Debates of 23 Jun 2021

MR FIRST DEPUTY SPEAKER
PRAYERS 3:04 p.m.
VOTES AND PROCEEDINGS AND THE OFFICIAL REPORT 3:04 p.m.
Mr First Deputy Speaker 3:04 p.m.
Hon Members, item numbered 4, Correction of Votes and Proceedings of Tuesday, 22nd June, 2021.
Page 1…17 --
Mr Patrick Yaw Boamah 3:04 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I just need your direction on paragraph 3, (i) of page 17 -- “Mrs Abena Osei-Asare, Hon MP and Deputy Minister-designate for Finance”.
Mr Speaker, to the best of my knowledge, this House has approved her nomination as a Deputy Minister for Finance and we have performed our part. There is an argument that before the “Designate” is deleted, she has to swear an oath before the
President. That I think I disagree with this because the 1992 Constitution says that the President shall appoint a Minister and Deputy Minister of State with the prior approval of Parliament.
We have performed that function as stipulated by the Constitution. I have taken the oaths of office in the Constitution and I have not seen the oath that they are going to take before the President in the Constitution.
To the best of my knowledge, there is strict separation of powers that is why the President referred their nominations to us and we have done same. So I think the right designation should be “…Hon MP and Deputy Minister for Finance” not “…Hon MP and Deputy Minister-designate for Finance”. Mr Speaker, I need your direction on that?
Mr Rockson-Nelson E. K. Dafeamekpor 3:04 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I disagree with the Hon Member for Okaikwei Central. This is a three- stage process. The 1992 Constitution provides a three-stage process -- the nomination, the parliamentary approval and the appointment, which is the swearing in? Until that is done, our Hon Colleague remains a Deputy Minister-designate. Indeed, there are precedents. If we recall, Hon Oti
Bless went through the same process. So for now, the Hon Member for Atiwa East cannot properly be called the Deputy Minister for Finance at all. She has to swear to an oath of office as Deputy Minister.
The President can actually make fresh nominations to Parliament in respect of the Hon Member for Atiwa East but we do not want that to happen. We wish that the President would carry out the process of properly swearing her in. So I think the record reflects the situation as now properly.
Mr Murtala M. Ibrahim 3:04 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I think that for one to have some responsibilities as a Minister or a Deputy Minister, he or she must take the oath of office. If he or she has been vetted and approved and has not been sworn in -- [Interruption] -- the swearing-in puts some huge responsibilities on him or her. His conduct would be regulated to a very large extent by the oath of office. So if the Hon Member was vetted and approved, until she takes the oath of office, she cannot hold herself as a Deputy Minister.
Mr First Deputy Speaker 3:04 p.m.
What is your authority for saying that she must take the oath of office before she assumes her duty? Can you help the House?
Mr M. M. Ibrahim 3:04 p.m.
Mr Speaker, as Hon Members of Parliament, we were voted for, declared as winners of our various constituencies but we still could not hold ourselves up as Hon Members of Parliament until we took the oath of office and then the President too. So I think Hon Patrick Boamah's argument is completely flawed.
Mr First Deputy Speaker 3:04 p.m.
Very well. I was hoping that you would hit on a particular constitutional provision which says so but I agree with the argument made by Hon Dafeamekpor. The 1992 Constitution says that the President shall appoint a Minister or Deputy Minister with the prior approval. So the approval must happen before the appointment. First, you are nominated and brought to the House. The House approves the nomination then the President would appoint you and then you take the oath of office that is provided for under article 80 of the 1992 Constitution:
“A Minister of State or Deputy Minister shall not enter upon the duties of his office unless he has taken and subscribed to the oath of allegiance, the oath of Minister of State and the Cabinet oath, as the case may be, set out in the Second Schedule to this Constitution.”
Mr Kwame Governs Agbodza 3:14 p.m.
Mr Speaker, yesterday, I was scheduled to ask the Hon Minister for Gender, Children and Social Protection a question. She did not turn up in the House and no commu- nication was read from the Chair to the House as to why she was not here, and today, I cannot see the Question on the Order Paper. May I know --?
Mr First Deputy Speaker 3:14 p.m.
Hon Member, so where are the proceedings in that?
Mr Agbodza 3:14 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I thought there should have been a way of recording that she did not come to answer the Question. Otherwise, if I do not raise it, it goes away and it is recorded as though the Question was never asked and never answered. So, I am making the application that there should have been a pronouncement in the Votes and Proceedings that she did not turn up to answer the Question, that is why I am saying that the Votes and Proceedings is
incomplete until there is a statement in there that she did not come to answer the Question, so she should be rescheduled.
Mr First Deputy Speaker 3:14 p.m.
Hon Member, I am sure of when this occurred. Was the Question called, and the Hon Minister did not appear, or the Question was not called at all?
Mr Agbodza 3:14 p.m.
Mr Speaker, the Question was scheduled and I was here ready to ask the Question, but the Hon Minister was not available.
Mr First Deputy Speaker 3:14 p.m.
Hon Member, the Question was scheduled, but was it called? If it was not called, then it was not a proceeding in the House; it was part of the agenda, but we did not take any action on it.
The Votes and Proceedings records actions, decisions and activities that have happened on the floor of the House. I think the Table Office will assist in drawing the Hon Minister's attention and then, the Business Committee will reschedule the Question.
Mr Dafeamekpor 3:14 p.m.
Mr Speaker, may I indicate that on page 9, item numbered 2, Hon Ntim Fordjour is also an honourable Member of this House. In the list, all the other
Members of Parliament have “MP” indicated against their names. There is no ‘MP' indicated against the name of Rev Ntim Fordjour. I think for the purpose of consistency, the Table Office should do that.
Mr First Deputy Speaker 3:14 p.m.
Hon Member, sorry. Which page are you referring to?
Mr Dafeamekpor 3:14 p.m.
Mr Speaker, page 9 (ii).
Mr First Deputy Speaker 3:14 p.m.
Hon Member, which Votes and Procee- dings are you looking at? Kindly confirm it, because on my page 9, there is no (ii) -- Are you looking at a different one? -- Very well.
Hon Members, in the absence of any further corrections, the Votes and Proceedings of Tuesday, 22nd June, 2021 as corrected, is hereby adopted as the true record of proceedings.
Hon Members, it is Question time. The first one is Question numbered 45, which stands in the name of the Hon Member for South Dayi. Yes, Hon Member, you may ask your Question?
rose
Mr First Deputy Speaker 3:14 p.m.
Hon Dafeamekpor hold on. Yes, Hon Kofi Adams, what is the matter?
Mr K. I. Adams 3:14 p.m.
Mr Speaker, the Business for the Week that was approved last Friday by this House had two Urgent Questions scheduled to be asked on Wednesday, 23rd June, 2021 by Hon Kobena Mensah Woyome and Hon Kofi Adams.
Mr Speaker, yesterday's provi- sional Order Paper that was published for 23rd June, 2021 also captured those two Urgent Questions. However, when we received the Order Paper for today, those two Urgent Questions have disappeared and no reason has been provided for the disappearance of those two Urgent Questions.
The one which stands in my name is to the Minister for Food and Agriculture, and the other one in the name of Mr Kobena Mensah Woyome to the Minister for Youth and Sports.
So, we would need some explana- tion why these two Ministers cannot appear to answer the Urgent Questions as scheduled in the Business Statement for the week and the provisional Order Paper which was published yesterday?

Member, the Table Office would find out the reason and advise me. But for now, Hon Dafeamekpor, you may ask your Question.

