Debates of 14 Jul 2021

MR SPEAKER
PRAYERS 3:54 p.m.
VOTES AND PROCEEDINGS AND THE OFFICIAL REPORT 3:54 p.m.
Mr Speaker 3:54 p.m.
Hon Members, item numbered 4, correction of Votes and Proceedings and the Official Report. We would start with the correction of Votes and Proceedings of Tuesday, 13th July, 2021.
Page 1…4 --
Mr Joseph Osei-Owusu 3:54 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I noticed that on page 4, item numbered 159, under Members marked present is Hon Osei Kyei- Mensah-Bonsu, Member of Parliament for Suame. Mr Speaker, I know that the Hon Majority Leader was absent with permission but he has been marked present. I think that the records should be corrected.
Mr Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa 3:54 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I would need your guidance on item numbered (g), the Term Loan Agreement that was laid by the Hon Minister for Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs. It indicates under item numbered (g) (i) that the tenure of the Members of the Eighth Parliament is from 2021 to 2024. However, it should be 2021 to 2025 because our tenure expires at midnight on 6th January, 2025 and not 2024.
I do not know if the error is from the Term Loan Agreement or the Paper that was laid, and that is why it has been captured this way. Our tenure is 2021 to 2025, so we should take note of that.
Mr Speaker 3:54 p.m.
Well, the Table Office would check from the document. If that is what is on the document, then it is properly captured but if it is up to 2025, kindly make the correction.
Page 15…18 --
Mr Ablakwa 3:54 p.m.
Mr Speaker, on item numbered 2 (xiv), my distinguished Colleague appears to have been demoted. It should be “Dr
Dominic Akurintinga Ayine”. It appears he has been demoted.
Mr Speaker 4:04 p.m.
He is not a Mister but a Doctor.
Table Office, please we are not qualified to reduce people's ranks.
Page 19, 20 --
rose
Mr Speaker 4:04 p.m.
Yes, Hon Member?
Mr Ablakwa 4:04 p.m.
Mr Speaker, consistent with the correction on “Dr Ayine”, item numbered (iv) on paragraph 2, it should be ‘Dr Zanetor Agyeman-Rawlings'.
Mr Speaker 4:04 p.m.
Table Office, kindly take note.
Page 21 --
Mr B. T. Baba 4:04 p.m.
Mr Speaker, on page 21, Committee on Defence and Interior, paragraph 2 (vii), ‘Benson' has been spelt as ‘Benso' [Laughter] This is the second or third time, so the Table Office would have to look at it.
Mr Speaker 4:04 p.m.
Table Office, you make this the last time. It is ‘Benson' and not ‘Benso'.
Mr Ablakwa 4:04 p.m.
Mr Speaker, paragraph 2 (iv), ‘Dr Zanetor Agyemang-Rawlings' should be corrected, ‘Dr Zanetor Agyeman- Rawlings'.
Mr Rock-Nelson E. K. Dafeamekpor 4:04 p.m.
Mr Speaker, on the same paragraph, it would be noted the name of the Hon Member for Ashaiman, Ernest Henry Norgbey appears twice. It is on items numbered (viii) and (xii).
Mr Speaker 4:04 p.m.
Table Office, you have repeated the Hon Member's name. Please, delete one.
Page 23 --
Mr Dafeamekpor 4:04 p.m.
Mr Speaker, item numbered 3 (xi) and (xii), the names are ‘Mr Lawrence Adjei Agyapong', and ‘Mr Oppong- Yeboah Kojo'. They are not misses. They are my classmates and I know them very well.
Mr Speaker 4:04 p.m.
Table Office, take note. They are gentlemen and not ladies.
Page 23 --

Speaker, you may indulge me to take us to pages 12, 13, 14 and 15. All of these contain the nomenclature for the ‘Ministry of Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs', as “Ministry of Chieftaincy and Traditional Affairs”. The correct rendition is “Ministry of Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs”.
Mr Speaker 4:04 p.m.
Table Office, kindly take note.
Mr Ablakwa 4:04 p.m.
Mr Speaker, on page 22, item numbered 3 (vii) “Mr Yaw Owusu-Achiaw”. “Yaw Owusu” cannot be one word. It should be corrected accordingly.
Mr Speaker 4:04 p.m.
Hon Members, page 24. [Pause] -- Hon Members, in the absence of any further corrections, the Votes and Proceedings of the 27th Sitting of the Second Meeting of the First Session of the Eighth Parliament held on Tuesday, 13th July, 2021 as corrected, is hereby adopted as the true record of proceedings.
