Ministry has plans to develop into a tertiary institution for sports development.
Furthermore, it will be important for the Ministry to provide Parliament
with a copy of an Impact Assessment of the Games on Ghana's economy, especially set against the background that “Sports is big Business now”; and we would wish to reap the full benefits after the Games and the years after. Indeed, that is why the original thought of using some of the existing Halls of Residencies at the University of Ghana as the Games Village is most laudable.
It is also strategic that the Games is seen as a great opportunity to rebrand Schools and College Sports and also explore the possibilities of starting an all tertiary sports games in Ghana as part of the process to unearth talents for the coming 13th African Games in 2023.

Mr Speaker, on a lighter note, it is being hummed in the grapevine that the consultant who was engaged to successfully work on Ghana's Bid to win the rights to host and organise the Games is yet to be paid. It is prudent that this matter is dealt with expeditiously before anything untoward develops that will hamper the smooth hosting of the games in

2023.

Mr Speaker, I thank you.
Mr Benson Tongo Baba (NDC -- Talensi) 1:07 p.m.
Mr Speaker, thank you very much. I would want to thank the Hon Member who made the Statement for drawing the attention of Government to the long delay in preparing for the next All African Games in Ghana.
Mr Speaker, the organisation of the Games is such a prestigious one that we should not just gloss over the preparation towards it. As has been stated in the Statement, we expect 54 African countries to participate in 25 sporting disciplines, and this requires an enormous infrastructure for all the disciplines. We participate in these games in state-of-the-art facilities. We cannot go and play volley ball on a concrete or cement floor. It has to be played in an indoor gymnasium. So, the long silence in the preparation towards these games without even budgetary provisions is causing a lot of concern for those of us who have been in the sporting industry for some time.
Mr Speaker, apart from the 54 African countries, we expect officials from the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and all the international federations of the disciplines that would be participating in the games, as well as tourists because these are some of the things that attract tourists to a host country.

As I speak, nothing is going on at the proposed Olympic size stadium at Borteyman. We do not even have the mascots for the games, which will also attract international sponsors to support us in our preparation for the games. It means that by the time we would hit the ground running, other countries which have bid for other international games would have taken these sponsors away from us. It is a very serious thing and I think that even the membership of the Local Olympic Committee (LOC) is inadequate. We would need a lot more technical persons, with the requisite knowledge to be added to the group that is already in existence. The mascot serves as the symbol of the games. We do not know when these would be made available. We have not even seen the structural design of what the Olympic size stadium will be like. In such a situation, it means that we would be rushing to host the games with last minute preparations which would not be enough to ensure the success of the game.

Mr Speaker, it is mandatory that for an international event of that magnitude, the facilities should be available for testing and approval by the International Federations. When are we going to do this? I would want to use this opportunity to also appeal to the Government to realise that if we

do not move quickly to the Borteyman site, we may lose part of the acreage of that land which is earmarked for the construction of the facility.

