Debates of 6 Jul 2021

MR FIRST DEPUTY SPEAKER
PRAYERS 2:53 a.m.
ANNOUNCEMENTS 2:53 a.m.
Mr First Deputy Speaker 2:53 a.m.
Hon Members, I have received a message from H. E. the President addressed to the Speaker of the House. It is dated 2nd July, 2021. It reads:
VOTES AND PROCEEDINGS AND THE OFFICIAL REPORT 2:53 a.m.
Mr First Deputy Speaker 2:53 a.m.
Hon Members, we shall consider the Votes and Proceedings of Friday, 4th July,
2021.
Page 1…6 --
Mr Adams Abdul-Salam 2:53 a.m.
Mr Speaker, on page 6, item numbered 4, number 2, I was in the House on Friday but I have been marked absent.
Mr First Deputy Speaker 2:53 a.m.
Very well. The Table Office would take note.
Page 7, 8 --
Mr Kingsley Nyarko 2:53 a.m.
Mr Speaker, on page 8, item numbered 7 reads: “The Official Report of the Eight Sitting…”
Mr First Deputy Speaker 2:53 a.m.
Hon Member, we are doing the Votes and Proceedings first.
Mr K. Nyarko 2:53 a.m.
Mr Speaker, that is what I am talking about.
Mr First Deputy Speaker 2:53 a.m.
Yes, Hon Member, continue.
Mr K. Nyarko 2:53 a.m.
Mr Speaker, I was saying that on page 8, item numbered 7 reads: “The Official
Report of the Eight Sitting…”. It should read: “The Official Report of the Eighth Sitting…”.
Mr First Deputy Speaker 2:53 a.m.
Very well noted. The “h” is missing. The Table Office will take note and make the appropriate correction.
Page 9 --
Mr Musah Abdul-Aziz Ayaba 2:53 a.m.
Mr Speaker, on page 9, item numbered 10 (b), the last line has the word “Digitilisation”. The “i” before “t” should be changed to “a” to read “Digitalisation”.
Mr First Deputy Speaker 2:53 a.m.
Very well.
Page 10…19 --
Hon Members, in the absence of any further corrections, the Votes and Proceedings of Friday, 2nd July, 2021, is hereby adopted as the true record of proceedings.
There is no Official Report ready today.
Hon Deputy Majority Leader, are we ready to take item numbered 5, Questions?
Mr Alexander Afenyo-Markin 3:03 p.m.
Mr Speaker, the Hon Minister is unavoidably absent but her Hon Deputy Minister is in the House and with your leave --
rose
Mr First Deputy Speaker 3:03 p.m.
Very well.
Hon Minority Leader, the Hon Deputy Majority Leader said the Hon Deputy Minister would answer the Question in the place of the Hon Minister. What do you say about that?
Mr Haruna Iddrisu 3:03 p.m.
Mr Speaker, there is no objection to that.
Mr First Deputy Speaker 3:03 p.m.
Very well.
Hon Deputy Minister for Gender, Children and Social Protection, please, come and take your seat. Please, sit by the Hon Majority Leader.
Mr Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 3:03 p.m.
Mr Speaker, with regard to the answer to the Question starred 132, the Hon Minister for Gender, Children
and Social Protection, is in the House but unfortunately, the Answer did not find expression in this Order Paper. It is being printed in an Order Paper Addendum, so we could allow the Hon Minister for Sanitation and Water Resources to respond to the three Questions that have been asked of her ahead of the Hon Minister for Gender, Children and Social Protection.
Mr Haruna Iddrisu 3:03 p.m.
Mr Speaker, the Hon Deputy Minister for Sanitation and Water Resources could respond to the Question on behalf of the Hon Minister while we wait for the printing of the Answer to the Question for the Hon Minister for Gender, Children and Social Protection.
However, if at your leave the Hon Minister for Sanitation and Water Resources could come back to the House tomorrow morning, the better for all of us -- [Interruption] -- then we are good to go. The Hon Minister for Sanitation and Water Resources could answer her Questions.
Mr First Deputy Speaker 3:03 p.m.
Hon Members, Question starred 92, which stands in the name of the Hon Member for Ada, Ms Comfort Doyoe Cudjoe.
ORAL ANSWERS TO 3:03 p.m.
QUESTIONS 3:03 p.m.
MINISTRY OF SANITATION 3:03 p.m.
AND WATER RESOURCES 3:03 p.m.
Ms Comfort Doyoe Cudjoe Ghansah (NDC -- Ada) 3:03 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I beg to ask the Hon Minister when the following communities and their environs in the Ada Constituency will get continuous flow of pipe-borne water: (i) Anyakpo (ii) Songutsokpa (iii) Patukope (iv) Alavanyo (v) Pute (vi) Totope (vii) Midier (viii) Aminapa (ix) Lufenya (x) Gbanave (xi) Gbantana (xii) Kopehem (xiii) Kakietsekope (xiv) Amlakpo (xv) Kasseh (xvi) Asigbekope (xvii) Fantevikope (xviii) Kpodokope (xix) Tojeh (xx) Kajanya.
Minister for Sanitation and Water Resources (Ms Cecilia Abena Dapaah) 3:03 p.m.
Mr Speaker, the afore-mentioned twenty communities and their environs in the Ada Constituency are served with safe water from the Keseve-Adafoah Water Supply System with a capacity of 39,112 m3/day (8.7MGD) managed by the Ghana Water Company Limited (GWCL) and also
from the Three-Districts Water Scheme with a designed capacity of 3,500 M3/day (0.77MGD), under the management of the Community Water and Sanitation Agency
(CWSA).
Mr Speaker, however, commu- nities, especially at the end of the distribution network within the supply areas of the two water systems, are faced with inadequate water flows because the distribution pipelines have limited capacities which do not support the required water demand.
Mr Speaker, to improve and ensure the continuous flow of water in these communities and their environs in the Ada Constituency, the GWCL has identified critical pipeline improvement works which would be carried out early next year, 2022, in a progressive manner.
Furthermore, the CWSA has also initiated the process of increasing the water production capacity of the Three-Districts Water Scheme by installing a Packaged Water Treatment Plant to increase water production by 2,000 m3/day (0.44MGD) which include:
Laying of 21kms HDPE pipeline from Madavunu Junction to Ayisah Junction.
Replacement of 2 No. 45m3/h high lift pumps with 2 No. 65m3/h high lift pumps to cater for the increased production from the packaged water treatment plants.
Replacement of 2 No. 17m3/h high lift pumps with 2 No. 45m3/h high lift pumps at the Booster Station.
Rehabilitation of the Slow Sand Filtration Unit to increase water production from the old system (in progress).
Replacement of 3 No. submersible pumps at the intake and 4 No. high lift pumps at the pump house with higher capacity pumps to deliver more water to the communities (pumps yet to be installed).
The Installation of the Packaged Water Treatment Plant is expected to be completed by October, 2021.
Ms Cudjoe 3:03 p.m.
Mr Speaker, the Hon Minister has given us hope that the pipeline improvement works would be carried out in 2022 but that is too long a time for us to wait.
Mr Speaker, the pipe at the Packaged Water Treatment Plant side is 10 inches but when it gets to Dodiokope, it reduces to 6 inches, then from Dodiokope to Big Ada, it further reduces to four inches, which is 7/80,000 indigenes of Ada and this has created all these problems.
We could take two months to fix this problem so that the good people of Ada would have improved water supply because the communities suffer too much.
Mr First Deputy Speaker 3:03 p.m.
Hon Member, I do not know whether this is a question or a comment?
Hon Minister could you change the four-inch pipes to improve water supply to Ada?
Ms Dapaah 3:03 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I wondered whether the Hon Member made a recommendation or a statement but you have given me the green light so, I would go ahead and answer the question.
Mr Speaker, as I said, the pipes have to do with the work the Ghana Water Company Limited has proposed to do in 2022.
Ms Dapaah 3:13 a.m.


