Debates of 13 Jul 2021

MR SPEAKER
PRAYERS 3:22 p.m.
VOTES AND PROCEEDINGS AND THE OFFICIAL REPORT 3:22 p.m.
Mr Speaker 3:22 p.m.
Hon Members, we would commence the Sitting with item numbered 4; Correction of Votes and Proceedings and the Official Report.
We have the Votes and Proceedings of Friday, 9th July, 2021.
Page 1, 2, 3, --
Mr Akuerteh Joseph Tettey 3:22 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I was present on Friday but my name has been captured under the list of absentees as item numbered
53.
Mr Speaker 3:22 p.m.
The Table Office should kindly take note of this; the Hon Member says he was present on Friday.
Mr Samuel O. Ablakwa 3:22 p.m.
Mr Speaker, please in the first paragraph of the item numbered 9 on page 8, the word “menace” has been spelt wrongly. Also, the last but one line of the item numbered 10 should read “the Private Office of H. H. Sheikh Ahmed Dalmook Al Maktoum”.
Mr Speaker 3:22 p.m.
The Table Office should kindly take note.
Mr Abed-Nego Bandim Azumah 3:22 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I have been captured as absent under the item numbered 21 on page 6, but I was present in the Chamber on Friday.
Mr Speaker 3:22 p.m.
The Table Office should kindly take note.
Page 9 --
Mr Ablakwa 3:22 p.m.
Mr Speaker, the third line of the item numbered 12(i) should also read “the Private Office of H. H. Sheikh Ahmed Dalmook Al Maktoum”.
Also, the Terms of Reference of the Committee listed as item numbered 12(ii) should read “to determine the procurement process that was followed and the propriety of same”.
Mr Speaker, it is not “to determine whether the procurement process that was followed …” Mr Speaker, I think if we delete the word “whether”, the rendition would be good.
Also, regarding the last paragraph of the item numbered 4, I recalled that the Motion was about “middlemen” and not “a middleman” because there were quite a number of them. So, we have to change “middleman” to “middlemen”.
Mr Speaker 3:22 p.m.
Hon Member, kindly repeat your correction for the item numbered 12(ii). You said we should delete the word “whether”, then in that case it is the Committee that would determine the procurement process. It would now read ‘to determine the procurement process that was followed …”.
Mr Ablakwa 3:22 p.m.
Mr Speaker, yes. To read “to determine the procurement process that was followed and the propriety of same”. Mr Speaker, the rendition we have now which reads:
“to determine whether the procurement process that was followed and the propriety of same” does not sit well.
Mr Speaker, I do not know if the Hon Leader has a better rendition?
Mr Haruna Iddrisu 3:22 p.m.
Mr Speaker, the Hon Member for North Tongu is not taking a cue from you. Mr Speaker, it was
“to determine whether due procurement processes were followed and the propriety of same”.
Mr Speaker 3:22 p.m.
That is a better rendition and so the Table Office should kindly take note.
Page 10, …
Hon Members, in the absence of any further correction, the Votes and Proceedings of the 26th Sitting of the Second Meeting of the First Session of the Eighth Parliament held on --
rose
Mr Speaker 3:32 p.m.
Yes, Hon Minority Leader?
Mr Haruna Iddrisu 3:32 p.m.
Mr Speaker, on page 10, item (vi), I just want to refer to the Table Office to go back to the record, there was a text minuted by the two Leaders so that we get the rendition well as to
Mr Speaker 3:32 p.m.
Table Office, you are directed to look at the text of the submission that was made and capture the proper rendition in the Votes and Proceedings of Friday.
Hon Members, again, in the absence of any further correction, the Votes and Proceedings of the 26th Sitting of the Second Meeting of the First Session held on Friday, 9th July, 2021 as corrected is hereby adopted as the true record of Proceedings.
Hon Members, I have two editions of the Official Report for correction; one dated Tuesday, 1st June, 2021 and the second one dated Thursday, 3rd June, 2021.
Mr Ablakwa 3:32 p.m.
Mr Speaker, please, I rise to draw your attention that in your absence, we worked on
these Official Reports. I recalled that we made some inputs on them last week.
Mr Speaker 3:32 p.m.
Well, thanks for drawing my attention. The Table Office has confirmed what you have said. But they just gave them to me, and so we are proceeding to do the corrections.
So we would move to item numbered 5 on the Order Paper. There is an Urgent Question standing in the name of the Hon Member for Bunkpurugu, Hon Abed-Nego Asumah Bandim. The Hon Member may now ask the Question.
URGENT QUESTIONS 3:32 p.m.
MINISTRY OF ROADS AND 3:32 p.m.
HIGHWAYS 3:32 p.m.
Mr Abed-Nego Azumah Bandim (NDC -- Bunkpurugu) 3:32 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I beg to ask the Minister for Roads and Highways when the newly-constructed bridges at Kambatiak, Gbankoni, Kambagu and Nanyiar would be filled with gravel to avert loss of lives and properties, due to frequent accidents resulting in the loss of several lives and properties.
Minister for Roads and Highways (Mr Kwasi Amoako- Attah) (MP) 3:32 p.m.
Mr Speaker, the Bunkpurugu -- Nanyiar road is a 33.0kms feeder road and serves as an alternative route between Bunkpurugu and Nakpanduri. This road also serves as the only motorable access to major communities such as Kambatiak, Gbankoni, Kambagu etc, all within the Bunkpurugu/Nakpanduri District of the North East Region. The road which is mainly gravel/earth surfaced has received some level of maintenance under the Department of Feeder Roads' (DFR) annual routine maintenance programme over the years.
Current Programme
The Bunkpurugu-Nanyiar- Nasiabock-Kambagu-Kambatiak feeder road was selected and considered for spot improvement under the DFR periodic maintenance programme in 2019.
Work completed to date include:
The construction of 5no. 900mms diameter pipe culverts, 1no. 3/3mx3m box culvert.
Outstanding Works:
Clearing & formation, approach fillings & subbase layer.
The overall physical completion to date: 21.0 per cent.
Current Programme
Work on the Project stalled in November, 2020. The contractor has been issued with first and second warning letters and instructed to provide a revised programme of works. Though the contractor has indicated his willingness to return to site, delayed payment for work done has affected their remobilisation to site.
Future Programme
The contractor has been instructed to secure the site immediately, by putting in place warning signs, directional signs and other traffic management measures to ensure the safety of road users. Efforts are being made for the contractor to resume work within a month as a matter of urgency. I thank you, Mr Speaker.
Mr Speaker 3:32 p.m.
Hon Member, any supplementary question?
Mr Badim 3:32 p.m.
Yes, Mr Speaker. The Hon Minister indicated that work on the project stalled since November, 2020, which is almost a year now. What was the initial timeline for the project?
Mr Speaker 3:32 p.m.
Hon Minister, he is asking for the official initial timelines.
Mr Amoako-Attah 3:42 p.m.
Mr Speaker, the duration for the contract was 12 months. It commenced on 15th April, 2020 and the completion date was anticipated to be 16th April, 2021. So it should have been finished within twelve months.
Thank you, Mr Speaker.
Mr Bandim 3:42 p.m.
Mr Speaker, the Hon Minister again indicated that the contractor has been issued with first and second warning letters. What is the response of the contractor and what specific measures are being put in place for the contractor to get back to site?
Thank you, Mr Speaker.
Mr Amoako-Attah 3:42 p.m.
Mr Speaker, issuing two consecutive letters to the contractor is only a matter of procedure and that should always precede formal termination of contract and my Answer unambi- guously stated that the contractor has been asked to go back to site within a month; failure of which the contract would be determined.
Thank you, Mr Speaker.
Mr Speaker 3:42 p.m.
Hon Member, you have the last opportunity for a supplementary question.
Mr Bandim 3:42 p.m.
Mr Speaker, the people of these communities are really suffering and as I indicated, there has been loss of lives. Would the people be justified in coming out with head pans to fetch gravel to help themselves?
Mr Speaker 3:42 p.m.
Are you asking the Minister whether you could mobilise your people to offer communal labour on that part of the road?
Mr Bandim 3:42 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I would want to know if the Minister thinks the people would be justified in coming out to --? [Interruption.] They have given an indication that they wanted to go out and look for stones and gravels -- [Interruption] because they are really suffering. So I want to know whether the Minister thinks that the people would be justified in doing that?
Mr Speaker 3:42 p.m.
Are you asking whether the people could do it or they could be justified? I do not understand why you are using “justification”.
Mr Bandim 3:42 p.m.
Mr Speaker, would it be right for the people who are so distressed and do not know what to do to go out in a communal labour?
Mr Speaker 3:42 p.m.
Actually, the people know what to do. You have indicated what the people want to do. They only want permission from the Minister to do what they want to do. They want to go out with head pans; mobilise gravels and stone chips and fill the difference between the culvert and the low level road. Is that not it, Hon Member?
Mr Bandim 3:42 p.m.
Yes, Mr Speaker.
Mr Speaker 3:42 p.m.
So, Hon Minister, they want your kind permission to do that. Can they mobilise and do it?
Mr Amoako-Attah 3:42 p.m.
Mr Speaker, obviously, I would not want them to do that. Fixing of roads, we all know, is the responsibility of Government but in doing so, problems and challenges are encountered but when challenges are encountered, there must be ways of dealing with them. So, I understand that our people everywhere are anxious to get their roads fixed and I want to assure them that Government is doing everything possible to fix all roads including that one which he has
already started. So obviously, I would not want them to take that course of action.