Mr Speaker, with these few words, I thank you for giving me the opportunity to contribute to the Statement.
Mr Habib Iddrisu (NPP -- Tolon) 1:07 p.m.
Mr Speaker, thank you and I thank the Hon Member who made the Statement. I would want to add that the All African Games is a tournament that is in the heart of the Government, and the country is ready. The success will be a story that all of us will benefit from.
Mr Speaker, I am aware that from Friday, 4th to 10th June, 2021, the African Union (AU) Committee on the All African Tournament will be in Ghana to visit and inspect all the stadia and the facilities that will be used. I agree with my Hon Colleague that the land that is secured for the village for the All African Games will be looked at.
Mr Speaker, I can assure the Hon Member that Government has taken this issue very seriously, and we are even preparing beyond the tournament. Government believes
that after the All African Games, the village will be turned into a university for sporting activities.
Mr Speaker, yes, 54 nations will be attending. Ghana has had the success story of hosting tournaments in the country and they went well. It was very beautiful with the Cup of African Nations in 2008, and Government is taking the All African Games seriously.
Mr Speaker, I thank the Hon Member who made the Statement. I would want to assure him that all the concerns that he has raised, I would communicate that to the Hon Minister who is on his way here. I just prompted him about the Statement.
Mr Speaker 1:07 p.m.
Hon Member, I direct that a copy of the Statement, together with the comments of Hon Members be submitted to the Minister for Youth and Sports. I further direct that the Hon Minister appears before the House to brief us on what Government has done so far in the hosting of this very important event in Ghana.
Hon Members, we would now move on to the third Statement which stands in the name of Hon Elvis Morris Donkoh, Member of Parliament for Abura-Asebu-Kwamankese.
Hon Member, you may make your Statement now on the 2021 Population and Housing Census.
Mr Elvis Morris Donkoh 1:07 p.m.
Mr Speaker, my surname is “Donkoh” and not “Donkor”. So, I would want to draw your attention to that -- [Interruption] -- They are not the same. [Interruption]
Mr Speaker 1:07 p.m.
Hon Member, please I would want to know the difference, apart from wrongly pronouncing the name. What is the difference between “Donkor” and “Donkoh”.
Mr Donkoh 1:17 p.m.
Mr Speaker, it is a name, and I know of mine which is Donkoh. In the Akan language, if you say donkor, it means a slave -- [Laughter] Mr Speaker, mine is Donkoh so, I just want to draw your attention to that.
Mr Speaker 1:17 p.m.
Your name, to the best of your knowledge, is Donkoh so what is the meaning of Donkoh?
Mr Donkoh 1:17 p.m.
Mr Speaker, that is my name. It is just the pronunciation. Somebody might choose to be called Donkor, but mine is Donkoh.
Mr Speaker 1:17 p.m.
So, your Donkoh has no meaning? [Laughter]
Hon Member, I am sure you are a proud Fante. Is that not so?
Mr Donkoh 1:17 p.m.
Yes, Mr Speaker.
Mr Speaker 1:17 p.m.
I know about the history, so do not worry. You can go on.
2021 Population and Housing Census
Mr Elvis Morris Donkoh (NPP -- Abura-Asebu-Kwamankese) 1:17 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I rise to speak on the 2021 Population and Housing Census (2021 PHC). The 2021 PHC is the third population and housing census to be conducted, and the sixth post- independence census in Ghana.
For the first time, the census will report on the numbers and characteristics for both population and structures at the constituency level as stipulated by the Statistical Service Act passed by Parliament in 2019. The products generated from the Census will be used for decision- making and policy at all levels of government including for the determination of budgets and to guide the creation of new districts and constituencies.
The Ghana Statistical Service (GSS) in consultation with the National Census Steering Committee and the Office of the President have set the Census Night date as Sunday 27th June, 2021. The scheduled duration of data collection, 28th June to 11th July, 2021, is referred to as the census period when enumeration takes place. The enumeration will be preceded by the listing of all structures which is scheduled to start on 13th June, 2021 and last for seven (7) days.
Mr Speaker, GSS, the lead implementing agency is conducting the 2021 PHC in accordance with United Nations Principles and Recommendations for PHCs conducted from 2015-2024, which encourages countries to practise increased use of technology in order to improve the quality of data collected and timeliness of the results thereof. As such, this census will be the first fully digital PHC to be conducted in Ghana, and will involve the use of tablets for data capture and for collection of GPS coordinates for every structure.
In addition, several methodological and technological innovations have been introduced -- such as the use of an online recruitment platform, introduction of virtual trainings, and use of dynamic data quality management and an enumeration
tracking dashboard -- for real-time data quality monitoring. I urge you all to visit the census website census2021.statsghana.gov.gh for more information, and to stay updated on the census activities during this period.
Mr Speaker, preparations for the census are well underway with key activities completed, including the conduct of three trial censuses, demarcation of the country into 51,921 enumeration areas, identification of finalisation of questionnaires, recruitment of trainers and data quality management teams, development of publicity, education and advocacy documents, and procurement of logistics for the almost 75,000 census officials to be deployed. Other activities such as the training of trainers, provisioning of tablets, recruitment of field officers, engagement of stakeholders, and the finalisation of field strategies are ongoing.
On 19th April, His Excellency the Vice President, Alhaji Dr Mahamudu Bawuwia, launched the 100 days to Census Night, a key publicity activity, which was commemorated to signal to all stakeholders that the Government remains committed to the census process as a priority national development programme, bolster
GSS continued preparations for the census and call all stakeholders and members of the public to take action to support for a successful census taking.
“You Count, Get Counted” is the slogan for the census, which aims to achieve complete coverage by leaving no person and no structure in Ghana unaccounted for. Such an enormous undertaking can only succeed with our collective efforts. As such, the 100 Days to Census Night launched by H. E. Alhaji Dr Mahamudu Bawumia marks the start of sustained nationwide publicity, education and advocacy campaigns to mobilise the needed financial, logistical, and human resources and other forms of facilitation needed for the census exercise.
As stated in his keynote address, the Office of the President is committed to ensuring that the needed state resources and public sector support will be made available for the census. Hon Members of Parliament, as policy-makers and data users, are a key group of stakeholders whose strategic support is required to make the implementation a success.
Specifically, the following areas of support are needed from Hon Members:
1. Work to ensure goodwill for the census. This requires consistent and positive
Mr Speaker 1:27 a.m.
Thank you so much Hon Member. This is a very important Statement and I would like us to devote some time to it as part of the means of publicity and education of the people. “You count, get counted”.
Let me recognise Hon Dafeamekpor.
Mr Rockson-Nelson E. K. Dafeamekpor (NDC -- South Dayi) 1:27 a.m.
Mr Speaker, I thank you for counting me in this matter.
Mr Speaker, it is true that census is very important in the life of every nation. Indeed, the Biblical account has that census was being conducted when Christ was born. So, on that note, we welcome the decision by Government to ensure that we get counted after the last one which happened over ten years ago.
Indeed, the 2021 Budget had a provision for the conduct of the 2020 Census but the understanding is that because it coincided with the elections and other critical programmes, it had to be deferred to this year.
Mr Speaker, population census used to be a very important topic in population studies, and my understanding is that we are not only conducting population census, we are also conducting housing census to determine the number of houses in our various communities; to determine the growth of urbanisation to be able to plan for social amenities; health facilities and such other things.
Mr Speaker, but the difficulties that we are being told is happening on the grounds include the fact that the recruitment of personnel that would participate in gathering the requisite data for purposes of this census, some are being taken far from the areas that they are going to work. So, for instance, the information is that they are recruiting people from Accra to work in the Volta Region; they are recruiting people from Accra to work in the Eastern Region. And we all know how our terranes are; we know that there are certain districts or areas, there are certain peculiar data if one is not an indigene or peculiar with the physical terrane, one would be unable to gather that data.
So, on this note, I would like to focus on my Constituency and my district in South Dayi. If we bring a stranger to travel to Adjeigui to gather data, he may not be able to do a good work. We need to have persons who are indigenes of the areas so they know for instance, the times that the people go to farm; they leave for farm at dawn and return in the evening because the data gathering is unlike what we do during elections. In population census, even day old children are counted so; the counting is very important that we get everybody onto the data.
Mr Habib Iddrisu (NPP -- Tolon) 1:37 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I thank you for
the opportunity to contribute to the Statement on the census that is about to take place.
Indeed, census is very important; we need to know our real numbers for planning and for development purposes. So, I am happy that we are about to undertake yet another important national exercise which has to do with census.
Mr Speaker, first of all, I would like to talk about the quality of enumerators and supervisors. I was part of the agriculture census; I was the one monitoring the Upper East Region. And we had a lot of issues. Usually, when we are about to collect data, it is important to always look for quality data.

And the quality data one would get would greatly be determined by the quality of the data collectors -- the enumerators but unfortunately, in some of the areas, recruitment was not largely determined by qualification or quality but purely partisan. For example, in my Constituency, Kumbungu, it was very clear that very quality individuals who could do the job were sent away and people with questionable qualities were accepted for the exercise.
Mr Speaker 1:37 p.m.
Hon Member, just a minute.
An Hon Member 1:37 p.m.
Mr Speaker, my Hon Colleague has deviated from the Statement. He said that the quality of people who are engaged to do the exercise are purely on partisan basis and not on qualification. If he cannot substantiate or prove what he said, he should withdraw it and continue with his contribution.
Mr Speaker 1:37 p.m.
Hon Member, an objection has been raised about a statement you made which clearly indicates that recruitments are based on partisan lines. If you have evidence to prove that -- or if you do not, then --
Mr Adam 1:37 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I have experienced from my constituency, when some of my boys complained to me that they have applied but at the end of the day when the recruitment is done, they do not qualify but I know their qualification, whereas others who did not have the qualifications that my boys had, were recruited -- [Interruption] -- I did not mention any political party -- I did not mention the New Patriotic Party -- I said “partisan''.
Mr Speaker, it is important that we monitor the census because
An Hon Member 1:37 p.m.
Mr Speaker, the Hon Member has not responded to your directives because you asked him to prove his evidence or withdraw it. He has not done it but has decided to continue with his submission.
Mr Adam 1:37 p.m.
Mr Speaker, to revise what I said -- [Interruption] -- I would not withdraw it, I would revise it.
Mr Speaker 1:37 p.m.
Hon Member, you are addressing the Chair and I did state that if you had evidence, you could bring it up but if you have no evidence, you should withdraw the statement.
Mr Adam 1:37 p.m.
Mr Speaker, with your guidance, I withdraw the statement but I would want to indicate that there is the perception that it is influenced by partisan, so we should erase that perception.
Mr Speaker 1:37 p.m.
Hon Member, your earlier statement indicated that, that perception could be a reality because you said that your boys also applied and you know their qualification but they were not considered. You talked about your boys whereas some other people's boys were considered. So,
there is a perception of partisanship because you are partisan and the other person too is likely to be partisan. So, you have objected against something that you indulge in.
Let us not inject partisanship into this matter. I have also heard such statements made from outside but once we have the opportunity as leaders of our constituents, we should try as much as possible to support the Census Office to do what is right. So, yes, you could refer to that perception but once you do not have the evidence, you could call on those doing the recruitment to recruit quality enumerators to do the job. I have worked with the Census Office before so at least, I have an idea about these matters.
Hon Member, you may continue.
Mr Adam 1:37 p.m.
Mr Speaker, thank you very much for your guidance. I also mentioned that we need to pay attention to monitoring because it is important. I had an experience with the agriculture census and I noticed that some of the enumerators sat in their convenient corners and quote some figures for some households. So, if we do not take monitoring seriously, we are likely to receive cooked data -- data that would not help us to achieve the objective of
which we undertook such an important national exercise.
Mr Speaker, we also have to continue the education and sensitisation as mentioned by my Hon Colleague. If we do not do a lot of sensitisation, a lot of the enumerators would get to certain households and they would not be successful to administer the data. This I know because in the Upper West Region I met with some of the enumerators who shared their experience with me. One of them told me that the previous night, he was chased out by a land lord with a cutlass because he insisted that he would not provide the data and the gentleman went and returned several times so he got angry and chased him with a cutlass. We need to do a lot of sensitisation for people to know why we undertake such an exercise so that everybody would cooperate in the process.
Mr Speaker, I also want to urge the front-liners to take into consideration timely delivery of logistics and the funds that are due the enumerators because there are times people relax on their jobs because they are not given what is due them.
Mr Speaker, with these few words, I thank you for the opportunity.
Mr Amidu Issahaku Chinnia (NPP -- Sissala East) 1:47 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I want to take this opportunity to thank the Hon Member who made the Statement.
Population and Housing Census, certainly would give the country the opportunity to count and know the population of the country and houses across the country, which would help in national planning and project execution. The slogan for this particular census which is “You count, get counted'', is very appropriate.