I agree with her; the waiting can be frustrating but I can assure her that we will take on the urgency of the matter as we normally do, and see what can be done.
Mrs Ghansah 3:13 a.m.
Mr Speaker, is it possible to reduce the duration to two months? This is because we already have clean river water in Ada which is not polluted and so, if we could do it within two months, it would reduce the suffering of the people of Ada. Can that be done, please?
Ms Dapaah 3:13 a.m.
Mr Speaker, what the Hon Member is referring to, demands that we budget for that project and as I said, we will look at what can be done. However, I cannot promise that this can be done in two months.
Mr First Deputy Speaker 3:13 a.m.
Thank you.
I will move on to Question numbered 93 standing in the name of Hon Christian Corletey Otuteye; Hon Member of Parliament for Sege.
Mr Rockson-Nelson Dafeamekpor 3:13 a.m.
Mr Speaker, I have the authority of the Hon Member to seek leave to ask the Question on his behalf.
Mr First Deputy Speaker 3:13 a.m.
Yes, go ahead.
Plans to Solve the Water Crisis Facing Sege Constituency
Mr Rockson-Nelson E. K. Dafeamekpor on behalf of (Mr Christian C. Otuteye) (NDC --- Sege): Mr Speaker, I beg to ask the Hon Minister for Sanitation and Water Resources if there were any plans to help solve the water crisis facing Sege Constituency.
Ms Dapaah 3:13 a.m.
Mr Speaker, the Sege Constituency is currently being served with potable water from the Three-Districts Water Scheme managed by the Community Water and Sanitation Agency (CWSA).
As a result of the expansion of the communities and industries located along the main N1 Highway from Aveyime to Tema Roundabout, the Ministry through GWCL has considered the imple- mentation of the Aveyime Water Supply Project with a capacity of 62,000m/day(13.64MGD) Sege Constituency as one of the beneficiaries under the proposed Aveyime Water Supply Project.
The Aveyime Water Supply Project will improve water supply mainly to all communities located along the main N1 Highway from Aveyime
to Tema Roundabout including Sege, Dawa Free Zones Enclave, the Tema Free Zones Enclave, Saglemi Housing Project, Kpone Housing Project, Community 25, Dawhenya, Prampram, Saglemi Battor, Mepe, Aveyime, Central University and the Tema Heavy Industrial Area. The project is envisaged to supply water to over 300,000 people living in the supply area.
Mr Speaker, the DANIDA Sustainable Infrastructure Financing (DSIF) is considering financing for the Aveyime Water Supply Project. The project has passed the screening test of DSIF. The preparation of Terms of Reference (ToR) for the conduct of feasibility studies and detailed designs are underway.
Mr Dafeamekpor 3:13 a.m.
Mr Speaker, in the Answer of the Hon Minister, particularly, the last paragraph hints the fact that detailed designs are underway. Would she be kind enough to tell the House when the designs would be finalised or when tendering would be done so that the project can start?
Ms Dapaah 3:13 a.m.
Mr Speaker, I might have to come back with the answers for the particular questions raised. These are technical matters and I need my technical team to help.
Mr Dafeamekpor 3:13 a.m.
Mr Speaker, that will be all.
Mr First Deputy Speaker 3:13 a.m.
Question numbered 133 in the name of the Hon Member for Atebubu/ Amantin -- Mr Sanja Nanja.
Measures to Curb the Perennial Water Crisis in Atebubu Town
Mr Sanja Nanja (NDC -- Atebubu/Amantin) 3:13 a.m.
Mr Speaker, I beg to ask the Hon Minister for Sanitation and Water Resources what measures the Ministry was putting in place to curb the perennial water crisis in Atebubu Town.
Ms Dapaah 3:13 a.m.
Mr Speaker, the provision and management of potable water in the Atebubu Municipality and its surrounding communities has been through collaborative efforts between the Atebubu Municipal Assembly, the Water and Sanitation Management Team and a number of partners including World Vision Ghana.
Mr Speaker, the most common sources of drinking water for households in the Atebubu area are protected wells, boreholes, rivers and streams. To curb the issue of perennial water problems, the Ghana Water Company Limited (GWCL) is
Mr Nanja 3:13 a.m.
Mr Speaker, I would want to find out whether the project is going to be a rehabilitation and expansion of the Small Town Water System or an entirely new project?
Ms Dapaah 3:13 a.m.
Mr Speaker, it is going to be a new project which will produce 31,000m3/day.
Mr Nanja 3:13 a.m.
Mr Speaker, can the Hon Minister specifically give us the timeline by which this discussion would be completed? Secondly, when would the contract be awarded for the project to start?
Ms Dapaah 3:13 a.m.
Mr Speaker, if I heard the Hon Member correctly, I did say that the processes have begun and we all know that it goes through processes and negotiations are held
and then the memorandum is finalised, taken to Cabinet and then brought to Parliament. So, for the life of me, I cannot give a timeline.
Mr First Deputy Speaker 3:13 a.m.
Very well. Hon Member, you have exhausted your three supplementary questions. [Interruption] You have done two? Very well.
Mr Nanja 3:13 a.m.
Mr Speaker, I would like to thank the Hon Minister for that. However, since they have identified the contractor and discussions are ongoing, can she give us the name of the contractor as to whether it is a local or foreign one?
Ms Dapaah 3:13 a.m.
Mr Speaker, this is an EPC contract that will be effected and I would crave your indulgence not to go ahead of time to give out the name of the contractor since it is subject to change.
Mr First Deputy Speaker 3:13 a.m.
Very well.
Hon Minister, thank you for attending upon the House to answer Questions. You are discharged.
We may now invite the Hon Deputy Minister for Gender, Children and Social Protection to take the seat.
Hon Member for North Dayi, Ms Joycelyn Tetteh, you may ask your Question?
Mrs Helen Adjoa Ntoso 3:23 p.m.
Mr Speaker, with your permission, I beg to ask the Question on behalf of Hon Joycelyn Tetteh.
Mr First Deputy Speaker 3:23 p.m.
Very well. You may proceed.
MINISTRY OF GENDER, 3:23 p.m.
CHILDREN AND SOCIAL 3:23 p.m.
PROTECTION 3:23 p.m.
Mrs Helen Adjoa Ntoso on behalf of (Ms Joycelyn Tetteh) (NDC - North Dayi) 3:23 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I beg to ask the Minister for Gender, Children and Social Protection when the school feeding programme would be extended to the under-listed schools in the North Dayi District: (i) Awate Tornu D/A Basic School (ii) Vakpo New Adomi D/A Basic School (iii) Wusuta Kpeme/ Sakakyire D/A Basic School.
Deputy Minister for Gender, Children and Social Protection (Ms Lariba Zuweira Abudu) (MP) on behalf of (the Minister for Gender, Children and Social Protection): Government mandated the Ministry to undertake some major reforms and restructuring on the Ghana School Feeding Programme to ensure more efficiency and accountability.
As soon as these reforms are completed, all government schools from kindergarten to primary six (6) which include those listed in the North Dayi District, will be covered under the Ghana School Feeding Programme.
Mrs Ntoso 3:23 p.m.
Mr Speaker, in the Hon Deputy Minister's Answer, she said the Ministry is undertaking major reforms and restructuring on the Ghana School Feeding Programme.
However, we know for a fact that in the Budget presented to this House, the School Feeding Programme has been taken from the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection to the Ministry of Local Government, Decentralisation and Rural Development. So what major restructuring is the Hon Deputy Minister talking about?
Mr First Deputy Speaker 3:23 p.m.
Hon Member, this question does not come from the Answer. Kindly ask a question that is related to the Answer she has given.
Hon Deputy Minister, I did not admit the Question, and so kindly take your seat.
Mrs Ntoso 3:23 p.m.
Mr Speaker, Hon Joycelyn Tetteh is in. Can she do the follow-up?
Mr First Deputy Speaker 3:23 p.m.
I have already permitted you to take her place.
Mrs Ntoso 3:23 p.m.
Mr Speaker, the Hon Deputy Minister did not answer my follow-up question.
Mr First Deputy Speaker 3:23 p.m.
I did not admit that question, so you can ask another question or rephrase the question.
Mrs Ntoso 3:23 p.m.
Mr Speaker, when would they finish with the reform the Hon Deputy Minister talked about? Is there any timeline for the reforms and restructuring to be completed?
Mr First Deputy Speaker 3:23 p.m.
Yes, Hon Deputy Minister, could you share the time you intend to finish the restructuring?
Ms Abudu 3:23 p.m.
Mr Speaker, within the next two months, we hope the restructuring would be completed.
Mrs Ntoso 3:23 p.m.
Mr Speaker, may I have your permission to ask Hon Joycelyn Tetteh to ask --?
Mr First Deputy Speaker 3:23 p.m.
Unfortunately, she cannot be seen now. You are in her place. She cannot be seen in this Question and so exhaust it. Since it is a general Question, if she would want to ask further questions, I would admit her, but for now, you are asking the Question on her behalf.
Mrs Ntoso 3:23 p.m.
Mr Speaker, could the Hon Deputy Minister assure the House that after the reforms and restructuring is done, the schools mentioned would benefit from the Ghana School Feeding Programme?
Ms Abudu 3:23 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I would want to assure my colleague, the Hon Member, that after the restructuring, all schools will be captured in the School Feeding Programme.
Mr First Deputy Speaker 3:23 p.m.
Hon Ntoso, are you done?
Mrs Ntoso 3:23 p.m.
Yes, Mr Speaker.
rose
Mr First Deputy Speaker 3:23 p.m.
Yes, Hon Member, I would give you the Floor.
Ms Tetteh 3:23 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I would want to ask the Hon Deputy Minister a follow-up question. I would want to know how many schools are being served now under the Ghana School Feeding Programme in the North Dayi District, thus before the reforms?
Mr First Deputy Speaker 3:23 p.m.
Hon Member, your Question is not emanating from her Answer. If you want that information, you would have to ask that separately. [Pause.]
I said the follow-up question must emanate from the Answer given. The number of schools on the programme does not emanate from the Answer given, and so you might ask another Question.
Ms Tetteh 3:23 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I would want know how many schools they intend adding to the existing ones, after the reforms.
Mr First Deputy Speaker 3:23 p.m.
She said all public schools.
Yes, Hon Member for South Dayi?
Mr Rockson-Nelson E. K. Dafeamekpor 3:23 p.m.
Mr Speaker, thank you for the opportunity.
The Hon Deputy Minister hints on reforms they are undertaking presently. What exactly is the nature
of these reforms? If she would be kind enough to tell this House the nature of the reforms? We would want to know.
Mr First Deputy Speaker 3:23 p.m.
Kindly file your own Question.
Mr Francis-Xavier K. Sosu 3:23 p.m.
Mr Speaker, from the Hon Deputy Minister's response, and with your indulgence, I read:
“As soon as these reforms are completed, all government schools from kindergarten to primary six (6) which include those listed in the North Dayi District, will be covered under the Ghana School Feeding Programme.”
Firstly of all, I would want clarity from the Hon Deputy Minister whether the Ghana School Feeding Programme presently is under the care and administration of the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection or under the Ministry of Local Government, Decentralisation and Rural Development?
Mr First Deputy Speaker 3:23 p.m.
Unfortunately, you would have to file your own Question to get that information.
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 3:33 p.m.
Mr Speaker, with respect, I wanted to even correct the Question. The Minister has not said all schools will be covered. She says all government schools and not all schools. Also, it is from kindergarten to primary six. So it is not all schools.