Hon Minister for National Security, you may take your seat.
ORAL ANSWERS TO 3:24 p.m.
QUESTIONS 3:24 p.m.
MINISTRY OF NATIONAL 3:24 p.m.
SECURITY 3:24 p.m.
Mr Rockson-Nelson Etse Kwami Dafeamekpor (NDC -- South Dayi) 3:24 p.m.
asked the Minister for National Security the circumstances under which DCOP Opare Addo (Rtd) was assaulted in his office in Kumasi.
Minister for National Security (Mr Albert Kan-Dapaah) 3:24 p.m.
Mr Speaker, thank you.
Mr Speaker, DCOP Opare Addo was given a two -year contract to serve as the Ashanti Regional Security Liaison Officer after the expiration of an initial two-year contract which
began on January 5, 2018. His new appointment took effect from January 1, 2020 and was to expire on December 31, 2022.
However, his appointment was terminated on February 19, 2021 by the National Security Coordinator. Upon the termination of his contract, DCOP Opare Addo was paid his entitlements as per his appointment letter.
Subsequent to the termination of the appointment of DCOP Opare Addo, the Ministry appointed Col Francis Dofa Arthur (Rtd) as the new Ashanti Regional Security Liaison Officer. The Colonel's appointment took effect from 1st May, 2021, but DCOP Opare Addo refused to hand over to Col Francis Dofa Arthur (Rtd). DCOP Opare Addo then declined numerous invitations from the National Security Coordinator to explain his refusal to vacate the office. Meanwhile, his continued stay in office obstructed the work of the new Regional Security Liaison Officer.
Mr Speaker, against this back- drop, personnel from the Ministry of National Security were on 11th May, 2021 dispatched to the Ashanti Region to ascertain the reason for DCOP Opare Addo's refusal to hand over to this successor and if it became necessary, to change the locks of the door to his office.
On arrival at the office, the personnel duly introduced themselves but were met with acts of hostility by DCOP Opare Addo, including drawing his side arm. The personnel managed to restrain him and retrieved the side arm.
Till date, no official complaint has been made by DCOP Opare Addo either to his immediate boss, the National Security Coordinator or to me as the sector Minister regarding the alleged assault on him. Neither has the Ministry of National Security received any correspondence from the Police in relation to the allegations by DCOP Opare Addo. The Ministry will like to assure the House of its willingness to investigate the allegations, should any official complain be made by DCOP Opare Addo.
Mr Dafeamekpor 3:24 p.m.
Mr Speaker, the Hon Minister in his Answer indicated that even though the appointment of DCOP Opare Addo (Rtd) was to last until December 2022, same was terminated in February 2021. Could the Hon Minister for National Security tell this House the circumstances under which the appointment of DCOP Opare Addo (Rtd) was terminated in February, 2021?
Mr Kan-Dapaah 3:24 p.m.
Mr Speaker, the reasons for the termination of the appointment of DCOP Opare Addo (Rtd) were clearly spelt out in the letter of termination. I do not consider it appropriate to say what the reasons were publicly. However, DCOP Opare Addo (Rtd) will admit that the reasons for the termination were made known to him.
Mr Dafeamekpor 3:24 p.m.
Mr Speaker, the Hon Minister told this House that the appointment of the new Regional Security Coordinator for the Ashanti Region was to have taken effect in May 2021, yet the appointment of DCOP Opare Addo (Rtd) was terminated in February 2021, and in doing so, his entitlements were fully paid. May I know from the Hon Minister, when exactly his entitlement was paid upon termination?
Mr Kan-Dapaah 3:24 p.m.
Mr Speaker, the entitlements were paid to him within a matter of some few weeks after the termination.
Mr Dafeamekpor 3:24 p.m.
Mr Speaker, finally, the National Security Coordinator is telling Parliament that when a staff's appointment was terminated and he allegedly refused to vacate post, they sent men to change the locks to his office. Is the National Security Coordinator telling us that such is the normal procedure
Mr Kan-Dapaah 3:24 p.m.
Mr Speaker, neither is it the normal procedure for a senior officer to refuse to leave his office after his appointment has been terminated. Under the circumstances, we did not have any other option but to find a way to get him out of the office.
Mr Kwame Governs Agbodza 3:24 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I thank you for the opportunity.
The Hon Minister says that it is not a standard procedure to forcefully remove somebody from office using the method that they used, and I agree. He also in his Answer said that he would be happy to investigate the circumstances.
Obviously, his former officer was a senior police officer before taking up that position, so, he is well vested in issues like that. Since this is not
standard practice, can the Hon Minister set up a committee to investigate the reasons he refused to hand over peacefully, leading to the actions that his outfit took, so that in the future, we would have a better way of resolving this? Can he assure the House that he would set up a committee to investigate this issue and apprise the House as to the outcome of that investigation?
Mr Kan-Dapaah 3:24 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I obviously do not think that there is any need for me to set up any investigative committee to go and look into it. The man had been given a letter that he was no longer going to be retained in the system. His appointment had been terminated, but he refused to go, so, clearly, we needed to advise him to go. We therefore, talked to him on several occasions, but he would not leave the office.
Meanwhile, the position of a Regional Security Liaison Officer is so important that we could not have allowed him to stay there for years or months without him leaving. I do not think that there was anything improper with the decision that was taken to get him out of the office by changing the locks to his office.
Mr Peter Lanchene Toobu 3:24 p.m.
Mr Speaker, let me take this opportunity to seek some clarification from the
Hon Minister. The retired Deputy Commissioner of Police understands what structure means, and I do know that if the National Security Coordinator terminates his contract and asks him to vacate his office and hand over, if he refuses, then the matter is expected to go to the National Security Minister because the National Security Coordinator works under him.
Therefore, I would want to know from the Hon Minister, the steps he took when he heard of this, if he was really informed. I do not think that sending the young men to lock DCOP Opare Addo's office under the National Security Coordinator was his action. The action at his level would not be to send men to lock his office, it would have been something else.
Mr First Deputy Speaker 3:24 p.m.
Hon Members, by our rules, a follow up question must flow from the answers given by the Hon Minister. I think that I have allowed too many questions to stray into new areas. So, the questions must flow from the answers given, but it should not be the introduction of new matters. You should not introduce new matters because our interest is in the answer that the Hon Minister gives. Your question now, introduces new matters, if I heard you correctly.
Mr Toobu 3:24 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I am not introducing a new matter, I am just flowing from the answer that the Hon Minister gave. [Interruption] --
Mr First Deputy Speaker 3:24 p.m.
Hon Member, ignore the heckling and keep talking to me. It is part of Parliamentary procedure.
Mr Toobu 3:34 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I am flowing from the answer that according to the structure, DCOP Opare Addo is supposed to report to the National Security Coordinator, and the National Security Co- ordinator is also to report to the National Security Minister. So, my simple question was to know from the Hon Minister, whether he was aware of the banter between the National Security Coordinator and the Regional Security Coordinator, and what did he do as their supervisor?
Mr First Deputy Speaker 3:34 p.m.
Whether he was aware of what?
Mr Toobu 3:34 p.m.
Whether he was aware of the disagreements. Somebody was on retirement and was supposed to leave the office; Several invitations by the National Security Coordinator fell on deaf ears; he refused to come. They are both supervised by the Minister for
Mr Kan-Dapaah 3:34 p.m.
Mr Speaker, the appointment letter to DCOP Opare Addo was very clear and specific that his appointment could be terminated at any time at the discretion of the National Security Coordinator, and if the National Security Coordinator did so, he then had to pay him some money. The National Security Coordinator had every right to terminate the contract, and he had the obligation to pay DCOP Opare Addo the moneys that were due him. The money was paid, and I can confirm that the National Security Coordinator briefed me about what was going on, and I endorsed what he did.
Mr Emmanuel Kwasi Bedzrah 3:34 p.m.