Hon Members, now we would go to the Official Report of Tuesday, 8th June, 2021. Any corrections?
Mr Ablakwa 4:04 p.m.
Mr Speaker, at column 016, the last paragraph, the name of the construction firm working on the Abutia-Juapong Road, which
is in my Constituency, is ‘Bolton Properties Limited' and not ‘Rotten Properties Limited' as has been captured here.
Mr Speaker 4:04 p.m.
Table Office, kindly take note. Hon Members, any further corrections?
Mr Kofi Iddie Adams 4:04 p.m.
Mr Speaker, on the cover page, item numbered 3, on the third line ‘…price required to complete full scope of woks…' The word “works” is not correctly spelt.
Mr Speaker 4:04 p.m.
Table Office should take note.
Mr Speaker, on the second page of the cover page, ‘…an inspection visit to monitor the construction of Regional Integrated Composting…' It should be Regional Integrated Recycling and Compost Plant
(IRECOP).
Mr Speaker 4:04 p.m.
Table Office, kindly take note.

Hon Members, in the absence of any further correction, the Official Report of Tuesday, 8th June, 2021 is hereby adopted.

Hon Members, I have an indication from Leadership that they want to move a Motion.

4. 14 p.m.
Mr Afenyo-Markin 4:04 p.m.
Mr Speaker, as I earlier indicated, we need your leave to vary the order of Business take the Order Paper Addendum, and proceed with the item numbered one.
Mr Speaker 4:04 p.m.
Hon Members, the order of Business is varied accordingly in accordance with Standing Order 53 (2). So, we would go on to the Order Paper Addendum.
Yes, Hon Suhuyini?
MOTIONS 4:04 p.m.
Mr Suhuyini Alhassan Sayibu (NDC--Tamale North) 4:04 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I rise on Standing Order 78 (a), which reads, and with your permission I quote:
“Unless any Order otherwise provides, notice shall be given of any motion which it is
proposed to make, except the following --
(a)a motion relating to contempt of Parliament;…”
Mr Speaker, I rise on this Motion to pray you to exercise your powers under Standing Order 27, which also reads, and with your permission I quote:
“Notwithstanding anything contained in these Orders, Mr Speaker may refer any questions of privilege to the Committee of Privileges for examination, investigation and report.”
Mr Speaker, I therefore call on you to exercise your powers under Standing Order 27 to refer the Hon Ken Ohene Agyapong, whose act and conduct continue to affront the dignity of Parliament and bring it into disrepute as captured under Standing Order 30 (2), which with your permission I quote:
“The following acts or conduct shall constitute a breach of privilege or contempt of Parliament.
(2) Any act or omission which affronts the dignity of Parliament or which tends either directly, or indirectly to
Mr Suhuyini Alhassan Sayibu (NDC--Tamale North) 4:04 p.m.
bring the name of Parliament into disrepute.”
Mr Speaker, my basis is on the conduct of the said Hon Member on his own television network, which has caused another network; Joy FM, to refer him to the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) for investigation.
Mr Speaker, the letter from Multimedia to the CID quotes what he said on his show. I also have a copy of the said programme as attached to the petition that was sent to the CID. This letter by Multimedia is dated 13th July 2021, where he is copiously referred to as the Hon Chairman of the Committee of Defence and Interior.
Mr Speaker, for those utterances to be attributed to the Hon Chairman of a Committee of this House, I think that it calls for the attention of this House. This is because for the Hon Chairman of the Committee of Defence and Interior to go public and urge that the President, who is the Commander-in-Chief should beat people and physically assault them is unfortunate.
He said that if he were the President of Ghana, he would have ensured that the said journalist, Mr Erastus Asare Donkor, is beaten mercilessly. He said that in fact, Mr
Erastus Asare Donkor should be beaten seriously. And this comes in the wake of another such utterances that he made in relation to Ahmed Suale, which in the view of some people, led to the identity of Ahmed Suale being compromised, and him being eventually murdered.

So, Mr Speaker, I urge you to exercise your powers under Standing Order 27, and refer this conduct of the Hon Member, which is becoming unacceptable, to the Privileges Committee to ascertain the veracity of the comments that were made, and recommend sanctions if possible, that would act as deterrent for future outings of the Hon Member and other Hon Members, who may be tempted to act like him.

Mr Speaker, I thank you for the opportunity.
Mr Speaker 4:04 p.m.