Mr First Deputy Speaker 3:33 p.m.
You have lost your chance. The answer is very clear. All public schools: kindergarten to primary six will be covered. That is straight-forward. I think I should discharge her?
Mr Ernest H. Norgbey 3:33 p.m.
Mr Speaker, in the Hon Minister's Answer, she said that Government mandated the Ministry to undertake some major reforms. I would want to know from the Hon Minister when the Government mandated them to undertake these reforms and why the delay? What are some of the stumbling blocks?
Thank you, Mr Speaker.
Mr First Deputy Speaker 3:33 p.m.
Kindly ask your own question. This Question is very clear. Please, for the record, the Question is to ask the Hon Minister for Gender, Children and Social Protection when the School Feeding Programme would be extended to the schools listed. It is actually a constituency-specific one but because the Answer suggested that all primary schools in the public sector will be covered, I permitted follow ups. But you are taking advantage to ask questions not related to the Answer.
Hon Deputy Minister, thank you for attending upon the House to answer the Question. You are discharged.
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 3:33 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I know you have admitted a Statement but the Hon Minority Leader has given an indication to me
that he wants to exit to go and undertake some crucial assignments and in that regard, I would plead that we alter the Business of the House by talking to a petition that we have received on behalf of Mr Speaker.
Mr Speaker, if you agree with me, by your leave, I want to seek that the order of Business set out on the Order Paper be altered to accommodate the petition that we have received on behalf of the Speaker.
Mr First Deputy Speaker 3:33 p.m.
Very well. You may proceed.
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 3:33 p.m.
Mr Speaker, the youth wing of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) embarked on a demonstration today but the demonstration was not limited to the youth wing of the NDC alone. It included elderly persons, including the Chairman, the General Secretary of the Party and people with receding hairlines -- [Laughter] -- who call themselves youth.
Mr Speaker, they presented a petition to the Speaker. Unfortunately, as we have been informed, the Speaker of Parliament, Rt Hon Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin, has had to respond to an invitation from his counterpart in Nigeria so he has travelled out of Ghana to attend to that
invitation and on account of that, when the demonstrators came to Parliament, we received the Petition ostensibly meant for the Speaker. On behalf of the Rt Hon Speaker and on behalf of the Leadership, I want to present the Petition to you by having it laid on the Table so that Mr Speaker, would do what is needful with that.
I beg to submit.
Mr Speaker, at this stage, I do not want to comment on it yet but if the Hon Minority Leader may want to briefly comment on it, perhaps, that would also engender some brief remarks from me.
Thank you very much, Mr Speaker.
Minority Leader (Mr Haruna Iddrisu) 3:33 p.m.
Mr Speaker, under- standably, as the Leader of Government Business has observed and so laid the Petition for your guidance of the House to take note of the issues raised in the Petition and particularly direct it for appropriate parliamentary action.
I do not intend to prejudice any work that Parliament would do under your guidance, suffice it to add that the demonstration was very peaceful;
Majority Leader (Mr Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu) 3:33 p.m.
Mr Speaker, as the Hon Minority Leader has observed, the freedom of association is guaranteed by the Constitution of this country. Freedom of demonstration is also guaranteed. Freedom of speech is equally guaranteed by the Constitution.
Mr Speaker, the demonstration, we are told, was about the right to life -- the protection of the lives of the citizens of this country. That cannot be contentious. Since 1993 when we came under this dispensation of democratic rule, we have occasionally ran into bumps of security forces who are supposed to protect lives and property clashing with citizens and causing some afflictions to citizens. These are not acceptable.
Mr Speaker, we must live up to these happenings. We must also admit that they are not happenings relating to today. It happened yesterday and it happened the day before yesterday. Whatever it is, it is not good and I am happy that today, we have seen this demonstration.
That the demonstration itself was peaceful and that the demonstrators were protected by the same Police or security agencies, is commendable.
Mr Speaker, the demonstrators came to Parliament to present their petition, and for that to have happened, means that democracy works in Ghana. It does not mean that our democracy is perfect, so, we must correct the processes and procedures to ensure that we straighten up our living within the remit of democratic rule.
Mr Speaker, as I said, the two of us received the petition on behalf of the Rt Hon Speaker, and we would want to believe that the necessary processes would be triggered to ensure appropriate inquiry and investigation into the circumstances of the matters that have been referred to by the petition.
Mr Speaker, I do not want us to be selective. If we are selective about these things, then we cannot achieve the purpose of investigating to protect lives. I believe that whatever has happened, if it happened yesterday or the day before, if the matter is referred to the appropriate Parliamentary Committee, then they should be given the authority to inquire into these matters no matter when they happened, so that we would be able to straighten the course of our democracy.
Mr Speaker, I thank you very much for the opportunity granted.
Mr First Deputy Speaker 3:33 p.m.
Hon Majority Leader, what is your suggestion about what to do with that Statement?
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 3:33 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I would want to believe that we can have a joint Committee of the Constitutional, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs Committee, in conjunction with the Committee on Defence and the Interior, to investigate and report to Parliament.
Mr First Deputy Speaker 3:33 p.m.
Yes, Hon Minority Leader?
Mr Iddrisu 3:33 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I am ad idem with the Hon Majority Leader on this matter. I believe that the joint Committees of Constitutional, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs and the Defence and the Interior Committees can look into the matter and report to the House.
Mr Speaker, I thank you.
Mr First Deputy Speaker 3:33 p.m.
I suggest that we defer any referral today and discuss it at the Leadership meeting thoroughly tomorrow before we make any pronouncement on the matter.
STATEMENTS 3:33 p.m.
Mr Kwaku Agyeman Kwarteng (NPP -- Obuasi West) 3:33 p.m.
Thank you, Mr Speaker.
Mr Speaker, I rise to formally draw Parliament's attention to some unusual price developments in our markets in respect of building materials; namely, iron rods, cement, sand, aggregates and other materials for construction. In recent times, there have been unusual price hikes of these items on the market, which has understandably provoked complaints from industry operators and consumers in my constituency, Obuasi West, and in the entire construction industry in the country.
These price developments have triggered further hikes in building- related services such as, excavation, drilling, tiling, et cetera. Indeed, I have heard complaints that even water supply to construction sites and construction labour have all become unusually more expensive.
It is hard to figure out the source of these unusual price increases. We know that Parliament has not passed any law that could have added any tax or levy to the prices of these items.
The price hikes for these items predates the recent taxes this Parliament approved as part of the 2021 Budget Statement and Economic Policy. In any event, the 2021 Budget-related taxes were not on building materials, and by their nature, could not have even indirectly affected the prices of building materials exclusively.
Mr Speaker, it is a strange development that must be frontally addressed. We need to check this for the sake of the construction industry, but more importantly, we need to get to the bottom of this disturbing development to ensure that it does not spread to other commodities and other industries on the market.
It is therefore my respectful view that Parliament needs to take steps open to us under our Standing Orders and the law to assist the country deal with this matter.
I thank you, Mr Speaker.
Mr Cassiel Ato B. Forson (NDC -- Ajumako/Enyan/ Essiam) 3:33 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I thank you for the opportunity to also contribute
to the Statement that was read by my Hon Chairman of the Finance Committee.
Mr Speaker, clearly, I would have thought that the Hon Chairman of the Finance Committee wields enough power to be able to look into the matter and to find out what is really driving these prices that are being increased.
Mr Speaker, I know that Ghana is in the free market economy, where prices of goods and services are normally determined by market forces depending on demand and supply. So, probably, the issue that the Hon Chairman raises or talks about, are driven on the back of demand and supply. Without that, I am sure that he knows enough to be able to draw that judgement. However, I am surprised that this matter is coming at this time.
Mr Speaker, the phenomenon that our Hon Finance Committee Chairman is raising is something that we believe that we should find a way to interrogate, and find out what really drives it. This is because clearly, if indeed, this is artificially done, then it has a negative impact on the Ghanaian economy because clearly, people's disposable incomes that are supposed
to be used for construction, obviously, are being used to pay for arbitrary prices, or prices at a very high rate.
Mr Speaker, I know that Obuasi is quite close to Kumasi, so, if for any reason some of these items are too expensive in Obuasi, then he could direct the traffic to Kumasi so that they could buy the things from there, and that would force the business owners to behave.
This is because I see no reason why cement prices in Obuasi should be far higher than that of Kumasi or other neighbouring constituencies within the country. This is because clearly, if we are talking of haulage, then our brothers and sisters who are in the northern part of the country should rather be the ones to complain, and certainly not those in Obuasi.
This is because Obuasi is quite close to Tema, where the Ghana Cement (GHACEM) is produced, than for one to go to a place like Walewale or Wa. So, if our constituents from Wa are not complaining of high prices of cement, then clearly, there is something definitely wrong with the way business owners are charging in the Obuasi Constituency.
Mr Speaker, let me end by saying that the Hon Chairman of the Finance
Mr Kwame Governs Agbodza (NDC -- Adaklu) 3:53 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I thank you for the opportunity, and I commend my Hon Colleague for this Statement.
Mr Speaker, one of the biggest headaches in this country currently is the cost of building materials. Eventually, this would lead to even
rent going up because if it costs more to build, it would be passed on eventually.