Every Ghanaian counts and so they must be counted and they cannot get counted without the cooperation of stakeholders. So, I would want to appeal to all stakeholders across the country, particularly our traditional leaders, Assembly Members and Unit Committee members and all leaders in their various areas, to take interest in this Population and Housing Census in making sure that they support the personnel who would be deployed to carry out their duties so that at the end of the day, the data that would be generated would be up to date, appropriate and when used in national planning, would serve its purpose.
Mr Speaker 1:47 p.m.
Hon Dr Zanetor, yes?
Dr Zanetor Agyeman-Rawlings (NDC-Korley Klottey) 1:47 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I thank you very much for the opportunity and I would like to commend the maker of the Statement and other contributors.
Mr Speaker, as Members of Parliament, part of our role is to ensure that we get value for money. In the process of the conduct of the census and its aftermath, it would be very important that we account to the
people of Ghana with regard to the levels of transparency and accountability involved in the data collection and money spent in doing so.
Mr Speaker, it is laudable that this particular exercise would be undertaken digitally using tablets to collect the data and subsequently stored. As Ghana seems to be racing almost ahead of itself in digitizing all its data and sensitive information from all our Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs), and other bodies, not enough is being heard with regard to the drive towards cybersecurity.
Mr Speaker, with regard to the deficit in a number of experts in the country capable of ensuring that our data is protected in the digital space, we are not seeing enough being done within the recruitment aspect of things where at the level of the institutions, there is a drive towards encouraging students to go into cybersecurity for the tertiary level training. There is a huge deficit globally of about three million people required in the cybersecurity sector and I am sure Ghana is no less part of this when it comes to the deficit with regards to cybersecurity.
Mr Speaker, if people are expected to divulge the details that are required for data census of this
magnitude, there must be that guarantee that our data would be protected with the up-to-date form of security that is required for the level of digitization that we are looking at.
Mr Speaker, so, my comment would be to urge the Government to ensure that as we are expected to give full details for the census, the level of security in the cyberspace required to protect our data from any kind of attack from within or outside the country is actually beefed up on a regular basis and we have enough trained personnel with capacity to ensure that our data that is now being kept in cyberspace will be protected and that will also encourage and protect whatever it is that is given to Government in terms of data.
Mr Speaker, I thank you very much for the opportunity.
Mr Speaker 1:47 p.m.
Hon Members, before we go on, let me invoke Order 40, Rule 3 and direct that Sittings be held outside the prescribed period. I so direct.
Yes, Hon Member for Bole Bamboi?
Mr Sulemana Yusif (NDC -- Bole Bamboi) 1:47 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I thank you and let me sincerely thank the
maker of the Statement, Hon Donkoh. His Statement is very appropriate and very timely.
Mr Speaker, census would give us a snapshot of our nation; where we are, who we are, types that we are made up and all others. It would tell us the numbers we have in terms of female and male, children and all the demographics so that we are able to plan and plan very well. So, the importance of census cannot be over- emphasised.
Mr Speaker, it is important to put it out there that census is not for taxation or any punitive purposes and that it is for planning purposes. It is only when we know our numbers that we are able to plan as to how many schools we would need to put up and at where. It is only when we know that this is the population of this area that we are able to tell whether or not that community would deserve a clinic, a polyclinic, a hospital, a CHPS compound et cetera. It is when we know the data that we are able to decide as to what to do even when it comes to support in terms of logistics to farmers and so the importance of census cannot be over-emphasised.
Mr Speaker, let us call a spade a spade and not a long spoon. The truth of the matter is that when it comes to recruitment of personnel to undertake
Mr Speaker 1:47 p.m.
Hon Member, now, I have listened to your evidence and I would want to listen to the Leader.
Mr Habib Iddrisu 1:47 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I think you have actually made a ruling on this issue when the Member of Parliament for Kumbungu made the same statement to suggest that there
is politicization in the recruitment exercise. So, if he has evidence on his phone, he should tender it in and we would be able to look at it to know whether whatever he is saying is true. But if he cannot actually tender it in as evidence for us to see then he should withdraw what he has said because I actually know that this recruitment exercise was online and people applied for it online and nobody was asked to bring party membership card before he applied for the job.
So, if he is making this statement and he has evidence, he should tender it in for all of us to see, or else, he should withdraw that statement.
I thank you, Mr Speaker.
Mr Sulemana Yusif 1:47 p.m.
Mr Speaker, my Hon Colleague on the other Side is not getting things right. When the MP for Kumbungu was talking, he was asked to adduce evidence and he could not get it so he accepted to withdraw. I am giving you evidence.
Mr Speaker 1:57 p.m.
Hon Members, the Hon Second Deputy Speaker to take the Chair but before I leave the Chair, I received information also from the Nadowli Kaleo Constituency of
people who applied online and the list that was initially prepared got changed along the line and some names were deleted. As a result of that that list could even not be submitted the day they were expecting it so they did not get the list to know those who were recruited to even start the exercise. So, there are those allegations that we need to draw the attention of the government's statistician and the Ghana Statistical Service for them to take action. So, if you have evidence on it then please produce it because it is not meant to malign any person but to try as much as possible to make what we would do a national exercise which is very credible and a result of high integrity for us to use. So, please if you have the evidence then produce it.
Hon Members, the Second Deputy Speaker would take the Chair.
Mr Sulemana 1:57 p.m.
Mr Speaker, what evidence is more visible than a situation where a whole training exercise was stopped. Again, if I am pushed, I would mention names from the Hon Leader's Side to buttress my point that there is some politicisation of this exercise.
Mr Speaker, again, the exercise could not take place in Salaga North because of two reasons; firstly,
instead of training the people within that district, they were asked to travel to Tamale for the training exercise. They could not travel so the exercise could not take place. Secondly, there was the issue of politicisation. This morning I called the officer responsible for the census office in Damango Municipality, and he told me that he had a challenge which was that the numbers they were expecting from the headquarters was more than what was expected so the responsibility was on him to delete some names and this brought about a problem. Mr Speaker, these are the evidences on the ground. What is important is for us to assess these technicalities and see how to iron out the differences to ensure that we have a credible data.
Mr Speaker, it is also important to take into consideration the people who are recruited and to also ensure that they are indigenes. Mr Speaker, not everyone is educated or can speak Twi so if we recruit someone who speaks Twi and send the person to a Gonja speaking area, how can the person administer this exercise?
Again, there are other technical issues that have to be brought on board when taking such decisions. Mr Speaker, I was a census officer some years back and I was recruited to carry out the exercise in my locality. I went to a particular household and I
Mr Sulemana 1:57 p.m.


