Debates of 18 Jun 2021

MR SPEAKER
PRAYERS 11:07 a.m.
VOTES AND PROCEEDINGS AND THE OFFICIAL REPORT 11:07 a.m.
Mr Speaker 11:07 a.m.
Hon Members, item numbered 4 -- Correction of Votes and Proceedings and the Official Report - But before we do that, let me just say this.
Hon Members, the House is governed by practice and procedure. The Rt Hon Speaker in applying the practice and procedure is guided by three things: One, the rules and orders of the House. This includes the Constitution, the Acts of Parliament, the Standing Orders and some unwritten rules and conventions. Two, guides from Leadership. The premises of the guides is the pre-Sitting meetings, where the Rt Hon Speaker sits with Leaders to discuss issues that might have come out as Leaders try to go through the Business of the
House. So, the Speaker is informed about the positions of the Leaders or the Sides of the House before I come to preside. So when Leaders do not take advantage of it and the Speaker is presiding, and all of a sudden things just erupt, the Speaker is taken by surprise. My only option as the Rt Hon Speaker is to apply the rules as I know them. But I might be very good at the practice and procedure, but sometimes, I would have to defer to the guidance from Leadership.
So please, this is to Leadership, take advantage of the pre-Sitting meetings and let the Rt Hon Speaker know about what is happening. Are we together? -- I do not want what happened yesterday to be repeated. When I am applying my rules, I do not want to hear objections of people claiming that I might have pre- knowledge of some things that I do not know about. I am here for the House.
Hon Members, we can now take item numbered 4 -- Correction of Votes and Proceedings and the Official Report of Thursday, 17th June, 2021.
Page 1…8 --
Mr Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa 11:07 a.m.
Mr Speaker, I am most grateful. At page 8, there are two corrections at item numbered 7 (ii), the last
paragraph. “The Hon Second Speaker”, it should be “Hon Second Deputy Speaker”. So, if “Deputy” could be inserted?
Mr Speaker, item numbered 8 (a), Sitting resumed at 4.34 p.m. “Sittingd” has been spelt with ‘d' instead of a ‘g'.
Mr Speaker 11:07 a.m.
Thank you so much, Hon Member. You are very meticulous; sometimes, with an eagle eye. Table Office should kindly take note.
Mrs Tetteh-Agbotui 11:07 a.m.
Mr Speaker, please I need to bring you back to page 7, item numbered 5. With your permission, I beg to read:
“The Votes and Proceedings of the Thirteenth Sitting held on Wednesday, 16th June, 2021 were are adopted as the true record of proceeding.”
Mr Speaker, there is “were” and “are”, one of them should be taken off.
Mr Speaker 11:17 p.m.
Hon Member, you are right. “…were adopted as the true record of proceedings”, so “are” should be deleted.
Page 9 --
Mr Ablakwa 11:17 p.m.
Mr Speaker, on the second paragraph of page 9, we have a similar matter that also deserves correction. The phrase: “The Hon Second Speaker,” should rather be captured as “the Hon Second Deputy Speaker” because there is only one Rt. Hon Speaker of the House.
Mr Speaker 11:17 p.m.
The Table Office should kindly take note.
Page 10 --
Mr Ablakwa 11:17 p.m.
Mr Speaker, on the item numbered 12 on page 10, on the second line, there is the repetition of the phrase “not be”, so, one has to go. It should read: “… A Head-count which could not be undertaken…”
Mr Speaker 11:17 p.m.
The Table Office should take note.
An Hon Member 11:17 p.m.
Mr Speaker, on page 10, the last sentence on the paragraph numbered 12 reads: “…Which could not be undertaken by the Clerks-at-the-Table due to the disruption of the counting exercise by Hon Members.”
Mr Speaker, I think that I was in this House when you decided that counting should take place, and the counting was supposed to start from
An Hon Member 11:17 p.m.


the Majority side. So, if there was any disruption, it is fair for it to reflect on the records that the disruption came from the Majority side, and not from Hon Members.
Mr Speaker 11:17 p.m.
Hon Member, you have a point there, so, the Table Office please do the right thing.
Mr Ablakwa 11:17 p.m.
Mr Speaker, on that same last sentence of the paragraph numbered 12 on page 10, the word “exercise” has been spelt wrongly without the letter “r” in the phrase captured as “…the counting execise”.
Mr Speaker 11:17 p.m.
Actually, they would have to rephrase that sentence. It is not properly captured.
Page 11…13
Mr Emmanuel K. Bedzrah 11:17 p.m.
Mr Speaker, on page 13, concerning the list of the names of Hon Members who attended the Committee of the Whole, on the item numbered 2 (ii) the name “Mr Anthony Debere” has been spelt wrongly because it is supposed to be correctly spelt as “Mr Debre” and not “Debere” as being captured there.
Mr Speaker 11:17 p.m.
The Table Office should kindly take note.
Mr Ablakwa 11:17 p.m.
Mr Speaker, the GETFund team was led by the Hon Minister for Education, the Hon Dr Yaw Osei Adutwum. That has been conspicuously omitted. It is very important that it is included. The Hon Minister for Education led the team at the Committee of the Whole.
Mr Speaker 11:17 p.m.
The Table Office should kindly include that.
Page 14 --
Hon Members, the Votes and Proceedings of the 14th Sitting of the Second Meeting of the First Session held on Thursday, 17th June, 2021 as corrected, is hereby adopted as the true record of proceedings.
Hon Members, we would now take the Official Report. I have a copy of the Official Report of Tuesday, 25th May, 2021.
Hon Members, any corrections?
It was actually distributed yesterday, but we could not do the corrections yesterday. Is it the case that Hon Members do not have their copies? If so, then we could take it on Tuesday. Therefore, we would defer the corrections on the Official
Report of Tuesday, 25th May, 2021 to Tuesday.
Hon Members, we would take the item numbered 5 -- Business Statement for the fifth week, and it is to be presented by the Hon Chairman of the Business Committee.
Mr Alexander Afenyo-Markin 11:17 p.m.
Mr Speaker, the Hon Chairman of the Business Committee is unavoidably absent. So, with your leave and indulgence, I would want to take his place to present the Report.
Mr Speaker 11:17 p.m.
Hon Member, you may go ahead.
BUSINESS OF THE HOUSE 11:17 p.m.
Mr Speaker, the Committee accordingly submits its report as follows 11:17 p.m.
Arrangement of Business
Formal Communication by the Speaker
Mr Speaker, you may read any available communication to the House.
Question(s)
Mr Speaker, the Business Committee has scheduled the following Ministers to respond to Questions asked of them during the week:

No. of Question(s)

i. Minister for Sanitation and Water Resources -- 1

ii. Minister for Health -- 1

iii. Minister for Lands and Natural Resources -- 1
Mr Speaker, the Committee accordingly submits its report as follows 11:17 p.m.
iv. Minister for Gender, Children and Social Protection -- 1
v. Minister for Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs -- 1
vi. Minister for Youth and Sports -- 1
vii. Minister for Food and Agriculture -- 1
viii. Minister for National Security -- 1
ix. Minister for Energy -- 3
x. Minister for Defence -- 1
xi. Minister for Interior -- 6
Total Number of Questions -- 18
Mr Speaker, in all, 11 Ministers are expected to attend upon the House to respond to 18 Questions during the week. The questions are of the following types:
i. Urgent - 7; ii. Oral - 11
Statements --
Mr Speaker, pursuant to Order 70(2), Ministers of State may be permitted to make Statements of Government policy. Statements duly admitted by the Rt Hon Speaker may be made in the House by Hon
Members, in accordance with Order
72.
Bills, Papers and Reports
Mr Speaker, Bills may be presented to the House for First Reading in accordance with Order 120. However, those of urgent nature may be taken through the various stages in one day in accordance with Order 119.
Pursuant to Order 75, Papers for presentation to the House may be placed on the Order Paper for laying. Committee reports may also be
presented to the House for consideration.
Motions and Resolutions
Mr Speaker, Motions may be debated and their consequential Resolutions, if any, taken during the week.
Briefing of The House
Mr Speaker, on Tuesday, 22nd June, 2021, the House is expected to be briefed at Committee of the Whole by officials of the following institutions:
(a) Ghana Statistical Service;
(b) National Health Insurance Authority; and
(c) Office of the District Assemblies' Common Fund Administrator.
The Ghana Statistical Service would use the opportunity to provide insight on the Population and Housing Census and the role Hon. Members of Parliament would be expected to play towards a successful exercise.
The House would also be briefed on critical issues pertinent to the Formulae for the Disbursement of the
National Health Insurance Fund and the District Assemblies Common Fund for the year 2021.
Hon. Members are accordingly entreated to avail themselves on the said date for a very interactive deliberation.
Business of Friday, 25th June,
2021
Mr Speaker, in view of the National Population and Housing Census, it is necessary for Hon. Members to travel to their Constituencies well in advance to prepare for the exercise.
Accordingly, in consultation with the Rt Hon Speaker, the Business Committee proposes that Sittings of the House for next week ends on Thursday, 24th June, 2021. Thus the House would not Sit on Friday, 25th June, 2021.
Conclusion
Mr Speaker, in accordance with Standing Order 160(2) and subject to Standing Order 53, the Committee submits to this honourable House the order in which the Business of the House shall be taken during the week.

Urgent Questions --
Mr Speaker, the Committee accordingly submits its report as follows 11:17 p.m.
(a) Mr Desmond De-Graft Paitoo (Gomoa East): To ask the Minister for Sanitation and Water Resources the measures being put in place to avert the water problem in the following communities in the Gomoa East Constituency: (i) Nyanyanom Kakabra (ii) Adamukrom (iii) Apra (iv) Akofi Bankyiase (v) GPRTU (vi) Millennium City and its environs.
(b) Ms Joycelyn Tetteh (North Dayi): To ask the Minister for Health what mechanism has been put in place by the Ministry to monitor the effectiveness of ambulances distributed recently.
Questions --
Q7. Ms. Rita Naa Odoley Sowah (Dadekotopon): To ask the Minister for Lands and Natural Resources what steps the Ministry has taken so far and what further steps the Ministry plans to take to resolve the issues of land dispute between the Military and the La Traditional Council as well as the Youth of La.
Q44. Mr Kwame Governs Agbodza (Adaklu): To ask the Minister for Gender, Children and Social Protection what
circumstances led to the termination of appointment of Mrs. Gertrude Quashigah at the School Feeding Secretariat, and her subsequent reinstatement.
Q46.Mr Kobena Mensah Woyome (South Tongu): To ask the Minister for Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs what steps the Ministry is taking to engage all associations and groups of religious bodies in the country to embrace tolerance as enshrined in Ghana's Constitution with the view to building a peaceful and harmonious society that must continue to co-exist.
Statements
Presentation of Papers --
(a) Work Programme of the Ghana National Petroleum Corporation (GNPC) for the year 2021.
(b) Request for waiver of Import Duty, GETFund Levy, NHIL, Import VAT, EXIM Levy, COVID-19 Recovery Levy, Special Import Levy, ECOWAS Levy, and AU Levy amounting to the Ghana cedi equivalent of eleven million, five hundred and twelve thousand, nine hundred and
forty-s ix Uni ted States dollars (US$11,512,946.00) on materials, equipment and works required to be procured for the China-Aided phase II project at the University of Health and Allied Sciences (UHAS) at Ho in the Volta Region.
(c) Report of the Committee of the Whole on the Proposed Formula for the Distribution of the Ghana Education Trust Fund (GETFund) for the Year 2021.
(d) Report of the Finance Committee on the Request for waiver of Import Duty, GETFund Levy, NHIL, Import VAT, EXIM Levy, and Special Import Levy amounting to the Ghana cedi equivalent of five hundred and twenty-seven thousand, six hundred and eighty-five United States dollars seventy-nine cents (US$527,685.79) on materials and vehicles to be procured under the Support Agreement between the Government of the Republic of Ghana, Cascade Development Company Limited and the Gold Coast Resorts International Limited to redevelop the Accra Race-
course to include a five star hotel, shopping mall, office and residential buildings.
(e) Report of the Finance Committee on the Request for waiver of Import Duties, GETFund Levy, NHIL, Import VAT, and EXIM Levy amounting to the Ghana cedi equivalent of fourteen million, seven hundred and eighteen thousand, four hundred and seventy-nine United States dollars sixteen cents (US$14,718,479.16) on materials, plants, machinery and equipment or parts to be imported by B5 Plus Limited under the implementation of the One District One Factory (1D1F) programme.
(f) Report of the Finance Committee on the Request for waiver of Import Duties, GETFund Levy, NHIL, Import VAT, and EXIM Levy amounting to the Ghana cedi equivalent of eight million, nine hundred and eighty-three thousand, seven hundred and nine United States dollars (US$8,983,709.00) on materials, plants, machinery and equipment or parts to be imported by Ferro Fabrik Limited under the imple- mentation of the One District

One Factory (1D1F) pro- gramme.

(g) Report of the Finance Committee on the Request for waiver of Import Duties, Import VAT, GETFund Levy, NHIL, and EXIM Levy amounting to the Ghana cedi equivalent of one million, seven hundred and twenty-four thousand, one hundred and thirty-two United States dollars fifty-two cents (US$1,724,132.52) on materials, plant, machinery and equipment or parts to be imported by Everpure Holdings Limited under the implementation of the One District One Factory (1D1F) programme.