The problem would be resolved soon. That is why we are working on it. So if they want my permission to do that, that permission is respectfully withheld. I want to assure them that Government would do everything to fix the road.
Thank you, Mr Speaker.
Mr Speaker 3:42 p.m.
Supplementary questions?
Mr Wisdom Gidisu 3:42 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I would want to know from the Hon Minister what temporary measures he is putting in place to ensure that lives are safe to avoid further accidents that occur on the road?
Mr Amoako-Attah 3:42 p.m.
Mr Speaker, obviously, nobody wishes that we experience series of accidents on our roads in any part of our country, whether in the north, south, west or east. So the responsibility of the Government to fix the roads is ongoing. It may interest you to note that research has established that almost 85 per cent or more of road accidents are attributed to human factors.
Mr Speaker 3:42 p.m.
Hon Members, please, let us move on. We have so many Questions for the Minister for Roads and Highways. I would plead with you for us to move on to the next Question. This was an Urgent Question. We are now going to the normal process questions. So we take item numbered 6. We start with Question numbered 71, which stands in the name of the Hon Member for Kumawu, Hon Philip Basoah.

Since the Hon Member is not available and there is nobody with the authority to ask the Question for and on his behalf, I would move on to the next Question.
Mr Alexander K. Afenyo- Markin 3:42 p.m.
Mr Speaker, the Hon Member authorised Hon Annoh- Dompreh to ask the Question on his behalf and he has indicated that to me.
Mr Speaker 3:42 p.m.
I do not know how you got that -- [Laughter]
Mr Speaker 3:52 p.m.
Once the Hon Member is not around, he would be the one seeking --
Mr Afenyo-Markin 3:52 p.m.
Mr Speaker, he informed me.
Mr Speaker 3:52 p.m.
Are you his counsel?
Mr Afenyo-Markin 3:52 p.m.
Mr Speaker, Hon Annoh-Dompreh informed me to communicate same to you, and I am just doing that.
Mr Speaker 3:52 p.m.
Thank you, Hon Member.
Yes, Hon Majority Chief Whip?
ORAL ANSWERS TO 3:52 p.m.
QUESTIONS 3:52 p.m.
MINISTRY OF ROADS AND 3:52 p.m.
HIGHWAYS 3:52 p.m.
Mr Frank Annoh-Dompreh on behalf of (Mr Philip Basoah) 3:52 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I beg to ask the Minister for Roads and Highways the status of Kumawu town roads.
Mr Amoako-Attah 3:52 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I thank you.
Kumawu is the capital of Sekyere Kumawu District of the Ashanti Region. A number of selected links within the town were packaged for upgrading to bitumen surfacing.
Mr Speaker, currently, contract for upgrading to bitumen surfacing of Kumawu town roads measuring 5.25kms was awarded on 17th April, 2019. The contract commenced on 10th July, 2019 and was expected to be completed by 9th June, 2020.
The contractor vacated site in October, 2020 after executing 1060ms size of 600mms concrete U- drains and 100ms size of 450mms concrete U-drains projected at 5 per cent physical completion. Warning letters have been issued to the contractor to reactivate the site but
the contractor has so far failed to return to site.
Mr Speaker, the future programme is that as a result of the long delay in completing the works, the necessary processes have been initiated to terminate the contract and repackage it for award.
Mr Speaker 3:52 p.m.
Yes, Hon Member, any supplementary question?
Mr Annoh-Dompreh 3:52 p.m.
Mr Speaker, there are supplementary questions to ask.
Mr Speaker 3:52 p.m.
Hon Members, we would move to Question numbered 72, which stands in the name of the Hon Member for Sawla-Tuna-Kalba.
Hon Member, you may ask your Question now.
Status of Sawla-Tuna-Kalba Road
Mr Andrew Dari Chiwitey (NDC -- Sawla-Tuna-Kalba) 3:52 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I beg to ask the Minister for Roads and Highways the status of the Tuna-Kalba road, which was awarded on contract in the year
2016.
Mr Amoako-Attah 3:52 p.m.
Mr Speaker, the Tuna-Kalba feeder road is 30.0Kms long and located in the
Mr Speaker 3:52 p.m.
Hon Member, any supplementary question?
Mr Chiwitey 3:52 p.m.
Yes, Mr Speaker.
Reading through the Hon Minister's Answer, and comparing it with an Answer he gave when I asked a Question on this same issue on the 27th of October, 2017, I am forced to believe that the people who feed the Ministry with answers do not report what is on the ground.
Mr Speaker, on the 27 th of October, 2017, the Minister's Answer indicated that the work was 33 per cent complete. Since then, there has not been any work done on the road.
The road has deteriorated to zero per cent. Today, the Minister's Answer captures physical completion at 33 per cent and 24 per cent. That cannot be accurate, because the road has gone completely bad. As I speak, when the rains fall for 30 minutes, the road cuts off at a village called Kunfusi. I travelled on that road two days ago.
Mr Speaker, would the Minister convince this House that he or his Government has not caused financial loss to the State? The road was 33 per cent complete. As we speak, it is totally bad. How would he convince me that he has not caused financial loss to the State?
Mr Speaker 3:52 p.m.
Hon Member, can you ask another supplementary
question, because this question is not supplementary?
Mr Chiwitey 3:52 p.m.
Mr Speaker, when would the contractor be called back to site? On 27th October, 2017, the Hon Minister assured us in this House, I have the Official Report, that by 2018, the road would be completed. He said he would ensure that the contractor got back to site, which never happened.
Mr Amoako-Attah 3:52 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I cannot agree more with the concerns being expressed by the Hon Colleague. I stated clearly the situation on that road. Work started in earnest, and the contractor was doing well. He built the road up to the sub-base level.
He was left with only one level to apply primer-seal, just to move from sub-base to base, and then put on the primer-seal to secure it. It was at that level that the road was abandoned. Once the road has not received primer-seal, with the slightest rainfall, the condition of the road will deteriorate.
Mr Speaker, that was why I indicated in my Answer that everything is being done to send the contractor back to site. Failure of which remedial measures will be taken.
Mr Speaker, currently, the Ministry is reviewing all these ongoing projects, and that is why we are not awarding anymore new road projects.
So, I would want to assure the Hon Member that within the next four weeks, if the contractor does not reactivate the site, then his contract would be terminated, and a more competent contractor would be awarded the project.
Mr Speaker, I thank you.
Mr Chiwitey 4:02 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I have noted the four weeks down, so, I would follow up the Hon Minister to the office. However, I call for immediate action, especially in the town of Kalba, the culverts in the town, as well as the gutters of the drainage are causing a lot of havoc.
Anytime it rains, people's homes get flooded. Would the Hon Minister speak with the contractor to as a matter of urgency, work on the Kalba town culverts and gutters to prevent further flooding in the town?
Mr Speaker 4:02 p.m.
Hon Minister, would you be prepared to direct the contractor to at least focus on the issue that confronts the people?
Mr Amoako-Attah 4:02 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I am very much encouraged by my Hon Colleague's assurance that he would get in touch with me and liaise with me on this Project. I would welcome that, but I would want to assure him that until the contractor returns to site, my Ministry would keep a close eye on the Road and bring it under our on-going routine maintenance exercise to ensure that the Road becomes motorable. Mr Speaker, I thank you.
Mr Speaker 4:02 p.m.
Hon Members, we would move on to the next Question, Question numbered 73, which stands in the name of the Hon Ms Betty Nana Efua Krosbi Mensah, the Hon Member for Afram Plains North.
Construction of Ekyi-Amanfrom - Agordeke Road in the Afram
Plains District
Ms Betty Nana Efua Krosbi Mensah (NDC-- Afram Plains North) 4:02 p.m.
asked the Minister for Roads and Highways when the road from Ekyi-Amanfrom to Agordeke in the Afram Plains District would be constructed, since the road has become unmotorable.
Mr Amoako-Attah 4:02 p.m.
Mr Speaker,
Background
The Ekyi Amanfrom-Agordeke road is 103kms long and forms part of the Regional Road (R72). The road is located in the Afram Plains North Constituency of the Eastern Region. Intermittent sections of the road are bitumen surfaced and in fair- to-good condition whilst the gravel- surfaced sections of the road are in poor condition.
Current Programme
There is no major rehabilitation programme on the road. However, routine maintenance contracts, such as pothole patching and grading works have been awarded to make the road motorable. The works are ongoing and are scheduled for completion on 31st December, 2021.
Future Programme
Engineering studies have been carried out to rehabilitate the road. The works have been packaged for implementation in phases and the first phase would be considered in the 2023 budget.
Mr Speaker 4:02 p.m.
Hon Member, any supplementary question?
Ms Krosbi Mensah 4:02 p.m.
Yes, Mr Speaker.
Mr Speaker, listening to the Hon Minister, I would like to make some few corrections. The Ekyi- Amanfrom-Agordeke Road extends from Ekyi-Amanfrom in the Afram Plains South District, and connects through to the Afram Plains North District. So, the Road actually connects two districts.
The fact is, less than 30 per cent of the entire Road from Ekyi-Amanfrom to Agordeke is bitumen surfaced. The bitumen has even worn out and currently, one cannot differentiate between the bitumen surfaced road and the feeder roads in the area. This is the current situation over there.
Mr Speaker, my next Question is, I would want to know from the Hon Minister, when the contract for the pothole patching and grading was awarded, and the company to which it was awarded to?