Mr Speaker, from the answers of the Hon Minister, he said a senior police officer is ought to have known that when his appointment was terminated, he was no longer needed and therefore, he had to vacate his post. I would want to find out from the Hon Minister in saying that a senior officer ought to know, does removing DCOP Opare Addo from office also include assault on him? Is assault also included in his eviction from the office?
Mr First Deputy Speaker 3:34 p.m.
Hon Member, did the Hon Minister say in his Answer that there was assault? He did not say so. He said that there has not been any report of assault to him; there is no complaint of assault by the former Coordinator. That is what emanates from his Answer.
Mr Yusif Sulemana 3:34 p.m.
Mr Speaker, from the Answer of the Hon Minister, he said that the only way to get DCOP Opare Addo out of office was to send his men to go and change the locks. I would want to find out from the Hon Minister whether he could not have reported the case to the police for investigation rather than use that other method?
Mr Kan-Dapaah 3:34 p.m.
Mr Speaker, there could have been so many other ways, but this was obviously an option, it was the one we considered more useful and we adopted it.
Mr Kobena Mensah Woyome 3:34 p.m.
Mr Speaker, in the Minister's Answer, he indicated that in the appointment letter that was issued to the officer, it indicated that the Minister at his own discretion could terminate the appointment at any time. Will the Hon Minister consider the fact that for good governance, it is always good to explain to the officer any
wrongdoing and for the purposes of the public to also understand before the termination so that we could all be in the known for the reason the termination ought to be carried out?
Mr First Deputy Speaker 3:34 p.m.
Hon Member, he has answered that question; it was asked by the Hon Defeamekpor. He said the notice to him contained the reasons; it is personal to him, and he does not think it is for the consumption of the public.
Ms Dzifa Abla Gomashie 3:34 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I would like to know whether the individual ever responded to the letter that the Hon Minister referred to?
Mr Kan-Dapaah 3:34 p.m.
Mr Speaker, he did not respond, and he refused to move out of the office.
Mr Kofi Iddie Adams 3:34 p.m.
Mr Speaker, the Hon Minister in his Answer said that originally, there was no option but to send men to have a key engagement with the appointee who refused to vacate office after his appointment had been terminated. However, in an answer also to a follow up question, he indicated that reporting to the police was an option. We are dealing with a Regional
Security Liaison Officer of a region that has 47 constituencies and almost the same number of districts. It is a very critical region.
The Hon Minister has told us that that was an option, but it was not utilised, and we kept an officer who otherwise was not supposed to be in office to handle matters of security from February all the way to May, 2021. Does the Hon Minister think that this is the way we should handle sensitive security officers in terms of their termination and then take over? Can he assure the House that we would do better in the future?
Mr Kan-Dapaah 3:34 p.m.
Mr Speaker, we did the right thing. We certainly would repeat it if we have to do it again to any other officer. Yes, there were options: we could have begged him, which we did, but he did not listen; and we could have gone to his wife and friends to appeal to him. That is what I meant that there could have been other options, but the one we adopted was to go there, ask him to give us the keys, and if he refused, we would try to change the locks by force. That is what we did. If it repeats itself, we would do something similar.
You also rightly conceded that given the nature of his job, it was important that once we had decided that he should leave, and for good reasons,
Mr James Klutse Avedzi 3:34 p.m.
Mr Speaker, the Hon Minister said that the forced action was the best option that they used to remove DCOP Opare Addo from office. As the Minister for National Security, if any citizen of this country also adopts the same force against the other, is that person right?
Mr First Deputy Speaker 3:44 p.m.
Hon Member, the word “force” was introduced by you. The Hon Minister said they removed his locks, but you introduced “force” into it. You introduced your own fact, and used that as the basis of your question. You can reframe your question please.
Mr Avedzi 3:44 p.m.
Mr Speaker, the Hon Minister said that the option they used to remove DCOP Opare Addo from office was the best by going to demand the keys from him and if he refused, they would change the locks -- If another citizen of this country also adopts the same method, is that citizen right or wrong?
Mr First Deputy Speaker 3:44 p.m.
That is asking for an opinion which you know sins against our rules, so if you wish to ask another question, as a leader, you may. [Pause]
Hon Minister, we thank you for attending upon the House to answer the Questions. You are discharged. The next set of Questions would be answered by the Hon Minister for Energy. Question numbered 47, standing in the name of the Hon Member for Jirapa, Mr Cletus Seidu Dapilah?
MINISTRY OF ENERGY 3:44 p.m.
Mr Cletus Seidu Dapilah (NDC --Jirapa) 3:44 p.m.
asked the Minister for Energy when the following communities would be connected to the national grid: (i) Ping (ii) Han-Guri (iii) Kogri (iv) Kogri No. 1 (v) Nabiri (vi) Mwofopaala (vii) Duori-Gyang.
Minister for Energy (Dr Matthew Opoku Prempeh) 3:44 p.m.
The communities namely: Ping, Han-Guri, Kogri, Kogri No.1 and Gyang form part of the Ministry of Energy's ongoing SHEP-5 Rural Electrification Project in the Jirapa District of the Upper West Region. High Voltage (HV) and Low Voltage (LV) network
construction works have been completed at Kogri, Kogri No. 1 and Duori-Gyan (Gyang) communities. Ping and Han-Guri are under existing HV network and require Transformer Substation installation works.
The Low Voltage (LV) poles required for Ping, Han-Guri and Gyang communities have been supplied and planted in the communities. The Ministry is however yet to supply LV pole-top accessories to allow for stringing to commence. Kogri and Kogri No. 1 are yet to receive LV poles.
The delays in the execution of the electrification project in the above mentioned communities are as a result of the shortage of some key materials/ equipment including conductors, stay wire, HV and LV poles, et cetera. The Ministry is expecting some deliveries of materials/equipment and will arrange for the release of same for installation works to resume at site. The Ministry of Energy expects to complete the installation works in the above-mentioned communities by end of 2021.
Nabiri and Mwofopaala commu- nities do not form part of any of the Ministry's projects. The communities have been noted and will be
considered for connection to the National Electricity Grid in sub- sequent phases of the electrification programme.
Thank you.
Mr Dapilah 3:44 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I am very happy about the Answer the Hon Minister has provided. I just want to appeal to him to help these communities when materials are available. I do not have follow-up questions, except to appeal to him. This is so dear to the people and we all know that rural electrification -- [Interruption.] All these commu- nities that I have mentioned -- [Interruption.]
Mr First Deputy Speaker 3:44 p.m.
Hon Member, thank you. We have heard your gratitude and he would work with that.
Mr Dapila 3:44 p.m.
Thank you very much.
Mr First Deputy Speaker 3:44 p.m.
Question numbered 69, in the name of the Hon Member for Sawla/Tuna/ Kalba, Andrew Dari Chiwitey. [Interruption]
Hon Members, there is too much noise in the Chamber please. Thank you.
Minister for Energy (Dr Matthew Opoku Prempeh) 3:44 p.m.
Mr Speaker the Nasolyiri, Sanyeri, Kpangri and Soma communities form part of the Ministry of Energy's ongoing SHEP-5 Rural Electrification Project in the Sawla-Tuna-Kalba District of the Savannah Region. 514 out of 799 High Voltage (HV) poles required for Nasolyiri, Sanyeri, Kpangri and Soma have been supplied and planted at site.
Pole-top dressing and stringing have been done for some of the HV poles planted at site. Remaining HV poles and complementary pole-top materials/equipment including stay blocks, aluminium clamps for strain insulators, et cetera, are however yet to be supplied to site.
All the Low Voltage (LV) poles required for Nasolyiri, Sanyeri and Soma have been supplied and planted. Most of the LV pole-top accessories have been supplied and the dressing of the poles, started. Complementary materials/equipment including stay
blocks, shackle insulators, et cetera are yet to be supplied to allow stringing of the network. Kpangri is however yet to receive LV poles.
