Debates of 8 Jul 2021

MR FIRST DEPUTY SPEAKER
PRAYERS 2:40 p.m.
VOTES AND PROCEEDINGS AND THE OFFICIAL REPORT 2:40 p.m.
Mr First Deputy Speaker 2:40 p.m.
Hon Members, correction of Votes and Proceedings of Wednesday, 7th July,
2021.
Page 1 …7 --
Yes, Hon Member for Wa West?
Mr Peter Lanchene Toobu 2:40 p.m.
Mr Speaker, page 7, item numbered 20. I was present yesterday, but I have been marked absent.
Mr First Deputy Speaker 2:40 p.m.
Very well.
Table Office, take note.
Page 8 …15 --
Hon Dafeamekpor, were you saying something?
Mr Rockson-Nelson E. K. Dafeamekpor 2:40 p.m.
Mr Speaker, not at all.
Mr First Deputy Speaker 2:40 p.m.
Very well.
Page 16 …17 --
Hon Members, the Votes and Proceedings of Wednesday, 7th July, 2021 as corrected is hereby adopted as the true record of proceedings.
Hon Minister for Health, are you on your feet?
Very well.
Mr Frank Annoh-Dompreh 2:40 p.m.
Mr Speaker, we will seek your indulgence to vary the order of Business.
Mr First Deputy Speaker 2:40 p.m.
We have just concluded the Votes and Proceedings.
Mr Annoh-Dompreh 2:40 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I was seeking your kind indulgence to vary the order of Business and to allow the Hon Minister for Defence to make an important Statement after which we can take Questions.
Mr First Deputy Speaker 2:40 p.m.
Yes, Hon Minority Leader?
Mr Haruna Iddrisu 2:40 p.m.
Mr Speaker, we are in your hands since the power to vary the order of Business rests with you.
Mr First Deputy Speaker 2:40 p.m.
Very well.
The order of Business is hereby varied and the Hon Minister for Defence is invited to make the Statement.
STATEMENTS 2:40 p.m.
Minister for Defence (Mr Dominic Nitiwul) 2:40 p.m.
Mr Speaker, thank you.
Exactly a week ago, the Hon Minority Leader raised an issue of public importance and I promised the people of Ghana that I will be back to report on happenings since then. I am glad to report on the alleged brutalities by young soldiers of 10 Mechanised Battalion in Wa Township.
Mr Speaker, on 1st July, 2021, 86 young soldiers of the 10 Mechanised Battalion in Wa stormed Tendamba, a suburb of Wa municipality of the Upper West Region in search of a colleagues smart phone which was allegedly stolen.
The young soldiers assaulted some members of the community and this went viral on the various social media platforms. This incident triggered total condemnation on popular radio stations across the country. Subsequently, on the 2nd of July, 2021, a delegation led by the chief of the Army Staff visited Wa to assess the situation.
Mr Speaker, the Chief of the Army Staff, while rendering an unqualified apology on behalf of the young soldiers to the Wa populace, emphasised the Military high Command's resolve to ensure that the necessary actions and sanctions are meted out to those found culpable.
To ascertain the circumstances that led to the brutalities, the Military High Command was tasked to collaborate with the National Intelligence Bureau to investigate the above mentioned case. Subsequently, a four-man team made up of Colonel B.Z. Ayorrogo as the team leader, Lieutenant Colonel G. B. Eduah, a member, Mr Francis Aboagye from the National Intelligence Bureau (NIB) who is also a member and Mr Maxwell Dassah (NIB) were tasked to do so.
Mr Speaker, the team arrived in Wa on Sunday, 4th July, 2021 and received its initial briefing by the commanding officer of the 10
Minister for Defence (Mr Dominic Nitiwul) 2:50 p.m.
mechanised battalion. The team was also briefed by the Regional Minister -Dr Hafiz Bin Salih, Mr Alexander Awudu, the regional commander of the NIB and DCOP Francis Aboagye Nyarko, the Upper West Police Commander also did briefed the team.

The team also visited Mr Gafaru Mohammed, one of the victims who had surgery on his right fractured thigh and was on admission at the Upper West Regional Hospital since Friday, 2nd July, 2021. Again, the team visited the various incident spots in Wa town with all the victims together, except Mr Gafaru Mohammed to ascertain and collaborate the testimonies of the various people assaulted.
Mr Speaker, the team has established the following 2:50 p.m.
1. That on 30th June, 2021, one of the soldiers alleged that his phone was snatched from him at about 1800 hours; that is 6 p.m. at Tendamba Junction, a suburb of Wa.
2. The soldier informed his colleague on Thursday, 1st July 2021, at 1230 hours who in turn informed the Duty Officer on the same day. The
Duty Officer is reported to have permitted the troops to go to town to search for the missing phone at about 12.45 hours. This consequently led to the brutalities in Wa town.
3. So far, in the course of the incident, 11 persons suffered various degrees of injuries. Four of them were admitted at the Municipal Hospital. Three were treated and discharged. The fourth person, Mr Gafaru Mohammed was later transferred to the Upper West Regional Hospital where he was successfully operated upon. Currently, the victim is responding to treatment.
4. Additionally, victims interrogated have reported the loss of 13 mobile phones, a tricycle motor and an amount of GH¢1,460.00. However, seven mobile phones and the tricycle motor have been retrieved and returned to the owners but no money has yet been retrieved.
5. Again, with the exception of the Duty Officer, all personnel who were on duty on the day of the incident have been charged, tried and punished
appropriately. The various forms of punishments given to these officers are as follows:
(a) The Orderly Sergeant who was a Staff Sergeant has been reduced to Corporal.
(b) The Guard Commander who was a Corporal has been reduced to Private Soldier.
(c) The Sentry on duty who was a Lance Corporal has also been reduced to Private Soldier.
6. The trial of the Duty Officer who is a Lieutenant will however commence on or before Wednesday, 14th July,
2021.
7. All the above trials and punishments are without prejudice to the outcome of the subjects under the various forms of investigations.
8. Eight other soldiers who were deeply involved or visibly identified in various videos brutalising some residents have been charged, tried and awarded 30 days each in detention by a Disciplinary
Board chaired by the Commanding Officer.
9. The remaining soldiers who were involved in the incident but not identified as brutalising officers will all be transferred out of the region immediately.
10. At the time of the incident, both the Hon Regional Minister and the Commanding Officer were in Tamale and Accra respectively on official duties.
Mr Speaker, notwithstanding the above incident and other incidents, it must be stated clearly that the members of the Ghana Armed Forces, precisely the Military, are very disciplined, well trained and respected across the world for their professionalism. The swift action taken by the Military High Command among other reasons is to re-enforce the sense of discipline among the troops and to also safeguard the worldwide reputation of being a professional Armed Force that members of the Ghanaian Armed Forces are known for. It is in this regard that the Government would continue to re-equip the Armed Forces to enable them carry out their duty of protecting us and our territory.
Mr Speaker, to conclude, I am glad to inform Hon Members that I,
Mr Haruna Iddrisu 3 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I thank the Hon Minister for Defence for the swift response to a legitimate concern raised by us on the floor of this House as representatives of the people to the unjustified attacks on innocent citizens in Wa.
Mr Speaker, while I find the sanctions reassuring, I would like to further encourage the Hon Minister and to paraphrase his words;
“the duty of the Armed Forces is to protect the territorial integrity of our country''.
Not more - and therefore, if in his words as he said
“86 troops were asked to go for a search for a phone'',
is not accepted and it is not their mandate. A few miscreants should not debase the standing of the Ghana Armed Forces as a disciplined professional entity that owes us a responsibility to keep the peace and not to undermine it and lead it to the breakdown of law and order.
Mr Speaker, when the Hon Member for Wa Central, Dr Rashid Pelpuo returned home, he briefed me on the 2nd July, 2021 meeting, where the unqualified apology was rendered. However, the implications are sometimes dire because once this happens, civil military relations are broken. The trust and fate of the people of Wa in the Ghana Armed Forces could be undermined.
Mr Speaker, I thank the Hon Minister for the swift response but we would monitor the outcome of the investigations. He has further assured us that a Lieutenant Colonel would be put on trial and on some issues he has already given us the decisions being taken. As men and women of the Armed Forces being respected, we hope that they arrive at a fair trial.
Mr Speaker, however, this raises just one policy issue which you could direct. In the world today, there is technology and application to trace missing phones, so Ghana should take advantage of it. The Hon Ministers for Defence and the Interior and the
Ministry of Communication need to provide an opportunity for people to be able register their phones because behind every mobile phone, there is an exclusive number. I know some phones have it and it is easier when it is an iPhone but android phones also have the application where they could be traced.

For the military, we insist that it is not within their right, neither is it within their power to go and search for a missing mobile phone. This is wrong and we would not accept it.

However, I believe these sanctions would allow for some order and send a signal that lawlessness would not be tolerated within the Ghana Armed Forces.

I thank the Hon Minister for the swift response. We would monitor the other outcome and follow particular outcomes in all the investigations that are going on including the one on the Ejura incident. The safety and security of our citizens cannot be compromised for anything else.

Mr Speaker, this Parliament has a duty to guard the fundamental rights and freedoms of Ghanaians, and we should not fail the people of Ghana when there are infractions to the law.

Nonetheless, it is commendable for the Hon Minister to come to Parliament to brief us on the actions that they have taken. I believe that it is refreshing to hear some of the actions that are being taken, but he is reminded to let the military know that their obligations under the 1992 Constitution do not include chasing for missing or stolen mobile phones. This is not part of their responsibilities.

Mr Speaker, we urge the Hon Minister to take appropriate steps across the country to demilitarise a civilian State. There are too many armed people all over the country, which is not the way to go. The Hon Minister in charge of Home Affairs and the Interior must get the Police to be proactive. I know there are some discussions which would deal with some of the issues of equipping them, and he knows we have assured him of being in harmony with him to deal with those threats.