Mr Speaker, I am surprised our Hon Colleague, the former Deputy Minister for Finance, said we need to investigate, and that he cannot tell what is going on. A factor of cost of construction everywhere in the world is the price of fuel especially in road. Apart from the cost of haulage materials, which is huge because depending on where you are doing your work and you need to haul materials from another location if you check the bill, a big chunk of it is hauling of material and it is related to fuel.
In fact, you even need diesel and others to mix some of the materials before you lay them. Asphalt is a factor of bitumen and other admixtures. So, he should be clear that we know why the cost of construction is expensive.
Mr Speaker, just yesterday, a client asked me to find out how much it would cost him to buy 20 tonnes of iron rods -- 12 tonnes of 12 mm and 8 tonnes of 16 mm. Mr Speaker, a quotation was given to this client around December 2020 which was just over GH¢3,700 per tonne. Now, that same client would pay GH¢5,550 per tonne; almost double. The former Hon Deputy Minister for
Finance should tell us in his experience, what is causing this? This is cash --
Mr First Deputy Speaker 3:53 p.m.
You are also an experienced contractor; what do you think is causing this?
Mr Agbodza 3:53 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I feel it is interest rate depreciation, and also the cost of fuel. Many of these materials are imported. Even though we try to produce a certain quantum of iron rods in Ghana, significantly, even some of the people who said they would do One District, One Factory, who come under construction materials, actually import even plastic and everything. They import finished products so it costs them money. Mr Speaker, we need to take a very critical look at this.
Mr Speaker, cement is produced in this country, but the raw material is not produced here; they are all imported. Government must be ready to pay more because a few of the contracts are admeasurement.
What it means is that even if you award a road contract to somebody for GH¢100 million, even in January, the quantity surveyor would do a bill based on the price of materials as at the time the work has been timed. Thus, whatever you think the cost of
project is at the time of award may not be what you may be required to pay as a Government. Therefore, it should not be the concern of only private people; Government itself must be concerned.
Mr Speaker, can we do anything about this? I do not know if we can do anything about this. Like the Hon Forson said, it is a free market; we cannot do a control price by decreeing that from tomorrow morning, a tonne of iron rods should sell at GH¢3,000 and a bag of cement goes back to GH¢37.00. We cannot do it. In fact, I would be happy if we could do that because I have got clients who I could pass on this good news to.
The Side of the former Hon Deputy Minister runs the Government. They should tell us what the contractor is supposed to do to reduce cost to make construction cost cheaper for the ordinary man? As for Govern- ment, they would take taxes to do that, but what about the teacher who is trying to build a chamber and hall before he retires? Those are the people we should think of. This is a very important Statement, but the answer lies with the way Government is managing the economy.
Businessmen want to sell things and make money; they do not increase prices because they want to make
Mr Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu (NPP -- Suame) 3:53 p.m.
Mr Speaker, thank you very much for the opportunity to also make a few comments on this Statement.
Mr Speaker, I believe this is a very serious Statement made by my Hon Colleague, the Hon Member for Obuasi West who himself is a former
Hon Deputy Minister for Finance. Mr Speaker, I would want to believe that the Hon Member came under Standing Order 72 to make this personal Statement which is of urgent public importance, and that is why it should not be trivialised.
Mr Speaker, the escalating cost of building materials in particular is not limited to the Obuasi enclave alone. He cited what obtains in his own backyard, but it is everywhere in the country.
Mr First Deputy Speaker 3:53 p.m.
Even in Bekwai, where there is a cement factory, the price of cement has gone up notwithstanding the proximity to the factory.
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 3:53 p.m.
Thank you very much. So, Mr Speaker, this is across the board.
Mr Speaker, why it is very serious is that -- well, for now, we are in the business of counting the number of houses in this country. The projection all this while has been that the deficit of housing is in the region of between 1.5 and 2 million.
We are not too sure of what the exact figure is because we do not even know the housing stock in this country. The point however remains that demand for housing outstrips supply
in this country. That is the reason rent is so high. We need to bridge the gap, and if in the attempt to do it, we are confronted with this situation, as a nation, we must sit up and analyse it.
Mr Speaker, my Hon Colleague who contributed said that the price of fuel is a factor. I agree that the price of fuel is a factor, but if indeed it is driven by fuel prices, it should affect all materials in this country, not only building materials. How come that the prices of building materials are escalating in the manner that they are? That should suggest to you that there is something much more to that than fuel prices.
Mr Speaker, if you talk about escalating cost of materials and all manner of goods and services in this country, fuel certainly would be a major factor. The exchange rate would be a factor. Relatively, the exchange rate has been stable. Mr Speaker, this House has not passed any Bill to increase the levies on building materials so, why is it happening the way it is going?
We must not forget that there are few dealers in cement. The manufacturing companies are not too many so, there could be a cabalistic arrangement that perhaps, would result in price escalation. We need to
deal with it. Mr Speaker, how come that iron rods that were imported from faraway Ukraine are more than 50 per cent lower than those manufac- tured here? Something certainly is wrong somewhere.
Mr Agbodza 3:53 p.m.
What should we do here?
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 4:03 p.m.
What should who do here? It is a collective responsibility on the part of this House.
Mr Speaker, oversight responsibility is not on one Side of this House; enquiry into the conduct of business by Government is on the shoulders of this House as a collective, let us not reduce everything to partisan considerations: ‘this Side of the House has taken the position; this quarter of the House'— Mr Speaker, we should live up to reality; it is not good enough a position to always adopt.
Mr First Deputy Speaker 4:03 p.m.
Very well. So, is it the suggestion that the House should set a Committee to investigate and report?
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 4:03 p.m.
Mr Speaker, not to set up a new or an ad hoc Committee, we are just saying that refer the matter to the Finance Committee to be joined by the Leadership of the Committees on Trade and Industry and Works and Housing and give them a limited time; maybe, three weeks to report back to this House on this matter.
Mr First Deputy Speaker 4:03 p.m.
Yes, Minority Leadership, the suggestion is that the Finance Committee is joined by the Leadership of Committees on Trade and Industry and Works and Housing to investigate and report.
Mr Agbodza 4:03 p.m.
Mr Speaker, that is appropriate if these Committees can look into it and advise the House as to the basis of escalating prices of building materials but the Hon Majority Leader said that it is only building materials that are escalating -- [Interruption] -- well, because we know everything is going up so, if they could make the building materials as a reference and find out why prices are escalating on the market, that would be very helpful.
Mr First Deputy Speaker 4:03 p.m.
Very well. Hon Members, my job is cut out for me, the debate is over; it is my turn —
Mr Forson 4:03 p.m.
Mr Speaker, just for clarity, the Hon Kwaku Kwarteng's Statement was Constituency specific -- Obuasi West.
Mr First Deputy Speaker 4:03 p.m.
No, please. The Statement goes beyond Obuasi West. So, my job is cut out for me. I direct the Committee on Finance, assisted by the Leadership of the Committees on Trade and Industry and Works and Housing to investigate the escalating prices of building materials and related matters and report to the House within four weeks.
Very well, we can now proceed to Public Business: At the Commencement of Public Business, I would go to the Order Paper Addendum, the item numbered 2 -- Presentation of Papers by the Minister for Finance.
PAPERS 4:03 p.m.
Mr First Deputy Speaker 4:03 p.m.
Hon Deputy Minister, are we ready to take the item numbered (ii) on the Order Paper Addendum ?
Mr First Deputy Speaker 4:03 p.m.
Very well, ‘31' deleted.
By the Deputy Minister for Finance (Mrs Abena Osei-Asare) on behalf of (the Minister for Finance) —
(i) Medium Term Loan Agree- ment among the Government of the Republic of Ghana (represented by the Ministry of Finance), Members of the Eighth Council of State of the Republic of Ghana (2021- 2024) and the National Investment Bank Limited for an amount of three million, five hundred thousand United States dollars (US$3,500,000) to finance the Purchase of Vehicles for Members of the 8th Council of State (2021-
2024).
Referred to the Finance Committee.
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 4:03 p.m.
Mr Speaker, these Agreements come with the exemption components; some-
times, we bring them separately but they are encapsulated in the main Agreement so; in presenting this to the House that is in respect of Parliament and the Council of State, I would want it to be construed that the exemption component is part of this even though they come to be presented to the Committee separately.
I thank you very much.
Mr First Deputy Speaker 4:03 p.m.
Very well. What next? Hon Majority Leader, on the main Order Paper, are we ready to lay the item numbered
7?
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 4:03 p.m.
Mr Speaker, the Papers listed could be presented to the House, and I would do so immediately.
Mr First Deputy Speaker 4:03 p.m.
Very well, the item numbered 7 (a) (i).
By the Minister for Parliamentary Affairs and Majority Leader (Mr Osei Kyei-Mensah- Bonsu) —
(i) Report of the Auditor- General on Pre-University Educational Institutions for the Financial Year Ended 31st December, 2020.
Referred to the Public Accounts Committee.
Mr First Deputy Speaker 4:13 a.m.
Item numbered (a) (ii) to (a) (xii).
By the Majority Leader --
(ii)Report of the Auditor- General on the Management and Utilisation of District Assemblies' Common Fund (DACF) and Other Statutory Funds for the year ended 31st December, 2020.
(iii)Report of the Auditor- General on the Accounts of District Assemblies for the Financial Year Ended 31st December, 2020.
(iv)Report of the Auditor- General on the Public Sector Accounts of Ghana (Consolidated Fund [General Government]) for the Year Ended 31st December,
2020.
(v)Report of the Auditor- General on the Public Accounts of Ghana
(Ministries, Departments and Other Agencies) for the Year Ended 31st December, 2020.
(vi)Report of the Auditor- General on the Public Accounts of Ghana (Public Boards, Corporations and Other Statutory Institutions) for the Period Ended 31st December, 2020.
(vii)Report of the Auditor- General on the Public Accounts of Ghana (Technical Universities) for the Period Ended 31st December, 2020.
(viii)Report of the Auditor- General on the Consolidated Statements of the Foreign Exchange Receipts and Payments of the Bank of Ghana (BoG) for the Year Ended 31st December, 2020.
(ix)Performance Audit Report of the Auditor-General on the Construction of 30 1000MT Warehouses.
(x)Performance Audit Report of the Auditor-General on the Provision of Adoption Services by the Central