(h) Report of the Finance Committee on the Request for waiver of Import Duties, Import VAT, GETFund Levy, Import NHIL, and EXIM Levy amounting to the Ghana cedi equivalent of one million, three hundred and eighty-nine thousand, eighteen United States dollars ninety cents (US$1,389,018.90) on materials, plants, machinery and equipment or parts to be imported by Miro Forestry

Ghana Limited under the implementation of the One District One Factory (1D1F) programme.

Committee sittings.

Committee of the Whole to be briefed by officials of the following:

(a) Ghana Statistical Service;

(b) National Health Insurance Authority;

(c) Office of the District Assemblies' Common Fund Administrator.

Urgent Questions -

(a) Mr. Kobena Mensah Woyome (South Tongu): To ask the Minister for Youth and Sports what steps the Ministry is taking to ensure that the country successfully hosts the All African Games, 2023, including time lines of completing key tasks/activities leading to the event.

(b) Mr Kofi Iddie Adams (Buem): To ask the Minister for Food and Agriculture whether COCOBOD's policy of hand

pollination and pruning has been implemented and if so, what has been the impact on cocoa production.

Questions --

Q45.Mr Rockson-Nelson Etse Kwame Dafeamekpor (South Dayi): To ask the Minister for National Security the circumstances under which DCOP Opare Addo (Rtd.) was assaulted in his office in Kumasi.

Q47.Mr Cletus Seidu Dapilah (Jirapa): To ask the Minister for Energy when the following communities will be connected to the national grid: (i) Ping (ii) Han-Guri (iii) Kogri (iv) Kogri No. 1 (v) Nabiri (vi) Mwofopaala (vii) Gyang.

Q69.Mr Andrew Dari Chiwitey (Sawla/Tuna/Kalba): To ask the Minister for Energy when the Rural Electrification Projects in the following communities would be completed: (i) Nasolyiri (ii) Sanyeri (iii) Kpangri (iv) Soma (v) Goyiri (vi) Gando.

Q70.Mr Alexander Roosevelt Hottordze (Central Tongu): To ask the Minister for Energy

measures the Ministry has put in place to improve the network distribution of the National Electricity Grid in the Central Tongu Constituency, which benefited mainly from Self-Help Electrification Project.

Statements

Presentation of Papers --

Report of the Committee of the Whole on the Proposed Formula for the Disbursement of the National Health Insurance Fund for the year 2021.

Motions --

Adoption of the Report of the Committee of the Whole on the Proposed Formula for the Distribution of the Ghana Education Trust Fund (GETFund) for the Year 2021.

Committee sittings.

Urgent Questions --

(a) Mr Kwame Governs Agbodza (Adaklu): To ask the Minister for Defence what steps the Ministry is taking to ensure equity in the recruitment of
Mr Speaker 11:27 a.m.
Hon Members, any comments?
Mr Kwabena Mintah Akandoh 11:27 a.m.
Mr Speaker, I have filed a question with regard to the purchase of Sputnik 5 at the rate of US$19 and US$26 per dose. Mr Speaker, in view of the fact that this has generated a very high public interest, I would take this opportunity to appeal to you so that it would be programmed for next week. Mr Speaker, it has not been captured on the Business Statement.
Mr Speaker 11:27 a.m.
Hon Deputy Majority Leader, take note and respond after that.
Mr Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa 11:27 a.m.
Mr Speaker, I commend the Hon Deputy Majority Leader for the presentation of the Business Statement.
Mr Speaker, this week, I was scheduled to ask the Hon Minister for Finance about the cost of the recent presidential travels to France, Belgium and South Africa yesterday, 17th June, 2021. Indeed, it was programmed in the provisional Order Paper of 16th June, 2021. I was told at a rather short notice yesterday that
the Hon Minister for Finance had asked for more time by Mr Djietror, one of the Deputy Clerks at the Table.
Mr Speaker, I expected, in view of the circumstances, that, that Question would be programmed for next week at the very least, but surprisingly, I have gone through all the Questions that have been programmed from next Tuesday all the way to Thursday, and mine does not find expression. It is not clear how much time - It is an Urgent Question, and our Standing Orders is clear that ordinarily, Urgent Questions should not go beyond 10 Sitting days. That is what our Standing Orders stipulate.
Mr Speaker, I would want the Hon Deputy Majority Leader to let us understand why the Question has not been programmed, and if he knows just how much time the Hon Minister for Finance has requested to answer what I believe is a rather simple Question on the cost of the presidential travels in May 2021.
Secondly, Mr Speaker, I also observed that we are quite fortunate that in the ensuing week, the three Hon Ministers for security - Minister for National Security, Hon Minister for Defence and the Minister for the Interior are all coming to this House
to answer one Question or the other. However, the Questions, obviously had been filed much earlier and so, they do not relate to the current security situation.
I would want to find out from the Hon Deputy Majority Leader if we could create some window of opportunity for either the Minister for National Security or the Minister for the Interior to brief this House on the current security situation? It is really necessary.
Many Ghanaians are anxious. We have seen multiple bullion van attacks, and a police officer has been killed. The insecurity situation is escalating, and has become quite alarming, so if the Hon Deputy Majority Leader could create some space for the Ministers responsible for security to respond to this matter which is of enormous public interest?
Mr Suhuyini Alhassan Sayibu 11:27 a.m.
Mr Speaker, I wish to commend the Hon Deputy Majority Leader for the presentation of what is expected to come; God willing next week.
Mr Speaker, I just wish to suggest to the Business Committee through the Hon Deputy Majority Leader if we could find space later next week to get a briefing from the Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, after
Mr Benjamin Komla Kpodo 11:27 a.m.
Mr Speaker, I refer to the item numbered 3 on page 2 which comes under “Briefing of the House”. In the third paragraph, the Hon Deputy Majority Leader presents this statement which I quote below with permission:
“The House would also be briefed on critical issues pertinent to the Formulae for the Disbursement of the National Health Insurance Fund and the National Health Insurance Fund for the year 2021.”
There is a repetition there, so, I would want to find out whether he wanted to mention another Fund or we should just delete one of the two?
Mr Joseph Kwame Kumah 11:37 a.m.
Mr Speaker, I refer the Hon Deputy Majority Leader to the item numbered 3(b)(vi) on page 4 of the Statement. It should be “Gyato Akura” and not “Tatokura”. It is on page 4 of the Business Statement - item numbered 3(b)(vi).