Mr Amoako-Attah 4:02 p.m.
Mr Speaker, the Hon Member indicated that parts of the Road have developed potholes. We are not unaware of that, and that is why my Answer indicated that we have awarded contracts for routine maintenance or pothole patching. So, we are taking action on the part of the road that she said is bituminous surface but has developed potholes.
If the Road had not originally been tarred, it would not have developed potholes. So, the work is divided into two; those tarred, and the longer section, which is at the gravel and earth stage. So, the Hon Member should know that it is for that reason that we are trying to do pothole patching on the already tarred section. The other section is going to be worked on, and the contract for that has been awarded.
Again, she asked that she wanted to know the company to which the contract has been awarded. The company by name Mohajara Ventures would undertake that project. Two contractors would work on it simultaneously.
So, the companies to work on the untarred-unpaved section of the Road are Mohajara and Cassmidione Ventures, while we keep on working on the pothole patching, which would be undertaken by Midione Enterprise.
Mr Speaker 4:02 p.m.
Hon Minister, you have not come out with the answer yet. She asked when the contract was awarded for the routine maintenance, pothole patching and grading works.
Mr Amoako-Attah 4:02 p.m.
Mr Speaker, we awarded that around March-April this year.
Mr Speaker 4:02 p.m.
Well, it seems the Hon Minister has not got the specific answer here, so, he says: “around March-April this year.” Hon Member, any further supplementary question?
Ms Krosbi Mensah 4:02 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I thank you once again. Mr Speaker, unfortunately, I just returned from my constituency, and as I speak, we do not have any contractors on the --
Mr Speaker 4:02 p.m.
Hon Member, that is rather “fortunate” and not “unfortunate”.
Ms Krosbi Mensah 4:02 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I am just building on my question.
Mr Speaker 4:02 p.m.
So, you should rather say that “fortunately”, you just returned from your constituency, and not to say “unfortunately”.
Ms Krosbi Mensah 4:02 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I thank you. Mr Speaker, fortunately, I just returned from my constituency, but unfortunately, there is nothing happening on our roads. Therefore, can I have any assurance from the Hon Minister that work on the Donkorkrom Township roads would commence soon? If yes, then when specifically?
Mr Speaker 4:02 p.m.
Hon Member, I did not get the name of the town.
Ms Krosbi Mensah 4:12 p.m.
Donkorkrom.
Mr Speaker 4:12 p.m.
That is a different question altogether. The question we have here deals with the Ekyi- Amanfrom to Agordeke road; Donkorkrom is a different question altogether. That cannot be supplementary. You can ask that in future. It is not part of this one, but the Hon Minister wants to give you an answer so I will allow him.
Mr Amoako-Attah 4:12 p.m.
Mr Speaker, my Hon Colleague wants to ambush me, but since that question is of interest to her and her constituents, I would want to assure her and give this privileged information.
Donkorkrom is a very important town to us. It is not only Donkorkrom town roads. I will give her that information privately. Very soon, work on Donkorkrom town roads will come up. We will also award contract for the construction of the bridge over the Volta River for easy access to Donkorkrom and the Afram
Plains. This has been on the drawing board since 2009. It could not materialise, but it would now.
Mr Speaker 4:12 p.m.
I am tempted to ask: how soon is soon?
Mr Amoako-Attah 4:12 p.m.
Mr Speaker, with the highest respect, as soon as practicable. [Laughter]
Mr Speaker 4:12 p.m.
Hon Member, you heard the Hon Minister. The “soon” is equal to practicability. Hon Members, we move to the next Question. Question numbered 74 stands in the name of the Hon Member for Central Tongu, Hon Alexander Roosevelt Hottordze. Hon Member, you may ask your Question.
Second Stretch of the Yorkutikpo -- Kpoviadzi -- Wute Road
Mr Alexander Roosevelt Hottordze (NDC -- Central Tongu) 4:12 p.m.
asked the Minister for Roads and Highways when the Ministry would consider the second stretch of the Yorkutikpo -- Kpoviadzi -- Wute Road in the Central Tongu Constituency.
Mr Amoako-Attah 4:12 p.m.
Mr Speaker, the Yorkutikpo-Kpoviadzi-Wute road
is 19.7kms. It is located in the Central Tongu District of the Volta Region.
Current Programme
The first section of 12kms was awarded on 5th July, 2016 and was scheduled for completion on 8th November, 2017. The completion date was extended to 20th February, 2021. Work is ongoing with 11.0kms of primer seal being completed.
The second stretch of the road which is captured as the upgrading of Mafi Adadepo-Wute road is 7.7kms which has also been awarded. The contractor is scheduled to be given possession of site on 15th July, 2021 to enable him mobilise to commence the works.
Mr Hottordze 4:12 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I would like to find out from the Hon Minister whether he is aware that the contractors for the stretch from Yorkutikpo to Adakpo are no longer on site?
Mr Speaker 4:12 p.m.
Hon Minister, are you aware the contractors are no longer on site?
Mr Amoako-Attah 4:12 p.m.
Mr Speaker, as I indicated, the entire stretch is divided into two so far as the contract award is concerned. The first stretch
Mr Hottordze 4:12 p.m.
The first stretch is from Yorkutikpo to Adakpo, and the second is from Adakpo town through Kpoviadzi to Wute.
Mr Amoako-Attah 4:12 p.m.
Mr Speaker, respectfully, the Hon Member's description of the Project is from his point of view; my description of the division of the road takes precedence over his because we are working on the Project. Therefore the Project name that I gave is what is in our data base and it respectfully takes precedence over his.
The entire stretch of the road from his Question is correct; we are not arguing about the road, but respectfully, from our technical point of view and from our database, the stretch is divided into two. The first stretch of 12 kilometres covers Yorkutikpo to Kpoviadzi, and the second, as project description measuring 7.7 kilometres is from Adadekpo to Wute. Mr Speaker, the
Hon Member has to note it because his cannot take precedence over that of the Ministry. This is not for argument.
Mr Hottordze 4:12 p.m.
Hon Minister, that was not exactly what I said.
Mr Speaker 4:12 p.m.
Hon Member, please, will you resume your seat? You only speak when you catch my eye.
Mr Amoako-Attah 4:22 p.m.
Mr Speaker, the second paragraph of my answer under “Current Programme'', says that we are yet to hand over site to Messrs Sanyan Company Ltd. We have done the award, gone through the procumbent process and we would hand over site to him to resume work. The first part is handled by Messrs Wejo Company Ltd, where some amount of work has been done, is what has been indicated that the contractor has abandoned site.
Mr Speaker, ordinarily, I may agree with him but technically, I could tell him that the contractor has not abandoned site. Work is not on-going for now and that is why he indicated that the contractor has abandoned site. But from the technical point of view, the contractor has not packed off site. So, we have to do what the employer is obliged to do for work to resume
in earnest. That was why I said that we are in the process of doing that but it has delayed as a result of the usual delayed payment. The contractor has not vacated site but I agree with him that work has slowed down and we would reactivate it.
Mr Speaker 4:22 p.m.
Hon Member, do you have any more supplementary question?
Mr Hottordze 4:22 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I would like to point it out to the Hon Minister that the contractor as I speak, is not on site and the first stretch that they had the primer seal on has almost deteriorated which has worsened the situation for motorists who use that part of the road.
Mr Speaker, secondly, I would want to ask the Hon Minister whether it would be possible for me to witness the day of giving the possession of site to the new contractor so that I would be in a position to acquaint myself with him before he would come to site?
Mr Speaker 4:22 p.m.
Hon Member, there is a disagreement to this Question. You said that the contractor is not on site and the Hon Minister agrees to it that physically, he is not on site but technically he has not vacated site. So the Ministry would do what it has to do for you to see that he is still on
site. So, you wanting to acquaint yourself with the second contractor and being on site as witness does not come in. If you have any other supplementary question, you may ask.
Mr Hottordze 4:22 p.m.
Mr Speaker, my second question has to do with the second stretch. The Hon Minister indicated to this House that two days from today, that contractor would be given possession of site at the Ministry and it is in that regard that I asked whether I could be allowed to witness it so that I could acquaint myself with him.
Mr Speaker 4:22 p.m.
Hon Member, nobody can prevent you from being on site when a contract is being awarded in your Constituency. You lead the constituents and so if they are doing such a thing lawfully, you have to be present unless for some good reasons you cannot be present. But nobody can prevent you from being present. However, if you want confirmation from the Hon Minister, I would ask him to respond to you.
Mr Amoako-Attah 4:22 p.m.
Mr Speaker, you have made it easier for me to answer this Question. I want to assure my Hon Colleague that even if it pleases him, I would organise a sod cutting ceremony and he would cut the sod.
Mr Ernest Henry Norgbey (NDC -- Ashaiman) 4:22 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I beg to ask the Hon Minister when the following roads in the Ashaiman Municipality will be constructed: (i) Presby Junction -- Police Junction Road (ii) Afari -- New Town Road (iii) New Tulaku -- Official Town Road (iv) Fitter Line Roads (v) Night Market Road (vi) Old Tulaku Roads (vii) Community 22 Roads (viii) Lebanon Roads.
Mr Amoako-Attah 4:32 p.m.
Mr Speaker,
Background
Ashaiman is a densely populated town located to the north of Tema in the Greater-Accra Region of Ghana and is the capital of the Ashaiman Municipality.