Hon Members, this Motion as rightly stated comes under Standing Order 78 (a), and I add that it being an interruption, is also covered under Standing Order 91 (b). This is because interruptions are matters of point of order. So, to interrupt the work flow of the House, one would
need to refer to that Standing Order too, and it deals with matters of privilege suddenly arising. As to whether this matter suddenly arose is an issue, but the House's attention is drawn to the conduct of one of our Hon Members, and under Standing Order 27, which I would want to quote in extenso, it says:
“Notwithstanding anything contained in these Orders Mr Speaker may refer any questions of privilege to the Committee of Privileges for examination, investigation and report.”
It says:
“Notwithstanding anything contained in these Orders…” In-spite of the word “notwithstanding”,
The Hon Speaker is given the discretion, and in the Standing Order it says:
“…may refer any questions of privilege…”
I think that is why the Hon Member is seeking my intervention to refer the matter to the Privileges Committee. This is my first time of hearing this matter.
As it is now, I am compelled to refer it to the Privileges Committee. [Hear! Hear!] It is a matter that the Privileges Committee would have to look into and report to the House, then it would be for the House to decide whether the Hon Member is contemptuous of the House.
Hon Members, I can easily identify Hon Members who interrupt others from their speeches and their voices, and I do not want to name any Hon Member because the consequences are grave. In the circumstances, I direct that this matter be referred to the Committee on Privileges for investigation and report to the House. I so direct.
Hon Members, we would now go back to the Order Paper Addendum.
Yes, Hon Deputy Majority Leader?
Mr Afenyo-Markin 4:24 p.m.
Mr Speaker, the practice is that when you are addressing us, we must patiently be seated to hear you.
Mr Speaker, without attempting to go into your ruling by way of praying for a rescission, may I draw your attention to the fact that the practice and the rules of this House are clear that a prima facie case needs to be established, the prima facie case in
Mr Ahmed Ibrahim 4:24 p.m.
Mr Speaker, as Hon Leaders in the House, we must assist the Chair in maintaining order. The Hon Deputy Majority Leader, who asked for procedure and rules of the game, is aware that per Standing Order 98, the ruling of the Chair is not subject to debate.
Mr Speaker, you have ruled and directed the Motion that has been brought to the attention of the House to the Privileges Committee. Under which rule and by what authority did the Hon Deputy Majority Leader make a comment after the Chair had ruled?
If he wants to go by that tangent, there can be no order in this House. Once the Chair has ruled, we must allow the referral to the Privileges Committee to consider and bring their report to the House after which both Sides would have the opportunity to contribute to the Motion on the Floor. Other than that, he has no authority to make any rendition unless he wants to come by a substantive Motion.
Mr Speaker 4:24 p.m.
The Committee will go into this matter, and report to the House. I would want to emphasise that it is the House that would take the decision; it is not the Speaker or any other person. That would be your collective wisdom that would come to the conclusion whether what is alleged is just a mere allegation or it is supported by facts, and whether they really constitute contempt of the House - an abuse of privileges of Hon Members.
It is important for me to emphasise here that the privilege and immunity of free speech applies in full force in plenary and in Committee sessions, not when Hon Members are outside
debating issues or on radio or television. You do not have that right, privilege or immunity to just say anything because you are an Hon MP. We are not above the law.
It is for good reason, because you represent a large number of people, you should be given the full immunity to say what the people say they want you to say. That is why you say it here, and you are covered. That immunity does not extend to you in the market square or anywhere to just say anything because you are an Hon Member of Parliament. It does not apply at all.
The Committee should go into the matter, and submit a report. I would want to urge the House to do this as a House because it is something that affects the whole House including all Hon Members, and to me as the Speaker, the representative of the House. When it deals with the image, or the majesty and reputation of the House, I have an interest.
I am happy that the Committee is chaired by no less a person than the Hon First Deputy Speaker. I have confidence in him, and I know that he will do the right thing.
With this, we end the matter here and move on to the Order Paper Addendum.
At the Commencement of Public Business -- Presentation of Papers. The following Papers are to be presented.
Item numbered 1(i) to 1(iii) -- by the Chairman of the Committee.
PAPERS 4:24 p.m.
Mr Speaker 4:34 a.m.
Leadership, I think we could now go to the original Order Paper.
Mr Frank Annoh-Dompreh 4:34 a.m.
Exactly so, Mr Speaker.
Mr Speaker 4:34 a.m.
Hon Members, we would now go back to the original Order Paper and start with the item numbered 5 -- Question. I hope we
have the Minister for Education in the House?
We would start with Question numbered 59 which stands in the name of the Hon Member for Amenfi West; Hon Eric Afful.