Adoption Authority and Department of Social Welfare.

(xi) Performance Audit Report of the Auditor-General on Regulating Reclamation Activities at Small-Scale Mining Sites.

(xii) Performance Audit Report of the Auditor-General on Selected Road Works in the Greater Kumasi Metropolis.

Referred to the Public Accounts Committee.
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 4:13 a.m.
Mr Speaker, you would recollect that I mentioned that we put items numbered (a) (iv) to a (vii) to the Public Accounts Committee (PAC). I was not too sure about items numbered (a) (viii), (ix), (x), (xi) and (xii).
Even though it is not conventional, looking at (viii) for instance, it is the Finance Committee that deals with foreign exchange receipts and payments at the Bank of Ghana. In this case, the Report is coming from the Auditor-General in respect of this. So, I do not know whether for (viii), it would not be tidy for the leadership of the Finance Committee to at least
join the PAC. This is because it is the Finance Committee that deals with this.
So, I do not know if we could depart from tradition and do that? I am not saying that it should be a joint Committee. It is the work of the Public Accounts Committee, but I think that because it is the Finance Committee that traces and tracks this with the Bank of Ghana, in respect of item numbered (viii), the leadership of the Finance Committee could join them. They would be in a better position to really monitor this. That is my reason.
For item numbered (a) (ix), again, it is the Ministry of Food and Agriculture that deals with it. Maybe there, the leadership of the Committee on Food and Agriculture could join them. When it comes to item numbered (a) (x), the leadership of the relevant Committee could join them. The PAC is dealing with item numbered (xi) and again, I think that the leadership of the Committee on Mines and Energy could be added to it. Then with the item numbered (xii), the PAC would not be enamoured to deal with this without the Committee on Roads and Transport, so their leadership could join them.
We could do the segregation in these particular cases, that is items
numbered (a) (viii), (ix), (x), (xi) and (xii) and have the leadership of the relevant Committees join the PAC. I think that it would be tidier and easier for them to conduct their activities.
Mr First Deputy Speaker 4:13 a.m.
Yes, Minority Leadership, what do you say?
Mr Agbodza 4:13 a.m.
Mr Speaker, the convention is that these Reports are submitted to the PAC but I can see the logic in what the Hon Majority Leader is saying. This is because if it is about the Bank of Ghana, the Finance Committee would have a better understanding of it.
If it is about the construction of warehouses, obviously, the original approval for the construction of these warehouses was done by the Committee on Food, Agriculture and Cocoa Affairs. So, I support what the Hon Majority Leader is saying. Let us try this and see.
Mr First Deputy Speaker 4:13 a.m.
In the circumstance, I direct that the leadership of the Finance Committee, Committee on Food, Agriculture and Cocoa Affairs, Committee on Employment, Social Welfare and State Enterprises; Committee on Mines and Energy and the Committee
on Roads and Transport should join the PAC as appropriate when these matters are to be discussed.
  • [MR SECOND DEPUTY SPEAKER IN THE CHAIR.]
    • Mr Second Deputy Speaker 4:22 p.m.
    Hon Majority Chief Whip, any indication?
    Mr Annoh-Dompreh 4:22 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, if we may take items numbered 7 (b) and 7 (c)?
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 4:23 p.m.
    Very well.
    Item numbered 7 (b), by the Hon Chairman of the Committee.
    By the Chairman of the Committee --
    Report of the Committee on Youth, Sports and Culture on the Agreement between the Government of the Republic of Ghana (represented by the Ministry of Youth and Sports)
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 4:23 p.m.
    Item numbered 7 (c), by the Hon Chairman of the Committee.
    By the Chairman of the Committee --
    Report of the Committee on Environment, Science and Technology on the Cooperation Agreement between the Government of the Republic of Ghana (acting through the Ministry of Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation) and the Swiss Confederation (acting through the Federal Department for the Environment, Transport, Energy and Communications) towards the Implementation of the article six (6) of the Paris Climate Change Agreement.
    Mr Annoh-Dompreh 4:23 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, if we may take item numbered 16 on page 13 on the Order Paper?
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 4:23 p.m.
    Hon Members, item numbered 16 -- Motion
    MOTIONS 4:23 p.m.
    Chairman of the Committee (Mr Kwaku Agyeman Kwarteng) 4:23 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I beg to move, that this honourable House adopts the Report of the Finance Committee on the Financing Agreement between the Government of the Republic of Ghana (represented by the Ministry of Finance) and the International Development Association for an amount of one hundred million United States dollars (US$100,000,000.00) to finance the Productive Safety Net Project-2.
    Mr Speaker, in doing so, I present your Committee's Report.
    1.0 Introduction
    The Financing Agreement between the Government of the Republic of Ghana (represented by the Ministry of Finance) and the International Development Asso- ciation (IDA) for an amount of one hundred million United States dollars (US$100,000,000.00) to finance the
    Productive Safety Net Project -- 2 was presented to the House on Wednesday, 30th June, 2021 by the Hon Minister of State at the Finance Ministry, Mr Charles Adu Boahen on behalf of the Minister responsible for Finance.
    The Rt. Hon Speaker referred the agreement to the Finance Committee for consideration and report.
    The Committee met with a Deputy Minister for Finance, Hon John Ampontuah Kumah, two Deputy Ministers for Local Government, Decentralisation and Rural Develop- ment, Hon O. B. Amoah and Hon Collins Ntim and officers from the Ministry of Finance, the Ministry of Local Government, Decentralisation and Rural Development and the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection to consider the referral.
    2.0 Documents Referred To
    The Committee referred to the following documents during its deliberations:
    The 1992 Constitution of Ghana;
    The Public Financial Manage- ment Act of 2016 (Act 921); and
    The Standing Orders of the Parliament of Ghana;
    3.0 Background
    Ghana has recorded a relatively high growth over the past two decades. Economic growth increased from 3.7 per cent in 2000 to 6.5 per cent in 2019 driven by a competitive business environment, fast growing private sector, strong commodity price increases and the start of commercial oil production in 2011 resulting in the achievement of a lower-middle-income status.
    The country's favourable economic growth performance has been accompanied by a substantial reduction in the prevalence of poverty from 36 per cent in 1991/1992 to 8.2 per cent in 2016/2017 (using consumption expenditure as the indicator). This decline is largely due to the result of the implementation of key social protection interventions. These interventions include:
    (i) Livelihood Empowerment Against Poverty (LEAP) cash transfer programme;
    (ii)Labour-Intensive Public Works (LIPW) programme;
    (iii)The Ghana School Feeding Programme (GSFP);
    Mr Cassiel Ato Baah Forson (NDC -- Ajumako/Enyan/ Essiam) 4:23 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I beg to second the Motion and in doing so, I would want to state that the financing terms are straightforward and they are in line with the middle income country rider loans. Although the financing terms fall short of the minimum
    concessionality to make it a concessional loan, it is still competitive and it is in the right direction for us to go for it.
    Mr Speaker, my concern emanates from the fact that Ghana, after so many years of our independence, still borrow to end poverty. This is something we should all be very concerned about. As a country, we should indeed, take our revenue mobilisation seriously because we cannot continue to borrow for the purposes of ending poverty.
    For how long would we borrow to end poverty? Yes, I agree that we need to work on Livelihood Empowerment Against Poverty (LEAP) and labour intensive roads. However, although the LEAP is a good project, it is not sustainable for us to continually borrow to support it. That is why I would want to urge the Ministry of Finance to find a sustainable way to finance this programme instead of always borrowing from the World Bank to fund it.
    Mr Speaker, I am worried on some of the items that we would spend this amount on because in Component 5, we were told that an amount of US$8 million would be
    Mr Cassiel Ato Baah Forson (NDC -- Ajumako/Enyan/ Essiam) 4:33 p.m.
    used to finance the cost associated with management, coordination and capacity building for the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development and the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection.

    Again, Component 5.1 also amounts to US$4 million. It says that this sub-component will also be used to finance project management coordination, technical assistance and capacity building and this amounts to another US$4 million.

    Yes, we need these loans but I am particularly disturbed with the use of some of these proceeds. If we put the figures meant for capacity building of the US$4 million and the US$8 million together, it will amount to US$12 million.

    That is why oftentimes, I criticise some of these World Bank loans because if we look at some of the items we are spending the money on, it is as though we sometimes engage foreign consultants who come in to do the work and they take the money away while the country benefits very little from it.

    Mr Speaker, we should be worried about this because in the end it does not benefit the country the way we expect it to. Inasmuch as I support this, I would like to put on record that I have some reservations with the use of proceeds particularly, with the way we spend money on capacity building and consultants.

    This is because there is no value for money on some of these things and if indeed they wish us well, they should allow Ghanaian consultants do some of this work because we know our problems better than anyone who is coming in to support us and as such, we would be able to design policies that will suit and benefit us. That is why I urge the Hon Ministers that going forward, when they are negotiating with the World Bank, they should do so in such a way that there will be enough local content for Ghanaian consultants also. The practice in which we take loans and foreign consultants come from other countries to take the money away, must stop now.

    Question put and Motion agreed to.

    Resolved accordingly.
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 4:33 p.m.
    I will invite two contributors from each Side. Yes, Hon Member for Okaikwei Central?
    Mr Patrick Yaw Boamah (NPP — Okaikwei Central) 4:33 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I beg to support the Motion on the Floor and to take off from where my Hon Colleague -- Member for Ajumako/Enyan/Essiam ended.
    Mr Speaker, there is not a single World Bank facility that does not come with capacity building; they are all embedded components that precede the funding arrangement for which a lot of consultancy ought to be undertaken before the facility is approved finally by the World Bank.
    Mr Speaker, let me refer you to paragraph 4.0 on the objectives of the loan which are clearly stated especially the component on the Livelihood Empowerment Against Poverty Programme (LEAP) -- US$20 million to finance the expansion of programme coverage, improved targeting of the programme for the poor household, increased benefit levels and enhancement and strengthening of the capacity of decentralised structures.
    Why are we going for a phase 2 of this facility? It is because of the achievements listed under paragraph 6.2 on the status of phase 1 of GPSNP programme. Mr Speaker, the committee observed that a number of
    achievements were recorded since the implementation of phase 1.
    Mr Speaker, we all agree that there are certain underprivileged parts of this country where steps have been taken by various Governments to bridge the poverty levels. You will notice that under ‘Productive Inclusion', the Complementary Livelihood and assets Support Scheme (CLASS) implementation team has been set up in 41 beneficiary District Assemblies in the Upper East, Upper West, Savannah, North East and the Northern Regions to support as many as 126 communities comprising over 8,683 beneficiaries who were given various grants in various areas of their economic activities.
    The LEAP cash grant programme under the phase 1 as at December 2020 had enrolled a total of 335,015 households and were receiving a bimonthly cash grant which translated into almost 1.5 million individuals comprising 799,000 females and 655,00 males.
    Mr Speaker, the overall poverty alleviation strategy of Government ought to be looked at, especially, where the poverty levels are not bridged at the rate at which we all expect some of these facilities to achieve. We need to have a holistic
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 4:33 p.m.
    Yes, Hon Minority Leader?
    Mr Haruna Iddrisu 4:43 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, thank you for the opportunity to contribute to the Motion and to speak in support of it.
    However, in doing so, I refer you to page 8 of your Committee's Report which reads with permission:
    “The Committee observed that the financing agreement has a grand element of 22 per cent”.
    Mr Speaker, under article 181 of the 1992 Constitution, our burden and mandate as a Parliament is not to grant approval for grants. So, if there is a grant element of 22 per cent -- 22
    per cent of 100 million should amount to about 22 million. This means that the loan we are approving for all intents and purposes should be 88 million and not 100 million that is, if I am to follow the Report.
    So, I further refer you to page 5 of your Committee's Report, it says; loan amount -- 100 million. So, someone must explain to me, the grant component where it belongs to because we cannot be approving -- this is a loan/grant and so, where is the grant?
    Mr Speaker, I am raising this because there are interests and services charged as well as commitment fees charged on the 88 million or the 100 million? Somebody from the Ministry of Finance or probably, the Finance Committee must explain that to me.
    Reading this Report, I can say that I am a very proud member of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) and our Hon Colleagues on the Opposite side create the impression all the time that the NDC did nothing while in power.
    However, may I refer you to page 2 of your Committee's Report where I take my satisfaction of being an NDC member and part of its government which I beg to read:
    “The country's favourable economic growth performance has been accompanied by a substantial reduction in the prevalence of poverty from 36 per cent in 1992 to 8 per cent in 2016". They should have added the year 2017.
    Mr Speaker, so it is substantial reduction of poverty under the NDC Government yet they create the impression every day - this is the Government's contribution to ameliorating poverty in the country and the Committee Reports speaks volumes of it.
    So, the challenge of President Akufo-Addo and the New Patriotic Party (NPP) - take the 8.2 per cent to 1 per cent and let us measure them from the year 2017 to 2024 and they must further reduce poverty.