I thank you, Mr Speaker.
Mr First Deputy Speaker 3 p.m.
Yes, Hon Leader?
Mr Frank Annoh-Dompreh (NPP -- Nsawam-Adoagyiri) 3 p.m.
Mr Speaker, let me also commend our good friend, the Hon Minister, for a quick response to the situation. It is quite refreshing that coming from him
Mr First Deputy Speaker 3 p.m.
Very well. Thank you Hon Members and the Hon Minister for reporting on the Statement after the actions of the Military High Command.
Now, Question Time - the Hon Minister for the Interior would answer Questions. The first Urgent Question is in the name of the Hon Member for Kintampo North - Mr Joseph Kwame Kumah. You may ask your Question now.
URGENT QUESTIONS 3 p.m.
MINISTRY OF THE INTERIOR 3 p.m.
Mr Joseph Kwame Kumah (NDC - Kintampo North) 3 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I beg to ask the Minister for the Interior when relief items would be distributed to victims of rainstorms that occurred in March and April, 2021 in the following communities: (i) Kintampo Town (ii) Babatorkuma (iii) Kadelso (iv) Sronase (v) Tahirukura (vi) Jatokura (vii) Portor (viii) Benkrom.
Minister for the Interior (Mr Ambrose Dery) (MP) 3 p.m.
Mr Speaker, the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO), as of 7th July, 2021 confirmed receipt of approval for release of funds by the Ministry of Finance to procure relief items for distribution to victims of the rainstorm in the following communities: (i) Kintampo Town (ii) Babatorkuma (iii) Kadelso (iv) Sronase (v) Tahirukura (vi) Jatokura (vii) Portor (viii) Benkrom.
Mr A. Dery 3 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I do not have that information. I encourage the Hon Member of Parliament to get in touch with NADMO. If there are any challenges, I would be prepared to facilitate it.
I do not have the list of the relief items that are to be procured for them.
Mr First Deputy Speaker 3 p.m.
Yes, Hon Member?
Mr J. K. Kumah 3:10 p.m.
Mr Speaker, due to the serious nature of the disaster, I want to inform the Hon Minister that not less than 300 houses including market stalls and schools have been down completely. Mr Speaker, I seek your leave to show three exhibits for the records --
Mr First Deputy Speaker 3:10 p.m.
Hon Member, this is Question time so kindly ask your Question.
Mr J. K. Kumah 3:10 p.m.
Mr Speaker, the last Question I have for the Hon Minister is that the rains are high in the system now, how rapid would they
be able to supply the relief items to alleviate the suffering of the victims?
Mr A. Dery 3:10 p.m.
Mr Speaker, the Hon Member is right on point. Yes, we have drawn the attention of the Ministry of Finance to the season and already we have suffered a number of disasters and we are working with them as much as possible to make sure that we do meet the demands and I would like to put on record the support from Parliament in these matters that we need to work together to deal with.
So, Mr Speaker, we are going to work with the Ministry of Finance and as much as possible, try to cope with the disaster situations.
Thank you, Mr Speaker.
Mr Edwin N. L. Vanderpuye 3:10 p.m.
Mr Speaker, in as much as I sympathise with the Hon Minister, I plead that you use the authority we have in this House to implore the Minister for Finance to see NADMO for what it is meant for.
Mr First Deputy Speaker 3:10 p.m.
Hon Member, I thought you were doing a follow-up question. Kindly go to your question, please?
Mr Vanderpuye 3:10 p.m.
Mr Speaker, NADMO is for emergency disasters.
As I am talking, if it would take more than a month for the Hon Minister for the Interior to get the money required to take care of the people who have been affected by disasters, I do not know what we expect them to do. So I would want to ask the Minister if they do not have an emergency resource fund on which they depend to make sure that the suffering of the people who are affected by these disasters are swayed before they get remittances from the Ministry of Finance? Is it always the case that they have to fall on the Ministry of Finance and get money before they attend to such people?
Mr Dery 3:10 p.m.
Mr Speaker, yes, we do have. As this House knows, 3 per cent of Common Fund is supposed to be paid to that effect but what we know is that this House just recently approved the formula so we would as quickly as possible see what we can get from that. [Interruptions] - The payment for last year has been exhausted. It would be realised that there have been several disasters since the beginning of the year and NADMO was able to respond. I believe that with the passing of the formula, it would enhance our capacity and we all need to work together to see how we can service
that fund. But we all need to support the position that we fund NADMO. I know that the Leadership of this House is working with the Ministry of the Interior, among others to see how we can variously support these efforts that have an impact on our security. I would like to acknowledge the Hon Member for the support he gave to the Ghana Fire Service at the Makola fire incidence. I think such encouragement is welcome.
Thank you, Mr Speaker.
Mr Akandoh 3:10 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I think that once a question is asked on the floor of the House, it is for the interest of every Member of Parliament.
Mr Speaker, in an answer to a supplementary question by the Hon Member, the Hon Minister referred the Hon Member to NADMO. Mr Speaker, will the Hon Minister assure this House that he would get back to us on the nature of the relief items?
Thank you, Mr Speaker.
Mr A. Dery 3:10 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I do not understand this last intervention. I gave an answer and offered that together with the Hon Member we will make sure that we follow up. That was
Mr First Deputy Speaker 3:10 p.m.
Very well.
Question numbered 5(b) by the Hon Member for Upper Manya Krobo, Mr Bismark Tetteh Nyarko.
Hon Member, you may ask your Question now.
Cause of Closure of Sekesua Police Station
Mr Bismark T. Nyarko (NDC -- Upper Manya Krobo) 3:10 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I beg to ask the Minister for the Interior what caused the closure of the Sekesua Police Station and whether there are plans by the Ministry to reopen the station to enhance security.
Mr A. Dery 3:10 p.m.
Mr Speaker, following a report on the state of the private rented facilities serving as
Police Station and accommodation for the Police personnel of Sekesua in the Upper Manya Krobo Municipality, the Police Administration conducted an inspection on the facilities to establish their suitability for human habitation on 22nd January,
2020.
It was noted that the Police Station which served both the Police personnel and inmates had no toilet facilities. Besides, there were no kitchen, bathroom and toilet facilities at their places of residence. Also the roofing was leaking badly and so needed renovation. The Police Administration, upon analysing the findings of the inspection team considered the situation to be life- threatening and accordingly directed the Eastern Regional Police Command to temporarily close down the station for the facilities to be renovated.
Mr Speaker, as we speak, discussions are ongoing between the Police Administration and the landlords to renovate the facilities. The Police Station would therefore be opened after the renovation.
Mr B. T. Nyarko 3:10 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I would want to ask the Minister when exactly the station was closed down officially?
Mr A. Dery 3:20 p.m.
Mr Speaker, thank you. I said on 22nd January, 2020.
Mr B. T. Nyarko 3:20 p.m.
Mr Speaker, the accommodation that houses the Police Station is a property of the district assembly. I, together with the chiefs and people of Sekesua, have undertaken to renovate the place because the District Assemblies Common Fund (DACF) is not yet available.
Mr Speaker, may I know from the Minister whether in two months when we are able to renovate the facility to the standard of a police station, he can assure us that he would repost the police officers back to the Sekesua Police Station.
Mr A. Dery 3:20 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I appreciate the Hon Member's support in advance. Immediately the renovation is carried out, there will be inspection of the facility and when we are satisfied, we would want the station to be reopened.
Mr B. T. Nyarko 3:20 p.m.
Mr Speaker, my last supplementary question is to find out from the Minister whose responsibility it is to provide a police station for the GPS.
Mr First Deputy Speaker 3:20 p.m.
Hon Member, I thought we have undertaken to rehabilitate the building. So, why are you asking for responsibility again? We will hold you to your assurance, so do not worry. [Laughter]
Mr B. T. Nyarko 3:20 p.m.
Mr Speaker, the people of Upper Manya Krobo want to know this.
Mr First Deputy Speaker 3:20 p.m.
Hon Member, well you have a station and you said the district assembly provided the building. It is dilapidated, but you have undertaken to rehabilitate it. So, they know who provided the structure already. Do they not?
Mr B. T. Nyarko 3:20 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I am asking this question because we want an assurance from the Hon Minister. Can the Hon Minister assure us that immediately we finish with the renovation the personnel will come?
Mr First Deputy Speaker 3:20 p.m.
Hon Member, the Minister just gave you that assurance. So, be assured that the records hold it. As soon as you finish, inform the House. We will let the Minister go -- he has already answered that question and the record reflects that.
ORAL ANSWERS TO 3:20 p.m.
QUESTIONS 3:20 p.m.
MINISTRY OF THE INTERIOR 3:20 p.m.
Mr Ernest Henry Norgbey (NDC -- Ashaiman) 3:20 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I beg to ask the Minister for the Interior why DSP Azugu remains at post at the Ministry of National Security as Head of the SWAT Team even after the Emil Short Commission recommended that his secondment to that Ministry be revoked.
Mr A. Dery 3:20 p.m.
Mr Speaker, to put my Answer in context, this Question should have appropriately been directed to the Minister for National Security. Having said that, my Answer which is within my remit is that, Deputy Superintendent of Police/Mr Samuel Kojo Azugu has since 27th May, 2021 been recalled by the Inspector- General of Police (IGP) from the Ministry of National Security and duly reassigned within the Ghana Police Service. So, he is no more with National Security; he is now with the
GPS.
Mr Norgbey 3:20 p.m.
Mr Speaker, the Government issued a White Paper in
September, 2019, and in the Minister's Answer, he said that DSP Azugu has been recalled on the 27th May, 2021, two years down the lane. Why has it taken the Ministry too long to recall DSP Azugu?
Mr A. Dery 3:20 p.m.
Mr Speaker, the Question was that he remains at post. My answer is that he is not at the Ministry of National Security, but he is back with the GPS. Besides, let me emphasise, in article 202 of the Constitution, operational matters are at the remit of the IGP, and not the Minister. [Interruption]
Mr Norgbey 3:20 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I would want the Hon Minister to tell me who DSP Samuel Azugu is. In Ayawaso West Wuogon violence, there was Samuel Azugu; in the assault of Caleb Kudah, there was Samuel Azugu, and at Asankragwa, his name was also mentioned. Who is he?
Mr First Deputy Speaker 3:20 p.m.
Hon Member, kindly ask that as regular question, so he would answer. It does not come out of this answer at all.
Hon Minister, I have disallowed the question. He can ask another one. [Pause] -- Hon Norgbey, are you done? You have three follow-up questions.
Mr Norgbey 3:20 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I would yield to my Hon Colleagues.
Mr First Deputy Speaker 3:20 p.m.
You do not have the right to yield to anybody. [Laughter]
Mr Alhassan Suhuyini Sayibu 3:20 p.m.
Mr Speaker, thank you. Would the Hon Minister be kind to tell the House whether DSP Azugu's reassignment to the GPS in May, 2021 was in relation to the action taken after the Citi FM scenario or it was in relation to the Commission's directive?
Mr A. Dery 3:20 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I am not in a position to answer that question.
Mr First Deputy Speaker 3:20 p.m.
Hon Minister, are you aware of that?
Mr A. Dery 3:20 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I am not aware of it. The question alleged that DSP Azugu was still at National Security. I have the information that he is not there.
Mr Speaker, if you want any other information, I do not have that on the basis of this question.
3. 30 p.m.
Mr Emmanuel K. Bedzrah 3:20 p.m.
Mr Speaker, in the Hon Minister's Answer, he said that the Deputy Superintendent of Police has been
recalled by the Inspector General of Police from the Ministry of National Security, and has been duly re- assigned within the Ghana Police Service. Can the Hon Minister be kind to let us know which of the units within the Ghana Police Service that the DSP has been re-assigned to?
Mr First Deputy Speaker 3:20 p.m.
Hon Minister, do you have that information?
Mr Dery 3:20 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I do not have that information now.
Mr Norgbey 3:20 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I would like to know from the Hon Minister whether Mr Azugu has been subjected to any disciplinary action?
Mr Dery 3:20 p.m.
Mr Speaker, it is not part of this Question, and I am not aware.
Mr Kwame G. Agbodza 3:20 p.m.
Mr Speaker, we all saw videos of men in uniform molest an Hon Colleague in this House, and the Policeman called Mr Azugu was alleged to have been in charge of this individual.
Mr Speaker, it is just fair that our Hon Colleague, the Hon Minister, apprises this House with the unit at which the Policeman Mr Azugu is today, so that we can all monitor whether he is going to be the same
Mr First Deputy Speaker 3:20 p.m.
Hon Member, please, ask your question.
Mr Agbodza 3:20 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I would want to ask the Hon Minister the question again. He is the Hon Minister for the Interior, so, does he know the unit at which Mr Azugu is? The Hon Minister must answer because the Inspector-General of Police has no business in this House. He is the Hon Minister, so, he should tell us the unit in which he is.
Mr First Deputy Speaker 3:20 p.m.
Yes, Hon Majority Leader?
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 3:20 p.m.
Mr Speaker, this House is guided by its own rules. First of all, the Hon Member in asking the question starts with an argument, so, his attention must be drawn to Standing Order 68(5). We do not begin to ask questions premised on one's own argument. He makes allegations that it is alleged, which is rather argumentative.
Mr Speaker, secondly, our rules are very clear in Standing Order 69, which reads 3:20 p.m.
“As soon as a Question is answered in the House any Member beginning with the Member who asked the Question may, without notice, ask a supplementary Question for further elucidation of any matter of fact…”
It says any matter of “fact”, not of “allegations” [Interruption] - Can I finish? It continues to read:
“…regarding which the answer has been given, but a supplementary Question must not be used to introduce matter not included in the Original Question.”
Mr Speaker, on these two legs, I pray you to rule that argumentative question out of order.
Mr First Deputy Speaker 3:20 p.m.
Hon Member, I was going to rule you out any way. The questions are to emanate from the Answer. The follow-up questions appear to be questions that stand alone, and I pointed out to people to ask their own questions. So, Hon Member, your question is disallowed.
Hon Members, I would move on to the Question numbered 56. Those interested in where Mr Azugu is should kindly file their question, and the Hon
Minister would answer. The Question numbered 56 stands in the name of the Hon Member for Ashaiman, so, he should kindly ask his Question.
Relevance of Asikuma Check Point/Barrier
Mr Ernest Henry Norgbey (NDC -- Ashaiman) 3:20 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I beg to ask the Minister for the Interior the relevance of the Asikuma check point /barrier on the Akosombo - Ho Road.
Mr First Deputy Speaker 3:20 p.m.
Yes, Hon Minister for the Interior?
Mr A. Dery 3:20 p.m.
Mr Speaker, the Asikuma checkpoint established since 2005 has been strategically located as a convergent point to counter- profile and examine documents of foreigners who may have entered the country illegally through border areas such as Nyive, Honuta, Shia, Leklebi Dafor, Wli Afegame Menuso and beyond. 138 ECOWAS nationals have been intercepted and arrested on the Asikuma check point since the closure of our land borders.
Mr Speaker, the Asikuma checkpoint continues to play a key role in the reduction of illegal entry of persons and goods into the country hence the need for its maintenance.
Mr Norgbey 3:20 p.m.
Mr Speaker, is the Hon Minister aware that communities and natives or Ghanaians from areas like Sanga, Peki, Dededo, Ho and its environs are also constantly harassed for a thorough check of their passports before they proceed with their journeys in Ghana?
Mr A. Dery 3:20 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I know that at check points, documents are checked, but if Ghanaians are being asked at that check point to produce passports, then it would be a procedure that not only would I disagree with it, but I would like to point out to the officials that it is not a requirement for Ghanaians to produce their passports at that point. So, I would take this up with the Ghana Immigration Service. This is an allegation, and I really want to get it thoroughly done with, and nothing should be done to impede the movement of Ghanaians within the country.
Mr Norgbey 3:20 p.m.
Mr Speaker, the towns that the Hon Minister mentioned; Nyive, Honuta, Shia, Leklebi Dafor, Wli Afegame Menuso, are all areas located at the border. Asikuma is in the heart of the town. How can he then defend the establishment of that checkpoint at that middle point of town, where the reasons for the location of the checkpoints is that people from Honuta areas come into the town, but
Mr First Deputy Speaker 3:20 p.m.
Hon Member, kindly ask your question.
Mr Norgbey 3:20 p.m.