Hon Member, you may now ask your Question.
ORAL ANSWERS TO 4:34 a.m.
QUESTIONS 4:34 a.m.
MINISTRY OF EDUCATION 4:34 a.m.
Mr Eric Afful (NDC- Amenfi West) 4:34 a.m.
Mr Speaker, I beg to ask the Minister for Education the plans the Ministry had to reduce the gap of pupil/teacher ratio among urban and rural Basic Schools in Ghana.
Minister for Education (Dr Osei Yaw Adutwum) [MP]: Mr Speaker, the pupil/teacher ratio in our schools, most especially at the Basic level is improving as information from our EMIS data indicates that, the total PTR (KG-JHS) in 2018/2019 was 24 and has improved in 2019/2020 to 21. However, the gap between the urban and rural areas can be mainly
attributed to teacher deployment and provision of school infrastructure.
The difference in opportunities between urban and rural communities has always existed, affecting teacher deployment in rural areas. In relation to these challenges, the Ministry and Ghana Education Service (GES) has introduced interventions to bridge the disparity in teacher deployment.
The Ministry of Education through the GES has come up with measures to address issues around the posting of teachers to deprived areas. These measures include:
The introduction of a Deprived Area Allowance Scheme, to incentivise the deployed teachers to deprived areas and retain them, has been discussed for a long period of time. In reviewing the teacher deployment and transfer strategy for Gallop, the introduction of a Deprived Area Allowance, equal to 20 per cent of the teacher's salary, was revisited. The allowance would be exclusively given to teachers willing to undertake a posting for at least two years in a classified deprived area. The allowance would be paid out on a monthly basis and part of the standard salary rate.
On accommodation for Teachers in Deprived Areas, the Ministry of Education is aware of challenges with teacher accommodation especially in deprived areas. The Ministry and Ghana Education Service have therefore made efforts to provide accommodation for some teachers in some deprived schools and communities. However, this is not adequate to accommodate the teachers, therefore the District Assemblies through their mandates are also assisting such teachers to make available housing facilities to make their stay in such communities more favourable.
Study Leave with Pay for Teachers in Deprived Areas: For a teacher to be qualified for study leave with pay, the teacher must have completed three years of service. This implies that teachers are qualified in their fourth year of service. In order to qualify for study leave with pay, for teachers in deprived areas, two completed years of service need to be fulfilled, implying that teachers in deprived areas are qualified already in their third year of service.
Continuous Professional Development for Teachers in
Deprived areas
The National Teaching Council has introduced a point-based Continuous
Mr Speaker 4:34 a.m.
Hon Member, any supplementary questions?
Please, Hon Members, there is too much movement on my Left side.
Mr Afful 4:34 a.m.
Mr Speaker, going through the Answer by the Hon Minister, the last sentence reads, if I may quote it:
“However, the gap between the urban and rural areas can be mainly attributed to teacher deployment and provision of school infrastructure.”
Mr Speaker, I am more interested in teacher deployment. I would like to ask the Hon Minister, why is it that, the policy which is associated with the posting of teacher trainees, has been changed by the Ministry?
Mr Speaker, I ask this because before 2017, newly trained teachers were posted from the Headquarters of GES to the Regional Directorates, to the District Directorates for them to know the areas that need teachers; but this time they are posted directly from the GES Headquarters right to the schools which means that they may not know what is happening at the various schools so, I ask, why that change in policy?
Dr Adutwum 4:34 a.m.
Mr Speaker, the change in policy is calculated at addressing a major challenge. And my Hon Colleague did not say that the pupil/teacher ratio years back was so good and as a result of the change in policy, things have worsened. No! rather, it has improved. The reason is this; When we post teachers to the regions for the regions to post them to the districts, we have a major challenge on our hands.
On the other hand, if we ask the regions to declare their vacancies and the districts to declare their vacancies then, we put it in a system, and by knowing the vacancy, we post the
teacher directly to the place that there is a vacancy, we would rather solve the problem than just sending one thousand teachers to a region and asking that they be posted. We have had these challenges before. So; on the other hand, when we know the vacancies and we post them there, we solve a greater problem than the other way round.
Mr Speaker 4:34 a.m.
Yes, Hon Member, any further supplementary questions?
Mr Afful 4:34 a.m.
Mr Speaker, I have two other questions to ask if you would permit me.