realised that the man had two wives; the second wife had been married to the man for more than 15 years and had no child. Anytime the man goes back to --
MR SECOND DEPUTY SPEAKER
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 2:01 p.m.
Hon Member, hold on.
Abdallah A. Iddi: Mr Speaker, I want to make a clarification. The Hon Member has mentioned Salaga North and that is my constituency. Mr Speaker, Salaga North Constituency is about seven years old and the district is one and half years old. According to the organisers, the reason they sent the organisation to Tamale was because they did not have a facility, but we said no because it was created for a purpose and so they should not hold the conference in Tamale but Salaga North. This was the reason why it delayed and it does not have anything to do with discrimination. Mr Speaker, I think that the information by the Hon Member is misleading and it must be corrected.
Mr Speaker, thank you.
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 2:01 p.m.
Hon Member, please take note of this.
Mr Sulemana 2:01 p.m.
Mr Speaker, this just corroborates what I said. It is admitting what I said because I said there were two reasons. If the Hon Member has found it convenient to leave one reason and hang on the other reason, then that is his reason. I have two reasons and one is that they wanted to undertake the training exercise outside the district but the people were not happy with that. The other reason is that some perceived names of NDC members were deleted and this was also an issue.
Mr Speaker, the most important thing is that as stakeholders, we should accept the faults and challenges and work together to have a credible data. This is my point. If we pretend that these things are not happening - we recruit someone who cannot even write his name very well to do this exercise then the result would be that there would not be a credible data and this would mean that we have to wait for another 10 years. This is a very important national exercise that we are joking with.
Mr Speaker, let me continue with my points. On the issue of recruitment, we have to recruit people who are indigenes. I was giving a practical experience where I went to a
household and the man was married to two wives and for more than 15 years, the second wife never had a child and anytime she recalls that she weeps. So, when I got there, I realised her situation and instead of interviewing her, I had to rather take the information from her husband. When it got to the point that I was to ask about number of children, I did not ask her because if I had asked her, she would weep after I left the place. Mr Speaker, if not that I was an indigene and someone who understands the environment very well, I would have gone ahead to ask her the number of children she has and this would have led to a different issue altogether.
So, when we say that we must recruit people from these communities, it is for the interest of this exercise so our Hon Colleagues on the other Side should not be very defensive. Let us bring out these issues and let us see how to hold the path that would give us a credible data.
Mr Speaker, I would end by calling on all Ghanaians to take this exercise very seriously. After this exercise, we would have to wait for another 10 years. I call on the people of the Savannah Region to take the exercise seriously; all should come out and provide the appropriate information
so that at the end of the day, we would know the actual numbers in the region. Mr Speaker, thank you for the opportunity and I thank Hon Donkorh for the Statement.
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 2:01 p.m.
Hon Member for Walewale?
Ms Lariba Z. Abudu (NPP -- Walewale) 2:01 p.m.
Mr Speaker, thank you.
I am happy that my Hon Colleague has brought this issue to the Floor. The Population and Housing Census is a very important tool in this country because as the population keeps growing, we need to know the national census periodically so that we would know our numbers in the country.
Mr Speaker, however, my Hon Colleague alluded to some statement as though some people are being left out. I have also received a lot of complaints from people who perceive that their names have been left out. My Hon Colleagues from the other Side are complaining and this Side too is complaining that some people have not been captured. Mr Speaker, it is as if the problem is all over so we should not say that some people have been left out. Maybe some people applied online and the criteria from the statistical service was used to pick them and that is why we are all involved in this exercise.
Ms Lariba Z. Abudu (NPP -- Walewale) 2:07 p.m.


With regard to recruiting people to do this work, it is true that we would need the indigenes who understand the language. However, we also need national cohesion so if we recruit someone from Damango to Walewale to do the work, there are people from Walewale who are also involved in that exercise. If someone is a leader from Damongo who does not understand the Mampruli language, but there are Mamprusi people working with that leader, he or she should contact them to do the work. We are all Ghanaians, so I do not want to say it is selective.