I would want to know from the Hon Minister, how he can justify the location of that check point at Asikuma, which is kilometres away from those towns that we have mentioned, which are close to the border.
Mr A. Dery 3:40 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I have already justified by giving evidence that over 130 foreigners were nabbed at that checkpoint. What happens is that along our borders, we have a lot of unapproved routes, and therefore, we set up these strategic checkpoints even within the country. I can assure you that in the Oti and Volta Regions, we had foreigners who had come in and in fact, posed the challenge of the early COVID-19 cases that we had in those places. The early cases of COVID-19 were not got at the border, but these are strategic checkpoints.
Mr Speaker, this checkpoint has existed since 2005. In spite of the change of Governments, I believe that
it was found strategically right as I find it same today.
Mr Norgbey 3:40 p.m.
Mr Speaker, is the Hon Minister aware that people can transport themselves to Accra from Honuta, Nyive, Shia, and Leklebi Dafor without necessarily passing through Asikuma?
Mr A. Dery 3:40 p.m.
Mr Speaker, the Hon Member has given me a reason we should even establish more checkpoints beyond the point that he has spoken about.
Mr Kofi Iddie Adams 3:40 p.m.
Mr Speaker, considering the admission of the Hon Minister in the main Answer that Ghanaians must have unhindered movement, they should move freely, and looking at the position of this checkpoint, and the fact that everybody passing in commercial vehicle is subjected to checks - if one does not have a Ghana card on him, he is subjected to unnecessary delays. Will he consider strengthening the checkpoints at the border points rather than maintaining that point to continue to harass persons who should move freely?
Mr A. Dery 3:40 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I have undertaken to take up the issue of alleged harassment of Ghanaians with the Ghana Immigration Service.
Having said that, the importance and the strategic value of that checkpoint is not undermined. Indeed, the first 10 COVID-19 cases that we detected in a hotel in Tamale had gone down through Aflao, beaten all the checkpoints until they got there. Therefore, we should try and understand the need for us to be vigilant.
Having said that, it is important for us to emphasise to the security agencies that they should not harass Ghanaians. That I am prepared to do, but we would not lower our guard until we think it is safe to do so.
Mr Rockson-Nelson E. K. Dafeamekpor 3:40 p.m.
Mr Speaker, between Adomi Bridge and the Asikuma barrier in question, there are six other barriers. There is a barrier at the Adomi Bridge itself, two military barriers at Juapong, and a police barrier at Juapong. That makes it four. There is another police barrier at Frankadua and another at the outskirts of Asikuma before you enter the Asikuma town.
Mr Speaker, the Asikuma barrier consists of three other barriers. There are police, customs and immigration barriers almost all operating from the same location. The point is that, the justification for the siting of this barrier
is unfounded because between the Leklebi --
Mr First Deputy Speaker 3:40 p.m.
Hon Member, now you are making an argument; kindly ask your question.
Mr Dafeamekpor 3:40 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I am just laying a foundation for my question. Between Leklebi and the Asikuma barrier, there are eight other barriers. Therefore, the siting of the Asikuma barrier in question - Asikuma is the entry point to my constituency. This is a very sensitive matter. The people are so harassed that it is no longer a laughing matter. One goes through the police barrier, customs barrier and the immigration barrier.
Mr Speaker, with all due respect, the supposed justification for the siting of the Asikuma barrier has no basis. Will the Hon Minister consider reviewing the number of barriers that are dotted between the Adomi Bridge and the Asikuma barrier?
Mr First Deputy Speaker 3:40 p.m.
Hon Minister, will you consider reducing the number of barriers?
Mr A. Dery 3:40 p.m.
Mr Speaker, the Hon Member has alluded to several barriers that are not under my remit. The Asikuma barrier is justified, and will be maintained, but the service
Mr Charles Agbeve 3:40 p.m.
Mr Speaker, my constituency, Agotime- Ziope is a border constituency, and there are many porous entry points just as he said. The Question was, is the Asikuma barrier still relevant? The Hon Minister mentioned Afegame in my constituency which is part of the entry points. Will the Hon Minister not consider moving the checkpoint in Asikuma to beef up the immigration point along the borders so that it can help Police protect the porousness of the borders? Where they are located could create a problem.
Mr Speaker, most Ghanaians do not carry passports or identity cards when they travel. When people from Afegame get there and mention where they are from, they are harassed. Why do you not move the personnel to go and help those in Afegame?
Mr First Deputy Speaker 3:40 p.m.
Hon Members, if you came together and brought a Statement discussing this matter, we would be able to debate widely. For now, when you ask a question, you are confined within the narrow limit of the Question and the Answer. Kindly let us deal with the Asikuma barrier which the Question relates to. Hon Member, if you have
a question, ask, because your question did not come out, and it must relate to the Asikuma barrier please.
Mr Agbeve 3:40 p.m.
Will the Hon Minister not consider closing the Asikuma barrier and moving the officers of the Immigration Service to help their colleagues along the borders since they are porous like he said?
Mr A. Dery 3:40 p.m.
Mr Speaker, there is a programme to address the porous nature of our borders. It is independent of other checkpoints within the country.
Mr Speaker, let me emphasise this. We are faced with a threat of jihadists. Indeed, you would soon realise that there would be some barriers that would spring up from time to time. The strategic importance of the Asikuma barrier is still very critical to our security, and we shall maintain that while insisting that Ghanaians be treated with the respect that they deserve.
3. 50 p. m.
Mr Kwame Governs Agbodza 3:40 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I heard the Hon Minister assure the House that he would ensure that the personnel treat Ghanaians in a humane way; that is very assuring but is the Hon Minister aware that apart from the tent that the men
operate from, the rest of Ghanaians have to disembark in the rain and in the sun to be able to be searched? Would the Minister consider improving the infrastructure at that checkpoint so that people who are going through the checkpoint are taken through a more humane situation than it is now? Mr Speaker, because currently you would see a pregnant woman disembarking in the rain and the service personnel are live in the tent but the Minister said the place is very important so, how do we have an important checkpoint in a tent?
Mr A. Dery 3:40 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I take the concerns expressed by the Hon Member of Parliament very seriously. Just as I said, Ghanaians should not be harassed; I would ask that the conditions be improved, and that except that they think that it is necessary to empty the vehicle for a thorough search, as much as possible, they could conduct the searches without letting the passengers disembark. But this is a point that I intend to take up seriously to ensure that our people are well treated and treated humanely.
rose
Mr First Deputy Speaker 3:40 p.m.
This is Volta and southern, you are from far away north.
Mr Thomas Nyarko Ampem 3:40 p.m.
Mr Speaker, actually, Asikuma is in my Constituency and I know that the personnel at that barrier are all from the Volta region but Asikuma is in the Asuogyaman Constituency and it is in the Eastern region so, why is that command under the Volta region whereas geographically, it is located in the Eastern region?
Mr A. Dery 3:40 p.m.
Mr Speaker, the spheres of command do not necessarily conform to the political boundaries of the Districts and Municipalities and what have you. It is normally connected to where they think that strategically, it would assist them do a better job.
Mr Speaker, you have several situations where you find that one part of the region is put under another part for the convenience of administering the job, so please, understand.
Mr Mahama Ayariga 3:40 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I would like to find out from the Hon Minister how he feels that a citizen of this country is subjected to prove his citizenship to be able to move around —
Mr First Deputy Speaker 3:40 p.m.
Hon Member, you are out of order; this is related to Asikuma Barrier. If you have that Question, file it.
Mr Second Deputy Speaker to take the Chair.
Question numbered 57; Hon Member for South Dayi, you may ask your Question now.
MR SECOND DEPUTY SPEAKER
Mr Rockson-Nelson Etse Kwame Dafeamekpor (NDC-- South Dayi) 3:45 a.m.
Mr Speaker, I beg to ask the Minister for the Interior the circumstances under which the Fire Service officers in Akyem Begoro travelled in a taxi with extinguishers to put out fire.
Mr A. Dery 3:45 a.m.
Mr. Speaker, the Fire Service Officers went to the fire scene in a taxi cab with fire extinguishers to put out the fire because at the time of the incident, the station's water tender number FS706 was temporarily out of commission. The water tender was being worked on by the Eastern
Regional Maintenance team as a result of clutch failure.
On Thursday 27th May, 2021 at 1025 hours, a distress call was received at the Begoro Fire Station reporting an outbreak of fire at Bethlehem, a suburb of Akyem Begoro involving a single room apartment.
At 1029 hours, a seven (7) member crew under the command of ADOII Stephen Adjei was dispatched to the fire scene in a taxi cab with registration number ER 820-20 since the station's water tender number FS 706 was temporarily out of commission.
The crew got to the scene at 1033 hours and used four (4) 6kg Dry Chemical Powder fire extinguishers and buckets of water from members in the community to douse the fire and to prevent it from further spreading to adjoining buildings.
The Bunso Fire Station was called in as a stop gap measure but was asked to return when the crew got to scene and realised that the fire had been brought under control by the people in the community at 1041 hours.
Mr Speaker, it is clear that the Fire Service Officers were really very
innovative and took the step but I can assure you that the tanker has been repaired and returned to station.
Mr Dafeamekpor 3:45 a.m.
Mr Speaker, is the Hon Minister aware that prior to the incident in question, the fire tender that had been out of commission had been so for about two weeks and that the problem was not simply a mechanical one of clutch but it was much more?
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 3:45 a.m.
So, what is the question?
Mr Dafeamekpor 3:45 a.m.
Mr Speaker, the question is that the fire tender had long been out of commission and they had been calling for assistance and it was not forthcoming from the regional office, so, what steps had been taken to ensure that the problem of the tender was not one of mechanical but of water and other things?
Mr A. Dery 3:45 a.m.
Mr Speaker, the statements by the Hon Members of Parliament are very serious. The information I have is what I have given and I would be prepared to have those allegations investigated and whoever is responsible, dealt with. So, I would like to have further information from my Learned Friend on this matter so we pursue it.
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 3:45 a.m.
Yes, Hon Member, any supplementary question?
Mr Dafeamekpor 3:45 a.m.
Mr Speaker, I would defer to —
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 3:45 a.m.
Does it mean you have finished with your supplementary questions?
Yes, Hon Member for Bole/ Bamboi?
Mr Yusif Sulemana 3:45 a.m.
Mr Speaker, I would like to find out from the Hon Minister whether we have trained mechanics as part of the officers at the district levels who can attend to such basic problems instead of waiting to get external mechanics to come and do such simple things for us?
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 4 a.m.
Yes, Hon Minister?
Mr A. Dery 4 a.m.
Mr Speaker, I am aware that they have some mechanics from the answer that I got from the Service. It seems to me that those mechanics are in the Region and certainly, I find nothing wrong with asking them to get more of those. However, let me say that the leadership of this House worked with
Mr Agbodza 4 a.m.
Mr Speaker, the Hon Minister said and I quote:
“At 1029 hours, a seven (7) member crew under the command of ADOII Stephen Adjei was dispatched to the fire scene in a taxi cab…”
Mr Speaker, he is admitting to the House that seven people sat in a taxi with fire extinguishers. Are his men aware that that is overloading the vehicle? Is he comfortable with seven of his men sitting in a taxi that should carry five passengers, including the driver?
Mr A. Dery 4 a.m.
Mr Speaker, I am sure that my Hon Colleague who is also a Lawyer -- Oh, he is not? I think that it is one of those -- They went in a taxi cab. Does he not know the passenger capacity? [Laughter] Why is he assuming that there was a
breach? They went there comfortably, as far as I am concerned, did a good job and the taxi was big enough to carry them.
Mr Ebenezer Okletey Terlabi 4 a.m.
Mr Speaker, so far as I know, there is no taxi cab that can take more than five people. Could the Hon Minister tell us the type of vehicle that was able to take seven people?
Mr A. Dery 4 a.m.
Mr Speaker, there are station wagons that are taxis. Let us look at the fact that there was an emergency, there was a fire and they had no means. As far as I am concerned, this is in Answer to a Question that was asked about a taxi. When he saw the taxi in the video, he saw them alight. Were they seven? [Laughter]
Mr Speaker, I think that we need to take this seriously. I would not concentrate on how they moved in it but in any case, we should right now praise them for their show of patriotism and innovation. Thank you.
Mr Kwame Dzudzorli Gakpey 4 a.m.
Mr Speaker, I would like to inquire from the Hon Minister whether those fire tenders would have other accessories attached to them? Also, do they have regional workshops where they maintain them?
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 4 a.m.
Yes, Hon Minister? I guess this would be the last answer?
Mr A. Dery 4 a.m.
Mr Speaker, I think that my fellow Members of Parliament have missed me and do not want to let me go.
Yes, we have arrangements for maintenance in the Regions, however, we are working towards getting spares. Over the years, we have had different types of tenders that have been brought into the country and one of the challenges we have is how to stock spares.
It is a challenge that we are working on, so with this order that we are working on, with the support of leadership of Parliament, we are going to insist that they come with support spare parts that would enable us to be able to fix them. I must admit that the maintenance remains a challenge, especially when the tenders are used over several years but it is something that we are alive to and would assist the Fire Service to do its best to meet our expectations.
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 4 a.m.
Final supplementary question from the Hon Member for Asuogyaman.
Mr Thomas Nyarko Ampem 4 a.m.
Mr Speaker, fire tenders are machines
and obviously, they may break down every now and then. Does the Hon Minister have protocols in place such that if a particular fire tender for a station is out of commission, other fire tenders would be available to serve the area in question, so that we do not have this incident where seven people have to go with a taxi to a fire situation?
Mr A. Dery 4 a.m.
Mr Speaker, normally, that is the arrangement we have, and you heard in the Answer that the fire tender at Bonsu came to give backup. However, because of the innovative approach that the Officers applied, by the time the tender came, the fire was out. So, sometimes, the distances between the backup tender and the scene is normally the problem. We, however, do have backups that we call to come and support and that is the situation.
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 4 a.m.
Thank you very much. We would move to Question numbered 58 which stands in the name of the Hon Member for Adaklu, Hon Kwame Governs Agbodza.
Investigations into Attacks by Western Togoland Secessionists
Mr Kwame Governs Agbodza (NDC -- Adaklu) 4 a.m.
Mr Speaker, let me make a declaration that I am not
Mr A. Dery 4 a.m.
Mr Speaker, investigations were initiated on the matter on 25th September, 2020. A number of arrests have since been made and duplicate case dockets in respect of the case have been forwarded to the Hon Attorney- General and Minister for Justice for study and advice.
Meanwhile, all suspects have since been put before court and remanded into lawful custody. However, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Presiding Magistrate has ordered the Police not to bring the suspects to court but allow their lawyers to represent them instead on each adjourned date.
Thank you.
Mr Agbodza 4 a.m.
Mr Speaker, there was a news item yesterday on Joy FM that suggested that 11 of the suspects have been discharged due to lack of evidence to continue the case relating
to them. Could the Hon Minister tell us how many more are in custody?
Mr A. Dery 4 a.m.
Mr Speaker, that is not within my remit. I have heard that they were discharged and that is under the remit of the Hon Attorney-General and Minister for Justice. The investigations end when they are charged, and the Hon Attorney- General and Minister for Justice supervises that. What I can assure you is that no one would be remanded or continue to be held in custody when there is no evidence found against them. We would make sure that rights are respected in the meantime. Thank you.
Mr Agbodza 4:10 p.m.
Mr Speaker, those of us who live in the Eastern and Volta Regions can see that the security agencies are maintaining the same level of operation in the Region, some of which my Hon Colleague talked about.