It is under Urgent Question on the Business Statement, we have 1, 2 - page 4, item numbered (b). I would like to read it. It was filed by Hon Joseph Kwame Kumah. The Business Statement you just read -
Mr Speaker 11:37 a.m.
Yes, Hon Member, we have it.
Mr Kumah 11:37 a.m.
Item numbered (b) (vi). Mr Speaker, with your permission, let me read the whole thing so that the Hon Deputy Majority Leader would appreciate it.
Mr Speaker 11:37 a.m.
Hon Member, page 4, item (b) (vi) - please take your time - We have Mr Joseph Kwame Kumah (Kintampo North)?
Mr Kumah 11:37 a.m.
Mr Speaker, I am saying that item (b) (vi) --
Mr Speaker 11:37 a.m.
Hon Member, there is no (vi) under item (b). Are you talking about the Question?
Mr Kumah 11:37 a.m.
Mr Speaker, with your permission, I would read the Question.
“To ask the Minister for the Interior when relief items would be distributed to victims of
rainstorms that occurred in March and April 2021 in the following communities: (i) Kintampo Township (ii) Babatorkuma (iii) Kadelso (iv) Sronase (v) Tahirukura (vi) Tatokura (vii) Portor (viii) Benkrom.”
The town “Tatokura” should rather read “Gyatoakura”. It is a correction.
Mr Speaker 11:37 a.m.
Hon Member, we would take your correction but in the original Question you filed which came to me for admission, it was not “Gyatoakura”. I am told that you came later to change it to read “Gyatoakura”. So, we have taken the correction now and what would appear on the Order Paper for you to ask the Question would be the proper name, “Gyatoakura”.
Mr Kumah 11:37 a.m.
Thank you Mr Speaker.
Mr Ahmed Ibrahim 11:37 a.m.
Thank you Mr Speaker. For the third time, I am seeing the formulas appearing on the Business Statement. In the first week, they were on the Business Statement and we could not take them. In the second week, it was the same and this week also, I have seen them appear on next week's Business Statement.
Mr Speaker 11:37 a.m.
Yes, Hon Minority Leader?
Mr Haruna Iddrisu 11:37 a.m.
Mr Speaker, thank you for the opportunity to make some comments on the Business Statement.
In all fairness to the Hon Chairman, I did not have the opportunity to participate in the meeting yesterday, so I would ask that you indulge and tolerate me as I raise just one or two more issues for the attention of the House and the Business Committee.
Mr Speaker, the President as you know is an Executive President and his decisions are important for the efficient running of our country. I raised the matter of the Road Fund Board because Ghanaian Contractors and Ghanaians in the private sector are entrepreneurs whose livelihoods and businesses are affected by the
Road Fund. They expect that they would benefit from the Road Fund's monthly releases.
If we do not have the Board constituted, life stagnates for them and I am renewing my call that the President must wake up and ensure that Chief Executives and Boards are properly constituted. We do not want to believe it is deliberate to allow individual Ministers to play the role that Boards as important governing structures should play with their Chief Executive Officers.
Mr Speaker, the second is to commend the Hon Deputy Majority Leader for at least bringing the Statistical Service. Mr Speaker, I know you mentioned to Leadership that we all spend a day in the constituencies to raise the consciousness of our people to participate in that exercise. So, it is welcoming to hear the Hon Deputy Majority Leader announce that we would close work early on Thursday in order to participate in this important national exercise.
Mr Speaker, my final comment would be that we are filing an Urgent Motion on the health sector and request a bipartisan probe into Ghana's procurement of COVID-19 vaccines at US$26 and not US$10
as is the practice in many countries. This Motion as I have emphasised, would be to call for a bipartisan probe.
For all intents and purposes, we think that even that transaction is an international economic transaction under article 181 (5) of the Constitution. Parliament is not aware of it and we would want to appreciate and understand the procurement processes that were used. More importantly, we would want to demand value for money for the Ghanaian taxpayer and not that we are just seeking to profit from COVID-19 with these questionable transactions.
So, Mr Speaker, we have filed an Urgent Motion and I am sure that the Table Office would give it to you before the close of Sitting. It is a matter that I would have raised if I had gotten the opportunity to be at the Business Committee. So once again, thank you for tolerating me.
I hope that the Leader of Government Business would respond to the issue of the Road Fund Board. Why is it taking his Government more than half a year to get a Board just constituted or to get a Chief Executive appointed?
Thank you, Mr Speaker.
Mr Speaker 11:47 a.m.
Hon Apaak?
Dr Clement A. Apaak 11:47 a.m.
Mr Speaker, my issue is also an appeal to the acting Hon Leader of the House and to draw his attention to a similar situation akin to what the Hon Minority Leader narrated. As I speak, all public universities have no properly constituted councils because the current councils in place have outlived their tenure of offices. Indeed, by law, newly constituted councils should have been out doored in January 2021. We are in June and this is yet to be done.
Mr Speaker, I also wish to appeal to the Government to do the needful to ensure that the universities have properly constituted councils so that teaching and learning and the governance of our apex institutions of learning could go on smoothly.
Mr Cletus S. Dapilah 11:47 a.m.
Mr Speaker, with regard to item (vii) in question 47 on page 3, in the Business Statement, the name of the community is “Duori- Gyang'' and not “Gyang''.
Mr Speaker 11:47 a.m.
So, it is a compound word.
Mr Dapilah 11:47 a.m.
Yes, Mr Speaker.
Mr Speaker 11:47 a.m.
Table Office, please, take note.
Hon Deputy Majority Leader, could you kindly attempt to respond to the issues?
rose
Mr Speaker 11:47 a.m.
Hon Member, are you on your feet to comment on the Business Statement?
Mr K. Nyarko 11:47 a.m.
Yes, please.
Mr Speaker, there is an issue I want to bring to your attention even though that matter has been discussed before. It is about the qualification required for research assistants. The last time the matter came up, I made a point that there are two categories of masters' degree holders - we have the research masters and the normal masters.
If we care to know, I have some data with me with regard to the proportion of persons with research masters. It is instructive to know that we do not have enough holders of research masters' in this country. during the 2018/2019 academic year, we had about 5000 students who possessed --
Mr Speaker 11:47 a.m.
Hon Member, what do you want to correct - is it your name?
Mr K. Nyarko 11:47 a.m.
No, Mr Speaker. I said that we need to revisit the issue of the qualification needed by research assistants.
Mr Speaker 11:47 a.m.
Hon Member, we are dealing with the Business Statement now, so you are out of question.
Mr Afenyo-Markin 11:47 a.m.
Mr Speaker, first, on the concerns raised by the Hon Member for Juaboso, Mr Akandoh, I would refer him to Order 66 and 67. The issue of admissibility is in your hands and if you admit his question, the next thing is that same would be transmitted to the Table Office and then your Committee would look at it. So, he has to take up his concerns with the Table Office. It is not a matter of the Business Committee having delayed him - and that impression was what he created. There is no such thing before the Business Committee.
Mr Speaker, the Hon Member for North Tongu, Mr Ablakwa, also expressed worry as to why the Hon Minister for Finance is yet to respond to his question. A firm indication was given that he would come and respond to the Question - he needs the facts and it is important that the Hon Minister comes with the facts.
Yesterday, he was in the House to answer some questions so I believe that it is only fair to give him that space and I am sure that once those facts are available, we would find space to get him to be in the House.
Mr Speaker, the right of an Hon Member to get responses from the Executive is a far right and nobody can stampede it. This is the biggest platform we have so, I would encourage Hon Members to utilise this platform so that we get the work done and done properly. My Hon Colleague needed an assurance from me and I want to assure him that we would follow up to the Hon Minister to ensure that he comes to the House to respond to his question.
Mr Speaker, on the issue of security -- that is why we have Committees. So, I would want to encourage Committee leadership to take up some of these issues. The Hon Member for Tamale North, Mr Suhuyini, also raised the same issue that he needs briefing with regard to the tree planting. These are matters that Committees could take up and meet with the Hon Ministers and a Report could come to the House.
Mr Speaker, with regard to the Motion that the Hon Minority Leader said he intended to file, that is why we have made provision for Motions. Item numbered 2 (e) in the Business