    Mr Speaker, while I make this observation, the Hon Chairman of the Finance Committee made a very important comment --accept it or not, the COVID-19 pandemic has contributed to deepening poverty, inequality, reducing employment opportunities, particularly for women by some research which has been conducted on post COVID-19 in 2020. Therefore, it is important that

    we take advantage of some of these facilities to enable us improve our post-COVID-19 recovery as a country.

    Mr Speaker, again, on page 2, they tell us that the National Health Insurance Scheme is doing well, and they are borrowing to finance it. Look at the list of items which include Ghana School Feeding Programme. With the Ghana School Feeding Programme, even as the Dutch Government left it, Ghana Beyond Aid means that Ghana without calabash.

    We do not hold a calabash to beg and borrow money. However, if we are going for loans to finance the National Health Insurance Scheme, the Ghana School Feeding Programme and to finance Livelihood Empowerment Against Poverty (LEAP), then what happened to the Ghana Beyond Aid and the quest to position Ghana as a favourable economy?

    Mr Speaker, to conclude, significantly again, as observed by the Committee, the growth of our economy on page 2, paragraph 3, says Ghana has recorded a relatively high growth over the past two decades and not over the past two or four years.

    So there has been consistent growth of the economy of Ghana,
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 4:43 p.m.
    Yes, Hon Chairman?
    Mr Kwarteng 4:43 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, the Hon Minority Leader's statement
    confirms the fact that when a previous government does the right thing, this Administration would say it. I hope that when the wrong things done are also said, they accept it with the kind of enthusiasm we have seen this afternoon.
    Mr Speaker, the second point is about the grant component. This is one facility. It is one facility with terms, and the grant component is part of the terms. It would be problematic to isolate the grant component and say the approval of Parliament must just be in respect of a limited part of the entire Agreement. So we take the whole facility and take the grant component as a term of the facility.
    Mr Speaker, the last point I would make is that, when such facilities are taken, especially facilities that have grant components, the World Bank is a multinational institution to which Ghana subscribes.
    Now, if they have a facility that has grant component and it is good for us to access because we would not get that price on the market, it is smart economic management strategy to look at those aspects of our expenditure that we can put on such a facility so that funds which were previously planned for those interventions could be diverted into expenditures that would not qualify under this facility.
    I think it is good economic management to do this, and it must not be made to look as though Government is now having to borrow in order to finance commitments that the Government has made to people which commitment Government is actually fulfilling.
    We should therefore not create the impression that we are borrowing to do this. We are taking advantage of a facility by a multinational institution to which we subscribe, to finance existing expenditure so that resources would be freed for other expenditures that otherwise would not qualify under that facility.
    These are the points I thought I should put across. I thank you for the opportunity, Mr Speaker.
    Question put and Motion agreed to.
    Resolved Accordingly.
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 4:43 p.m.
    Yes, Hon Majority Chief Whip?
    Mr Annoh-Dompreh 4:43 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, we can now go to the item numbered 17 on the same page 13, which is the consequential Resolution.
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 4:43 p.m.
    Very well. Item numbered 17?
    RESOLUTIONS 4:43 p.m.
    THIS HONOURABLE 4:43 p.m.
    HOUSE HEREBY 4:43 p.m.
    Mr Kwame Governs Agbodza 4:43 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I beg to second the Motion.
    Question put and Motion agreed to.
    Resolved accordingly.
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 4:43 p.m.
    Yes, Hon Majority Whip?
    Mr Annoh-Dompreh 4:43 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, the next item should be item numbered 18 on page 14 -- Motion.
    MOTIONS 4:43 p.m.
    Chairman of the Committee (Mr Kwaku Agyeman Kwarteng) 4:43 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I beg to move, that this honourable House adopts the Report of the Finance Committee on the Financing Agreement between the Government of the Republic of Ghana (represented by the Ministry of Finance) and the International Development Association for an amount of two hundred million United States dollars (US$200,000,000.00) as Additional Financing for the Ghana COVID-19 Emergency Preparedness and Response Project.
    In so doing, I present the Committee's Report.
    1.0 Introduction
    The Financing Agreement between the Government of the Republic of Ghana (represented by the Ministry of Finance) and the International Development Association (IDA) for an amount of two hundred mill ion United States dollars (US$200,000,000.00) as Additional Financing for the Ghana COVID-19 Emergency Preparedness and Response Project was presented to the House on Wednesday 30th June,
    2021.
    Pursuant to article 103 of the 1992 Constitution and Orders 169 and 171 of the Standing Orders of the House, the Agreement was referred to the Committee on Finance for consideration and report.
    The Committee met and discussed the Agreement with the Minister for Health, Hon Kwaku Agyeman- Manu, Deputy Minister for Finance, Hon John Ampontuah Kumah and a team of officials from the Ministries of Finance and Health.
    The Committee hereby submits this report to the House pursuant to Order 161 of the Standing Orders of the House.
    The Committee is grateful to the Hon Minister for Health, Hon Deputy Minister for Finance and the officials for attending upon the Committee.
    2.0 References
    The Committee referred to and was guided by the following documents inter alia during its deliberations on the Agreement:
    The 1992 Constitution of the Republic of Ghana;
    The Standing Orders of the Parliament of Ghana; and
    The Public Financial Manage- ment Act of 2016 (Act 921).
    3.0 Background
    Following the outbreak of the Coronavirus Disease in 2019 (COVID-19), the Government of Ghana sourced for US$100 million funding from the World Bank in April, 2020 to support the implementation of the COVID-19 Emergency Preparedness and Response Plan (EPRP-I). The EPRP-I had been vital in preventing, detecting, as well as strengthening the National Health Systems to respond to the threat posed by the COVID-19 pandemic.
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 4:43 p.m.
    Yes, Hon Ranking Member?
    Mr Cassiel A. B. Forson (NDC -- Ajumako/Enyan/Essiam) 4:53 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I rise to second the Motion and in doing so, let me say that this particular loan, we were told is of urgent nature in the sense that the World Bank made available US$200 million for us. Apparently, this loan should have been approved as far back as last month but unfortunately, we have not been able to approve this loan.
    Mr Speaker, I am only supporting this particular loan for one reason. The reason is that this loan would be used mainly for the purchases of vaccines. We were told at the Committee that out of the US$200 million, an amount of US$137.15 million would be used for the purposes of purchasing Coronavirus vaccines.
    Today, we are being told that this US$137.15 million would be used to acquire vaccines that would be able to take care of the 21 per cent of the population. Ghana's population is appropriately 31 million according to the same World Bank. So 21 per cent of 31 million is 6.5 million vaccines. If we are to divide US$137.15 million by the 6.1 million vaccines , it would mean that Ghana is purchasing this vaccine at approximately US$21 per vaccine. This is simple mathematics.
    Mr Speaker, let me refer you to the introduction of sub-component
    1.6:
    “To procure COVID-19 vaccines for the additional 37 per cent of the national target.”
    This means that an additional 21 per cent of the total population spending US$137.15 million. This is clearly simple mathematics so what we are saying is that we are going to spend US$21 per vaccine.
    Mr Speaker, what I am trying to do here is to simply look at the basic mathematics and finance. If that is the case, we asked the Hon Minister for Health at the Committee meeting to clarify this. He said to us that at this stage, he would not be able to give us any indication as to how much a vaccine is going to cost. As we speak, he is still negotiating with countries and he is not sure of the price that Ghana is going to procure this vaccine.
    Mr Speaker, I am only cautioning that Ghana does not want to see or hear another Sputnik V issues. This is because we are not ready to engage another middleman. I know that with the issues relating to vaccines now, we are using government to government (G-G) to procure vaccines. So I do
    Mr Cassiel A. B. Forson (NDC -- Ajumako/Enyan/Essiam) 5:03 p.m.


    not want to hear instances where Government of Ghana is procuring vaccines through a middle man from the black market. That cannot be the case. That black market business must stop. We need to engage governments directly and be able to buy the vaccines.

    Mr Speaker, obviously, Ghana needs this vaccine. We need the vaccines now so I would not be the one to prevent Ghana from acquiring these vaccines. We need the vaccines so we would work and ensure that we get the vaccines.

    However, Mr Speaker, there are legitimate concerns. Earlier, about a year ago, the same Ministry of Health had appeared before us and had said that Parliament should approve for them to spend an amount of US$136.8 million being Emergency COVID-19 Response Budget.

    Mr Speaker, all of us, collectively, without asking much questions, approved for them. It is only right that when the same Ministry is coming to ask for additional financing on the same loan, they account at the minimum for the US$136 million that we all approved for them.

    Mr Speaker, it would surprise you to know that when we asked the Ministry of Health to give us a breakdown of what they have spent already, they only accounted for only US$8.9 million.

    Mr Speaker, we demand that the Hon Minister for Health appears before us urgently to account for the amount that we have already approved.

    Mr Speaker, clearly, if not the emergency nature of the country acquiring vaccines, I would not have supported this loan -- on account that the Hon Minister for Health has failed to account for the amount that we have already given to him. Mr Speaker, I would give you an example - on the previous loan the Government of Ghana, working with Parliament had approved for them to spend an amount of US$9 million for the purposes of supporting key interventions such as strengthening disease surveillance systems and point of entry as well as public health laboratories for contact tracing and reporting and we have budgeted US$9 million.

    Mr Speaker, the same Ministry is asking us to apportion for them, another US$14.96 million without accounting for what we have already approved for them.

    Mr Speaker, again, under sub- component 1.2, initially, we approved US$87.2 million for them for the purposes of containment, isolation and treatment.

    They are here again, asking us to approve an amount of US$40.8 million for them. But how can we be approving money for the Ministry of Health without accounting for them? They have to account for that amount. For now, because of the emergency nature of the vaccine, we are going to approve of this, but Mr Speaker, I urge you to rule that the Hon Minister responsible for Health should come again and account for the loans that we have approved for him already. Otherwise, I would come with a substantive Motion to investigate some of these amounts, and to call for a form of accountability. This is because the time for us to ask questions is now!

    Mr Speaker, earlier, we were told that an amount of US$10.8 million was budgeted for communication. Now, they are asking us to approve another amount of US$10.8 million for them. On what sort of communication did they spend the amount of US$10.8 million that we have already approved? Why are

    they not giving us the breakdown of what they have spent earlier, but now asking us to give them another money?