I would want to know if there is further indication that this people still operate to warrant the level of scrutiny we go through when we are going to the Volta Region.
Mr A. Dery 4:10 p.m.
Mr Speaker, the general security secession all over the country has been one of an alert and
not just related to one particular group but because of the situation in our neighbouring countries we hold ourselves in readiness.
Mr Speaker, I am happy that the Hon Member has realised that at a certain time, we were suspected to have that arrangement because of registration or elections. That is no! It is to maintain the general security and we shall continue to do that.
Mr Agbodza 4:10 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I wished the Hon Minister did not say that. This is because I thought it was about the registration and elections. I do not believe they were there because of any secessionist activities.
Mr Speaker, I would want to ask the Hon Minister whether he foresees any natural process that would lead to the actual prosecution and action by the court on the individuals who are still in custody? Could he tell the House approximately whether this process would end with somebody jailed or all of them being released with regard to this case?
Mr A. Dery 4:10 p.m.
Mr Speaker, that is prosecution under the Office of the Attorney-General and all the suspects and accused persons are represented by competent lawyers, so the due
process would determine what would happen going forward.
Mr Ebenezer Terlarbi 4:10 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I would like to ask the Hon Minister what the situation is now and what the security are supposed to do? This is because recently, on my way to my farm, I had cutlasses in my car and the security stopped and searched my car and took all the cutlasses from me. I would want to know why they continue to conduct themselves the way they do in my constituency. The security that were deployed when we had the issue with the secessionists --
Mr A. Dery 4:10 p.m.
Mr Speaker, a cutlass is an offensive weapon. I would want to encourage my Hon Colleague - I do not know the location this incident happened but I want to be sure that he did not carry the cutlass for self-protection.
Mr Speaker, these are evolving situations and sometimes the Police and security react to situations depending on the intelligence that they have.
However, I would say that if the cutlass was for farming -- [Interruption] -- it did not take more than a cutlass to behead the last driver of the car in the Ashanti Region that we arrested two days ago.
Mr Alexander K. Afenyo- Markin 4:10 p.m.
Mr Speaker, from the Hon Minister's investigations, would he say that the intention of these suspects was to destabilise this country?
Mr A. Dery 4:10 p.m.
Mr Speaker, yes, the allegation is that they were to destabilise the country. We would do due process to investigate and put them in court and we believe that would bring a different remit.
Mr Haruna Iddrisu 4:10 p.m.
Mr Speaker, my concern would be more to guide the Hon Minister for future action and it relates to the matter raised by the Hon Member for South Dayi, Mr Dafeamekpor, and subsequently supported by the Hon Member for Adaklu, Mr Agbodza.
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 4:10 p.m.
Hon Minority Leader, is it a question?
Mr Haruna Iddrisu 4:10 p.m.
Yes, Mr Speaker.
Mr Speaker, I want to ask the Hon Minister whether he would take steps to improve policing at the borders? I
wanted to premise it with some humour [Interruption] -- when I went to Kumasi for the funeral of the late sister of the Hon Majority Leader, I did not enter with pomp and pageantry. Normally, I should be accompanied by local gunshots in front of me as a Dagomba royal but I did not do so because I sent a delegation of civilians to go and commiserate with the Hon Member for South Dayi, Mr Dafeamekpor. There were no local musketeers to make a funeral more exciting and I come from that part of the North with the Hon Minister. He knows the way we enter funeral grounds.
We have our own way of announcing our arrival and I would have done so for the Hon Majority Leader -- may our sister rest in perfect peace. I would have arrived at the police depot with pomp and pageantry which is cultural and traditional to commiserate with him but I hesitated because the police in the Volta Region, when we sent local people to commiserate or perform at the funeral of the late chairman of the Hon Member for South Dayi's constituency, they were arrested and detained for three days. I had to go to the Cantonment Police Station to ask for bail for ordinary citizens who just attended a funeral but were treated as persons who were in arms to destabilise Ghana.
Mr Speaker, my question is, would the Hon Minister endeavour to get the Police to distinguish between imaginary threats, real threats and funeral performing locals? -- [Laughter] -- Hon Majority Leader, you understand why I was quiet.
Mr A. Dery 4:10 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I have suffered what the Hon Minority Leader suffered when I was back in my law office after the 2012 presidential and parliamentary elections. I was going to a funeral and they fired a gunshot and the person was arrested. Yes, I would draw their attention but we could always be helped by giving notice to the Police. If the Police know that there is a delegation of the Hon Minority Leader to attend a funeral, it could facilitate the movement. That is precisely the point that we want to talk about.
We know the Hon Minority Leader would not carry a group of bandits but when we do not have that background, there is that issue. It is unfortunate but moving forward, we would see how we could do it. We need to give notice and we would let them attend your funerals in grand style.
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 4:10 p.m.
Hon Members, we would take Question starred 119, which stands
in the name of the Hon Member for Jomoro, Ms Dorcas Toffey.
Conduct of Social Impact Assessment on Citizens
Ms Dorcas Toffey (NDC -- Jomoro) 4:10 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I beg to ask the Hon Minister for the Interior whether Government has conducted a social impact assessment on citizens within Ghana's border towns since the closure of Ghana's land borders and what are the effects on citizens.
Mr A. Dery 4:20 p.m.
Mr Speaker, the closure of our land borders has had some impact on the movement of persons but not goods. We have not banned the movement of goods. The borders remain open for trading through imports and exports of goods. Accordingly, haulage trucks are permitted through the closed borders, the social impact has not been conducted by the Hon Minister for the Interior.
Mr Speaker, should there be such a necessary impact assessment, I believe that it will be multi-sectorial; we will need other Ministries to come in with that capacity. For us, we are looking at the security aspect. However, the point I need to make which I think we should explore, is
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 4:20 p.m.
Yes, Hon Member, any supple- mentary question?
Ms Toffey Mr Speaker, the Hon Minister admits that there has been some impact on those living along the borders. Can he further explain the nature of the impact recorded?
Mr A. Dery 4:20 p.m.
Mr Speaker, there have been some impact on the movement of persons and so, if one wants to go across the border, he or she can write to the Ministry in respect of persons but luggage of goods, no. So, the impact with the closure has to do with movement of persons because it is people who transmit the COVID-19 and not the goods.
So, what I mean is that there is an impact but it is more on persons than on goods. As an Hon Member of
Parliament, if there is a need for people to move specially and you write to us, you will be given clearance and assistance.
Mr Mahama Ayariga 4:20 p.m.
Mr Speaker, the Hon Minister indicated in his Answer that the ban is in respect of the movement of persons and so, haulage trucks cross the borders.
Mr Speaker, the Hon Minister is aware that it is the human beings who cross to buy the goods that are loaded in the haulage trucks that are allowed to cross the border. If those human beings are unable to cross to buy the goods, how are the goods going to originate and cross the borders into Ghana?
Is the Hon Minister saying that for everybody who is seeking to cross and is a trader, the person should write to the Ministry for authorisation?
Mr A. Dery 4:20 p.m.
Mr Speaker, the Hon Member is more digitally informed than I am and we do know that in the movement of goods, mostly, the arrangements are not done by persons always being present. However, even the haulage trucks are allowed a reasonable number of persons.
So, when a haulage truck comes and if there are three or four people
in it, they are allowed to go. What we do not want, is allowing buses to move persons. So, those vehicles move with a reasonable number of persons; about five in number is considered reasonable and we do not have a problem with that. What we want to check is the controlled movement of persons generally across the borders.
Mr Speaker, that is the matter. I come from a border area; my village is near Hamile and recently, we have had to come in during the movement of maize and we were able to give an explanation for that.
So, as Hon Members of Parliament, I want us to see how we can inform our people because most of them do not know that the ban does not affect goods and that is the heart of the matter.
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 4:20 p.m.
Yes, I am inclined to invite Hon Members who have -- So, Hon Member for Ketu South?
Ms Dzifa Gomashie 4:20 p.m.
Mr Speaker, thank you very much for the opportunity to contribute to this Question that has been filed by Hon Toffey this afternoon.
Mr Speaker, the response from the Hon Minister suggests to me - I just want clarification if he may that the ban is on ordinary people who cross the borders or use the borders for economic activities or reasons.
I ask this because only last week, I flew into Togo even though I come from Aflao, I did not use the border. The aircraft - Asky Airlines was full, we arrived at the airport and the buses that picked us were full. So, it means that the people who are up the economic ladder can move but the ordinary people whose daily lives depend on the border are the ones who are banned as it is.
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 4:20 p.m.
Hon Member, please, what is your question?
Ms Gomashie 4:20 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I will like the Hon Minister to explain further for my edification, if it is indeed the case that the ordinary people of this country are banned from using the border but those up the ladder are using the aircraft to do the same business?
Mr A. Dery 4:20 p.m.
Mr Speaker, with the greatest of respect, even diplomats who want to cross the border would write to the Ministry of the Interior to be granted clearance. The application