Statement is headed “Motions and Resolutions'' and it says:

“Mr Speaker, Motions may be debated and their consequential Resolutions, if any…''

Mr Speaker, the Hon Minority Leader should have no worries at all. He should file his Motion, you would determine admissibility and then we would deal with it. I am sure he wanted to make a political punch at least, for the time being ahead of filing his Motion but there is no problem at all about that.

Mr Speaker, with regard to the formulae for consideration next week, we would meet with the appropriate Agencies. We met with GETFund yesterday but it was inconclusive and they have assured us that they would meet with us again for us to deal with it.

Mr Speaker, without anything more, these are my responses.
Mr Cassiel A. B. Forson 11:57 a.m.
Mr Speaker, on the matter that the Hon Member for North Tongu, Mr Ablakwa, raised in reference to the cost of the use of the top-notch luxurious private jet that was supposedly rented for the purposes of the President's travel in May 2021
to France, Belgium and South Africa, I cannot understand the reason they have asked for time. This is simple because with the hiring of private jets the bills are paid before services are rendered. So, I cannot understand why they have asked for time because the expenses have already been incurred for this top-notch luxurious aircraft. That is why it is important that the Hon Minister for Finance should appear before the House to answer the simple question of the cost.

All what the Hon Ablakwa and the Minority is asking for, is the cost of this luxurious top-notch aircraft. So, it is important for him to appear before us.
Mr Speaker 11:57 a.m.
Hon Members, please, let me be clear on this matter, Hon Ablakwa filed two Questions and I hope you are listening? Both Questions were admitted by Mr Speaker and they were forwarded to the Ministers concerned - Finance and Defence. Answers were submitted and published to be taken, they could not be taken and definitely, they would have to be programmed to be taken. There is no problem with it at all.
In fact, the question did not extend to what Hon Ato Forson has just stated and I think that is his addition,
Mr Joseph Osei-Owusu 11:57 a.m.
Mr Speaker, yes, after a meeting this morning, we have agreed that the Hon nominee on whom there is no agreement would be removed from the Report. We would take the rest of the Report and then the issue relating to her, would be further consulted before the next Report is laid.
Mr Speaker 11:57 a.m.
Hon Members, at the Commencement of Public Business, item numbered 7 - Motion.
Mr Joseph Osei-Owusu 11:57 a.m.
Mr Speaker, the Report has already been laid but I seek your indulgence to make these amendments. On page 2, delete item (x) and then on page 49, delete paragraph 4.10 all through to page 56 up to item 4.10.3.
Mr Speaker, I pray that all those pages are deleted before I proceed with moving the Motion.
Mr Speaker 11:57 a.m.
Hon Members -- Yes, Hon Minority Leader?
Mr Haruna Iddrisu 11:57 a.m.
Mr Speaker, if the Hon Chairman's attention can be further drawn to the consequential
Mr Osei-Owusu 11:57 a.m.
Mr Speaker, the Hon Minority Leader is right. On page 78, we may also delete the item numbered (x) on page 78 of the Report.
Mr Speaker 11:57 a.m.
Hon Members, the items and paragraphs as referred to are deleted accordingly. Hon Chairman, you may now move the Motion?
MOTIONS 11:57 a.m.
Chairman of the Committee (Mr Joseph Osei-Owusu) 11:57 a.m.
Mr Speaker, I beg to move that this House adopts the Sixth Report of the Appointments Committee on H. E. the President's nominations for Deputy Ministerial Appointments.
Mr Speaker, I beg to present the Committee's Report.
1.0 Introduction
1.1 On Wednesday, 21st April, 2021, H.E the President submitted to
Parliament nominations of a Minister of State and 39 Deputy Ministers - Designate for consideration and approval in accordance with Article 78 (1) and 79(1) of the Constitution. The Rt. Hon. Speaker subsequently referred the nominations to the Appointments Committee for consideration and report pursuant to Order 172 of the Standing Orders of the House.
The second batch of the nominees considered were as follows:
i. Hon Andrew Kofi Egyapa Mercer -- Deputy Minister- Designate for Energy;
ii. Hon John Ntim Fordjour -- Deputy Minister-Designate for Education;
iii. Hon George Mireku Duker -- Deputy Minister Designate for Lands and Natural Resources;
iv. Hon Kofi Amankwah- Manu -- Deputy Minister Designate for Defence;
v. Hon Naana Eyiah Quansah - Deputy Minister Designate for Interior;
vi. Hon Hassan Sulemana Tampuli - Deputy Minister Designate for Transport;
vii.Hon John Ampontua Kumah - Deputy Minister Designate for Finance;
viii.Hon Frederick Obeng Adom - Deputy Minister Designate for Transport;
ix. Hon Mavis Nkansah-Boadu -- Deputy Minister Designate for Roads and Highways;
x. Hon Gifty Twum-Ampofo -- Deputy Minister Designate for Education;
xi. Evans Opoku Bobie -- Deputy Minister Designate for Youth and Sports;
xii.Hon Amidu Issahaku Chinnia -- Deputy Minister Designate for Sanitation and Water Resources;
xiii. Hon Mohammed Hardi Tufeiru - Deputy Minister for Food and Agriculture;
xiv. Ms Diana Asonaba Dapaah -- Deputy Attorney-General Designate;
xv. Hon Tina Naa Ayeley Mensah -- Deputy Minister Designate For Health;
2.0 Procedure for the Consideration of the Referral
2.1 Pursuant to Order 172 (3) of the Standing Orders of the House, the names of the nominees and notice of the Committee's Public Hearing were published in newspapers with national circulation for the attention of the general public. The publication further requested Memoranda in respect of the nominees from the general public.
2.2 The Committee subsequently sought and obtained Confidential Reports on the nominees from the Ghana Police Service and the National Investigations Bureau (NIB) as part of its background checks. The Committee also requested and obtained Tax Status Reports on the nominees from the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA).