Current Programmes
(i) Presby Junction -- Police Junction Road
The mentioned road is being undertaken under the project titled “Construction of Road and Paving at Jericho and Pink Lady in the Ashaiman Constituency”. This project is being undertaken by the Coastal Development Authority (CODA).
The project is at 57.5per cent physical completion. It is reported that the Contractor is currently inactive on site due to financial constraints.
Work done to date include:
450m long 600 mm-diameter concrete u-drains;
200m of kerb works; and
2,730m of sub-base and base works.
(ii) Afari -- New Town Road
The mentioned road is being undertaken under the project titled “Rehabilitation of Tema International School Road & Afariwa Link -- Ashaiman (1.37km)”.
The Contract for the mentioned project was awarded on April 29, 2019. All measures taken to get the contractor to commence the works have proven futile.
(iii & viii) ‘New Tulaku -- Official Town Road' & ‘Lebanon Roads'
The mentioned roads are being undertaken under the project titled “Rehabilitation of Annan, Ampere & Agbesi Close Roads in Ashaiman (1.5kms)”. The project commenced on December 6, 2016 and was scheduled for completion on December 5, 2017. Two Variation Orders were raised on the project to ensure comprehensive coverage and the development of the community.
The original contract is 92 per cent complete. However, the revised contract is at 18per cent physical completion due to the inclusion of the additional works totalling 7.05kms. The Contractor is currently not on site due to delayed payment for work done.
Work done to date include:
2,191.50ms long 600mms- diameter concrete u-drains.
2.08kms of roadworks (subbase, base, primer-seal and sealing works).

(iv) Fitter Line Roads

There is no current programme for Fitter Line Roads.

(v) Night Market Road

The road is being undertaken under the project titled “Rehabilitation of Night Market Road and Links”. The Coastal Development Authority (CODA) is undertaking the project in the Ashaiman Municipality. The Contractor is yet to mobilise to site to commence the works.

(vi) Old Tulaku Roads

There is no current programme for Old Tulaku Roads.

(vii) Community 22 Roads

The mentioned road is being undertaken under the project titled “Rehabilitation of Selected Roads in Community 22, Tema (8.98kms)”. The project was awarded on 2nd July,
Mr Speaker 4:32 p.m.
Hon Member, any supplementary questions?
Mr Norgbey 4:32 p.m.
Mr Speaker, in the Answer to item numbered (ii), in the last paragraph, the Minister says, the
contract for the mentioned project was awarded on April 29, 2019 and all measures taken to get the contractor to site proved futile. Since 2019, we are still looking for the contractor to move to site.
What step is the Ministry of Roads and Highways taking to make sure that the contractor goes to site or the contract be re-awarded?
Mr Amoako-Attah 4:32 p.m.
Mr Speaker, the contractor involved in these Afari- New Town roads is Mbashilo Investment Limited. It is true and we occasionally experience these problems. Contractors or potential contractors with the right documentation put in bids for jobs.
They go through the procurement process, win the bid and we enter into contractual relationship with them. As being experienced from this particular contractor -- and this is not an isolated case; occasionally, we experience that kind of thing and they come in, win the contract but they are unable to even go to site.
But as soon as that happens, the unfortunate aspect of it is that, a contractual relationship would have already been established. So, we
would have to give a reasonable time in accordance with the terms of the contract and issue out warning letters until we come to the end of the mandated processes to terminate the contract. This takes a bit of time.
Termination is being done and we have to re-package the project again and re-award. We would have to give ourselves a minimum of another four weeks for this project to be re- awarded. It has cost us a bit of time regrettably but we had no choice. I thank you, Mr Speaker.
Mr Speaker 4:32 p.m.
Any supplementary questions?
Mr Norgbey 4:32 p.m.
Mr Speaker, what the Hon Minister just said is debatable anyway but I would not go into that debate.
In the Answer to items numbered (iii) and (vii), the Minister said, the original contract is 92 per cent complete.
Mr Speaker, I do not know where the Minister procures his Answers from because on that stretch of road where I pass to my house every day, there is not even a wheelbarrow, no heap of sand, no stone, yet the Minister is saying, it is 92 per cent complete.
Mr Speaker 4:32 p.m.
Hon Member, he has revised it to 18 per cent. He said the original contract is 92 per cent complete. However, the revised contract is at 18 per cent physical completion due to the inclusion of the additional works totalling 7.05 kilometres. So, the 18 per cent is now the percentage completed. Yes, you can go on.
Mr Norgbey 4:42 p.m.
Mr Speaker, at the moment, I say that there are no wheelbarrows on the road; nothing!

Ever since I became an Hon Member of Parliament, I have never seen anyone dig a hole on that road. So, I am just asking the Hon Minister to convince me where the 18 per cent is?
Mr Speaker 4:42 p.m.
Hon Minister, his position is that nothing has happened on the road and then you are giving it an 18 per cent completion.
Mr Amoako-Attah 4:42 p.m.
Mr Speaker, with the greatest of respect, at all times, I would want my Hon Colleagues to also understand that issues concerning road construction are technical.
From the ordinary man's point of view, I agree with him that if 92 per cent is the completion percentage, he may not understand and he is right and I totally agree with him. That was why I am reminding all of us including myself that we are talking about technical issues.
In my Answer, I did indicate that there was a valuation order and this means that there have been additions to the original scope. At the same time, I also did indicate that the overall completion percentage is 18 per cent and the original scope dealt with only two aspects of the works. The original scope dealt with the open concrete u-drains as one and secondly, before the road works started.
Mr Speaker, so, if all the drains had been done to specification as contracted, it could have even been 100 per cent. However, the earth works would not have started and so, one might not know that the initial scope stood alone.
If the Hon Member has observed, because it is his Constituency, I am sure he is aware that the drains had been done. The drains constituted one contract and then the earth works.
So, when I said that 18 per cent is being done on the overall contract, then it tells you that not substantial work has been done, and that was why I attributed to the delay of the work to the contractor halting the job which we are taking steps to make sure that the contractor comes back to site.
So, the 92 per cent refers to the drains that the contractor was supposed to do on the portion of the road project. It is related to a specific job and that was what I indicated.
Mr Speaker 4:42 p.m.
Hon Members, we move to the next Question -- by our Rules, you are entitled to three supplementary questions by my count and not yours. If you want to pray that I give you a concession, I may do so because Ashaiman is a republic and we have to show respect. Yes, Hon Member, your last supplementary question.
Mr Norgbey 4:42 p.m.
Mr Speaker, thank you.
I am not really convinced with the Hon Minister's answer. I do not know whether the 18 per cent is paper or actual work on the ground. When we go to Atiwa for instance, the road is tarred up to the cemetery and to the best of my knowledge, that is 100 per cent complete. However, there is nothing on this particular road and the Hon Minister is still saying it is 18 per cent complete. That is, I want to know whether the 18 per cent is paper work or physical work?
Mr Speaker, the Hon Minister's insistence on the 18 per cent completion of the road is debatable. Mr Speaker, he said the contractor vacated site. What step is the Ministry taking to make sure that funds are available for the contractor to come back to site to complete these roads for the people of Ashaiman?
[Hear] [Hear] --
Mr Speaker 4:42 p.m.
Hon Member, question numbered 75 Roman numeral (i), says that the contractor is currently inactive on site. The Answer does not say that the contractor vacated site. Hon Member, your question was on the fact that the Hon Minister said that the contractor vacated site and the Answer says; ‘inactive on site'.
Mr Amoako-Attah 4:52 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I think I gave an answer why the contractor is inactive on site. I said it was due to financial constraints. Let us be honest with ourselves, contracts are always between parties and in this particular case, it is between the contractor and the Government as the employer.
The contractor is not active on site because he is facing financial challenges; we can only reactivate the contract by arranging some payments for the contractor and we are in talks with all such contractors and payments are ongoing from the Ministry of Finance's point of view for all those who have Government of Ghana (GoG) contracts.
I believe that from next week when the Road Fund Board is in place, we anticipate that it will be in place perhaps, in a week from now and then we shall also begin some payments from the Road Fund.
So, we are working to put all the contractors back on site and that is
the only way we can assure that we would reactivate the sites. The patience is --
Mr Speaker 4:52 p.m.
Hon Members, the Hon Second Deputy Speaker would take the Chair.
We would take Question numbered 76.
MR SECOND DEPUTY SPEAKER
Mr Cletus Seidu Dapilah (NDC -- Jirapa) 4:53 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I beg to ask the Hon Minister for Roads and Highways when the Jirapa Town Roads under construction would be completed.
Mr Amoako-Attah 4:53 p.m.
Mr Speaker,
Background
Jirapa is the capital of the Jirapa Municipality in the Upper West Region.
The road network in Jirapa town is in poor condition, except the National Road (N12), which passes through the town and continues to Hamile.
Current Programme
The Ghana Highway Authority awarded 3.1kms of Jirapa Town roads for upgrading to bituminous surface in 2016. The project commenced on 11th July, 2016 and was scheduled for completion on 10th January, 2018.
The Contractor executed clearing and earthworks on the following roads:
DCE's Residence Road (0.2kms);
DCE's Residence Road (0.6kms);
Community Training School Road (0.2kms)
Urban Clinic Road (0.6kms); and
Car Park Road (0.7kms).
Physical work progress is estimated at 17 per cent completion.