Mr Speaker, thank you.
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 2:07 p.m.
Yes, Hon Member for Buem.
Mr Kofi Iddie Adams (NDC -- Buem) 2:07 p.m.
Mr Speaker, thank you very much for the opportunity to contribute to this very important Statement. Census night is just about 24 days away from today. As I listened to Hon Colleagues make their contributions, we are very much concerned about publicity, because for many, they did not know that census night would be 27th of June, 2021 until we heard our Hon Colleague make this Statement on the Floor of the House. It is, therefore, very important that we take publicity very serious. More should
be done in that direction in the various languages.
Mr Speaker, census is a very important national exercise. It is not even a Government project, but a national project. Our Constitution which recognises the importance of census, has made it possible for some actions or steps to be taken after the census exercise. For example, even review of constituency boundaries is to be done after census or after seven years; whichever comes in first. It therefore means that census is an important exercise.
Mr Speaker, indeed, census is not just for counting Ghanaians as the Hon Colleague submitted earlier. It is counting everybody who would be found within the catchment area on that night. It is assumed that picture is taken of the country at 12 midnight. So, wherever a person spends that night, that is where that person must be countered. Whether the person is an Ivorian or a Burkinabe, whether the person is a “Donkor” or “Donkoh”, whoever you are, where you are found, that is where you would be countered because we are counting everybody. So, it is important we get that understanding.
Mr Speaker, indeed, concerns of Hon Members, especially from the Minority Side about the perceived
politicisation is not something that should be thrown off, because truly it is happening, and in some ways, it can affect the outcome of the data that would be collected. I think my Hon Colleagues on the other Side must pick it, and let us together, get this national projects to go on. Mr Speaker, for example, a young man who was recruited as District Census Officer (DCO), who was in Cape Coast for the training, finished the training process, he was to sign the agreement, but they received a call and asked that young man should no longer be the DCO. He was moved from Nkwanta North to become a Field Operations Officer in Nkwanta South, just on the consideration that he had acted as the director of IT for the National Democratic Congress (NDC) in Nkwanta North. This is a fact; if the House wants the name of the person, I would submit. So, he had to move from the training in Cape Coast to join that in Oyibi for Field Operation Officers. How can we run census this way? A national project? If Hon Colleagues are talking and they have not given examples, I have given example. I think it will not help the exercise.
rose
Mr Habib Iddrisu 2:07 p.m.
Mr Speaker, this issue has been dealt with by the Rt Hon Speaker. Under Order 94, if the Rt Hon Speaker has made a ruling to such effect -- [Interruption] -- You do not have evidence; an example is not an evidence. So for that matter, if the Hon Member does not have evidence, he should not politicise the whole census process. It was an online process, and nobody was asked to bring political party card. Probably, the Hon Member's alleged IT director was not qualified to be the DCO, and that was why he was sent to the field. So, the Hon Member should not make statement when he does not have the evidence. If he has the evidence, he should tender it for us to see that reason why he was not picked. The telephone call he talked about - who made the call and who received it? If he does not have any evidence, he should just withdraw that and then we can all do justice to the exercise.
rose
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 2:07 p.m.
Yes, Hon Member?
Dr Ayine 2:07 p.m.
Mr Speaker, there is an issue that keeps cropping up in the course of this debate, and it is about evidence. The impression is that evidence must necessarily be documentary. By law under the
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 2:07 p.m.
Hon Member, well noted. We should give the opportunity for Hon Adams to continue.
Mr Adams 2:17 p.m.
Mr Speaker, another issue of concern that this House must seriously raise is that of engaging persons with local knowledge as enumerators. I have been an
enumeration officer before in 2000 when we did the first one. Sometimes, when a person gets to a particular household, the reference information that the person being enumerated will give is related to an incident that happened in that locality. So, if somebody is brought outside of that locality, who does not know or who has not got much information on that occurrence, it becomes very difficult for the person to predict the date of birth, and by doing so, the age of the person being enumerated.
So, it is very important that in considering enumeration officers, especially, we must have officers who are within the catchment area who would understand some major occurrences that people- who do not know their dates of birth or age, would be using as reference point to aid in calculating their ages when enumerating, especially when tablets would be used.

Mr Speaker, when we were doing it manually, even mistakes were made and sometimes we had chance to correct it. When the Electoral Commission even does its registration, we first fill a manual form and take it to the officer to enter into the system. Even with that, upon the exhibition, you find mistakes.

For this one, the data would be captured directly into the tablets, and so, when some mistakes are made, the person being enumerated may not even be IT compliant or cannot even read and write so they have no chance of confirming and correcting, and that mistake can be carried along. That is why in recruiting enumerators, we must consider competence and not the person's political persuasion or where he or she comes from. Partisanship has allowed some qualified persons to be thrown out. That must not be a key consideration in recruiting persons for this exercise.

Mr Speaker, with these few words, I thank you for the opportunity.
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 2:17 p.m.
Leadership.
Mr Habib Iddrisu 2:17 p.m.
Mr Speaker, we can take one more contribution from each Side and Leadership would conclude.
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 2:17 p.m.
Are you yielding your position to an Hon Member?
Mr Woyome 2:17 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I thought you suggested that you would allow one each from each Side before you come to sum up.
Mr Wisdom Gidisu (NDC -- Krachi East) 2:17 p.m.
Mr Speaker, a lot has been said about the recruitment process and the importance of the census exercise. It is gratifying that we are doing it this year because of COVID-19. In 2010, we spent GH¢74 million in undertaking the census exercise. There is an alternative foregone for every resource spent. This year, we will spend GH¢521 million to undertake the census exercise. What data would we collect by the end of the exercise? It is very important as other Hon Members have stated that we get to collect the best of data so that the alternative foregone may not be wasted.
For instance, if we would spend GH¢521 million and the quality of enumerators, and more especially supervisors are not up to the task, then the nation better spend the resource in other areas. Last week, the President issued the launch of the 30 day to the census night. The Hon Minister for Finance stated that out of the GH¢521 million, GH¢467.2 million has already been disbursed to the national secretariat of GSS.
We are also aware that publicity has not been the best, but this amount of money has been disbursed. So, I appeal to the Government Statistician and GSS to increase their publicity,
Mr Kobena Mensah Woyome (NDC -- South Tongu) 2:27 a.m.
Mr Speaker, I rise to add my voice to the Statement that was ably delivered by one of our Hon Colleagues, Hon Donkoh.
Mr Speaker, it is so important and it has been buttressed by many that the exercise is such an important one that all out there must understand and know details about it and also support the process, but it looks like the publicity, as has been well articulated has not been well grounded. This whole exercise is about how Government allocates resources because in any particular area, there may be the need for some projects to be undertaken. The magnitude of it and the impact must be assessed and analysed would depend on the
numbers and the characteristics of the particular persons that are targets.
All these are vital information for planning purposes and definitely, if all in this country are not grounded on the exercise, we might end up not collecting all data we are all yearning for or we might end up collecting data that might not even support the process of planning. And so, there is the need -- and the process is so vital.
Mr Speaker, the issue of publicity that has been well articulated is lacking and I do not know what Government is doing to involve the National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE) that is located in all constituencies and districts. Currently as I speak to you, the NCCE is not so involved on the ground to go to the people and tell them about this all- important exercise that it is coming to even inform them on the various dates and their availability to be counted. All these are not there.
Mr Speaker, there is one thing that I must commend the Government Statistician. It is the issue that came out strongly that sort of indicated the desocialisation of Ewes -- we all spoke about it. To some extent, we said some disaggregation in that regard with Tongu, Anlo et cetera also included, but they must do a thorough work with that.
Mr Speaker, going forward, with the recruitment exercise, I also have an evidence in my constituency that it was not so transparent. Many who applied with the requisite qualification and have undertaken this same exercise before and with that experience, I am sure they would be able to discharge the responsibility properly have been dropped for reasons best known to whoever took the decision.
These are all the reasons many have spoken so eloquently on the matter and there is the need for the Government Statistician and all who are involved in this whole exercise of recruiting enumerators do so in a more transparent way. More in particular, why send somebody to area where he cannot communicate properly? What data would they collect?
I heard people say it is in English. It is in English all right, but an enumerator may go to some places and the people do not speak English. How would the data be collected? There is the need to always give particular interest to indigenes, those who live in the geographical area. We should involve them more to get accurate data for planning purposes. That is very key.