2.3 The Committee thereafter held Public Hearings to consider the nominations. At the commencement of proceedings, the Nominees subscribed to the Oath of a Witness and subsequently answered questions relating to their Curriculum Vitae, matters relating to their eligibility, issues pertaining to the offices to
EGYAPA MERCER - DEPUTY 11:57 a.m.
MINISTER-DESIGNATE FOR 11:57 a.m.
ENERGY 11:57 a.m.
FORDJOUR - D E P U T Y 11:57 a.m.
MINISTER-DESIGNATE FOR 11:57 a.m.
EDUCATION 11:57 a.m.
DUKER - DEPUTY MINISTER- 11:57 a.m.
NATURAL RESOURCES 11:57 a.m.
MANU - DEPUTY MINISTER 11:57 a.m.
DESIGNATE FOR DEFENCE 11:57 a.m.
QUANSAH - DEPUTY 11:57 a.m.
MINISTER DESIGNATE FOR 11:57 a.m.
THE INTERIOR 11:57 a.m.
TAMPULI - DEPUTY 11:57 a.m.
MINISTER-DESIGNATE FOR 11:57 a.m.
TRANSPORT 11:57 a.m.
KUMAH - DEPUTY MINISTER 11:57 a.m.
-DESIGNATE FOR FINANCE 11:57 a.m.
ADOM - DEPUTY MINISTER- 11:57 a.m.
DESIGNATE FOR TRANSPORT 11:57 a.m.
BOADU - DEPUTY MINISTER - 11:57 a.m.
HIGHWAYS 11:57 a.m.
AMPOFO - DEPUTY MINISTER 11:57 a.m.
-DESIGNATE FOR EDUCATION 11:57 a.m.
BOBIE - DEPUTY MINISTER- 11:57 a.m.
SPORTS 11:57 a.m.
CHINNIA - DEPUTY 11:57 a.m.
MINISTER-DESIGNATE FOR 11:57 a.m.
SANITATION AND WATER 11:57 a.m.
RESOURCES 11:57 a.m.
HARDI TUFEIRU - DEPUTY 11:57 a.m.
MINISTER- DESIGNSTE FOR 11:57 a.m.
FOOD AND AGRICULTURE 11:57 a.m.
DAPAAH - DEPUTY MINISTER 11:57 a.m.
-DESIGNATE OFFICE OF 11:57 a.m.
ATTORNEY-GENERAL AND 11:57 a.m.
JUSTICE 11:57 a.m.
MENSAH - DEPUTY 11:57 a.m.
MINISTER-DESIGANTE FOR 11:57 a.m.
HEALTH 11:57 a.m.
Mr Speaker 12:07 p.m.
Hon Minority Chief Whip?
Alhaji Mohammed-Mubarak Muntaka (NDC -- Asawase) 12:07 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I beg to second the Motion
Mr Osei-Owusu 12:07 p.m.
Mr Speaker, as part of the meeting we had this morning, there were other nominees that my Hon Colleagues suggested that we should discuss further. So, we agreed that the Report on them would be taken on another day. Apparently, they have been part of this Report and if the Hon Leader had not drawn my attention, I would not have --
Mr Speaker, so, I seek your leave to amend the Report that on page 2, delete items numbered (xii) and (xiv). Also, delete item 4.1.2 on pages 63 to 65 and also delete item 4.1.2.3 on page 65. Further, on pages 69 to 73, delete item 4.1.4 and
Mr Speaker, I pray that the record is amended with the deletion of these pages for now.
Mr Speaker 12:07 p.m.
Hon Members, the further amendment to the Report is hereby granted.
Alhaji Muntaka 12:07 p.m.
Mr Speaker, thank you very much.
Mr Speaker, in seconding the Motion, I want to add that these are our Hon Colleagues in Parliament and as I have argued always on this Floor, it is my candid belief that when Hon Members of Parliament are nominated as Hon Ministers, in my view, we should not vet them. I believe that they have already been vetted through an election. Mr Speaker, the essence of the vetting by the Appointments Committee is to ensure that all those who have been nominated qualify to be Hon Members of Parliament. Mr Speaker, vetting by Appointments Committee usually happens in countries that practice a Presidential system, but with Parliamentary system, as is practiced in the United Kingdom, Hon Ministers who are nominated from among Hon Members of Parliament do not go through the vetting process.
Mr Speaker, I want to believe that we have to bring this issue to the fore burner and use it as an opportunity to reduce the time it takes for a government to be formed as well as the time Parliament spends to vet the nominees. Mr Speaker, unfortunately
for us, because we have over the years not been able to educate the populace very well, there is always a misunderstanding about what our role at the Appointments Committee truly is. We get a lot of expectations outside the mandate of the Committee and in many instances, this creates a lot of discomfort for Hon Members of the Committee.
Mr Speaker, as I said, most of the nominees are our Hon Colleagues so we tried to elucidate their understanding about the sectors they are going to serve as Deputy Ministers and I am convinced that many of them are capable of performing to our expectation. So, I want to urge the House to approve their nominations so that they would serve as Hon Deputy Ministers because some of them were already Hon Deputy Ministers in the previous regime. I have no doubt that they would continue to do their best in the interest of our country.
Mr Speaker, with these comments, I second the Motion and support the approval of these nominees.
Mr Speaker 12:07 p.m.
Hon Cletus Avoka?
Mr Cletus A. Avoka (NDC -- Zebilla) 12:17 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I beg to support the Motion on the Floor. In
so doing, I crave your indulgence to raise an observation that is closely associated with the nomination, approval and appointment of Cabinet Ministers and Hon Ministers of State.
Mr Speaker, I have a list of 27 Hon Ministers of State that was referred to this House on 21st January, 2021. Some of them are Cabinet Ministers and others are sector Ministers. Mr Speaker, conspicuously absent on the list of Cabinet Ministers and even sector Ministers of State is the omission of two regions. The importance of this cannot be overemphasised and it is a constitutional provision under the Directive Principles of State Policy as enshrined in Article 35 of the Constitution - that there must be reasonable regional balance in the appointment of political appointees and public servants in the political system.

Mr Speaker, it is against this background that I think the omission by His Excellency the President to appoint at least an Hon Minister of State each from the Upper East Region and the Oti Region is in breach of this Constitution.