The delays in the execution of the electrification project in the above mentioned communities are as a result of the shortage of some key materials/ equipment including HV poles, stay blocks, shackle insulators, aluminium clamps for strain insulators, et cetera. The Ministry is expecting some deliveries of materials/equipment and will arrange for the release of same for installation works to resume at site.
The Ministry of Energy expects to complete installation works at Nasolyiri, Sanyeri and Soma communities by the end of 2021 whereas Kpangri community has been scheduled for completion in
2022.
Goyiri and Gando communities do not form part of any of the Ministry's projects. The communities have been noted and will be considered for connection to the National Electricity Grid in subsequent phases of the electrification programme.
Mr Chiwitey 3:44 p.m.
Mr Speaker, the high voltage poles required and the HV poles planted in these communities were done in 2016. In
October 2017, I asked the then Minister a question on these communities and he mentioned a shortage of these same materials as the reason. He assured me that they would work on the project in April,
2018.
Mr Speaker, today, it is the same shortage. My question to the Hon Minister is, does it mean that since 2017 to date, these materials mentioned have not been acquired by Government?
Dr Prempeh 3:44 p.m.
Mr Speaker, as soon as we acquire these materials, I would ensure that the community is well catered for.
Mr Chiwitey 3:44 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I am a worried Member of Parliament (MP) today because I have done several follow-ups on the progress of this electrification project. The difficulty I have is that during the whole of the four years between 2017 to 2020, not a single community in my constituency was connected to the national grid. We are in 2021 and still repeating the same answers.
Mr Speaker, could the Hon Minister give us assurance that by the end of 2021, the communities listed would be connected, so that as a
member of the Government Assurances Committee, I can hold him by his word?
Dr Prempeh 3:54 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I am now scared of my Hon Colleague who is a member of the Government Assurances Committee. I am scared and need protection because in his question, he made so much emphasis on four years, between 2017 and 2020, forgetting that there was 2012 to 2016 or 2008 or 2016.
The truth of the matter is, as soon as we get some of these equipment, all Hon Members of Parliament rush to get some to support their electrification projects. However, I want to assure the Hon Member that as some arrive, I would make sure that the Sawla/Tuna/Kalba Constituency would be supplied.
Mr Chiwitey 3:54 p.m.
Mr Speaker, the Hon Minister has not convinced me enough to believe that Sawla/Tuna/ Kalba communities would have electricity. Mr Speaker, with your permission I beg to quote the last but one paragraph of the Hon Minister's Answer which says:
“The Ministry of Energy expects to complete installation works at
Mr First Deputy Speaker 3:54 p.m.
Hon Member, do you think that what the Hon Minister said in his Answer is not enough?
Mr Chiwitey 3:54 p.m.
Mr Speaker, it is not enough. I would want to know exactly when in 2022? Even with the communities that were scheduled to have their electrification project completed by the end of 2021, he has still not confirmed that yet and now he has pushed this particular community which has the hope to get connectivity this year to 2022. I want an assurance from the Hon Minister whether it would be in January or December, 2022?
Dr Prempeh 3:54 p.m.
Mr Speaker, an already tight deadline has been made
tighter and my Hon Colleague has drawn me in as though he wants to put a noose round my neck. We could stay with 2022 because between the two of us we could sort certain things out.
rose
Mr First Deputy Speaker 3:54 p.m.
Hon Member, this is a constituency specific question but I know that you share boundary with the Hon Member, and so I would allow you to ask a follow-up question.
Mr Y. Sulemana 3:54 p.m.
Mr Speaker, with your permission, I beg to quote the last sentence of paragraph 3 of the Hon Minister's Answer which says:
“The Ministry is expecting some deliveries of materials/equipment and will arrange for the release of same for installation works to resume at site.''
Mr Speaker, I would want to find out where these equipment and materials come from and what is the expected time frame in terms of their receipt?
Dr Prempeh 3:54 p.m.
Mr Speaker, our duty is to make the purchase orders -- these equipment come from all over the world.
Today, about 18 sub-contractors who were given orders of some of these equipment have come back to say that because of the COVID-19 pandemic -- [Interruption.] Meanwhile, when the contract was given them it was in the COVID-19 era and they took the contract and the time that they are supposed to deliver has gone by, most times more than six months and they want me to extend it and even vary the price.
Mr Speaker, I wish I could look in my Hon Colleague's eye and tell him tomorrow, but it is work in progress and so as soon as we get it, we would deliver.
Mr First Deputy Speaker 3:54 p.m.
Question numbered 70, which stands in the name of the Hon Member for Central Tongu, Mr Alexander Roosevelt Hottordze.
Network distribution of the National Electricity Grid in the
Central Tongu Constituency
Mr Alexander Roosevelt Hottordze (NDC -- Central Tongu) 3:54 p.m.
asked the Hon 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.
Dr Prempeh 3:54 p.m.
Mr Speaker, to improve the distribution network in the Central Tongu Constituency, the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) Limited which is in charge of the operation and maintenance of the network following the completion of the Self-Help Electrification Project (SHEP), has been undertaking system improvement works in the Constituency. Some of the works include the following:
i. Injection of Transformer and LV network extension at Adidome Sectech Area;
ii. LV system improvement and transformer injection at Adidome Zongo;
iii. LV system improvement and transformer injection at Mafi Akyemfo;
iv. Injection of transformer and LV network extension at Mafi Kumasi;
v. Injection of transformer and LV network extension at Kpogede; and
Mr Hottordze 3:54 p.m.
Mr Speaker, admittedly, some works were done in the aforementioned communities but many of the areas in those communities could not get poles and in addition to that a lot more of the communities are left untouched. I would like to find out from the Hon Minister what plans the Ministry has for those communities that still need poles and secondly, what plans the Ministry has for communities that have not benefitted at all?
Dr Prempeh 3:54 p.m.
Mr Speaker, admittedly, these two subsequent questions are slightly out of way with the main stem of question. I would plead with the Hon Member that if there are still communities that need to be connected, he should write to us for us to know so that survey and feasibility studies could be done and if there are still some areas that need poles, he should let us know so that we could work together.
Mr First Deputy Speaker 3:54 p.m.
Thank you, Hon Minister for attending upon the House to answer our questions. You are discharged.
Hon Members, that brings us to the end of Question time for today.
Item numbered 6 -- Statements.
The first Statement is in the name of the Hon Member for Tamale North, Mr Alhassan Suhuyini Sayibu.
STATEMENTS 4:04 p.m.
Mr Alhassan Suhuyini Sayibu (NDC -- Tamale North) 4:04 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I thank you for the opportunity to make this Statement to eulogise Mr Kwesi Baffoe-Bonnie aka “Baboo'', for his role in private broadcasting development in Ghana. Mr Speaker, permit me to quote this wise saying:
“No man can be a good citizen who is not a good husband and a good father, who is not honest in his dealings with other men and women, faithful to his friends and fearless in the presence of his foes'' -- Theodore Roosevelt.
Mr Speaker, Mr Kwesi Sainti Baffoe-Bonnie was a compassionate man with conviction, commitment and candour. These values inspired his
unrelenting beliefs in freedom, liberty, human rights and good governance.
As a founding CEO of Network Broadcasting Company (operators of Radio Gold 90.5 FM), he subscribed to the notion of a democracy that delivers and inspires true divergent opinions.
In this regard, he asserted that Ghanaian citizens can be uplifted through a democracy that truly and delightfully delivers to the needs of citizens.
Kwesi Sainti Baffoe, alias Baboo, as he was affectionately called, was a literary titan, master of political satire and a matchless maestro of socio- economic and religio-cultural metaphors. All these he deployed to strengthen and widen the frontiers of liberty, freedom and good governance for the Republic of Ghana.
Kwesi Sainti Baffoe-Bonnie was born in 1950 in the Western North Region of Ghana. He graduated from the University of Cape Coast in Ghana with a Bachelor of Arts degree, BA (Hons) Ed in History: 1978/79 and a Master of Arts degree in International Affairs (MAIA) from Ohio University, USA: 1980/81.