is across board and not restricted to ‘lower people'.

So, right now, even people going to La Cote d'Ivoire and so on - we should know that our neighbours have also closed their borders and we have correspondence to facilitate their movement. That is why I was encouraging Hon Members of Parliament that because the ordinary person does not know that these facilities exist, we should inform them. Then if we get them to write to the Ministry, we would facilitate based on the situation.

Mr Speaker, however, I would want to assure us that it applies to all levels even when international diplomats come in and are leaving, we need to give them authority to come in.
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 4:20 p.m.
Hon Akandoh, do you have any of your communities along -?
Mr Kwabena Mintah Akandoh 4:20 p.m.
Mr Speaker --
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 4:20 p.m.
Hon Akandoh, I am asking whether you have any of your communities along the border?
Mr Akandoh 4:20 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I share boundary with La Cote d'Ivoire.
Mr Speaker, before people fly into this country through the Kotoka International Airport, they are taken through a polymerase chain reactor (PCR) test from the country of origin and at the point of entry, they do an antigen test.
Why is it that we do not have any testing regime for the drivers of cargo trucks at the borders?
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 4:20 p.m.
Hon Member, repeat your question.
Mr Akandoh 4:20 p.m.
Mr Speaker, the Hon Minister has indicated that the ban is on the movement of people and not on goods. You would agree with me that it is human beings who drive these cargoes. At the point of entry, especially, at the Kotoka International Airport, there is a testing regime irrespective of the tests carried out from one's country of origin.
I would like to find out why there are no testing regimes at our land borders?
Mr A. Dery 4:30 p.m.
Mr Speaker, my Ministry is not responsible for testing. It is the Ministry of Health.
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 4:30 p.m.
Hon Minister, are you aware?
Mr Dery 4:30 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I am not aware.
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 4:30 p.m.
We would now take Question numbered 120 which stands in the name of the Hon Member for Jomoro Constituency, Ms Dorcas Toffey.
Reopening of Ghana's Land Borders with Togo, La Cote d'Ivoire and Burkina Faso
Ms Dorcas Toffey (NDC-- Jomoro) ask the Hon Minister for the Interior whether Government is putting in place urgent appropriate measures towards the reopening of Ghana's land borders with Togo, La Cote d'Ivoire, and Burkina Faso to enable citizens living in the border towns undertake their businesses and
economic activities without let or hindrance.
Mr A. Dery 4:30 p.m.
Mr Speaker, the Government will consider the option of opening the land borders depending on the security situation in the sub-region and the advice from the COVID-19 Experts in view of the third wave of COVID-19 in neighbouring countries. It is, however, important to note that Ghana's neighbouring countries have all closed their land borders. It would therefore be better for Ghana to open its borders in consultation with neighbouring countries in the sub- region.
Mr Speaker, it should be put on record that the borders are however opened for the import and export of goods. As at 23rd June, 2021, one hundred and forty-four thousand seven hundred and nineteen (144,719) trucks crossed our land borders.
Ms Toffey 4:30 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I would like to ask the Hon Minister that beyond COVID-19, are there other security implications for opening the borders at this time?
Mr A. Dery 4:30 p.m.
Mr Speaker, our sub-region is in serious turmoil. Indeed, over 75 per cent of Burkina Faso is not under the full control of
Mr A. Dery 4:30 p.m.


the security agencies of that country and this affects other countries as well but because of some diplomatic relations we do not want to talk -- but the security situation is not stable.