Work has stalled and the Contractor is not on site. Several warning letters including notice to terminate the contract have been issued to the Contractor. Necessary steps are being taken to terminate the contract for non-performance.
The Department of Urban Roads has also awarded the under-listed contracts in Jirapa Town.
(a)Rehabilitation of selected roads in Jirapa phase I (5.7 kms);
(b)Rehabilitation of selected roads in Jirapa phase II (8.8 kms).
(a) Rehabilitation of selected roads in Jirapa, Phase I (5.7 kms)
The project was awarded on 28th October, 2020 for execution and completion in 24 calendar months. The Contractor is yet to mobilise to site.
(b) Rehabilitation of selected roads in Jirapa, phase II (8.8 kms)
The project commenced on May 14, 2019 for completion on May 13, 2021. Progress of work is at 32 per cent physical completion. The Contractor has not been on site since February, 2021 due to delay in payment for work done. Efforts are being made to get the Contractor back to site to complete all outstanding works.
Work done to date include:
Some 7,400ms long 600mms diameter concrete u-drains; and
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 4:53 p.m.
Hon Member, do you have a supplementary question?
Mr Dapilah 4:53 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I would like to know from the Hon Minister if he is aware that the drains being done by the contractors in the Jirapa town are causing floods and disasters in the town? Mr Speaker, many pedestrians, citizens and animals are falling into these gutters.
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 4:53 p.m.
Is your Question whether the Hon Minister is aware?
Mr Dapilah 4:53 p.m.
Mr Speaker, as well as what he is doing about it?
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 4:53 p.m.
Hon Minister, are you aware that the drains being constructed are turning into disaster points?
Mr Amoako-Attah 4:53 p.m.
Mr Speaker, that is not in my knowledge. The purpose of drains are to allow rain water to flow so that floods could be avoided. However, if the opposite of this is happening, then it defeats the very purpose of constructing them. Mr Speaker, once this has been mentioned, I would pursue the
situation and the technical people would be sent there. Mr Speaker, perhaps the width and depth of these drains are smaller as compared to the volumes of rain water. So if there is any defect, I assure the Hon Member that it would be corrected. Mr Speaker, we shall assess the technical shortfalls of the Project.
Mr Dapilah 4:53 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I would like the Hon Minister to furnish this House and also assure the good people of Jirapa with regard to the time frame that this situation would be remedied. The last time I went home, the citizens pulled me to the Jirapa Market to show me the discomfort the drains are causing them and they asked me of the temporary measures that could be put in place.
Mr Speaker, so I want an assurance from the Hon Minister regarding the timeframe within which this could be done.
Mr Amoako-Attah 4:53 p.m.
Mr Speaker, it is the responsibility of Government to safeguard the interest of citizens and to also avoid disasters. For me, this is an emergency situation, particularly, because we have entered the rainy season so we do not have to wait until there is disaster. I wish this could have even been done
yesterday, so I would work with my Hon Colleague to ensure that this issue is resolved as soon as practicable.
Mr Dapilah 4:53 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I would like to appeal to the Hon Minister to make some funds available to the contractor because on page 24 of his Answer, the Hon Minister said that the contractor is not on site because of non-payment. Mr Speaker, this is the responsibility of the Hon Minister and so I would want to know when some moneys would be paid to the contractor so that he can return to site?
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 4:53 p.m.
Hon Minister, the Hon Member is making an appeal for you to tell the House when the contractor would be paid some money?
Mr Amoako-Attah 5:02 p.m.
Mr Speaker, all contractors who have worked legitimately have earned their incomes and are to be paid. It is the front burner for Government. I indicated a while ago that payment to contractors has begun. The process has begun from the Ministry of Finance, and it would continue at the Road Fund in about a week's time.
When payments are made available from the Road Fund where the contractors' Interim Payment Certificates originate, they would be paid for the contractor to be empowered to go back to site. That would be done, I can give the Hon Member the assurance.
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 5:02 p.m.
Hon Members, we would move to Question numbered 77, which stands in the name of the Hon Member for Awutu-Senya West, Hon Gizella Tetteh-Agbotui.
Hon Member, you may ask your Question.
Steps being taken to ensure completion of Bawjiase - Agona Swedru Road
Mrs Gizella Tetteh-Agbotui (NDC -- Awutu-Senya West) 5:02 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I beg to ask the Minister for Roads and Highways the steps being taken to ensure the completion of the road between Bawjiase and Agona Swedru in the Central Region.
Mr Amoako-Attah 5:02 p.m.
Mr Speaker,
Background
Bawjiase-Agona Swedru is 25.2kms long and forms part of the
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 5:02 p.m.
Yes, Hon Member, any supplementary question?
Mrs Tetteh-Agbotui 5:02 p.m.
Mr Speaker, yes, I am trying to reconcile the Hon Minister's Answer. He says the contractor is taking the necessary steps to ensure completion of the work, but the contractor is on site at a slow work pace due to the delayed payments for the work done.
How does he reconcile the Answer he has given me since it is not clear? How does he take the steps when he works at a slow pace due to delayed payment for work done?
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 5:02 p.m.
Hon Minister, how can the contractor doubles the speed?
Mr Amoako-Attah 5:02 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I do not see any ambiguity here at all. I have indicated that the work is going on at a very slow pace, such that the contractor has not abandoned the site, and that the difficulty is due to delayed payment.
Mr Speaker, if my colleague, the Hon Member wants any reconciliation, it is simple and straightforward; the employer should do well to facilitate payment, then the contractor would be energised to work. This is exactly what I am trying to put across.
Mrs Tetteh-Agbotui 5:02 p.m.
Mr Speaker, the road has developed death traps and gullies. Some of the drains that were constructed barely eight months ago are broken, and the constituents are suffering. I am appealing to the Hon Minister, as he has come here this afternoon to answer a lot of questions, I feel like a woman who is being given raps and the raps are still not sinking in.
Mr Speaker, this road connects the Western and Central Regions to the Eastern Region. It is the only road that when one is coming from Winneba through Agona Swedru, one could cross to Nsawam and continue to Kumasi. The Hon Minister himself has indicated that it is an inter-regional road.
I would want assurance from the Hon Minister that finally on 12th December, 2021, which is six months away from now, this road would be completed so that it would end the suffering of the people of Awutu- Senya West.
Mr Amoako-Attah 5:02 p.m.
Mr Speaker, for all other roads and particularly the inter-regional roads, I am aware of their importance particularly because of the inter-regional connectivity. I assure my colleague, the Hon Member, that I share her concern. As an Hon Member of Parliament and
as we are all Members of Parliament, I know the pressure all of us face in our respective constituencies, particularly concerning our roads. Government is doing its best and everything possible and we shall continue to work together.
That particular road has been on the drawing board for some time. It started from 2016, and it is a very important road. Everything possible would be done to make sure that we work on that road, I assure her. And I require the support of all my colleagues.
Let us work together and not only during Question time. All of us as Members of this honourable House should work together and within the limited stretch of Government's budget, Government would do its best on our road networks.
Mrs Tetteh-Agbotui 5:02 p.m.
Therefore, Mr Speaker, may I know when the reshaping of the road could be done? Could that be done in a month?
I am a technical person, and so I like timelines. Could it be done in a month? I went to the contractor's yard to appeal to them myself. But I cannot touch the road because it is under contract, and so that directive could come from the Hon Minister.
Mr Amoako-Attah 5:02 p.m.
I thank you, Mr Speaker. I wish that we work as fast as possible to start substantial work on it even in less than a month to bring relief to our people and the motoring public. So I would not even say one month. I wish we could even do it in less than one month and that should tell the importance of this road and how I attach seriousness to it.
Thank you, Mr Speaker.
Mr Edwin N. L. Vanderpuye 5:02 p.m.
Mr Speaker, as a follow up to the Question, I just want to ask the Hon Minister - kilometre 7 to 17, where does it cover on that particular road? This is because I was in that Constituency this very weekend.
Mr Amoako-Attah 5:02 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I have said that the entire stretch of the road is about 25.5 kilometres so if I talk about between kilometre 7 and 17, I am telling you a stretch of the road in between covering 10 kilometres but obviously, I cannot say that it starts from this town to that town. That is why I have given the mileage in between. I cannot mention the towns. That is not in my mind now.
rose
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 5:02 p.m.
Hon Member for Odododiodioo, you have exhausted your time, you have only one chance.
Mr Vanderpuye 5:02 p.m.
Mr Speaker, it is on the same answer he gave.
I am not asking another question. I just want further elucidation from him.
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 5:02 p.m.
No. I would not admit it.
Mr Avedzi 5:02 p.m.
Mr Speaker, because of the answer given by the Hon Minister, the Hon Member wanted further explanation so if you could allow him to do a follow up?
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 5:02 p.m.
Hon Leader, respectfully, the rule is that after the main Question, the questioner can ask three supplementary questions. Any other Member in this Chamber would have only one slot if he wants to ask a question. So he has asked the question and the Minister has answered. So you can ask another Question if you want to find out more.
Mr Avedzi 5:02 p.m.
Mr Speaker, with all due respect, I do not have any other question but the Hon Member asked a question and the Hon Minister answered. Does it mean that the rule is that if the Minister answers the
question and the Hon Member wants further clarification, he cannot ask? If that is the rule let us know? That is why I said we should allow him to do a follow up.
Mr Annoh-Dompreh 5:02 p.m.
Mr Speaker, respectfully, I would not litigate on this matter but my good friend knows that the Hon Member came on a follow up and he has already exhausted his chance. So he should rather accede to the ruling of the Speaker.