His tenure as Chief Executive of Radio Gold was a crucible for media
freedom, pluralism and divergent opinions. The real and impactful voice, of the voiceless Ghanaian, found vociferous vitality and elegant expression on mainstream radio, on programmes such as “Kanawu” hosted by Kwame Sefa Kayi. The “Friday Morning Rejoinder” co- hosted by Paul Adom Otchere and Carlos Von Brazi (Charles Adumua- Bossman, a Deputy Chief of Staff at the Office of the President).
Kwesi Sainti Baffoe-Bonnie was not only a firm believer of first- generation human rights activist, which are political and civil rights for this beloved country. He also pivoted towards second- generation rights such as economic, cultural and social rights.
Substantially, third-generation rights such as development, peace, healthy environment and common heritage loomed large on the wealthy and unrivalled contents on Ghana's Power Station, Radio Gold 90.5; “the station for the most”.
The radio jingle, “this radio station rules the nation with vision”, resonates with practical wisdom, political correctness and phenomenal philosophy, of a radio station that is purposeful, progressive and poignantly poised to stand for Ghana's motto -- Freedom and Justice.
Mr First Deputy Speaker 4:04 p.m.
Hon Members, I will allow two contributions each including leadership. So, yes?
Ms Dzifa Abla Gomashie (NDC-- Ketu South) 4:04 p.m.
I thank you so much, Mr Speaker, for the opportunity.
With your permission, I would like to reiterate a point that is in the paper in support of this Statement for Baffoe-Bonnie.
My Hon Brother, Suhuyini says, “Mr Baffoe-Bonnie loves the media, culture and the arts” and I rise to confirm this. I met Mr Baffoe-Bonnie in the late 1980s. As an actress, he approached me with a story on Kofi
Mr First Deputy Speaker 4:14 p.m.
Yes, Hon John Jinapor?
[Interruption] --
Very well, I was looking around and I did not see -- but I have given him the opportunity and so, I will come back after --
Some Hon Members 4:14 p.m.
Mr Speaker's friend.
Mr John Abdulai Jinapor (NDC -- Yapei/Kusawgu) 4:14 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I heard some Hon Colleagues say; “Mr
Speaker's friend”. Let me put on record that I am not Mr Speaker's friend, I am his nephew.
[Laughter] --
Mr First Deputy Speaker 4:14 p.m.
You are only compounding my problems.
Mr J. A. Jinapor 4:14 p.m.
Mr Speaker, thank you very much. I wish to commend my Hon Colleague - Mr Sayibu for eulogising a pan-Africanist, a man of peace and of many parts.
Mr Speaker, like Hon Sayibu stated, a lot of the celebrities today within the media fraternity had the opportunity of learning under the feet of Mr Kwesi Sainti Baffoe-Bonnie popularly known as “Baboo”.
I got to meet him when we were in opposition around the year 2007 during a visit to Radio Gold. My brother was then representing the New Patriotic Party (NPP) on the Alhaji and Alhaji Show and that was when I had the opportunity of meeting him.
Immediately I met him, we connected and he told me that he would like to adopt me as a son. He invited me to his house and we became friends.
Indeed, I do recalled that upon winning elections, he played a very instrumental role in my appointment. I cannot go into details but my appointment as special aid to former President Mahama was largely influenced by Mr Baffoe-Bonnie and he kept mentoring me.
Mr Speaker, frankly, before his untimely death, he was in my house in the evening and we had dinner together. Unfortunately, few days after that he passed on. I would dearly and greatly miss him and I recalled a lot of our travels and how he used to make us laugh and smile on the aircraft with former President Mahama.
This is because he was the most senior aide in the then Vice President Mahama's office at that time and we really worked together. The time that I noticed his immense contribution was after the death of former President Mills.
Indeed, we were not prepared for that and so, right after former President Mills' demise, we needed to do a lot of things as we were nearing elections and even at his age, he really demonstrated tenacity and we can only learn from his examples; he hardly got angry as he was a man of peace and more importantly, he promoted the African culture.
Mr First Deputy Speaker 4:14 p.m.
Hon Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, do you still want to contribute?
Mr Samuel Abdulai Jinapor (NPP -- Damongo) 4:14 p.m.
Mr Speaker, thank you for the opportunity to contribute to the Statement ably made by Hon Sayibu.
Growing up, my older brother has ever since bullied me and I thought that I had the opportunity to liberate
myself in this House but once again, he has had the opportunity to prove that he is senior of the two Jinapors. It is unfortunate.
Mr Speaker, on a more serious note, I met Mr Baffoe-Bonnie when I was a panelist on the Alhaji and Alhaji Show at Radio Gold and we became very good friends. At the time, when one was on the show, at the studio, there were three National Democratic Congress (NDC) panelists and I happened to always be the representative on the NPP side and there was this heavy door that seemed like a prison door that was slammed to close the studio before the show starts.
However, I felt comfortable in the premises of Radio Gold because largely, Mr Baffoe-Bonnie will always host me to some drinks and breakfast of a sort anytime the show ended. He was a good man and on many occasions, I would also insist that he joined me to enjoy some NPP food and on some rare occasions, he would follow me to the residence of the late Hon Victor Newman and we would have a chat over waakye together.
Mr Speaker, I rise to contribute to this Statement and to pay tribute to Mr Kwesi Sainti Baffoe-Bonnie solely on the grounds of his bi-partisanship.
In spite of his strong attachment to the NDC, I found him to be somebody who was very prepared to engage with people on the other Side of the political divide and I think that it is a good thing and he must be applauded for that kind of conduct.
I would say that Mr Baffoe-Bonnie was indeed a very good friend of mine as I have known him for all these years and we have engaged very closely over the years. I found him to be a good person who did not discriminate on political lines.
Mr Speaker, today, we have lost him and we are in this House to pay tribute to him and I believe that one of the things that strongly goes for him is the fact that he was a bi-partisan individual.
With these few words, I join my Hon Colleagues in paying glorious tribute to Mr Kwesi Sainti Baffoe Bonnie.
Mr First Deputy Speaker 4:14 p.m.
I said two contributions each including Leadership. The Leader ceded to Hon John Jinapor but I will give you that opportunity before I come to the Majority side.
Mr Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah (NDC -- Ellembelle) 4:24 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I have been itching to speak and I would like to thank the Hon Sayibu for the Statement.
Mr Speaker, I did not meet Mr Baffoe-Bonnie at Radio Gold or in the music industry. I met him while he was the advisor to former President John Dramani Mahama. I found him to be very helpful at a time I could describe him as a trouble-shooter.
I met him in a very difficult time in 2014 when as the Hon Minister for Energy, I was dealing with a lot and I needed someone I could count on and to also talk to, and Mr Baffoe-Bonnie came in handy. He spoke Sefwi and I spoke Nzema so we could understand each other.
At all times, he would correct me and he could come to my home in the middle of the night because he knew my family. Mr Speaker, his advice and counsel was very helpful. He was very kind and available at all times when he was needed and he was down to earth even though we had age difference.
Mr Speaker, we can go on and on but he was so important such that I have to rise and speak about the role
Mr First Deputy Speaker 4:24 p.m.
Hon Members, the next Statement is in the name of the Hon Member for Shai- Osudoku, Mrs Linda Obenewaa Akweley Ocloo. I am told that the Hon Member is not available so I would move to another Statement standing in the name of the Hon Member for Sissala West, Mr Mohammed Adams Sukparu.
Devastating State of Perennial Flooding in Ghana
Mr Mohammed A. Sukparu (NDC -- Sissala West) 4:34 p.m.
Mr Speaker, thank you very much and I am highly indebted to you for this august opportunity to make a Statement on the Devastating State of Perennial Flooding in Ghana.
Mr Speaker, this Statement is necessitated by the disturbing trend of calamities caused during the rainy seasons. A season that should be joyous is rather characterised by loss of lives and properties due to several factors that can be controlled. Many are displaced as we experience the rains. Mr Speaker, flooding was ranked the second highest natural disaster after an epidemic in Ghana in 2009 by the Centre for Research on
the Epidemiology of Disasters (CRED) on the International Disaster Database. Mr Speaker, floods lead to gross economic loss and pressure on the national purse.