Mr Speaker, for the avoidance of doubt, article 35 deals with political
Mr Speaker, let me quote article 35(6) (b) of the 1992 Constitution 12:17 p.m.
“(6) Towards the achievement of the objectives stated in clause (5) of this article, the State shall take appropriate measures to -
(b) achieve reasonable regional and gender balance in recruitment and appointment to public offices;”
What are the objectives behind this? Firstly, it is to foster political unity and cohesion in the country. Secondly, it is to provide for participatory democracy, which is to deepen
democracy in the country, and thirdly to deepen democracy in the country.
So if we are all to participate and deepen democracy and unify this country, then at a Cabinet meeting, if an issue affecting a particular region is raised, I think the President just needs to look round and point at a minister from that region to comment about it. If that happens, then Cabinet would be blessed to take an informed decision because the Hon Member from that region would be able to assist Cabinet to take that decision.
Mr Speaker, during the proceedings of the Consultative Assembly of which I am proud to have been one of them, this issue was very well considered. In fact, at that time, Hon Members were of the opinion that there must be a quota system in the appointment of people to the political offices and recruitment to the security services. And because of what had happened in the past that some of these appointments were related to the urban areas, towns and et cetera and even the rural areas that formed majority of the people of this country.
So it was decided that we should make a provision under the Directive Principles of State Policy for appointments to be based on quota basis so that every region would be
catered for. But during the course of the discussion, our attention was drawn to the fact that as a unitary State, it would have been a radical approach and with all the regions having different populations, it would have been difficult to make a quota system, which would have been very radical. So the compromise reached was that, we provide for the appointing authorities to have at the back of their minds and ensure that there is regional balance in the appointment of people to public offices and to the security services. It is not for nothing that we did that.
Mr Speaker would recall that under the 1969 Constitution, it was provided that only Members of Parliament could be Ministers of State. If one is not a Member of Parliament, he cannot be appointed as a Minister. Unfortunately, the Volta Region did not have a Member of Parliament on the Progress Party's tickets. Therefore, there was no Minister from that region, which was a disservice to this country that a huge region at that time as the Volta Region had no Minister of State or Minister in Cabinet. Therefore, if there was a matter affecting the Volta Region, nobody was there to assist the Cabinet.
This is why we made this provision to depart from the constitution of 1969 and 1979. It was not for any bad reason but for the purposes of cohesion of this country and participatory development of this country.
Mr Speaker, in 2001, when President Kufuor was sworn in and was appointing his Cabinet, at the end of the day, there was no minister from the Upper West Region. And during the Meet the Press programme, he was challenged why he had omitted to appoint a minister from the Upper West Region. I regret to say that the “Gentle Giant” had this infamous statement to make that there was no suitable material from the Upper West Region for him to work with. That was very unfortunate that ‘‘there was no suitable material from the Upper West Region for him to work with'' or appoint as a Cabinet Minister. That was quite unfortunate.
However, sooner than later, with the great respect and being a gentleman, he ate the humble pie and appointed one Prof. Raphael Kasim Kasanga, a then lecturer at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) as minister for Lands and Forestry. This was my school mate at the Navrongo Senior Secondary School,
Mr Speaker, let me quote article 35(6) (b) of the 1992 Constitution 12:27 p.m.
a professor. Also, we all know that if you take the then three northern regions before they were divided into five, the Upper West Region had more intelligentsia than any other region, with more experienced civil and public servants, yet President Kufuor said so. He did not take a cue from this.
So I expected that when President Kufuor did this, H. E. Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo would have taken a cue from it and appointed at least one minister from Oti Region and another minister from the Upper East Region where I come from, but unfortunately, he failed to do that, which is why I am using this forum to draw his attention to it so that he does the right thing.
Mr Speaker, I do not want it to be said or taken that it is a payback time. It is trite knowledge that in the 2020 Elections, out of the 15 constituencies, the New Patriotic Party (NPP) got only one constituency in the Upper East Region and in the Oti Region, they had no Member of Parliament. Is it payback time? No, it should not be. Is it a payback time that you did not give me any Member of Parliament and so I would not give you a minister? He is bound by the Constitution to give them a minister
and not bound by the outcome of the Parliamentary Elections.
I think it is important that we draw the attention of His Excellency the President to do the right thing. I believe it was an oversight, and if it was, he should correct it now.
Mr Speaker, even if there was no constitutional provision, with the greatest of respect, I think it is common sense that if we have a Cabinet and 16 Regions and the constitution allows you to appoint as many ministers as possible, you should have at least one from each region. In Cabinet, there are 19 ministers. So every region could have benefited from one Cabinet minister to make 16 then the three could have gone to any other region. If we look at the list now, there are some regions that have about two or three Cabinet Ministers with others having nothing at all. Are we one country, one people with one destiny? No, and we cannot have this to be happening.
Mr Speaker, there have been arguments that the provisions of the Directive State Principles of State Policy are not justiciable and so they are just there for one to observe or be guided. With the greatest respect, the highest court of the Land has made a pronouncement on this and said that they are justiciable and enforceable.
Mr Speaker, one of such cases - I do not want to be seen as pedantic or academic but at least to allay the fears of some people that if the President does so, he breaches the Constitution. The Supreme Court has held that it is justiciable. In the case of Ghana Lotto Operators Association and five others vs National Lottery Authority, a case that was presided by Justice Brobbey but Justice Professor Date-Bah, a very renowned Supreme Court judge and a law lecturer to all of us who have studied law was the one who delivered the judgement. Among other things, he said this, which with your kind permission, I quote:
“An issue is justiciable if it is capable of being settled by a court. Prima facie, one would have thought that everything in the Constitution should be justiciable. The Constitution is a legal document containing the most important rules on political governance. The courts have the responsibility of ensuring that these rules are complied with. To my mind, therefore, the starting point of the analysis should be that all the provisions of the Constitution are justiciable unless there are strong indications to the contrary in the
text or context of the Constitution.”
We therefore have much sympathy with the position of Adade JSC as he then was in the case of the New Patriotic Party vs the Attorney General.” Mr Speaker, this was the 31st December case which was reported in the 1993/94 Ghana Law Reports 35 on pages 65-66 when he said, and I quote with your permission:
“As stated earlier, the plaintiff relies inter alia on articles 35 and 41 of the Constitution of 1992. Both these articles come under Chapter 6 of the Constitution of 1992 entitled the Directive Principles of State Policy. It has been maintained in certain quarters that these directive principles are not justiciable and therefore cannot avail the plaintiff.