Mr Speaker, we have to thank everyone in this House and our citizens who are working to ensure that Ghana remains a peaceful country. We heard about a civilian who was arrested at a Catholic Church in Hamile with a gun and this happens all across the country but our citizens support us. So, when we are rated as second in Africa then it is an accolade for the whole country because all our citizens have worked together for us to achieve this.

Mr Speaker, so there are security concerns and I cannot mention some publicly but I can assure that this Government is committed to opening the borders. Before the President came in, our borders were opened for 12 hours but we opened it for 24 hours because we know of the benefits. So, we look forward to opening the borders as soon as those two factors; security and COVID-19, are under control.
Ms Toffey 4:30 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I would like to ask the Hon Minister if there has been any consultations so far in preparation towards the reopening of the borders in due course?
Mr A. Dery 4:30 p.m.
Mr Speaker, all the ECOWAS meetings that have taken place including the recent one that took place in Ghana, the Heads of States in the sub-region are continually consulting to see how they can work together to stabilise the system for return to normalcy. Mr Speaker, I am also from a border town so we would consult continuously with the hope that the situation would change quickly so that we shall revert to normalcy.
Mr Mahama Ayariga 4:30 p.m.
Mr Speaker, the Hon Minister is on record that the official reason for the closure of the borders is to deal with the COVID-19 pandemic, but you have added a second condition under which the border would be opened and that is if the security issues in the sub-region improves.
Mr Speaker, I would want to know if the Hon Minister is adding this to the reason for the border closure?
Mr A. Dery 4:30 p.m.
Mr Speaker, there are two reasons for the border closure and one is security. Just recently, with the occurrences in La Cote d'Ivoire we have had to engage on the issue of refugees. So, security has been one of them -- [Interruption]
Mr Speaker, my Answer indicated security and the COVID-19 pandemic.
Dr Hassan Abdul-Rashid Pelpuo 4:30 p.m.
Mr Speaker, the Hon Minister in his Answer said that “it would therefore be better for Ghana to open its borders in consultation with neighbouring countries in the sub-region”.
Mr Speaker, I would want to know if it is a policy expectation for him to think that it would be better to open the borders or he simply -- because if there is a security challenge and it is about Ghana, then I do not see why he made this statement.
Mr A. Dery 4:40 p.m.
Mr Speaker, my Answer to Question numbered 120 is clear and I beg to read it again:
“the Government will consider the option of opening the land borders depending on the security situation in the sub- region and the advice from the COVID-19 Experts …”
Mr Speaker, the neighbouring countries have also closed their borders based on the common security situation which is being reviewed always. So, I am saying that we need to review it together and when we come to the conclusion that the borders should be opened, we would not achieve anything for our country if we do not convince our
neighbours to do the same. Otherwise if a person leaves Ghana to La Cote d'Ivoire or Togo and gets to their borders, the person would be stopped.

So we need to do so together, and that is what I mean by collaboration, and there are the two reasons I have given earlier.
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 4:40 p.m.
We would take the last Question from the same Hon Member for Jomoro.
Provision of Social Interventions for Citizens in Ghana's Border towns since the Borders remain
closed
Ms Dorcas Toffey (NDC -- Jomoro) 4:40 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I beg to ask the Minister for the Interior whether Government is considering providing support in the form of social interventions for citizens in Ghana's border towns since the borders remain closed.
Minister for the Interior (Mr Ambrose Dery) (MP) 4:40 p.m.
Mr Speaker, Government provided social intervention support to all citizens by way of the provision of free water and electricity among others for a period
Ms Toffey 4:40 p.m.
Mr Speaker, we know most of the social interventions approved as part of the COVID-19 pandemic has since elapsed. Would the Ministry consider any special packages for people along the borders since they are special cases?
Mr A. Dery 4:40 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I am very interested in the group the Hon Member is talking about, but it is also multi-sectoral. There is the Ministries of Finance, Trade and Industry and others that need to come in to deal with that. The National Board for Small-Scale Industries (NBSSI) and other institutions are there to help.
Mr Speaker, I think I have been missed and so I should be coming more regularly to this House to save myself from long spells.
Thank you, Mr Speaker.
Ms Toffey 4:40 p.m.
Mr Speaker, the Government, through a private sector operator, has been collecting moneys as part of COVID-19 tests at the airport. Could the Hon Minister consider using part of this to support people along border towns?
Mr A. Dery 4:40 p.m.
Mr Speaker, the Hon Member really wants me to do a lot, which I wish I could. At the airport, there are two different Ministries. We keep the security; the Ministry of Health does the testing; and the Ministry of Finance collects the taxes who then would know how to apply it. I would remember to tell them that they need to apply it and should not forget border towns.
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 4:40 p.m.
Hon Members, we have brought Question time to a close. Hon Minister, we thank you so much for attending upon the House to answer nine Questions. We are very grateful to you. You are discharged.
Mr Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 4:40 p.m.
Mr Speaker, yesterday, we agreed to stand down a motion to have it relisted for today. The Motion is listed as item numbered 17 on today's Order Paper.
Mr Speaker, in accordance with what we agreed on yesterday, the Hon Minority Leader would move the Motion, and we shall have a response from the Hon Minister and maybe a few comments from me then we see how it goes.
Mr Speaker, thank you.
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 4:40 p.m.
Hon Members, page 12 of the Order Paper, item numbered 17 -- Private Members' Motion.
MOTIONS 4:40 p.m.
Minority Leader (Mr Haruna Iddrisu) 4:40 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I beg to move, that this honourable House constitutes a bi-partisan Committee to investigate the procurement contracts between the Government of the Republic of Ghana and Sheikh Ahmed Dalmook Al Maktoum and one other for the supply of Sputnik-V COVID-19 Vaccines and submit a report for the consideration of the House.
Mr Speaker, I do so invoking our implied and express powers as Parliament, the power of inquiry and investigation. With respect, may I refer you to article 103 of the 1992 Constitution which provides as follows?
“103. (1) Parliament shall appoint standing committees and other committees as may be necessary for the effective discharge of its functions.
(3) Committees of Parliament shall be charged with such functions including the investigation and inquiry into the activities and administration of ministries and departments as Parliament may determine; …”
Mr Speaker, in this particular matter, I am asking that Parliament investigates an Agreement that has been signed which I have a copy. I would share two things; a Vaccine Supply Agreement between private office of Sheikh Ahmed Dalmook Al Maktoum and the Ministry of Health representing the Government of the Republic of Ghana and also the supply of Sputnik-V COVID-19 Vaccines of 3.4 million at US$19 excluding any duty and tax with the total price being GH¢64 million.
Minority Leader (Mr Haruna Iddrisu) 4:50 p.m.
Mr Speaker, we would need a seven or nine-member parliamentary committee to go into this matter. We on the Minority side believed that inspite of the explanations given by the Government on the failure and delay in procuring the COVID-19 vaccines for the country, there must be a thorough investigation into this matter. The outcome of the probe would reveal whether the proper procurement processes were adhered to, and in particular, whether we are not in breach of the 1992 Constitution, particularly article 181(5) of the 1992 Constitution and as stated by the Supreme Court of Ghana on the nature of international business transactions.
Mr Speaker, although we are of the firm believe that the procurement of these vaccines falls within the meaning and remit of article 181(5) of the 1992 Constitution, we are not aware that this matter has been brought to Parliament for scrutiny and for Parliament to exercise its oversight role. We do so because it appears to be the case, a growing trend in Ghana exploiting the new normal such that our laws are sidesteped. It cannot be the Constitution and cannot be the Procurement Act of Ghana or even the revised Act 914.
Mr Speaker, we are calling for a parliamentary inquiry into this matter. Just 24 hours ago, I heard the Hon Chairman of the Finance Committee, Hon Kwaku Agyeman Kwarteng, in a debate on a Motion in this House, when he said that the amount for a vaccine, as he reported and captured in the Hansard, was US$10.55. So how come that the State of Ghana is seeking to procure these vaccines at
US$19?
Mr Speaker, there is a second Agreement -- Vaccines Supply Agreement between the same Ministry of Health and SL Global procuring the vaccines at US$26 per dose. I understand that there is some revision. Certainly, Mr Speaker, it is prohibitively high.
Mr Speaker, we think that even as we battle and combat the COVID- 19, it should be done with respect to the principles of the Rule of Law, it should be done with respect to the Procurement Act of Ghana, and article 181(15) of the 1992 Constitution, which qualifies this agreement to be an international economic transaction.

Mr Speaker, Ghana is not alone; many countries are procuring vaccines. Indeed, even in Brazil. The emphasis is mine. When buying from

Pfizer - probably more expensive. Astrazeneca may not be an expensive one. Sputnik may not be the expensive one. Moderna probably can be expensive. So we need a bi- partisan Committee of Parliament in the exercise of our oversight within the meaning of separation of powers and checks and balances to hold the Ministry of Health and its departments responsible to this contract because it comes at a cost to the State and the taxpayer's money must be used optimally and judiciously.

Mr Speaker, the Supreme Court of Ghana have several rulings on this matter that matters of international character and nature must be brought for Parliamentary inquiry and for Parliamentary scrutiny.

Mr Speaker, if you go throughout the world, there is commitment by many countries to assist particularly poor countries to be able to acquire this particular vaccine but ours in Ghana - two different agreements. One with the Maktoum and the other with S. L. Global at US$19 per dose and US$26 per dose respectively which agreement has been committed and we need to know. This is because we have been told that because we are under COVID-19, our procurement laws should be set aside.