A 1900-2014 study by S. Asumadu-Sarkodie and others on Flood Risk Management in Ghana reveals an approximate of 780.5 million economic loss to the country. Mr Speaker, flood is a non- negotiable major death trap with impacts such as the disruption of energy supply, communication, accommodation and transport amenities and possible interference in public service duties. Flooding has been witnessed in the urban parts of the country partially due to migration and improper planning. Ghana has experienced frequent urban flooding since 1930, per the empirical research on the situational analysis conducted by N. K. Karley in 2009.

Unfortunately, research conducted has proven that at least 18 out of 50 years records significant flooding occurrence where lives and properties are lost. A research work conducted in 2008 by I. Douglas and others showed that flooding has been on the rise in the coastal areas of Ghana since 1995.

Mr Speaker, I believe we cannot be oblivious of the causes of flooding in Ghana. Studies by Y. A. Twumasi and others in 2002 further revealed that flooding occurs as a result of intense and continuous rainfall.

The growing unpredictability in rainfall patterns, impact of climate change, ignored flaws in drainage work and poor physical planning and infrastructural development, the gradual wearing of the ozone is changing our rainfall patterns. In 2005, researchers identified changes in topography, vegetation covers and water bodies as factors influencing the ozone layer, notwithstanding the emission of carbon monoxide into the atmosphere.

Also, there is increase in physical structures on water access ways coupled with lack of drainage systems on our roads. It is not surprising to see houses built at the centre of water-ways. There is absolutely lack of enforcement of territorial layout plans.

Mr Speaker, on 3rd June, 2015, Ghana recorded one of the memorable but disturbing flooding incidents in its history. We all saw how most of the southern suburbs of Ghana experienced heavy thunder storm and rains. The Ghana Meteorological Agency's reports

shows that about 212.8 millilitres of rainfall was heavily centred in Accra which resulted in flooding most of the cities.

Adding to the pain was the explosion of a fuel filling station at the Kwame Nkrumah Circle which claimed over 150 lives coupled with the destruction of properties with 100s of dwellers being displaced. I recalled how it took me over eight hours to cover a distance of 10 kilometres to arrive home.

Recently, Mr Speaker, from 18TH to 28th June, 2018, the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO) revealed that floods damaged properties estimated at US$168,289 and displaced 34,076 families and killed 14 people.

Mr Speaker, I am not a prophet of doom, but I would want us to be reminded that we are in the month of June, and that is characterised by unexpected rainfall calamities. Thus, we must take urgent steps in anticipation of unexpected heavy downpours. My worries keep increasing anytime it is cloudy because I would not want to see history repeat itself.