In any case, the interpretation of our laws lies in the bosom of the Speaker so we may have to respect the ruling of the Speaker and let things stand as they are. That notwithstanding, there are a number of Questions that have to be exhausted. This is a constituency- specific Question so would the Leader be kind enough to allow proceedings to progress?
Mr Speaker, I think we should make progress and he has exhausted his turn.
Dr Apaak 5:02 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I rise to provide information in support of the Hon Minister. Kilometre 0 to 7 is what is left and it is from Bawjiase to Okitiw.
Thank you, Mr Speaker.
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 5:02 p.m.
Hon Minister, did you get that? [Interruption.] -- So he is a technical man and supporting the Hon Minister.
Mr Amoako-Attah 5:02 p.m.
Mr Speaker, with the highest respect, I did not say that the names of the stretch, kilometre 7 to 17 are unknown to the Ministry. What I said was that I was dealing with the kilometres and I cannot conjure anything on top of my head when I am appearing before this august House. That was why I said that I was dealing with kilometres.
So if I said kilometre 7 to kilometre 17, it is in between that stretch of the road covering 10 kilometres but I cannot just say that the kilometre 7 starts from a particular town to another.
It is known to us and if that information were provided, I can provide it at the right time but while appearing before this House, I would not conjure things that I am not sure of. That is all. It does not mean that it is not known to us. We are in charge of the roads across the country and we have every information.
Thank you, Mr Speaker.
Mr Kobena M. Woyome 5:02 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I beg to ask the Minister for Roads and Highways when the following township roads of these major towns in the South Tongu District will be improved: (i) Sogakope town roads (ii) Dabala town roads (iii) Sokpoe town roads (iv) Tefle town roads.
Mr Amoako-Attah 5:02 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I thank my Hon Colleague for the correction. We have taken note for future reporting on this road.
Background
(i) Sogakope, (ii) Dabala, (iii) Sokpoe, and (iv) Tefle are all major towns in the South Tongu District. The road network within these towns is in fair to poor condition.
Current Programme
There is no rehabilitation programme for Sogakope, Dabala and Sokpoe towns. However, a contract for the bitumen surfacing of Tefle Town Roads was awarded on 13th February, 2020 and commenced on 8th June, 2020 for completion on 7th June, 2021.
The progress of work to date is projected at 8 per cent physical completion. The contractor would be issued with warning letter to re- mobilise to site, failure of which the necessary processes would be initiated to terminate the contract and repackage for award.
Thank you, Mr Speaker.
Mr Woyome 5:22 p.m.
Mr Speaker, the Hon Minister rightly mentioned that there is no rehabilitation programme for Sogakope, Dabala and Sokpoe towns. Could he inform this House when he would likely consider these towns for possible works to commence?
Mr Amoako-Attah 5:22 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I indicated that these four towns are very important towns in the South Tongu District. Personally, I know these towns very well, and their
economic importance to this country, particularly, Sogakope and Dabala. Road construction is ongoing. Tefle road is under construction even though work is not progressing as expected. The contractor is on site and we shall do the needful to enable the contractor finish that project.
Mr Speaker, Sogakope, Dabala, and Sokpoe would be considered this year. Action will be initiated, but of course, it will not form part of the 2021 programme, because that would be budgeted for. But it has been planned that by 2022, these three towns could be considered among town roads to be developed across the country.
Mr Speaker, I would urge my Hon Colleague, as we have been doing all the time -- we work together.
Mr Woyome 5:22 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I would like to make a request, while we wait for the timeline they have considered for the works. The situation is getting so bad now; it is becoming terrible to drive within the towns because of erosion, and the rains have exposed the bad nature of it. Would the Hon Minister consider carrying out some little gravel works here and there to help ease movement of vehicles and some remedial works to solve the problem?
Mr Amoako-Attah 5:22 p.m.
Mr Speaker, that is a reasonable request and it can be accommodated.
Mr Woyome 5:22 p.m.
Mr Speaker, the works at Tefle has delayed because the contractor was not working according to schedule. So, the indication that the contractor would be issued a warning letter to remobilise, and if he fails, other actions be taken, would the Hon Minister indicate when this letter would be ready for the contractor so that, at least we can all monitor to ensure that what has been said here is carried out and with the speed that it deserves?
Mr Amoako-Attah 5:22 p.m.
Mr Speaker, that could be done as soon as possible, but at times, considering the scheme of things, we hesitate a bit in terminating the contracts. If we think of terminating and repackaging and re-awarding, it is better to take the former option. It is possible for the same contractor to continue by examining the causes of the delay. In most cases, they are attributed to delayed payments. So, we do not rush to issue termination letters.
The contractor on that road is King K. Limited. Since it is the Hon Member's constituency, he knows the zealousness with which the contractor started the work. He did the site clearing, 600ms of 600mms concrete
Mr Emmanuel Kwasi Bedzrah 5:22 p.m.
Mr Speaker, from the Hon Minister's Answer, it is clear that the contractor has delayed the project. In every contract, there is a performance bond. It is to guide both the client and the contractor. When the contractor delays, the performance bond could be evoked. May I know whether the Ministry or the consultant has evoked the performance bond of the contractor?
Mr Amoako-Attah 5:22 p.m.
Mr Speaker, that is the importance of the performance bond as a security measure, but we know exactly when to evoke that. In this instance, we have not gotten there, but I can assure
the Hon Member that every contract executed has incorporated in it the performance bond. When it becomes necessary, we evoke that clause.
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 5:22 p.m.
Hon Members, we would move to Question numbered 79, which stands in the name of the Hon Member for Asuogyaman.
Hon Member, you may ask your Question.
Halt of Construction works on Osebeng-Anum-Boso-Tongor
Mr Thomas Nyarko Ampem (NDC -- Asuogyaman) 5:22 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I beg to ask the Minister for Roads and Highways why construction works on the Osebeng- Anum-Boso-Tongor road had halted.
5. 32 p.m.
Mr Amoako-Attah 5:22 p.m.
Mr Speaker, the Osebeng-Anum-Boso-Tongor road is a 19.4kms long trunk road located in the Asuogyaman District of the Eastern Region. The road is gravel surfaced and in poor condition.
Mr Speaker, currently, the road is awarded for rehabilitation under the contract titled, ‘'Rehabilitation of Anum Junction'' that is Osebeng- Anum-Boso-Tongor road, measuring
19.4kms. The project commenced on 7th March, 2020, and is scheduled for completion on 6th March, 2022. Progress of work is 24 per cent physical completion. Work has stalled due to delay in payment for work done. The contractor is not on site but efforts are being made to get the contractor back on site to complete the project.
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 5:22 p.m.
Yes, Hon Member?
Mr Ampem 5:22 p.m.
Mr Speaker, the Hon Minister states that the work is scheduled to be completed on 6th March, 2022. I would want to know from the Hon Minister whether that date is the original completion date or it has been extended?
Mr Amoako-Attah 5:22 p.m.
Mr Speaker, the commencement date was 8th June, 2020, and it was intended to be completed on 7th June, 2021. But I have indicated here that the Project commenced on 7th March, 2020, and is scheduled for completion on 6th March, 2022. It has moved from the year 2021 to the year 2022. So, that is not the original date for completion. There has been an extension.
Mr Speaker, I thank you.
Mr Ampem 5:22 p.m.
Mr Speaker, the nature of the road as we speak now, is worse than how it was before construction started, and that is the worry of my people. In the Hon Minister's responses to almost all the questions today, he indicates that efforts are being made to get contractors back on site.
In this specific instance, he has indicated that there is a delay in payment. I would want to know from the Hon Minister, whether the efforts that he is making to get the contractor back on site also include making sure that the contractor is paid.
Mr Amoako-Attah 5:22 p.m.
Mr Speaker, that is not in doubt. In contractual relationship, parties have their respective duties and responsibilities, and I have not hidden from the cause of the delay. I have indicated clearly that delayed payment has caused the delay in the execution of the project. I do not want to go into the details of it, but Government would do its part and try to effect payment for the contractor to go back to site.
Contractors are also expected to be resourceful. In this particular case, the contractor has not worked up to that level. However, that notwithstanding, the most important thing is to get the job done. I have indicated that payments to contractors
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 5:22 p.m.
Hon Member, your last supplementary question.
Mr Ampem 5:22 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I see that my Hon Colleague, the Hon Dafeamekpor is eager because that is the main road to his hometown. However, I am sure that in all these lengthy talks, what my constituents and probably the Hon Dafeamekpor's constituents --
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 5:22 p.m.
Hon Member, what did you say? Did you say “plenty talk”? Did I hear that?
Mr Ampem 5:22 p.m.
Yes, Mr Speaker, in all the --
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 5:22 p.m.
No, Hon Member, you should withdraw. We have brought the Hon Minister here to answer questions, and you are now saying “lengthy talks?”
Mr Ampem 5:22 p.m.
Mr Speaker, in all the responses that have been given, the specific interest that my constituents and I have, is to know from the Hon Minister, when the contractor would return to site to continue with the construction of that road.
Mr Amoako-Attah 5:22 p.m.
Mr Speaker, while I do not want to mention any specific date or time, it is my wish that the contractor had returned to work yesterday. So, we are doing everything possible for the contractor to go to site, and that would be done as soon as practicable.
rose
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 5:22 p.m.
Yes, Hon Member for South Dayi?