We find that unacceptable and repugnant to the 1992 Constitution and repugnant to the Procurement Act of Ghana. It does not mean that Ghana is the only country acquiring the COVID-19 vaccines.

Everywhere in the world, vaccines are being acquired. Due process must be followed and due process must be respected. We cannot accept any argument that we should be buying these vaccines at US$19 per dose and US$26 per dose when we have the Chairman of the Finance Committee assure us that some of these vaccines are being procured, per the World Bank approved loan of US$200 million for US$10.55. That makes a lot of significant difference.

Mr Speaker, we are moving this Motion to protect the public purse; to protect the Ghanaian taxpayer and to ensure that there is value for money in the procurement of the COVID- 19 vaccines for our country. We remain committed to every effort of Government to contain COVID-19 but it should not be done to undermine the principles of the Rule of Law; to undermine our Procurement Act and to undermine article 181(5) of the 1992 Constitution.

Mr Speaker, as I have said, both India and Brazil are investigating even acquisition of their COVID-19
Minority Leader (Mr Haruna Iddrisu) 4:50 p.m.


vaccines. In Brazil, US$320 for 20 million vaccines brings the figure even lower than that of Ghana. The same is happening in India.

Mr Speaker, it appears that we are just - and as is observed by the open source, it appears that many countries are beginning to set aside their laws in the name of it. I just have this quote:

“Public funds should not be spent in secret”.

Therefore, Mr Speaker, we are demanding further probe into these agreements.

Mr Speaker, it is estimated that over US$9 billion are being spent by governments from public funds in the procurement of the COVID-19 vaccines across the world and we know that some private sector charities are also spending on this particular matter. We know that governments have a role to play and governments' role can be at the diplomatic level - government to government. We would not accept the argument that middle men are used. For middle men, it is their profitability which is their concern. Our concern is; containing the public health epidemic and we do not subscribe to an overexploitation of a health crises

of a public health pandemic to get the taxpayer to lose this whopping amount of money that are being cited.

Mr Speaker, thank you.
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 4:50 p.m.
Any seconder?
Mr Kwabena M. Akandoh (NDC -- Juaboso) 4:50 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I rise to second the Motion listed as item 17 on page 12 of the Order Paper.
Mr Speaker, since the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, as a country, we have relied on taxes, levies, loans, contributions and donations from individuals and companies.
Mr Speaker, per the 2021 Budget, as a country, we have spent not less than GH¢19 billion. Out of the GH¢19 billion, we have not built a single hospital out of it. Out of the GH¢19 billion, we have not been able to establish a single laboratory at any of our entry points. Out of the GH¢19 billion, we have not been able to pay our frontline health workers their allowances up to date.
Mr Speaker, we as a country and Members of Parliament must play our oversight role well in order to put
Government on its toes so that the resources of this country would be put to judicious use.
Mr Speaker, per the Ministry's own plan, which is the COVID-19 vaccine deployment and vaccination plan, we are supposed to have vaccinated not less than (7) million people by the end of June. Mr Speaker, this is their own document. As I speak now, we have not vaccinated more than one million people as a country.
Mr Speaker, during the Budget Estimates, the Ministry and the Minister for Health appeared before the Committee on Health and indicated to us that they were not going to buy a dose of vaccine for more than US$10. We asked specific questions to that effect and the Minister assured the Committee.
Mr Speaker, as has already been mentioned by the Hon Minority Leader, there is a contract that has been signed by the Government of Ghana, represented by the Ministry of Health within the private office of H. H. Sheikh Ahmed Dalmook Al Maktoum. There are two critical issues here. The first is the issue of middle men in the acquisition of vaccines. As a country, we do not have a history of middle men's
involvement in the purchase of vaccines in this country and I challenge anybody to prove me wrong.
Mr Speaker, it is not for nothing that vaccines must be highly protected.
Mr Speaker, again, the World Health Organisation (W H O), when it comes to issues of health are the authority. They have warned countries who are involving middlemen in the procurement of vaccines. This is because we risk getting substandard vaccines if we involve middlemen.
Mr Speaker, when the Minister was asked why we are not dealing with government to government or government to manufacturer, some of the answers in the public domain, I believe that the Minister must come again - that they were finding it difficult to establish that government to government deal with Russia.
Mr Speaker, if the private office of the Sheikh was able to secure vaccines and sell to Ghana and the Government of Ghana cannot establish government to government negotiations, then there is a problem with the country.
Mr Speaker, we have a President who has been the Minister for Foreign Affairs before and the irony of the issue is that the COVID-19 vaccine
Mr Kwabena M. Akandoh (NDC -- Juaboso) 5 p.m.
-- the Sputnik group are developing another vaccine called the Sputnik light.
In the whole world, Ghana is one of the countries they have chosen to do their clinical trials.

That specific country that the Minister is telling us that they are finding it very difficult to do government to government negotiations. Mr Speaker, they have been in this country, they have gone through our institutions, they have been cleared and they are here doing clinical trials, and we cannot negotiate with them to bring us Sputnik-V COVID-19 vaccines.

Mr Speaker, even as an ordinary Member of Parliament, together with my Hon Colleague Ablakwa, we had access to the Russian Embassy and we had lovely discussions with them.

Mr Speaker, I am saying that the Russians are willing and ready to assist Ghana within their capacity. So, the issue of involving middle men - Since the outbreak of this Pandemic, the Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF) has dealt with not less than 30 countries which include African countries like: Kenya, Rwanda,

Algeria and others. Why are we not part of it? Why do we always want to be part of worst stories and not the good ones?

Kenya, Rwanda, Algeria and others have had access and dealt with them. Now, they are telling us that they are finding it difficult to have government to government negotiations with the Russians.

Mr Speaker, on the issue of pricing, the Sputnik group issued a press statement in Russia that on the international market, we should not buy a dose of Sputnik-V COVID- 19 Vaccine for more than US$10. Why are we buying at US$19? What is the issue? There is about 90 per cent mark up? To the extent that the Minister for Finance has confirmed that Ghana has made commitment in the form of Letter of Commitment.

Mr Speaker, I believe you would agree with me that the Letter of Commitment is as good as any form of payment. Therefore, I think that we need, if indeed, we are interested in protecting the public purse, if we want to perform our oversight responsibility well, I invite every Hon Member of Parliament to support this Motion, so that we establish a bi-partisan committee to investigate this matter to its logical conclusion.

Question proposed.
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 5 p.m.
Leadership, any indication?
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 5 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I was just relating to the agreement that we came to yesterday that, the Motion will be moved and seconded. And then one person from the Majority side will speak to it and the Minister will make determination as to the composition of the committee.
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 5 p.m.
Hon Members, I will take one from each Side, and then I would invite the Minister to make a comment. So, I would invite the Hon Minority Chief Whip.
Alhaji Mohammed-Mubarak Muntaka (NDC -- Asawase) 5 p.m.
Mr Speaker, this is a very important Motion I would want to urge all my Colleagues on Both sides of the House to pay attention to the issues that are being raised which would help us to make an informed decision at the tail end, so that we do not draw this with the usual things that we do on party lines.
Mr Speaker, we have heard the Hon Members who moved and seconded the Motion. I would want to draw the attention of this House to why we must compose the committee. I am sorry to say that our Hon Colleague, the Minister for Health has not been sincere to the Committee of Parliament, because I hold in my hands the Votes and Proceedings of Wednesday, 24th March, 2021. During Budget hearing at the Committee, precisely on 22nd of March, 2021, the meeting was held around 11 a.m.
The Minister told the Committee of this House that we should help approve the allocation for vaccines because no vaccine would be procured for more than US$10. The Minister knew very well on 22nd March, 2021, that on the 9th March, 2021, he had gone to sign a contract for US$19, yet he had the courage to come to the Committee of Parliament on 22nd March, 2021 to lie to the Committee that the vaccine would not be procured for more than US$10. This is one of the reasons this must be probed. If an Hon Member of Parliament and a Minister for Health --
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 5 p.m.
Hon Minority Chief Whip, hold on.
Mr Kweku Agyeman-Manu 5 p.m.
on a point of order. Mr Speaker, I am getting a bit surprised at the insinuations being casted on me by the Hon Minority Chief Whip.
Mr Speaker, I cannot fathom signing an agreement and coming here to tell the House that we would not buy vaccines for more than US$10, when I had done for US$19. The circumstances within which this agreement was done would be laid bare when the committee that we are moving the Motion to set up is actually set up. I am surprised that when we are about to set up a committee to investigate and we are now coming up with issues that may actually be investigated at that committee level. I could not have done that.
Mr Speaker, when the committee is set up, I am very ready to tell the committee circumstances within which these happened. We had a plan to procure vaccines --
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 5 p.m.
Hon Minister, you will get the opportunity.
Mr Agyeman-Manu 5 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I would want him to
withdraw that word he used on me that I have not been sincere to the House and I lied.
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 5 p.m.
Hon Minority Chief Whip, kindly withdraw the word ‘‘lies''.
Alhaji Muntaka 5 p.m.
Mr Speaker, if my Hon Colleague finds the use of the word ‘lied' offensive, he knows that I have a lot of respect for him, I will withdraw that and replace it with misled the Committee of this House. As at the time he spoke to the Committee; I have in my hands the document that was given to us at the Committee, which he led the presentation. He said that the estimated cost of the vaccine would averagely not exceed US$7. They also said that the operational cost for each vaccine will not be more than US$3. When the two are put together, that gives us US$10.
Yet, at the time he was speaking to us he had already signed this agreement that was dated 9th March,
2021.
rose
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 5 p.m.
Hon Minister, please, can you not wait? You would have a lot of time to --
Mr Agyeman-Manu 5 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I just want to draw the Hon Member's attention to the fact that averages are not specific figures. He is talking about averages. [Uproar] --
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 5 p.m.
Hon Members, order!
Alhaji Muntaka 5:10 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I am happy that the Hon Minister would have an opportunity to respond to all these things in real details. However, it is surprising that the Hon Minister for Health, who is a Chartered Accountant, would tell you and I and the people of this country that when we talk about average cost of an amount of US$10 the average can -
Mr Anyimadu-Antwi 5:10 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I beg to seek your guidance as to what is happening. I am being told that a committee should be set up. A Motion has been moved and seconded, but what I am not sure is whether the Hon Minister for Health is being prosecuted by my Hon friend on the Other side. Otherwise, all these things that he is saying are pre- empting what the committee is going to investigate into. The committee must be set up, and facts have to be presented to the committee. Therefore, are we prosecuting the
Hon Minister for Health before the Committee is set up?
Mr Speaker, I seek your guidance.
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 5:10 p.m.
Yes, the Hon Minority Chief Whip, as well as other people who would be contributing to the debate, please, do not pre-empt the work of the Committee about to be set up.
Alhaji Muntaka 5:10 p.m.
Mr Speaker, nobody is going to pre-empt what the committee would be doing, but we would need to bear some facts that would support this House to be informed that truly the issues are weighty and deserve a committee to investigate it. Other than that, the committee would be formed, and even in forming it, people may disagree that these issues we are raising are light, and are not issues that would require a special Parliamentary Committee to look into. That is why we must raise some heavy issues, without necessarily making a conclusion. So, that is well understood.
Mr Speaker, however, the other reason we must investigate this is that if we go into the Agreement, on paragraph 4.3, it says that this cost excludes every other thing; taxes and transportation. Almost a lot of the items have been excluded. This means that the true cost of this vaccine may
Mr Anyimadu-Antwi 5:10 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I am still not sure of the procedure being used in this House. I see this as a debate and not a request to set up a committee to investigate. One Side of the House cannot get up and say that I am prosecuting another person or another member of the House in the name of a process which -- I think that in this process, the Hon Member is out of order. He can actually request a committee to be set up, but he cannot pre-empt the committee. He cannot pre-empt whatever is going to be discussed before the committee. The use of words like “misled” and the others are conclusive. So, if the Hon Member has concluded that the Hon Minister had “misled” the House, then what are we going to investigate?
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 5:10 p.m.
Hon Member, your point is well noted, but the Motion is now before the House, and we are inviting contributors. After this, we would put
the Question as to whether the Motion should be accepted, then we can go ahead and set the Committee.
Hon Minority Chief Whip, please be snappy.
Alhaji Muntaka 5:10 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I would just want to read paragraph 7.3 of the Agreement for all of us to hear. It reads and with permmission I quote:
“For the avoidance of doubt, the parties acknowledged and agreed that the seller is not a distributor of the vaccine and is not a manufacturer and none of the seller or any of the connected persons shall be subject to any liability under the Agreement or otherwise for any loss suffered by the buyer or any person whoever, including patients and their relatives resulting from the use of the vaccine including liability to any claim that may be made against the seller by any third person.”
Mr Speaker, how can our Hon Minister for Health put his hand under an Agreement for the purchase of a vaccine that we cannot hold the person who sells it to us responsible?
rose
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 5:10 p.m.
Hon Member, please hold on again.
Yes, Hon Chairman for the Health Committee?
Dr N. A. Afriye 5:10 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I stand to support the position of the Hon Member. What procedure are you using? Per my understanding of proceedings in this House, when a Motion is moved, it is seconded, and then a Question is put to consider it. I do not think that we are setting good precedent. Can we know where we are, as far as this Motion is concerned?
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 5:10 p.m.
Hon Chairman, the procedure is that a Motion has been moved, it has been seconded, and it is before the House now. So, Hon Members are allowed to contribute before the Question would be put. So, please, let us hold on. I would come to you.
Hon Minority Chief Whip, please, continue.
Alhaji Muntaka 5:10 p.m.
Mr Speaker, lastly, in supporting this, I just want to draw the attention of Hon Members that in one of the Hon Minister's communication to the Ghanaian public, he said that they were interacting and dealing with the Deputy Ambassador of the Russian Embassy in Accra.
Alhaji Muntaka 5:20 p.m.
Mr Speaker, this is something that is unbelievable. There is no person with the title “Deputy Ambassador” in the Russian Embassy in Accra.