Mr Speaker, I suggest we ensure the Ghana Meteorological Agency is well-equipped with sophisticated equipment in order to greatly improve
Mr First Deputy Speaker 4:34 p.m.
Yes, Hon Member for Abuakwa South?
Mr Samuel Atta Akyea (NPP -- Abuakwa South) 4:34 p.m.
Thank you, Mr Speaker, for giving me the opportunity to contribute to the Statement ably delivered by my colleague, Hon Adams Mohammed Sukparu.
Mr Speaker, one of the things I have seen about this great country of ours is to pay lip service to matters which matter the most. We are aware of flooding situation. In 1958, after Dr Kwame Nkrumah had inherited the largesse of the British Government to the point that we were able to give a huge loan facility to Guinea, Accra was flooded, some 63 years ago. That was the biggest announcement to us that we can never do anything about rain-induced flooding because one cannot control the rains.
In the world over, rainfall patterns are there and one cannot wish away rains. But the most serious thing that we have to do is to do proper engineering so that in the event that we have heavy downpours, the system would be able to absorb the rains to avoid flooding. Any good place you find yourself in the world, you would never see open drains. Open drains are antiquated because you have this wide spaces for people who would not respect hygienic conditions, everything they hate in their homes, the debris, are damped in open drains.
Mr Speaker, the engineers would say that over time, the drains would be silted, which is to say they would become full. So, whenever we have a small downpour, because the flow is choked, the water spills over and it
causes damage to lives, livelihood and properties.
So we would talk about flooding and all that we want. If this nation wants to avoid the devastating effects of flooding, it is now imperative that we move from open drains to subterranean drains.
Mr Speaker, this is capital intensive. If you go into any civilised environment, you would not see gutters. The so-called gutters are subterranean, which is to say the drains are underground which makes it impossible for people to damp the debris they hate in their homes underground. It is impossible if the drains are subterranean. Then it is so engineered to a well-defined destination which protects us from environmental hazards.
Mr Speaker, this is where we should go as a nation. Are we ready to spend good money to do subterranean drains? If we are not ready to do subterranean drains, I am sure next year, one of my good friends, probably from this Side would come and talk about flooding in this country. We know some of the planning challenges and the rest of it, but the fundamental issue that we need to address is that Ghana should be ready to go subterranean.
Mrs Gizella Tetteh-Agbotui (NDC -- Awutu-Senya West) 4:34 p.m.
Mr Speaker, there is a saying that water always finds its level. I thank the Hon Member for Sissala West for such a Statement. It is very timely. But must we be reminded every year about flooding? By now, a country that got its independence in 1957 should be on autopilot by now and we should not be singing the same song over and over again every year.
Our planning authorities should be up and doing. In January, they know the problems that would happen in June and they know the problems that are going to happen in September because it is recurrent and happens as a cycle and by now, they should know it. When they do and take action, we would not be here talking about flooding because the necessary institutions would have taken the action already.
They must also be firm and not allow structures to be put up in water ways. Sometimes, the excuse is that we do not have enough resources to go round to do inspections. But at some point, we cannot continue that way.
That is why the District Assembly system is decentralised and the Assemblymen in every electoral area are to get back to the system put in place in the Assembly relating to the works department and so on and tell them what is going on. If that system is in place and it works well, we should not be having these problems. The Assemblies therefore, should be proactive.
The loss of lives and properties, when it comes to flooding, is uncountable. And it is very devastating for the poor who generally
have a lot of issues even getting their things ready after the next flood. We cannot continue this way.
Mr Speaker, when there are warning signs, they should be given. For example, in this month of June and July coming up, at midday news or before the news, can the media give us the weather forecast for the next six hours or for the next twelve hours? Can they do the same at 6.00 p.m.? It is possible that they can help in this conscientisation of flooding and the challenges that come with it.
Mr Speaker, the Ministry of Roads and Highways, which is also responsible for the general drainage by the roads, should also prioritise drainages. This is not to say that we must have subterranean drains. I do not really agree with my Hon Colleague because 98 per cent of the drains in the country are already surface drains with no cover and this is Ghana.
Where are we going to get the money to have subterranean drains? We are not there. But what can we do? We must ensure that there is enough ground cover. Everywhere is brown earth. Why would the silt not wash over and into the drain and then every year we have to pay huge sums of money to desilt the drains again?
With the garbage, we must have collection points and we must actually collect the garbage so that they do not find their way into the drains. Naturally, the wind would blow it or the same rain water would wash it into the drains.
Mr Speaker, maybe, it is time for us to give the MMDAs awards for whichever District Assembly that does not encounter flooding or are able to take care of the flooding ahead of time. They can be recognised as such by the Ministry of Local Government, Decentralisation and Rural Development. Maybe, that would also motivate them to be proactive about this.
Mr Speaker, finally, the greening Ghana consisted mainly of planting trees. Yes, by the time the trees grow, it is assumed that the roots would be able to catch the top soil and the subsoil and to hold it tight but there may be some other greening that we have to do. We have to have a bit more grass cover so that that would take care of the silt and the top soil that would be washed away.
Mr Speaker, it is a collective effort; the ideas are not in one person's head. Engineers can contribute; architects can contribute; planners can contribute
Mr Kwame T. Ampofo (NDC -- Sene West) 4:34 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I am grateful for the opportunity to contribute to the Statement on the Floor.
Mr Speaker, I think flooding is an annual thing in Ghana. It is a worldwide issue. But there are certain things that we need to put in place because it would occur whether we like it or not. What are we doing to correct or prevent the disaster that would occur? Mostly, we put up buildings on water ways. Our opinion leaders also sell the lands and earmarked streets and we put up buildings there. Some of the Assemblies give permits to people to also build on water- ways.
Mr Speaker, it is something that we need to look at critically; if not, going forward, we would be in trouble, especially here in Accra. Most of our drains are choked. We are not disciplined. Most people throw garbage into the drains and this chokes them. So what laws are we putting in place to prevent this? How
are we enforcing all these to prevent this issue?
Mr Speaker, going forward, if we do not do anything about it, if it rains in Accra, all of us would be in trouble.
Mr Speaker, flooding is something serious. It occurs everywhere. Mostly, the Assemblies give permits to developers to build at wrong places -- on roads and on waterbodies - therefore, when it rains, the water has to find its way. Where would it go? At the end of the day, there would be flood.
Mr Speaker, I think it is about time we put proper measures in place to correct this. If not, we will all be in trouble. It has happened to us before in Accra and we all saw what happened; a lot of people died. So, what are we doing? Mostly, when we desilt, we do not collect the rubbish, we just put it on the side of the gutters, so when it rains, it gets back into the drains and within a short time the drains choke again. So, we are harming ourselves.
Mr Speaker, we talk about flooding and what do we do about it every year? Mostly, we say that we do not have money. So, if there is no money, should a lot of people die before we put measures in place? I think it is about time we see how best we can all get involved and ensure that
we put measures in place to correct this, if not, every year it will recur and we will stand here and lament.
Mr Speaker, with these few words, I support the Statement.
Mr First Deputy Speaker 4:54 p.m.
Hon Members, at the Commencement of Public Business. Item numbered 7 -- Presentation of Papers.
Item numbered (a) by the Hon Minister for Energy.
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 4:54 p.m.
Mr Speaker, if I may present these Papers on behalf of the two Ministers: Minister for Energy and Minister for Finance. For item numbered 7(a), the Hon Minister was with us a few moments ago. I understand he stepped out. So, I can stand in to do item numbered 7(a).
Mr First Deputy Speaker 4:54 p.m.
Very well, Hon Majority Leader?
PAPERS 4:54 p.m.
Mr First Deputy Speaker 4:54 p.m.
Hon Members, the next item is by the Chairman of the Committee of the Whole.
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 4:54 p.m.
Mr
Speaker, if I may present the Paper on behalf of the Chairman.
By the Minister for Parlia- mentary Affairs/Majority Leader (Mr Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu on behalf of (the Chairman of the Committee of the Whole) --
Report of the Committee of the Whole on the Proposed Formula for the Disbursement of the National Health Insurance Fund for the year 2021.
rose
Mr First Deputy Speaker 4:54 p.m.
Yes, Hon Deputy Minority Leader?
Mr Avedzi 4:54 p.m.
Mr Speaker, the Report of the Committee of the Whole on the Proposed Formula for the National Health Insurance for the year 2021 is not ready. The draft report has been given to me and I have gone through it.
There are mistakes and I have called the Clerk to the Committee to come and pick it. So, it is not ready to be laid.
Mr First Deputy Speaker 4:54 p.m.
Hon Deputy Minority Leader, are you the Chairman of the Committee?
Mr Avedzi 4:54 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I am not the Chairman of the Committee, but I
am representing my Leader from our Side. That is why the Clerk to the Committee brought the draft report to me to go through, but if that is the case, they should come and take it.
Mr First Deputy Speaker 4:54 p.m.
Hon Member, we are not taking it now, we are presenting it. The Committee has a copy, the Chairman has a copy, just as you have a copy -- because it is just being laid. The draft is just for the Leaders to go through it.
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 4:54 p.m.
Mr Speaker, this is Committee of the Whole and it is no respecter of Caucus and Sides, so we should not be reclining to this Side or that Side of the House. A Committee of the Whole is a Committee of the Whole House.
Mr Speaker, with respect, I thought I was appealing to the convention and practice of the House. So, I would want to plead with my Hon Colleague to let it go. We are not at all considering it. When it was brought, no issue had been raised and I asked my Hon Colleague before he left, and he said there is nothing contained in it that he wants to speak against. So, I said we could then do the presentation and then it would be formalised.
Mr Speaker, this is not the first time. I am not too sure that we, at any turn would have to resort to impediments.
Mr First Deputy Speaker 4:54 p.m.
Hon Second Deputy Speaker should take the Chair. [Pause]
MR SECOND DEPUTY SPEAKER
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 5:01 p.m.
Hon Members, the Report has been presented, it is for distribution to Hon Members.
Mr Afenyo-Markin 5:01 p.m.
Mr Speaker, item numbered 8.
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 5:01 p.m.
Hon Members, item numbered 8, by the Chairman of the Committee.
Mr Afenyo-Markin 5:01 p.m.
Mr Speaker, with your leave, I would move that procedural Motion on behalf of the Chairman.
MOTIONS 5:01 p.m.
Mr Joseph Osei-Owusu 5:04 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I beg to second the Motion.
Question put and motion agreed to.
Resolved accordingly.