Mr Dafeamekpor 5:22 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I thank you for the opportunity. I can see that the Hon Minister is tired, but that is the work.
Mr Speaker, the road in question is actually a 25.5kms road, stretching from Osebeng, Anum, Boso, To, Tongor to Djemeni, but in awarding
the contract, the Tongor to Djemeni section, which is a 6.6km stretch of road had been taken out. So, we have applied through the Department of Highways to the Hon Minister for the purposes of approval of that section leading to variation.
So, the interest of my people is to find out from the Hon Minister, if that approval would be given so that when the contractor returns to site, the 6.6kms stretch of road, which is the end point to the lake, would be taken care of.
Mr Amoako-Attah 5:22 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I can confirm what my Hon Colleague just mentioned. Behind the scene he has even already brought it to my attention, but I am sure that he wants to put it on official record once I am here. I can assure him that when he brought it to my attention I conferred with my technical people, and he was proven right. Even for the proper alignment of that road, that small stretch is to be added.
So, I have already given approval to that effect, and I can assure him of it. When the contractor goes back to site, I can assure him that we would do a variation order to add that 6 kilometres stretch of road. He should therefore be rest assured.
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 5:42 p.m.
Hon Members, we move to Question numbered 80, which stands in the name of the same Hon Member, the Hon Member for Asuogyaman, Hon Nyarko Ampem.
Delay in the Construction of the Akosombo-Gyakiti Road
Mr Thomas Nyarko Ampem (NDC -- Asuogyaman) 5:42 p.m.
asked the Minister for Roads and Highways what has accounted for the delay in the construction of the Akosombo -- Gyakiti road in the Asuogyaman District, and when the contractor would return to site.
Mr Amoako-Attah 5:42 p.m.
Mr Speaker, the Akosombo - Gyakiti feeder road is 24.1kms long and located in the Asuogyaman District of the Eastern Region. A 3kms section of the road is primer sealed in fair condition whereas the remaining 21.1kms is gravel surfaced and in poor condition.
Current Programme
Contract for the bitumen surfacing of the Akosombo - Adumasa - Gyakiti -- Lover Off Junction feeder road (24.1Kms)' commenced on 10th October, 2016, and was expected to
Mr Ampem 5:42 p.m.
Thank you very much, Hon Minister, for the response.
Mr Speaker, on 5th July, 2019, I filed a Question on this road, and in the Hon Minister's Answer, which is captured in column 3034 of the Hansard, he said:
“I am aware that the contractor had worked to the tune of over GH¢4 million and nothing has been paid to him yet.”
Mr Speaker, that is a section of the response the Hon Minister gave on 5th July, 2019, concerning the same road. Today, he said the contractor has abandoned the site after executing
works up to three kilometres of primer seal. Mr Speaker, does the Hon Minister think that the contractor abandoned site because of the statement he made on the payment to him?
Mr Amoako-Attah 5:42 p.m.
Mr Speaker, yes, I can testify that the contract sum for this project is around GH¢17 million, and the certified interim payment certificate (IPC) in our possession with the Road Fund Secretariat is around GH¢5 million, and it is part of the IPCs schedule for payment which is in about a week or a maximum of two weeks. Payment would be effected.
Mr Ampem 5:42 p.m.
Mr Speaker, the Hon Minister has given quite a refreshing information that a new contract would be awarded on 15th July, 2021, just two days from today.
I would want to draw his attention that from Marine, Akosombo, just about two kilometres, there is a culvert that has collapsed, and it is almost rendering the road unpassable. Those communities beyond that place risk being cut off from the rest of us.
When the contract is awarded, would the Hon Minister ensure that the contractor moves to site immediately, at least to work on that section so that communities such as
Adumasa, Gyakiti, Bekorase, Kudikope, and others are not cut off from the rest of Ghana?
Mr Amoako-Attah 5:42 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I am very sure that since the contractor has the responsibility to work on that road, what the Hon Member complained about would obviously be part of the scope of work for the contractor.
Any contractor on any road anywhere has the responsibility to make the road motorable once that site has been handed over to him. What the Hon Member said is right, and it is the obvious thing to do. Therefore, the contractor going to site would have to work on any section that is problematic, and it would be treated on an emergency basis.
I can even go further to give the assurance that should the contractor even delay in going to site, and that problem cuts off some of our people or makes some areas inaccessible, the Ministry would come in itself by dispatching its Mobile Maintenance Unit to go and work on it. The Hon Member should have that assurance. There is no way any part of this country would be cut off because of such emergencies. I can assure you that.
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 5:42 p.m.
Hon Members, we move to the Question numbered 81, which is the last Question to the Hon Minister. It stands in the name of the Hon Member for Central Tongu, Hon Alexander Roosevelt Hottordze.
Kpedzegblo -- Mafi-Zongo -- Mafi-Agorve Road
Mr Alexander Roosevelt Hottordze (NDC-- Central Tongu) 5:42 p.m.
asked the Minister for Roads and Highways why the contractor on the Kpedzegblo -- Mafi -- Zongo - - Mafi-Agorve Road left site.
Mr Amoako-Attah 5:42 p.m.
Mr Speaker, the Kpedzeglo-Mafi Zongo-Mafi Agorve road is 17.5kms. It is an earth road in poor condition and located in the Central Tongu District of the Volta Region.
Current Programme
The first 9.5kms of the road was awarded for bitumen surfacing. The works commenced on 2nd January, 2017, for completion on 2nd January, 2018. The contractor vacated the site after vegetation clearing and formation of the road. Warning letters have been issued to the contractor to return to site failure of which the necessary processes will be initiated to terminate the contract.
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 5:52 p.m.
Hon Member, do you have any supplementary question?
Mr Hottordze 5:52 p.m.
Mr Speaker, the Hon Minister indicated that warning letters have been issued after the date of completion of this project elapsed in 2018. I would want to find out from him if the contract has since been terminated and re-awarded after the issuing of the warning letters to the contractor?
Mr Amoako-Attah 5:52 p.m.
Mr Speaker, there are two contractors involved in the execution of this project - they are CNF Company Limited and Greenhouse International Development Ghana Limited. In both instances, my answer with regard to the warning letters was that condition precedents were attached. I said that warning letters had been issued to them as part of the initial processes and failure of which the contract would be terminated.
So, there is a caveat. When we issue such warning letters, there are time limits and the technical people follow very closely on that. Normally, we issue first and second warning letters before we terminate contracts. We are keeping an eye on those timelines and I could assure the Hon
Member that if the contractors do not cede to the admonishing contained in the warning letters, we shall do what is supposed to be done.
Mr Hottordze 5:52 p.m.
Mr Speaker, could the Hon Minister tell me exactly the timeline within which these warning letters are to be issued, when they are to be complied with and when the Ministry is supposed to take action to ensure that the contractor returns to site?
Mr Amoako-Attah 5:52 p.m.
Mr Speaker, in all these matters I am not unconscious of the fact that time is of great essence. I am convinced that we normally allow an intervening period of about two weeks with two warning mandatory letters and within a maximum of four weeks, we should be in a positon to terminate the contract. I know that the first warning letter has been issued so we are left with an average of about two weeks after which if they do not go to site both contracts would be terminated.
Mr Hottordze 5:52 p.m.
Mr Speaker, this same contract was supposed to be completed in 2018 and if the Hon Minister said it takes between two and four weeks for warning letters to be issued and contractors to comply with immediate effect, we are in 2021 and
I cannot see my way clear. Does the Hon Minister mean that ever since these warning letters were issued, this contractor has still not complied to enable the Ministry to move forward?
Mr Amoako-Attah 6:02 p.m.
Mr Speaker, when such projects are examined, perhaps, we do not only have to look at the years otherwise, this project even started in 2016. A contractor could work on a project and might not have abandoned site but work would not progress as expected because of his capacity.
However, if it gets to a point when warning letters have to be issued, then it would be when the contractor might have either vacated site or stopped work completely. So, even though we might look at it from 2016 and 2017 and expect it to be completed in 2018 -- sometimes, if we examine it properly, the contractor might have been on site all along but the road length is long so he did not work as expected.
When it comes to the time of taking concrete action already, some time might have elapsed but the most important thing is that we have come to a point where action is being taken.
Mr Kobena Mensah Woyome 6:02 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I have a particular interest in this question because a particular road that the Hon Minister is aware of; the Agave-Afedome road was mentioned being the 21-kilometre road which was also equally abandoned and he has been here two years ago and assured myself and the community that it would be done. Till today, we have not seen anything.
So, we would want to ask what actually accounted for the contractor's vacation from the road construction; why they vacated the job?
In fact, it was stated here that the contractor vacated the site after vegetation and clearing.
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 6:02 p.m.
Hon Member, what is the question, please?
Mr Kobena Mensah Woyome 6:02 p.m.
Mr Speaker, the question is, per the statement here, the contractor vacated the site after vegetation clearing and formation of the road and I am sure similar thing happened on the Agave- Afedome road.
What accounted for that action of the contractor? Could the Minister furnish the House on what went into that after the engagement with the contractor?
Mr Amoako-Attah 6:02 p.m.
Mr Speaker, as I mentioned a short while ago and we all know, contracts are between parties and contracts specify terms, obligations and conditions. Every contract is determined by the agreed obligations of parties. Road contracts are between contractors and the Government, as the employer. So, each of them has his own duties, responsibilities and obligations to discharge.