    We would support this because we need the vaccines now, but going forward, loans of this nature would be interrogated line by line to ensure that the people of this country get the accountability that they deserve.

    Mr Speaker, I thank you.
    Mr Patrick Y. Boamah (NPP -- Okaikwei Central) 5:03 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I rise to speak in support of the Motion on the floor of the House, and to refer my Hon Colleague from the Ajumako/ Enyan/Essiam Constituency to paragraph 4.0, which is on the financing terms. My Hon Colleague is a good friend; he participated well at the Committee level.
    Mr Speaker, the loan for an amount of US$200 million with the repayment period of 25 years and a grace period of another five years will prevail for about 30 years of repayment. Therefore, the terms are very good in terms of this pandemic, and I believe that my Hon Colleague believed in the facility and helped the Committee to arrive at the conclusion on paragraph 7 for the House to approve of this Facility.
    Minority Leader (Mr Haruna Iddrisu) 5:03 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I rise to speak in support of the Motion that this honourable House approves the amount of US$200 million as additional financing for the Ghana COVID-19 Emergency Preparedness and Response Project.
    Mr Speaker, in doing so, I would call for greater transparency and increased accountability in the management of the overall COVID- 19 resources approved by the Government and spent by the Government, Ministries, Departments and Agencies so that they should be ready to account for the usage of those moneys.
    Mr Speaker, in doing so, I would want to give a conditional support to this Agreement. My conditional support is premised on -- I would want to refer you to page 4 of your Committee's Report, and my conditional support is premised on a paragraph that reads: “… Expansion of diagnostic capacity from 2 to 19
    laboratories…” It continues to say: “…In 10 out of 16 regions…” I would not support this until I have an elaborate programme that takes care of the six regions that have been left out, other than that, I would not support this Motion.
    Mr Speaker, is COVID-19 only known to 10 regions in Ghana? Why are they coming to only say that they seek to expand diagnostic capacity to only 10 regions when we have 16 regions in the country? First of all, our Committees must do diligent work. Which six regions have been left out? We need to know.
    The six regions must also necessarily be included as beneficiary regions of this Facility. So, I would give them conditional support because they cannot discriminate against six regions on a pandemic which is national in character, and which's third variant may be national in its exercise. So, why are they concentrating on only 10 regions when they know that Ghana has 16 regions now?
    Mr Speaker, when we go further, on the same page, it says 5:03 p.m.
    “…21 treatment centres are equipped to increase Intensive Care Unit (ICU) bed capacity from 44 to 129 in 10 regions”. So, it means that tomorrow if the COVID-19 pandemic strikes in the other six regions, then they would
    have no access to bed capacity and no access to intensive care units, but they also deserve it because they are Ghanaians. So, I need a firm assurance that these six other regions would be included as beneficiaries, and become a part of these ten regions.
    Mr Speaker, to go further, not even travelling outside page 4, it reads, and I quote:
    “…Procurement and distribu- tion of 3.6 million reusable face masks…”
    How much did it cost the State? We need to know. It would interest Mr Speaker to know that different Ministries, Departments and Agencies procured masks at different prices in this same Ghana, and some at unacceptable prices.
    These are some of the reasons that makes it difficult for people to account for this money. They should let us know the amount they spent on procuring a mask, and the type of mask that it was. They should be able to let us know how much it cost the tax payer, but we do not know that.
    Mr Speaker, again, we are told again that a number of 4,500 infra- red thermometers were purchased, so, how much did it cost? We need to know. Again, when we go down, we are told:
    Mr Speaker, very significant for you, on page 5, we read 5:13 p.m.
    “…This is within the context that the number of individuals who had received the first dose of the COVID-19 vaccination in Ghana as of March 2021 is estimated at 457,000 out of the target of 17.5 million people”.

    So what are they celebrating? They have not even been able to hit one million mark of a population of 30 million and more. That is not good enough. With all these resources, US$1 billion, an additional GH¢1.2 billion, additional US$100 million and you are coming for an addition of US$200 million, yet, they have not been able to cover just three per cent of the population.

    I can even reduce it to two per cent of the population. With all these resources, Government has not been able to cover three per cent of Ghana's population having taken US$1 billion from the World Bank and the Stabilisation Fund. What did we achieve?

    Mr Speaker, this is the Committee's Report; it is not my words. They said “vaccination in Ghana as at March 2021 is estimated at 457,000”. Mr Speaker, much work needs to be done, but arguably, the terms of the loan are pretty good enough for a country which is in debt distress to strengthen our coordination and preparedness.

    Mr Speaker, I am totally unhappy that six Regions have been left out of this facility. That is not acceptable. The strategy of Government if it concentrates on only six Regions is wrong. We need to work to improve it.

    Mr Speaker, the Hon Ranking Member for the Committee on Finance referred you to page 8 of your Committee's Report.

    “Introduction of sub-component 1.6 to procure COVID-19 vaccines for an additional 37 per cent of the national target (an

    additional 21 per cent of the total population) (US$137.15 million).”

    Where would you get the vaccines from? We need to know. Would it be Government to Government or private sector or middle men as he raised?

    Then we have “Sub-Component 1.4: Securing Primary Care Essential Services Provision (US$25.6 million equivalent)”. Also, we have what he refers to as communication. Why do they want to spend that huge sum of money on communication?

    Mr Speaker, on contact tracing, they are only in 10 and not 16 Regions and they want GH¢14.9 million for the purpose of case detection. Mr Speaker, they are charging people at the airport for it. On page 7 of the Report, you would see sub- component 1.1 as case detection. Case detection is testing so people are already paying at the airport, so, what are they taking this money for?

    You can detect cases when you conduct a test which is not free. People pay for it, yet, Government is taking GH¢14.9 million to scale up matters of “case detection confirmation, contact tracing, recording and reporting”. This is double counting and it is not good enough.
    Mr Kwarteng 5:13 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I thank you for the opportunity to correct an error before our Leadership comes in.
    Mr Speaker, it is in respect of the cost of the vaccines. We asked the officials from the Ministry of Health what the figure is, and they stated, and I repeat it here for the record that a vaccine would cost US$10.55. This was the information communicated to the Committee, and it is captured under paragraph 6.4 of the Report.
    What I remember the Committee wanted to know was that at US$10.55 per vaccine, the US$200 million should get for us more than the 7.6 million that the facility we were told was going to vaccinate. It was on this that the Ministry said they would revert to us with figures to indicate them. The Hon Minister for Health was very clear that the vaccine
    would be US$10.55. I guess it is important information that the House would want to take note of.
    The point has been made that all the moneys that have been collected in the past in the name of fighting COVID-19, in spite of all that, we have been able to do something around 2 per cent. Mr Speaker, it is fair to clear this. As far as I can recall, all the communication that have come to this House from this Ministry of Finance in respect of COVID-19 expenditures have been far more than vaccines.
    In fact, it was just in the last Budget Statement that a small amount was committed to the procurement of vaccines. The rest of the expenditure that the Hon Minority Leader referred to have been used to finance other expenditures necessary for the fight against COVID-19. It is important that we take note of this.
    Mr Alexander Kwamena Afenyo-Markin (NDC -- Effutu) 5:23 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, I thank you for the opportunity to add my voice on the issue before us which issue is to approve additional US$200 million for the purpose of COVID-19 Emergency Preparedness and Response Project.
    Mr Speaker, in the submission of the Hon Minority Leader, he expressed concern about the supposed discrimination in the utilisation of the funds. He further specified in his argument that why 10 out of 16 Regions -- why have other Regions been taken out? Mr Speaker, upon a careful reading of the Report -- I take this opportunity to add my voice to disagree strongly with him.
    In so doing and for emphasis, I shall refer to pages 3 and 4 of the Report which he himself relied on. Mr Speaker, paragraph 3 of the Report talks about background. The last paragraph on that page reads:
    “The Government of Ghana rolled-out the EPRP-II with additional financing of US$130.0 million from the World Bank Group to strengthen and scale-up the gains from the EPRP-I. That additional financing was approved on 12th November 2020. Together, the financing of EPRP-1&II have facilitated the implementation of the COVID- 19 containment interventions through the . . .”
    Mr Speaker, the success story is what has been outlined at page 4 of the Report. So, just to draw the
    attention of the Hon Minority Leader, the purpose for which this facility is being procured has been well spelt out on pages 7, 8 and 9.
    For emphasis, they have given us a breakdown and so, if he talks about getting detailed report upon implementation, that is within his right.

    This is a House that does monitoring and oversight so, it is within his right as a Member of Parliament but to contend that the Government is limiting this facility to 10 out of 16 regions, I beg to disagree with the Minority Leader. And I base my disagreement on facts.

    Mr Speaker, having said this, I would not belabour the point because I do not want to add to the superfluity of what has already been said. Save to say that I am happy that as a House, we are considering the Report of your Committee that did this work and has come out with one voice; consensus.

    And Hon Ato Forson, in his argument strongly echoed the fact that we are not in normal times, this is an emergency situation, and I agree with him, and there is the need for all of us to support it.
    Mr Haruna Iddrisu 5:23 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, you may put the Question but for the record, as I read the Report, I am unable to make a determination which 10 regions have benefited or would benefit from this facility. And I am further unable to make a determination which six regions of Ghana may potentially be left out and would not benefit from this? I have read the Report in its entirety, from the first paragraph to the last. I just want it for the record before you put the Question.
    Mr Afenyo-Markin 5:23 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, I think we are both on the same page except the language and the approach. My disagreement basically is that it is GH¢130 million that refers to the 10 out of the 16 regions. He argues that one of the purposes of this facility is to do this diagnostic capacity
    expansion in 10 out of 16 regions. That I disagree because I say that this was in respect of the GH¢130 million Facility under EPRP I&II. So, it is the background information but the purpose of this Facility is on a different page.
    So, I am only telling the Hon Minority Leader; he knows I so much respect his views but where there is a disagreement, I need to point it out so that we all move on happily. That is all the point I want to make - well we are passing but we need to put the things right in proper perspective. Disagreeing with him does not mean that I am opposed to his submission. I have disagreed, please.
    Mr Speaker, I thank you.
    Question put and Motion agreed to.
    Resolved Accordingly.
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 5:23 a.m.
    Yes, Hon Majority Leadership?
    Mr Habib Iddrisu 5:23 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, Resolution on page 14 of the Order Paper.
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 5:23 a.m.
    Yes, Hon Deputy Minister for Finance?
    RESOLUTIONS 5:23 a.m.
    THIS HONOURABLE 5:23 a.m.
    HOUSE HEREBY 5:23 a.m.
    Mr Agbodza 5:23 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, I beg to second the Motion.
    Mr Agbodza 5:23 a.m.