“I am aware that this idea of the alleged non-justiciability of the principles is pleaded very widely but I have not found it convincingly substantiated anywhere. I have the uncomfortable feeling that this may be one of those cases where
Mr Afenyo-Markin 12:27 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I was on my feet on a point of order but I thank you for the opportunity.
Mr Speaker, my respected Colleague was raising a constitutional issue. His contention is that the failure of the President to have a Minister from the Upper East in his Cabinet is unconstitutional. That is in plain language, his contention.
Mr Speaker, we may be guided, article 76 of the 1992 Constitution is clear. He is not saying that the President has not appointed a Minister from the Upper East Region. If that was his argument, then on all fours, he would have a point. He has not argued that there is no Minister from the Upper East. He is saying that there must be. If he says that he is expressing that for that to be considered, so be it. But if he says that it is unconstitutional, I am saying that we must not mislead people into thinking that the Constitution says so. That is all my point. In any event, what is in consideration here is Deputy Ministerial Nominees. So he has been overtaken by events. We are not considering Ministerial nominees. It is Deputy Ministerial nominees. All I want to say is that the President has not breached article 76 of the 1992 Constitution. Simpliciter.
Mr Speaker 12:27 p.m.
Hon Members, I thought this is being a Report that had been agreed upon by Hon Members on the basis of consensus, so we
would not be spending too much time in debating it again.
Hon Majority Chief Whip, it looks like you have a point you insist you want to make?
Mr Frank Annoh-Dompreh 12:27 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I thank you for your kindness.
Mr Speaker, first of all, I would want to commend the men and women who have had the privilege of being appointed by the President to be considered by this august House and I am very confident that they would come to complement the good works started by their Ministers.
Mr Speaker, it would be remiss on my part not to commend you for the intervention yesterday and particularly commend the Hon First Deputy Speaker, Leadership of Both sides of the House for the understanding we have had. At a point yesterday, I was very worried about what was happening and I think Both sides of the House expressed the worry.
Mr Speaker, the Appointments Committee has done a good job. The Leadership of the Committee has shown leadership since the dawn of their work and it is commendable, particularly this time. The kind of
Mr Speaker 12:37 p.m.
The nomination of the following as Deputy Ministers have accordingly been approved by the House.
They are:
Mr Andrew Kofi Agyapa Mercer, Deputy Minister for Energy;
Rev. John Ntim-Fordjour, Deputy Minister for Education;
Mr George Mireku Duker, Deputy Minister for Lands and Natural Resources;
Mr Kofi Amankwa-Manu, Deputy Minister for Defence;
Ms Naana Eyiah Quansah, Deputy Minister for the Interior;
Mr Alhassan Sulemana Tampuli, Deputy Minister for Transport;
Mr John Ampontuah Kumah, Deputy Minister for Finance;
Mr Frederick Obeng Adom, Deputy Minister for Transport;
Ms Mavis Nkansah-Buadu, Deputy Minister for Roads and Highways;

Mr Evans Opoku Bobie, Deputy Minister for Youth and Sports;

Mr Mohammed Hardi Tuferu, Deputy Minister for Food and Agriculture; and

Ms Tina Naa Ayele Mensah, Deputy Minister for Health.

Hon Members, these nominees have accordingly been approved by the House, and it will be forwarded by me to H. E. the President for his kind consideration in appointing them as deputy ministers of State.

Hon Members, let me also add my voice in thanking the Leadership of the Appointments Committee, and the Leadership in general for listening to my counsel yesterday, and for putting their heads together and resolving the impasse to enable us take the decision today. I thank Leadership so much for that.

I would want to add a word to the Hon Members of Parliament who have got this additional responsibility bestowed on them by H. E. the President, that your primary duty is to the people of Ghana as the representatives of the people; the people elected you to represent them in Parliament and you owe that primary duty to the people and to Parliament.

You have been given additional responsibility by H. E. the President and that is secondary. If you decide to sacrifice the mandate and legitimacy of the people for that of H.

As for what my senior, Hon Cletus Avoka has stated -- he is my senior at the Bar, and in any case, he was born long before me -- [Laughter] -- Do not let his voice be like Moses in the wilderness; it means a lot for the cohesion, and for our agenda of nation building. We should take these things seriously. It sins against some of the provisions of the Constitution. It is not unconstitutional; I said it ‘sins against' some of the constitutional provisions. So, I think that is a call on His Excellency to take that on board in future. I thank all of you for your cooperation.

Hon Members, I will ask for guidance from Leadership. Yes, the available Leader.
Mr Afenyo-Markin 12:37 p.m.
Mr Speaker, nothing now remains except to move that this House be adjourned until Tuesday, 22nd June, 2021 at 10 o'clock in the forenoon.
Alhaji Muntaka 12:37 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I beg to second the Motion.
Question put and Motion negatived.
Resolved Accordingly.
Mr Speaker 12:37 p.m.
Hon Members, I think the ‘noes' have it. [Laughter] -- So, we would continue with Business.
Alhaji Muntaka 12:37 p.m.
Mr Speaker, we only hope you could take the Question again. There are a number of committee meetings that have to be held, and you know that today is also Friday. As you rightly mentioned yesterday, Hon Members have to try and catch up with their constituents in good time. It is almost 1 o'clock, so we would be grateful if the Question is taken again.
Mr Speaker 12:37 p.m.
Hon Member, well this is the time, I am in your hands; it is not the time that you are in my hands -- [Laughter] -- So, you are taking the decision to continue with Business. Now, if you want to reconsider your earlier decision, do so.
Alhaji Muntaka 12:37 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I beg to move, that this honourable House should be adjourned to Tuesday, 22nd June, 2021 at 10 o'clock in the forenoon to enable us go and continue with committee meetings and other works in our constituencies.
Mr Speaker 12:37 p.m.
Hon Members, let us get clarification. Is the House moving to adjourn to 10 o'clock in
the forenoon or 2 o'clock in the afternoon?
Alhaji Muntaka 12:37 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I guess the sense of the House is to adjourn to 2 o'clock in the afternoon on Tuesday. [Hear! Hear!] - I therefore move that this House stands adjourned until Tuesday, 22nd June 2021 at 2 o'clock in the afternoon.
Mr Annoh-Dompreh 12:37 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I beg to second the Motion.
Mr Speaker 12:47 p.m.
Hon Members, I think the ‘noes' have it, [Laughter] and I am moving to the item numbered -- [Interruption] -- We must continue with Business because that is the decision of the House. We still have a number of items, and since you are interested in going on --
rose
Mr Speaker 12:47 p.m.
Yes, Hon Majority Deputy Whip?
Ms Lydia Seyram Alhassan 12:47 p.m.
Mr Speaker, it has to do with the time and not adjournment.
Mr Speaker 12:47 p.m.
The time was part of the Motion.
Hon Deputy Whip, I actually do not see that issue because the first Motion was to adjourn to Tuesday at 10.00 a. m. in the forenoon, but it was rejected. The second Motion was also to adjourn to 2.00 p.m., but it was also rejected. So, what other time do you prefer? If it is not 10.00 a. m. in the forenoon and not 2.00 p.m. in the afternoon, what time should it be? Should it be 4.00 p. m. in the evening?
Mr Mahama Ayariga 12:47 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I think that the first vote was based on not listening to you attentively. I think that Hon Members want the time to be 10.00 a. m. in the forenoon, but we inadvertently voted against the Motion. We thought that our Hon Chief Whip would have moved the second Motion for the same time, but somehow, he was wrongly inspired by others to change the time to 2.00 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I think that generally, the sense is that the adjournment should be to 10.00 a. m. in the forenoon on Tuesday. We would therefore appeal to you to allow us to move a third Motion for adjournment to Tuesday, 10.00 a.m. in the forenoon. I so move.
Mr Thomas Nyarko Ampem 12:47 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I beg to second the Motion for adjournment to Tuesday, 10.00 a.m. in the forenoon.
Question put and Motion agreed to.
Resolved Accordingly.
Mr Speaker 12:47 p.m.
Hon Members, the House is accordingly adjourned to Tuesday at 10.00 a. m. in the forenoon. The House is adjourned.
ADJOURNMENT 12:47 p.m.