A contract can be determined if a party fails to discharge his side of the obligations. So, it could be the fault
of the contractor or the fault of the employer. So, I cannot specify any one reason work delayed. It could be the fault of the contractor; the contractor might have won the contract but moving to the site, he might not have had the required capacity to execute the work.
This could be due to a number of reasons or it could be on the part of the Government as an employer but whatever is the situation, once a party fails to discharge its side of the obligation, the contract obviously would be determined.
I thank you, Mr Speaker.
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 6:02 p.m.
Hon Members, we have brought Question time to a close. Hon Minister, we thank you very much; you have been here to answer 12 separate Questions. We are grateful to you for attending upon the House.

Yes, Hon Majority Chief Whip?
Mr Annoh-Dompreh 6:02 p.m.
Mr Speaker, with your leave, may we take the Order Paper Addendum and I would
Minister for Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs (Mr Ebenezer Kojo Kum) 6:02 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I wish to seek your leave to withdraw the Term Loan Agreement between the Government of the Republic of Ghana (acting through the Ministry of Finance) and the National Investment Bank Limited for an amount of twenty-eight million United States dollars (US$28,000,000) to finance the Purchase of Vehicles for Members of the Eighth Parliament of Ghana
(2021--2024).
Mr Speaker, I also seek your leave to withdraw the Term Loan Agreement between the Government of the Republic of Ghana (acting through the Ministry of Finance) and the National Investment Bank Limited for an amount of three million, five hundred thousand United States dollars (US$3,500,000) to finance the Purchase of Vehicles for Members of the Eighth Council of State
(2021--2024).
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 6:02 p.m.
Hon Members, the leave is granted; Papers accordingly withdrawn.
Mr Annoh-Dompreh 6:02 p.m.
Mr Speaker, we would now seek your indulgence again for the same Minister to do the laying.
PAPERS 6:02 p.m.
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 6:02 p.m.
Yes, Hon Leader?
Mr Annoh-Dompreh 6:02 p.m.
Mr Speaker, we can now go on to the main Order Paper and take the item numbered 8; Presentation of Papers, item numbered 8 (c) on page 4.
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 6:02 p.m.
Yes, the Hon Minister for Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs?
By the Minister for Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs --
Budget Performance Report in respect of the Ministry of Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs for the period January to December, 2020.
Referred to the Committee on Youth, Sports and Culture.
Mr Annoh-Dompreh 6:12 p.m.
Mr Speaker, we can take item numbered 8 (f) on page 5. I beg to seek your leave for the Hon Minister for Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs to do the needful.
By the Minister of Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs (Ebenezer Kojo Kum) (on behalf of the Minister for Defence) --
Budget Performance Report in respect of the Ministry of Defence for the period January to December, 2020.
Referred to the Committee on Defence and Interior.
Mr Annoh-Dompreh 6:12 p.m.
Mr Speaker, item numbered 8 (d) (ii).
Again, with your leave, the Hon Minister for Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs to lay the Report on behalf of the Minister for Trade and Industry.
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 6:12 p.m.
Hon Members, item numbered 8 (e) (ii)?
By the Minister of Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs (Ebenezer Kojo Kum) on behalf of (the Minister for Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation) --
Annual Statement by the Audit Committee of the Ministry of Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation for the year 2020.
Referred to the Committee on Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation)
Mr Annoh-Dompreh 6:12 p.m.
Mr Speaker, with your kindness, I had sought for your leave for the laying of item numbered 8 (d) (i) and (ii). I get the sense that we only laid one of them.
By the Minister for Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs (Ebenezer Kojo Kum) on behalf of (the Minister for Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation) --
Mr Annoh-Dompreh 6:12 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I believe we can now take item numbered 8 (a) (ii) to (v). So, we exclude the first one. With your indulgence, the Hon Deputy Majority Leader will lay them.
By the Deputy Majority Leader (Alexander Afenyo-Markin) on behalf of (the Majority Leader) --
(ii)Public Procurement Perfor- mance Assessment Report in respect of Parliamentary Service for the year 2019.
(iii) Budget Performance Report in respect of the National Labour Commission for the period of January to December, 2020.
Referred to the Committee on Constitutional, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs.
Mr Annoh-Dompreh 6:12 p.m.
Mr Speaker, may I draw your attention to the first referral on (ii)? It was not clear and I do not know -- May I know the Committee --
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 6:12 p.m.
It is referred to the Committee on Employment, Social Welfare and State Enterprises.
(iv) Budget Performance Report in respect of the Electoral Commission for the period of January to December, 2020.
Referred to the Committee on Special Budget.
(v)Annual Report and Audited Accounts of the Public Utilities Regulatory Commi- ssion for the year 2019.
Referred to the Committees on Mines and Energy and Works and Housing.
Mr Annoh-Dompreh 6:12 p.m.
Mr Speaker, we can now take the item numbered 8 (d) on page 5 from (i) to (vi). I seek your leave for the Hon Deputy Minister for Local Government Decentralisation and Rural Development to do the laying.
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 6:12 p.m.
Very well.
Page 5 (i)?
By the Deputy Minister for Local Government, Decentralisation and Rural Development (Mr Osei Bonsu Amoah) on behalf of (the Minister for Local Government Decentra- lisation and Rural Development) --
(i) Budget Performance Report in respect of the Ministry of Local Government, Decen- tralisation and Rural Development for the period of January to December,
2020.
(ii) Annual Statement by the Audit Committee of the Techiman North District Assembly for the year 2020.
(iii)Annual Statement by the Audit Committee of the La Dade Kotopon Municipal Assembly for the year 2020.
(iv)Annual Statement by the Audit Committee of the Ledzokuku Municipal Assembly for the year 2020.
(v)Annual Statement by the Audit Committee of the Oforikrom Municipal Assembly for the year 2020.
(vi)Annual Statement by the Audit Committee of the Tano North Municipal Assembly for the year 2020.
Referred to the Committee on Local Government Decentra- lisation and Rural Development.
Mr Annoh-Dompreh 6:12 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I believe we can now take item numbered 8 (e) on page 5. With your kind indulgence, the Hon Minister for Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs to lay it.
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 6:12 p.m.
We have already taken that of (i) and (ii).
Mr Annoh-Dompreh 6:12 p.m.
Mr Speaker, we have not.
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 6:12 p.m.
Hon Member, we have already taken those two.
Mr Annoh-Dompreh 6:12 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I am referring to item numbered 8 (e).
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 6:22 p.m.
We have laid the item numbered 8(e) (i) and (ii).
Mr Annoh-Dompreh 6:22 p.m.
Mr Speaker, we can now take the item numbered 8(b) on page 4 of the Order Paper. Mr Speaker, with your indulgence and the ever-dependable cooperation of the Hon Deputy Minority Leader, if we can allow the Minister for Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs to lay the Papers on behalf of the Hon Minister for Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration.
By the Minister for Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs (Mr Ebenezer K. Kum) (MP) on behalf of (the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration) --
(i)Host Country Agreement for the Establishment of a Branch Office of the Mastercard Foundation in Accra, Ghana.
(ii)Budget Performance Report in respect of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration for the period of January to December, 2020.
Referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs.
Mr Annoh-Dompreh 6:22 p.m.
Mr Speaker, we can now take item numbered 8(g) and with your indulgence the Hon Minister for Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs would lay the Paper on behalf of the Hon Minister for Trade and Industry.
By the Minister for Chieftaincy and Rel igious Affairs (Mr Ebenezer K. Kum) (MP) on behalf of (the Minister for Trade and Industry) --
Budget Performance Report in respect of the Ministry of Trade and Industry for the period of January to December, 2020.
Referred to the Committee on Trade and Tourism.
Mr Annoh-Dompreh 6:22 p.m.
Mr Speaker, we would now take item 8(h) and with your kind indulgence the Hon Minister for Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs would lay the Paper on behalf of the Hon Minister for Finance.
By the Minister for Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs (Mr Ebenezer K. Kum) (MP) on behalf of (the Minister for Finance) --
(i) Budget Performance Report in respect of the Ministry of Finance for the period January to December, 2020.
(ii)Annual Statement by the Audit Committee of the Social Security and National Insurance Trust (SSNIT) for the Year 2020.
(vi)Annual Statement by the Audit Committee of the National Insurance Commi- ssion for the Year 2020.
Referred to the Finance Committee.
Mr Annoh-Dompreh 6:22 p.m.
Mr Speaker, we would now take item numbered
8(i) and the Hon Minister for Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs would lay the Paper on behalf of the Hon Minister for Health.
By the Minister for Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs (MR Ebenezer K. Kum) (MP)
(i) Annual Statement by the Audit Committee of the Juaben Government Hospital for the Year 2020.
(ii)Annual Statement by the Audit Committee of the School of Anaesthesia and Critical Care, Ridge, Accra for theYear 2020.
(vii) Annual Statement by the Audit Committee of the Tamale Teaching Hospital for the Year 2020.
(viii) Annual Statement by the Audit Committee of the Food and Drugs Authority for the Year 2020.
Referred to the Committee on Health.
Mr Annoh-Dompreh 6:22 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I believe we have exhausted business for today so I beg to move

that the House is adjourned till tomorrow at 2.00 p.m.
Mr Avedzi 6:22 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I beg to second the Motion for adjournment till tomorrow at 2.00 p.m.
ADJOURNMENT 6:22 p.m.
  • The House was accordingly adjourned at 6.31 p.m. till Wednesday, 14th July, 2021 at 2.00 p.m.