Therefore, Hon Colleagues, this is a very serious matter, and we must set up this committee to investigate this matter beyond reasonable doubt and settle it, so that the abuse of the use of the COVID-19 Funds since its inception that we have not been able to get people to account for how they use the moneys to cook hot meals, distributed the money to individuals in their homes, and procured personal protective equipment. This is an opportunity for us to let the Ministry of Health and its officials know that we cannot use COVID-19 to waste state resources.

Mr Speaker, I thank you very much for the opportunity to support this Motion.
Mr Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu (NPP -- Suame) 5:20 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I would like to also lend my voice to the Motion moved by the Hon Minority Leader on behalf of the multitude.
Mr Speaker, this is a five line Motion which has been moved by a
seven line Hon Members in this House. I believe that at the heart of this Motion is the exercise of the oversight responsibility of this House, and we should commend the Hon Members who moved the Motion. Parliament indeed is making progress. Times where, in this very House when Motions were moved, and where conspiratorially they came to be suppressed to the applause of Hon Members. Today, these Hon Members have been liberated.
The tongue tiredness is now out of the way. Mr Speaker, Parliament is growing, and I believe that should be the trend.
Mr Speaker, at the heart of the Motion moved by the Hon Minority Leader is the imperatives of article 103(3). Mr Speaker, with your indulgence, I would want to read. Article 103(3) which reads:
“Committees of Parliament shall be charged with such functions, including the investigation and inquiry into the activities and administration of ministries and departments as Parliament may determine; and such investigation and inquiries may extend to proposals for legislation.”
Mr Speaker, we want to improve our governance, and that is the responsibility of Parliament. It is not a ‘we and them' affair. That is why we should all come together to support this Motion.
I would want to pray this House that selectivity does not inure to democracy -- [Interruption]. Mr Speaker, an Hon Member on the front bench pointed to me and asked if it is me; it is rather him who should bow his head because he was most supportive of the events of yesterday. He who the cap fits, let him wear it. [Interruption] The man in the white beard. [Laughter]
Mr Speaker, as I was saying, the issues are clear. What I do not like about this is throwing up statements that one would consider as very prejudicial. If we agree to set up a committee, let us deal with it. What are the issues that the Hon Minority Leader sought to raise? He talked to the issue of the high cost of the vaccine. In that regard, we may not have value for money if procurement has taken place.
Mr Speaker, another issue that he raised is whether middlemen came into the fray. This may not be the first time that Government has employed
middlemen; this is not the first time. However, is it the case that we must follow that route, or we must determine that in these matters, Government should deal with its counterparts? In my view, that is the second matter that is coming up.
The third one relates to procurement processes. Is it tidy? The fourth issue is whether it is an international business, and must be submitted to the imperative of article 181(5). Is it the case that in an emergency situation, we can set aside these ones and deal with it, and perhaps, later, come to ratify the agreement? These are matters that we should apply ourselves to.
Mr Speaker, the other matter would also involve whether we may have to set up a new committee to deal with this, or perhaps, relate it to the Committees on Finance and Health or a joint committee or whatever. Let us not forget that all Committees in this House are bi- partisan. The Hon Colleague did not talk about the setting up of an adhoc or special committee which we could form anyway. We could form a special or adhoc committee or perhaps, relate it to any of these Committees if it should be a joint committee or whatever. That would be determined by this House.
Minister for Health (Mr Kwaku Agyeman-Manu) (MP) 5:30 a.m.
Mr Speaker, I hear from the Other side Minister aye mo bo; Minister aye mo bo. The Hon Minister will never be mo bo -- [Laughter]. And I would say this on all confidence that I am very happy that the entire House agrees that a committee should be set up to investigate the procurement of these vaccines.
Mr Speaker —
rose
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 5:30 a.m.
Hon Minister, hold on.
Hon Ato, what is it?
Mr Forson 5:30 a.m.
Mr Speaker, the Hon Minister for Health in his submission said, ‘the Minister would never be mo bo. Some of us do not understand the meaning of ‘mo bo' so; could he please explain to us what the meaning is?
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 5:30 a.m.
Hon Minister, may you respectfully withdraw ‘mo bo' and move on?
Mr Agyeman-Manu 5:30 a.m.
Mr Speaker, I do not even know what English word to use for ‘mo bo'.
Mr Speaker, I have said earlier that I am happy that a committee is going to be set up to investigate the issues that are being raised on the Agreement and the subsequent intended procurement of the SputnikV- vaccine at the price at which the Agreement was done.
Mr Speaker, during the pandemic, I was leading a battle and I was at the war front. And my preoccupation was more on protecting lives of Ghanaians than whatever else. -- [Interruption] --
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 5:30 a.m.
Hon Members, please let us give him --
Mr Agyeman-Manu 5:30 a.m.
Mr Speaker, I am not going to respond to the issue that has been raised; I believe at the committee level, I would get the opportunity to respond adequately to the issues being raised. But what I would like to say is the fact that, I would reiterate, protection of lives as a priority to the issues that are being raised. I would demonstrate at the committee level that I have never caused any financial losses to the State by virtue of the intention to procure and acquire vaccines to fight the COVID-19 battle.
Mr Speaker, it is true that the Government has spent a lot of money in battling COVID-19 but the investment we have made has yielded positive results and that is situated in the performance of how this COVID- 19 has been battled in this country.
Mr Speaker, WHO assessment indicates that two countries that got things right with COVID-19 management are Ghana and South Korea, and this is on record. And we could not have done that - Ghana and South Korea are the two countries on WHO assessment that got it right when it comes to the management of COVID-19 in the world, not only in Africa but across the globe. How did we do it?
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 5:30 a.m.
Mr Speaker, we were consulting on the
membership of the Committee, and when we do so, we have to come together and determine the terms and conditions, which I guess cannot be done now. We would function the terms and conditions and then, tomorrow, we would come to the House with terms and conditions of that Committee.
Mr Haruna Iddrisu 5:30 a.m.
Mr Speaker, I proposed to my Hon Colleague the Hon Majority Leader that I agree with his thinking that a special bi-partisan Ad-hoc Committee of eight, but I understand he said nine, should be set up to probe Ghana's acquisition of COVID-19 vaccines and related matters. And I do agree with him that tomorrow, we would submit before you the terms and conditions of the Committee to guide the remit and mandate of the Committee and when they should report back to Parliament on their findings.
Mr Speaker, I thank you.
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 5:30 a.m.
Very well, am I to hold on with — so, now we are going to set up an ad- hoc committee to investigate the matter before us but the membership would be communicated to the House in due course, hopefully tomorrow with the terms and conditions, and the
period that the committee would use to investigate the matter and report back to the House.
Hon Deputy Majority Leader, any indications?
Mr Afenyo-Markin 5:30 a.m.
Mr Speaker, nothing more remains except to -- [Pause] -- Mr Speaker, I beg to move that this House be adjourned till tomorrow at 10 in the forenoon.
Mr Haruna Iddrisu 5:30 a.m.
Mr Speaker, I beg to second the Motion.
Question put and Motion agreed to.
Resolved Accordingly.
ADJOURNMENT 5:30 a.m.