Eighth Report of the Appointments Committee on

H.E. the President's nominations for Deputy Ministerial

Appointments

Deputy Majority Leader (Mr Alexander Kwamena Afenyo- Markin) on behalf of (the
Chairman of the Committee) 5:04 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I beg to move, that this honourable House adopts the Eighth Report of the Appointments Committee on H. E. the President's nominations for Deputy Ministerial Appointments.
Mr Speaker, in so doing, I present the Committee's Report.
MS DIANA ASONABA DAPAAH 5:04 p.m.
-- DEPUTY MINISTER- 5:04 p.m.
DESIGNATE FOR THE OFFICE 5:04 p.m.
OF ATTORNEY-GENERAL 5:04 p.m.
AND MINISTRY OF JUSTICE 5:04 p.m.
HON LARIBA ZUWEIRA 5:04 p.m.
ABUDU -- DEPUTY 5:04 p.m.
MINISTER-DESIGNATE FOR 5:04 p.m.
SOCIAL PROTECTION 5:04 p.m.
HON MARTIN KWAKU ADJEI- 5:04 p.m.
MENSAH KORSAH -- DEPUTY 5:04 p.m.
MINISTER-DESIGNATE FOR 5:04 p.m.
LOCAL GOVERNMENT, 5:04 p.m.
DECENTRALISATION AND 5:04 p.m.
RURAL DEVELOPMENT 5:04 p.m.
HON AMIDU ISSAHAKU 5:04 p.m.
CHINNIA -- DEPUTY 5:04 p.m.
MINISTER-DESIGNATE FOR 5:04 p.m.
SANITATION AND WATER 5:04 p.m.
RESOURCES 5:04 p.m.
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 5:04 p.m.
Hon Members, any seconder?
Chairman of the Committee (Mr Joseph Osei-Owusu) 5:04 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I beg to second the Motion for the adoption of the Eighth Report of the Appointments Committee on the nominees for Deputy Ministerial positions by the President.
Mr Speaker, we would recall that some nominees in this Report were earlier presented to this House by an agreement between the two Sides of the House. Therefore, they were taken out so that these four nominees could be brought as one Report.
Mr Speaker, you would also notice that on one of the pages, it is stated that in the consideration of these nominees, Hon Members on the Minority side of the Committee were not present, and so the records reflect that Hon Members on the Minority Side were not present. Indeed, it is the request of the Hon Minority
Leader that the Report reflects so. Therefore, it was put in the Report to reflect the Opposition, but the records of the Committee would show that Hon Members present were sufficient for the purposes of quorum, and therefore, we conducted a legitimate business.
Mr Speaker, however, it is open to Hon Members of the entire House to comment. What is critical is that the nominees had demonstrated that they were qualified under the 1992 Constitution, and that the publication for 14 days for members of the public to present any memoranda, talking about any reasons for which any of them may not be confirmed by the House yielded no response.
So, no memoranda were brought from the public, and no adverts or comments from the public were received, neither was anything brought to the attention of the Committee. So, under the
Mr Patrick Y. Boamah (NPP -- Okaikwei Central) 5:04 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I thank you for the opportunity.
I think that the nominees deserve the approval of this House, as ably captured by the Report. We worked very hard as Hon Members of the Appointments Committee for the past four weeks on these nominees.
There was total cooperation amongst Committee members, and regardless of the happenings, we believed that this House is seized with a very sound Report that contains very important information on the nominees. So, this House must adopt the Report and approve of their nominations for the President to be able to swear them into their various positions.
Mr Speaker, I thank you very much.
Mr James Klutse Avedzi (NDC -- Ketu North) 5:04 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I thank you for the opportunity.
Mr Speaker, I would want to refer you to page 2 of the Report, paragraph 2 under the item numbered 3.3. It reads, and I quote:
“The Members of the Minority side on the Committee did not take part in the proceedings as they were away for the Tree Planting exercise in their various constituencies as directed by the Rt. Hon Speaker.”
Mr Speaker, 11th June, 2021, which was the day that these four nominees were vetted, was also the day that Mr Speaker directed all of us to go to our constituencies to take part in the Tree Planting exercise.
Mr Speaker, the Hon Chairman of the Committee has not been fair to the Minority side of the Committee. While Mr Speaker directed that we should take part in the Tree Planting exercise, they organised a meeting for the vetting of these nominees so that members of the Committee from the Minority Side would not be part of this debate.
The Hon Chairman of the Committee has not been fair to us. We were in our constituencies doing national assignment, which was directed by Mr Speaker, meanwhile, he organised a meeting to vet nominees. Why should that be so?
Therefore, our Side would not support these four nominees, and would not be part of this approval. I would want to draw your attention that we would not take part in the debate because we do not support this Report. Therefore, we would walk out, and after they are done, we would come back.
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 5:04 p.m.
Very well. [Pause]
Hon Members, any other contribution?
Yes, Hon Majority Leader?
Majority Leader (Mr Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu) 5:14 p.m.
Mr Speaker, respectfully, I am not too sure that this is anything that should divide the House. What I have gathered from the Statement by the Hon Deputy Minority Leader is a mix- up in communication.
It is important that if Mr Speaker should make a ruling, or give a directive in such regard, that he consults with the Leadership. It is important because Speakers do not
run Parliament on their own; it should be very consultative, but I also think that as I stated earlier, this is not any matter that should divide this House.
It is unfortunate that there was a mix-up in the communication. If, maybe, Mr Speaker had been much more consultative, we would have seen a way about it, and the Hon First Deputy Speaker, who is the Hon Chairman of the Committee, I am told, engaged some of the Committee members. Not everybody was present, and unfortunately, information was not transmitted appropriately which is how come the Committee held a discussion and took the decision.
Mr Speaker, to the extent that nobody has any strong point against anybody, I would invite you to put the Question and the decision would be taken.
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 5:14 p.m.
Hon Members, at the conclusion of the debate, I have the singular option to put the Question.
Question put and Motion agreed to.
Resolved accordingly.
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 5:14 p.m.
Hon Members, this House has accordingly approved His Excellency the President's nominations for
Deputy Ministerial appointment in accordance with article 71(1) of the 1992 Constitution in respect of the following personalities:
1. Ms Diana Asonaba Dapaah -- Deputy Attorney General- designate and Deputy Minister for Justice-designate;
2. Hon Lariba Zuweira Abudu -- Deputy Minister-designate for Gender, Children and Social Protection;
3. Hon Martin Adjei-Mensah Korsah -- Deputy Minister-designate for Local Government, Decentralisation and Rural Development; and
4. Hon Amidu Issahaku Chinnia -- Deputy Minister-designate for Sanitation and Water Resources.
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 5:14 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I think there is just one matter outstanding in respect of the item numbered 7(c), but we have agreed that because the Report was just laid, we cannot continue with it.
We would come to consider it in all probability tomorrow, Thursday, 24th June, 2021.
Mr Speaker, I believe we can adjourn the House until tomorrow at 10 o'clock in the forenoon.
ADJOURNMENT 5:14 p.m.