    Question put and Motion agreed to.

    Resolved accordingly.
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 5:23 a.m.
    Yes, Majority Leadership?
    Mr Habib Iddrisu 5:23 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, Order Paper Addendum 2, the item numbered 1 -- Motion.
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 5:23 a.m.
    Hon Members, the item numbered 1 on the Order Paper Addendum 2 -- Procedural Motion, Chairman of the Committee?
    MOTIONS 5:23 a.m.
    Chairman of the Committee on Youth, Sports and Culture (Mr Johnson Adu) 5:23 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, I beg to move, that notwithstanding the provisions of Standing Order 80(1) which requires that no Motion shall be debated until at least forty-eight hours have elapsed between the date on which notice of the Motion is given and the date on which the Motion is moved, the Motion for the adoption of the Report of the Committee on Youth, Sports and Culture on the Agreement between the Government of the Republic of Ghana (represented by the Ministry of Youth and Sports)
    and the African Union (represented by the African Union Commission) relating to the Technical and Material Hosting of the 13th African Games in Accra, Ghana in 2023 may be moved today.
    Mr Agbodza 5:23 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, the front Bench of the Minority does not appear to have the Order Paper Addendum 2 .
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 5:23 a.m.
    Table Office, please make the Order Paper available to the Hon Members.
    Hon Woyome, you can now second the Motion.
    Mr Wisdom K. Woyome 5:23 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, I beg to second the Motion.
    Question put and Motion agreed to.
    Resolved Accordingly.
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 5:23 a.m.
    Hon Chairman, you may now move the substantive Motion.
    Agreement between the GoG and the African Union (AU) relating to the Technical and Material Hosting of the 13th Edition of the 2023 All Africa
    Games in Accra, Ghana
    Mr Johnson Adu 5:23 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, I beg to move, that this honourable
    House adopts the Report of the Committee on Youth, Sports and Culture on the Agreement between the Government of the Republic of Ghana (represented by the Ministry of Youth and Sports) and the African Union (represented by the African Union Commission) relating to the Technical and Material Hosting of the 13th All Africa Games in Accra, Ghana in 2023.
    Mr Speaker, in doing so, I would present your Committee's Report 5:23 a.m.
    1. Introduction
    Having secured Executive Approval for the Agreement between the African Union and the Government of the Republic of Ghana on the Material and Technical Organisation of the 13th Edition of the All Africa Games in 2023 in Accra, Ghana, the Minister for Youth and Sports, Hon Mustapha Ussif, laid same in Parliament on Tuesday, 29th June 2021, and it was referred to the Select Committee on Youth, Sports and Culture for scrutiny and report.
    This was done in accordance with article 75 of the 1992 Constitution of Ghana and in Standing Order 187 of the House. The Committee was assisted in its work by the Hon Mustapha Ussif, the Minister for Youth and Sports, and a technical team
    made up of officials from his Ministry, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration, the Ministry of Finance, the Attorney-General's Department and the African Games 2023 Local Organising Committee
    (LOC).
    2. Reference Documents
    The Committee referred to the following documents during its deliberations:
    I. The 1992 Constitution of the Republic of Ghana;
    II. The Standing Orders of the Parliament of Ghana;
    III.The Draft Protocol Agreement Between the African Union and the Government of the Republic of Ghana on the Material and Technical Organisation of the 13th Edition of the All Africa Games 2023 in Accra, Ghana;
    IV. The Attorney-General's Recommendations on the Draft Protocol Agreement Between the African Union and the Government of the Republic of Ghana on the Material and Technical Organisation of the 13th Edition of the African Games 2023 in Accra, Ghana; and
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 5:23 a.m.
    Yes, Hon Ranking Member?
    Mr Kobena Woyome 5:33 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, I beg to second the Motion.
    The country won the bid to organise and host the 13th Edition of the All Africa Games, 2023. In doing that, we have three options to organise this
    Mr Yves Hanson-Nortey (NPP -- Tema Central) 5:33 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, thank you for the opportunity to contribute to the Motion.
    Mr Speaker, perusing the Agreement, the background stipulates that in Ghana, sports in general play a big role in our socio-economic development and political lives as a people. It brings us together, physically, mentally, socially and morally.
    I would jump to the financial impact. It seems that we are spending US$222,273,153.74 on the games and raking in a revenue of US$154,500,000. That is a shortfall of about US$67 million but there are other ancillary benefits that we gain out of sports and most importantly, this African Games that we want to host.
    Mr Speaker, there are tourism opportunities, long-term legacy opportunities for infrastructural development in sports, foreign direct investments and even tourism after the games. There are also intangible benefits such as the feel-good effect that we would get and the civic pride that we get out of hosting these games.
    Mr Speaker, looking at Article 8 of the Protocol Agreement, under revenue sharing from the African
    Games, the LOC was able to negotiate with the AU to reduce our initial payment from US$2.5 million to US$1.8 million. Also, they negotiated for the broadcasting rights for which Ghana is taking 100 per cent and also, the exploitation of marks for which Ghana is getting 45 per cent.
    The Agreement is the foundation on which all the other commercial agreements would be built and on that note, I urge the House to ratify by Resolution, the protocol agreement between the African Union and the Government of Ghana on the materials and technical organisation of the 13th Edition of the All Africa Games to be held in Accra.
    Thank you.
    Mr Kwame Governs Agbodza (NDC -- Adaklu) 5:33 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, I thank you for the opportunity to speak in support of this Motion. I have a few comments to make.
    Mr Speaker, we just passed an agreement to borrow money to pay for the Livelihood Empowerment Against Poverty (LEAP) Programme, National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS), Capitation and School Feeding. Is this the best time to embark on a project that we would make a loss on as we have already said in this document?
    Mr Kwame Governs Agbodza (NDC -- Adaklu) 5:43 p.m.
    While we accept the fact that sports is an investment and can have greater returns, we have already said in this document that we are going to spend about US$222 million and we would get US$150 million. So, we know that it is a lossmaking venture. The Question is, is this the best time to attempt hosting this? I am not saying that it is not good, but is this the best time for Government to make this determination?
    Secondly, on page 2 of the Report, the Committee is saying that the Government is adopting option 3 which is the hybrid. However, Mr Speaker, if you come to page 3, under financial impact, the first paragraph under item 4, the Report says they are coming to construct new stadia and related expenses. That part of the Report needs to be corrected because under option 3, they are not building any new stadium since they said they would complete the University of Ghana Stadium. So they need to reconcile the two pages.
    Mr Speaker, my concern, which I have to say is that I fear, that though it is noble to invest since after the Games these facilities becomes ours, globally, we are told that in recent times, almost all countries that have
    hosted games have made losses. Do we have enough money to spend US$200 million to get US$150 million afterward?

    The Hon Minister would eventually have to convince us as to how he intends to mitigate the colossal loses that we made at the time that we needed money to even fund for the School Feeding Programme, Capitation Grant, NHIS and other things?

    Mr Speaker, it would be wrong to oppose this on the fact that a lot of young people in this country could go through sporting activities to become prominent. However, the financial proposal that has been put forward by the Government is extremely defective, and I encourage the Hon Minister for Youth and Sports to do a better job to come back to the House to convince Hon Members as to how he intends to mitigate this and possibly, make profit out it.

    Mr Speaker, with these few words, I thank you for the opportunity.

    Question put and Motion agreed to.

    Resolved Accordingly.
    Mr Habib Iddrisu 5:43 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, we could take item numbered 3 on the Order Paper Addendum 2 -- Resolution.
    RESOLUTIONS 5:43 p.m.
    Minister for Youth and Sports (Mr Mustapha Ussif)(MP) 5:43 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I beg to move, that
    WHEREAS by the provisions of article 75 of the 1992 Constitution any treaty, agree- ment, or convention executed by or under the Authority of the President in the name of Ghana is made subject to ratification either by an Act of Parliament or by a resolution of Parliament supported by the votes of more than one-half of all the Members of Parliament.
    IN ACCORDANCE with the said article 75 of the 1992 Constitution the President has caused to be laid before Parliament through the Minister responsible for Youth and Sports the Agreement between the Government of the Republic
    of Ghana (represented by the Ministry of Youth and Sports) and the African Union (represented by the African Union Sports Commission) relating to the Technical and Material Hosting of the 13th Edition of the All Africa Games in Accra, Ghana in 2023 on 29th June, 2021.
    NOW THEREFORE, this honourable House hereby resolves to ratify the said Agreement between the Government of the Republic of Ghana (represented by the Ministry of Youth and Sports) and the African Union (represented by the African Union Sport Commission) relating to the Technical and Material Hosting of the 13th Edition of the All Africa Games of 2023 in Accra, Ghana.
    Mr Kwame Governs Agbodza 5:43 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I beg to second the Motion.
    Question put and Motion agreed to.
    Resolved accordingly.
    Mr Afenyo-Markin 5:43 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, there be no further Business for the day, we are entirely in your hands.
    Mr Agbodza 5:43 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, as the Hon Deputy Majority said, we are in your hands.
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 5:43 p.m.
    Hon Deputy Majority Leader, Sitting started at 2.00 p.m. and it is not yet 6.00 p.m. so you need to move for a Motion for adjournment.
    Mr Afenyo-Markin 5:43 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, that is correct.
    Mr Speaker, I beg to move that this House be adjourned till tomorrow at 2.00 p.m.
    Mr Agbodza 5:43 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, the Rt Hon Speaker has ruled that when the House Sits at 2.00 p.m. it would give opportunities to our Hon Colleagues and Hon Ministers to come to the House on time. However, I am yet to
    record any day that Sitting started at exactly 2.00 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I would want to urge Hon Members that we should all be in the House by 2.00 p.m. otherwise, it would not be fair to those who turn up at the said time. If they propose that Sitting should begin by 2.00 p.m. we should all be in the House at that time.
    Mr Speaker, I beg to second the Motion.
    Question put and Motion agreed to.
    Resolved Accordingly.
    ADJOURNMENT 5:43 p.m.
  • The House was accordingly adjourned at 5.48 p.m. till Wednesday, 7th July, 2021, at 2.00 p.m.