Mr Speaker, the last thing that I would like to touch on is the caterers. Those who are supposed to cook for the enumerators are being recruited from Accra whereas we have caterers in all districts. There are those who have applied from our various districts to be caterers but they ended up being thrown out and then we see caterers coming from Accra. These, definitely, do not engender the sort of cohesion and all that-.

Many Hon Members who have spoken have articulated very eloquently and I do not think there is the need for me to repeat some of the good submissions that have been made which have been supported by evidence.

Mr Speaker, I believe that the Government Statistician should listen and make sure that between now and when we have the census night, the right things are done. Involve the institutions that matter so that we can end up getting the right thing done for our own betterment.

Mr Speaker, I thank you.
Mr Habib Iddrisu (NPP -- Tolon) 2:27 a.m.
Mr Speaker, I thank you and the Hon Member who made the Statement, Hon Donkoh.
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 2:27 a.m.
Thank you Hon Member.
Hon Members, there is another Statement on Human Capital Destruction in Ghana through Unending Road Accidents on the Tamale-Buipe-Kintampo-Techiman Highway. This Statement was put up
by Hon Member for Kintampo North, Hon Joseph Kwame Kumah.
Hon Member, if you are here, you may take the Floor.
Human Capital Destruction in Ghana through Unending Road Accidents on the Tamale-Buipe- Kintampo-Techiman Highway
Mr Joseph Kwame Kumah (NDC -- Kintampo North) 2:27 a.m.
Thank you, Mr Speaker, for the opportunity to make this Statement.
Mr Speaker, it is with great sadness that I beg to make this Statement to bring to the fore, once again, the issue of road accidents. This issue has become a canker that would not just go away unless we take concrete steps to address it.
Mr Speaker, before I proceed let me extend my sympathies and condolences to persons who have lost relatives and loved ones to road accidents especially, within and from the Kintampo Municipality in recent times.
Mr Speaker, just this past Sunday, 31st May, 2021, a Burkinabe registered trailer carrying onions veered into the Kintampo township
and three Sunyong Buses were crashed. As if that was not enough, just at the gateway to Kintampo from the Tamale end to the Toll Booth, a truck loaded with tomatoes, just because of potholes, landed at the same point. Another vehicle carrying plywood, also veered off the road and landed at the same point.
Mr Speaker, according to the World Health Organisation (WHO), globally, more than 1.2 million people lose their lives yearly through road crashes. Of these fatalities, 70 per cent occur in developing countries. Statistics from our National Road Safety Commission shows that since 2004, road crashes on average, have claimed more than five lives every day. Cumulatively, over 46,000 Ghanaians have been killed in road accidents nationwide within the last 28 years.
Mr Speaker, there are disaggregated figures from the Motor Traffic and Transport Department (MTTD) of Ghana Police Service which reveals that two thousand and seventy-six deaths (2076) were recorded in 2017; two thousand and twenty (2020) in 2018; two thousand two hundred and eighty-four in 2019 and two thousand, three hundred and ten by November, 2020. This represents a 3 per cent annual growth in road crash fatalities since 2017. Mr Speaker, while this is bad enough, it
Mr Joseph Kwame Kumah (NDC -- Kintampo North) 2:37 p.m.
is more alarming when these numbers are broken down into demographic lines. Blankson and Lartey (2020) report that 60 per cent of Ghanaian traffic fatalities involve children and young persons below 35 years.
Mr Speaker, Kintampo Municipality is located at the centre of our country, and it is a very popular town because of the famous Kintampo-Fula Waterfalls, Kumson's Slave Cave and others. The Municipality also serves as the major transit point between the North and South of our country with haulage trucks and passenger busses plying this highway daily. As a result, road traffic along this stretch of the road is a critical and unavoidable route as it is known.
Mr Speaker, in view of the busy nature of this stretch of road, road traffic accidents have become a perennial occurrence in Kintampo North Constituency. The Constituency has often been in the news and fast becoming known for road accidents, probably, more than its tourism and other potentials. A situation that is very unfortunate in the Municipality.
According to the MTTD data, 79 crashes, 30 deaths and 255 injured persons in 2017.

Mr Speaker, the available statistics of crashes within the Kintampo municipality from the MTTD commander of Kintampo are as follows:

the Fuller waterfalls. Kintampo municipality also serves as the major transit point between the north and south of our country, therefore haulage trucks and passenger buses ply its highway daily. As a result, road traffic along this stretch of the road, a “critical” and unavoidable route, is exceedingly high.

Mr Speaker, in view of the busy nature of this stretch of road, road traffic accidents (RTA) have become a perennial occurrence in the Kintampo North constituency. Kintampo North, my constituency has often been in the news and far becoming known for road accidents probably than its tourism and other potentials, a situation that is very worrying and unfortunate. In recent times, the mention of Kintampo only brings memories of road accidents.

Mr Speaker just to remind you of a few of these unforgettable accidents in and around the Kintampo municipality. In the early hours of Friday 22nd March, 2019 at Amoma Nkwanta on the Tamale-Kintampo highway, a gruesome road crash claimed the lives of over 70 passengers. Almost a year later, a Yutong bus and a mini sprinter collided between Dawadawa number 2 and Kawampe in the same Kintampo
YEAR NUMBER OF CRASHES 2:37 p.m.
Ms Lydia Lamisi Akanvariba (NDC -- Tempane) 2:37 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I thank you for the opportunity to contribute to this all important Statement.
Mr Speaker, poses of accidents on the Kintampo-Tamale-Bolgatanga road, has already been mentioned and so I do not want to spend time on what has already been said. The issue of accidents on that road has a cause to complain. From January to February, 2021, online news portal reported that there were about 46 road accidents on that road and 517 fatalities. This means that we have to consider that road seriously.
Mr Speaker, that road links the main Accra-Kumasi road to the northern part of the country. It serves Tamale, Bolgatanga, Bawku, Zebilla, Tempane, Sandema, Garugu and most of the people who ply that road are people from these constituencies. As an Hon Member of Parliament from that constituency, I think it is time for us to all put our hands together and see what the Government could do for us to reduce if not prevent it completely.
Mr Speaker, road transport injury causes considerable economic losses to individuals, families and the nation as a whole. These losses arise from the cost of treatment as well a loss of productivity for those killed or disabled by their injuries and for family members who need to take time off work or school to care for their injured relatives. The World Health Organisation project on road traffic
Ms Lydia Lamisi Akanvariba (NDC -- Tempane) 2:47 p.m.
accident crashes estimated that it costs the whole world three per cent of our gross domestic product.
Mr Speaker, the National Road Authority in 2017, indicated that Ghana spent more than GH¢1.2 trillion annually on road traffic accidents. The cost involved in road traffic accidents means that 1.6 per cent of the country's gross domestic product per annum is channelled to deal with the road traffic accident increase.
Mr Speaker, the road accident fatalities and injuries are high among the youth who are the country's working force. This means that the human resource of the country suffers a great deal. Most people who perish in road traffic accidents are in the working class. The WHO, projected that road traffic accidents are a leading cause of death for children and young adults aged between five and 45 years.
Mr Speaker, not to belabour all the points that have been mentioned, giving the causes of road traffic accidents, the burden on road traffic crashes in Ghana, require a contentious and multi-sectorial approach to reduce its occurrence and impact, whiles policies need
strengthening and enforcing at all levels.
The impact of road traffic accidents need to be mitigated by efficient emergency systems as well as policies which support care of victims. However, at the primary health level, implementation of road traffic rules and regulations are key discussions on which road traffic accidents and vehicle safety, are broadened. Road traffic safety, should be concerned to all stakeholders. Both motorists and pedestrians are at risk of hazard road traffic accidents.

Mr Speaker, following the morbidity and mortality associated with road traffic accidents in Ghana, there is the need to look at the road traffic accidents as a more public health problem and priority that requires prompt tackling using a public health approach and measures than just a safety problem as is currently being done.

Mr Speaker, not to talk about most of the issues that he has raised, as a matter of urgency we need to note that the major roads notably, the inter-city and inter-regional roads are not dual carriage ways. The carnage on the Kintampo-Tamale-Bolgatanga Highway is partly due to the narrow nature of the road. While I agree that

the dualisation of the roads are expensive, if Government continues with the road projects, such as those began by His Excellency John D. Mahama, we would have made significant strides in this area. Mr Speaker, in the interim, institutions involved in ensuring safety on our roads must be up and doing. Firstly, the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority must ensure that people who have acquired the appropriate training in driving are given the license. In addition, vehicles should be properly examined to ensure they are in good shape before road worthiness certificates are Issued on them. The Ghana Police Service and the MTTD should do their work diligently especially in the area of drunk-driving.

Mr Speaker, I hope that with these few words, the Government would be up and doing to make sure that the road from Kintampo to Bolgatanga and other parts of Upper East and Upper West Regions is safe for travels.

Mr Speaker, thank you for the opportunity.
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 2:47 p.m.
Hon Member for Abuakwa South?
Mr Samuel Atta Akyea (NPP -- Abuakwa South) 2:47 p.m.
Mr Speaker, thank you for the opportunity to
contribute to this very important Statement which transcends the geography of reference. It is not only the North that is experiencing what I call a strong threat to our safety and livelihood, but in the entire country. The history of road accidents should engage us and we should take quality steps to prevent road accidents. There is a comparison I have heard, which is most embarrassing and I do not know if there is a scientific basis for it or not, and it is that COVID-19 is not as death-threatening as road accidents. This is to say that people die on the roads more than COVID- 19 and this is an awful shame for a country that has limited resources.
Mr Speaker, what I have to say is in a human dimension. I do not know why anybody in his right mind can believe that he will drive from Accra to the North without taking a rest. It is a feat that I believe is more of an appetite for profit rather than due regard for human life. One would be physically tired, doze off and endanger everybody. Mr Speaker, it is as simple as that. So, it is imperative that we enact laws that there can never be any long distance driving when human beings are involved and drivers are not bound by law to take a rest. This is very important. I have even heard that where it is said that there is no need for a rest there should be two drivers. One who would sleep and the
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 2:47 p.m.
Hon Member, thank you.
Mr Issifu Seidu (NDC -- Nalerigu/Gambaga) 2:57 p.m.
Mr Speaker, thank you very much and I will use this opportunity to associate myself with this Statement. It could not have come anytime other than this particular moment. Mr Speaker, I say so because you will get to understand what I mean by this.
Mr Speaker, road carnage is a serious matter in Ghana. The physical, psychological and emotional trauma, especially when one is directly involved, cannot be imagined. We agree that the causes of road accidents, to a large extent, is said to be indiscipline on our roads. We agree to this because people drink and drive, tired and drive and also overspeed. These are some of the causes of road accidents.
Mr Speaker, but I think that the most important one is the regulations and people who are in authority and are supposed to ensure that we are safe on the roads. When one drives on our roads, especially the Kintampo
road to the north and roads in other parts of Accra, one would get to a curve and there would not be any signage that there is a curve on the road.

The regulatory, warning and informative signs are not put on our roads and the culture of maintenance is not there. These are so pervasive on our roads. There are potholes and maintenance culture is our issue.

Mr Speaker, I think that apart from the discipline that we are talking about, it is important that we hold people responsible for some of these things.

Mr Speaker, recently, some medical students were involved in an accident at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, and that was not the first time we recorded an accident on that particular road. Four years ago, four foreign students were involved in an accident there and they all died. But this did not wake up the authority of the university. On that stretch of the road, there is a sharp curve. There is no speed ramp, and there is no sign that shows that one is approaching a curve. The indiscipline is not only on the path of the road users, but people

who have the authority to ensure that we are safe on the road. We have to take this seriously as Parliament. We have to ensure that people who are given the responsibility to ensure that we are safe on our roads, should be sanctioned when they flout the rules. I agree with the Hon Member for Abuakwa who said the punishment regime must be overhauled, and ensure that people are serious with jobs assigned them.

Mr Speaker, I think that as a body, we have to agree to ensure that regulatory bodies who are to ensure that we are safe on our roads are brought to Parliament and certain clear-cut actions are in agreement with them, so that we would ensure that when people are involved in accidents, we do not say that there were over speeding. If a person knows that the road is smooth and there is a curve, there should be a speed ramp and a road sign for people to know that they are approaching a curve.

Mr Speaker, when the accident occurred, I had the opportunity to meet the authority of the university, and I told them that within a matter of one week, I would want to see people working on that road by putting the signage there and ensure that there would be speed ramps. So, that that would be the last accident ever recorded on that stretch.
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 2:57 p.m.
Hon Members, it is the turn of Leadership. You can yield it to somebody from your Side. So, I would invite the Hon Member for Manso Nkwanta.
Mr George Kwabena Obeng Takyi (NPP -- Manso-Nkwanta) 2:57 p.m.
Mr Speaker, thank you for giving me this opportunity to make few comments in addition to what my Hon Colleagues have said already.
Mr Speaker, we talk of accident as events which are unforeseen, uncertain or in some cases, uncontrollable. But in our case, most accidents can be foreseen, certain and can be controlled. In few instance, we can see some road ramps which have been built to control speed, but we may see that they do not have any signage or reflector. So, if a person is a new user of that road, then he or she is in trouble. So on that basis, the road ramps are good for those who are regular users, but not first time users.
Mr Speaker, secondly, there are some instance where there is darkness and there are no traffic lights in some places. Even if there are traffic lights in our towns and cities, in places where there is darkness, where there are forests and there are no streets lights and traffic lights, it becomes
difficult. In such places, accidents are bound to occur. These issues should be looked at.
Mr Speaker, when we look at the shoulders of our roads, there are some places where the pedestrians pack things on the shoulders of the road. So, in case of any emergency and the person is not the regular user of that road, the person may run into trouble, particularly, where we have vehicles that have broken down without reflectors or any warning signs. It tells us that we cause some of these accidents.
Mr Speaker, with our drivers, a driver may be driving a long distance without taking rest, he or she becomes tired and has to rest, but the driver may want to continue the journey. For instance, because the public transport drivers want to make money, they speed without taking rest. So, if we could establish rest stops where the MTTU unit of the Ghana Police Service conduct regular checks to ensure that those who are travelling at a distance would be forced to rest for some few minutes, in that case the likelihood of an accident is reduced.
Mr Speaker, lastly, on the MTTU, regular monitoring and assessment of vehicles et cetera, has become a common practice where instead of
checking for faults on vehicles and their road worthiness, it turns out to be like a bargain where exchanges are made. With this, it is certain that we are not serious about limiting the occurrence of accidents on our roads. If the Ghana Highways Authority, the MTTU and road users take steps to be efficient road users, I believe we can reduce the rate of road accidents in this country.
Mr Speaker, to conclude, I would want the House to invite the Ghana Highways Authority to see how regular they put forward certain rules and mechanisms to ensure that our roads are safe, especially for first time users to reduce the occurrence of accidents.
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 2:57 p.m.
Yes, Hon Member for Adaklu who is the Ranking Member for the Roads and Transport Committee. He is representing the Minority Leadership.
Mr Kwame Governs Agbodza (NDC -- Adaklu) 2:57 p.m.
Mr Speaker, thank you for the opportunity to contribute to this Statement. I commend my Hon Colleague who made the Statement and my other Hon Colleagues who contributed.
Mr Speaker, this is not the first time a Statement has been made regarding carnage on our roads in this House. I
Mr Kwame Governs Agbodza (NDC -- Adaklu) 3:07 p.m.
am sure it will not be the last. Road accidents occur even in advanced countries. However, if we were all to drive within the allowable speed limit on a particular stretch of road, chances are that even if we have road crashes, the impact will be less than what we see currently.

Mr Speaker, it would interest you to know that between January and March, 2021, more people died on our roads more than all the people who died from COVID-19 since 2020. Look at the way the whole world was agitated and concerned about the number of people that died out of COVID-19. The truth is that, in our country, more people died in three months than COVID-19. How come this is not an issue as important as COVID-19.

Mr Speaker, secondly, particularly three months into this year, we are told that over 2,400 commercial vehicles were involved in accidents, another 2,700 private vehicles and 1,500 motorcycles. Mr Speaker, these numbers all reflect human beings some of whom are not here, some of whom are maimed and can never work. The staggering number though is that in 2020, over 20,000 vehicles

were involved in road crashes and 12,400 were injured.

Mr Speaker, let us look at the reason. The MTTD tells us quite clearly the reason for the carnage on our roads is indiscipline - human error. Mr Speaker, it is not difficult. If you were to drive on any highway on Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday, you would see a hyper driver who is either on a substance or drunk or thinks that anybody in the queue ahead of him has got nothing to do and so, it is his right to get home earlier than anybody else. So, they take the wrong route, speed, and if anybody brings out his head, there would be a road crash.

Mr Speaker, it is about indiscipline. We can build all the roads in this country into dual carriage, but if indiscipline drivers are on the road - that is because this area has a school so drive at 30 kilometres per hour but if the driver drives at 60 kilometres, would the road conditions stop him from having a road crash there? No, it would not because he was supposed to drive 30 or 50 kilometres per hour on a particular road.

People have even forgotten that the motorway even has a speed limit. By the way, that is 100 kilometres per hour. Let us go and put somebody on the motorway and see. Some drive

about 120 or 160 kilometres per hour because everybody looks at his speedometer and says his can do 200 kilometres per hour so they want to test it. The truth is that, it is illegal.

Mr Speaker, I am sure that on Monday morning, if you were to stand at the beginning and end of the motorway, you would see a policeman, an Hon Colleague from this House or an Hon Minister of State driving himself and on the mobile phone. The indiscipline has become widespread. In other countries, when you are caught driving with your phone near your ear, that is either six points off your licence or you pay on the spot fine, but this place, it becomes a bargain between him and the policeman.

Interestingly, Mr Speaker, the Ghanaian is very law abiding when they are outside this country, but once we are in our own country, we fail to abide by the rules. Mr Speaker, if we can work on the indiscipline, drivers on substance and alcohol, over speeding --

Secondly, the road condition is also bad. Sometimes, drivers want to manoeuvre a pothole, and unfortunately, they get themselves into trouble. Indeed, if you ply a particular road, you would have noticed that

there is a particular area that is not good enough so, if you would drive within a certain limit, you would be able to manoeuvre that better.

Mr Speaker, the road condition situation changes even if it rains. It could be a road that is good, but if it is raining, we are told that if you are supposed to drive at 50 kilometres per hour and it is raining, you need to reduce that speed because the time it would you to stop if you meet an obstacle - all these are things that we learn when we are doing the theory part of driving lessons but the day we get the licence, we think that it is to commit all the things that we think are our right.

This House took a decision. Indeed, series of Statements were read in this House. That is why we brought the National Road Safety Commission Act back to this House and changed it to National Road Safety Authority to give them more powers to manage the situation in collaboration with MTTD better. As we speak, since 2019, the Ministry has not been able to bring the regulations to activate the various part of the Act that would make the MTTD and the National Road Safety Authority (NRSA) act properly.

Mr Speaker, much of it is because of funding. Are you aware that by the
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 3:17 a.m.
Hon Members, this Statement is very important, and I do not think we
would do ourselves good if we gloss over it. So many issues have been raised in the Statement, and those who have contributed have also raised certain issues especially those with respect to human factors.
I am therefore inclined to refer this particular Statement to the Committee on Roads and Transport as well as the Committee on Defence and Interior to look into this matter and report back to the House. We give timelines of two weeks. Now that probably the vetting of the nominees for the Deputy Ministers are going on, we would give them two weeks to report back to the House so that you engage the stakeholders, the Hon Minister and NRSA, and let us see how best we can address this particular issue from our end.

On that matter, we bring the Statements time to a close and I will invite Leadership to give me indication as to what we should do.
Mr Habib Iddrisu 3:17 a.m.
Mr Speaker, I thank you. I think the items listed 5, 6, 7 and 8, which have to do with the Private Member's Motion, Leadership is still in consultation with the people involved. The item listed 9 is ‘Notice on Committees so; I think
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 3:17 a.m.
Yes, Hon Available Leader?
Dr Hamza 3:17 a.m.
Mr Speaker, I agree with the Leader who just spoke and I think we are entirely in your hands.
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 3:17 a.m.
Hon Members, on that note, we adjourn today's Sitting till tomorrow Thursday, 3rd June, 2021 at 10.00 o'clock in the forenoon.
ADJOURNMENT 3:17 a.m.