Mr Speaker, from the answer given by the Minister now, we know what is happening in this country; for somebody to sit in Accra and post teachers directly to the basic schools, I think this is a major problem we have in this country. I would like to know from the Minister that he has outlined a lot of packages in his Answer, if I may remind him, the introduction of ‘a Deprived Area Allowance Scheme'; Accommo- dation for Teachers in Deprived Areas; Study Leave with Pay for Teachers in Deprived Areas and lastly, Continuous Professional Develop- ment for Teachers in Deprived Areas. My question is, all these things are
geared towards motivating teachers to go to the rural areas. And looking at what is happening, I ask the Minister if he is trying to re-introduce the Transfer Grant to teachers in the urban areas to motivate them to go and enjoy these packages?
Mr Speaker 4:34 a.m.
Yes, Hon Minister, the Hon Member is just talking about whether you would consider introducing transfer grants to teachers in the urban areas?
Dr Adutwum 4:34 a.m.
Mr Speaker, the policies we have crafted are the ones I mentioned here. And the Hon Member has brought in another suggestion.
Of course, I have always been a listening person so, I have listened to him and in future deliberations, I would look into it.
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 4:34 a.m.
Any further supplementary question, Hon Member?
Mr Ebenezer Okletey Terlabi 4:44 a.m.
Mr Speaker, I have listened to the Hon Minister and want to ask him what happened to the idea of decentralising the management of education generally in this country?
Mr Speaker 4:44 a.m.
One question at a time. You are entitled to one supplementary question.
Hon Minister, what has happened to the policy of decentralisation in the education sector?
Dr Adutwum 4:44 a.m.
Mr Speaker, my Hon Colleague may not have been in the House the last time. The Education Service Act was passed here and we decided to stand down the decentralisation of the Act. This is a House of record, so my Hon Colleague could check and know that when we were passing the Education Service Act, the House stood down the portion that dealt with decentralisation.
Mr Peter Nortsu-Kotoe 4:44 a.m.
Mr Speaker, in the Hon Minister's Answer, he mentioned that the measures put in place include the introduction of Deprived Area Allowances Scheme, accommodation for teachers in deprived areas, study leave with pay and continuous professional development.
I saw that there is one thing missing in his Answer and I would want to ask if he will consider it -- that is
accelerated promotion for teachers. Teachers in these areas sacrifice a lot. What plans has the Ministry got to accelerate the promotion of teachers in these deprived communities?
Mr Speaker 4:44 a.m.
Is the question about the Ministry considering the policy of accelerated promotion for teachers serving in deprived areas?
Dr Adutwum 4:44 a.m.
Mr Speaker, the Hon Ranking Member of my Committee is giving me a very good suggestion and I would take it into account. I work with him as he is the Ranking Member of your Committee.
Mr Edward Abambire Bawa 4:44 a.m.
Thank you very much, Mr Speaker.
In the Hon Minister's response, paragraph 1, he indicated that there has been an improvement in terms of the ratio, from 1:24 to 1:21 as at 2019/ 2020. If you look at the ideal ratio that has been given by the Educational Block Grant, it says 1:15.
We have a huge number of unemployed teachers who have come out from universities that train teachers. They are roaming around looking for places to go and teach. What is the Ministry doing to engage these trained persons to reduce the ratio from 1:21 to 1:15?
Dr Adutwum 4:44 a.m.
Mr Speaker, I think that a ratio of 1:21 is not a bad ratio at all. Around the world, some people are looking at 1:30. The issue here is not unemployment. We have employed about 90,000 teachers in the last four years. What we are looking at here is rather deployment. So, when we are looking at this average, it is great since 1:21 is highly competitive with other educational systems around the world.
The challenge we have is the unevenness in the distribution of teachers and that is what we need to confront ourselves with and not so much about the fact that we have 1:21. This is a very good number.
Mr Afenyo-Markin 4:44 a.m.
Mr Speaker, the Hon Minister has quite a number of Questions to answer. So, I would plead with my Hon Colleagues if we could allow the Hon Members who are asking the main Questions to ask their supplementary questions, so that they channel it through them. They are all constituency -- specific questions.
Mr Speaker, it is a humble application to you, so that we can make some progress. That is a humble prayer. You are here to guide proceedings and I am accordingly praying for you to look at this and consider same.
Mr Avedzi 4:44 a.m.
Mr Speaker, my Hon Colleague knows that there are a number of Questions for the Hon Minister to answer. We were supposed to start Sitting at 2 p.m. but we eventually came here at 4 p.m. What was the Majority side doing that prevented us from coming here and sitting on time? He is now directing the Speaker on what to do. Mr Speaker, I do not think that it should be allowed.
Mr Speaker 4:44 a.m.
Well, the issue you sought to address is now being worsened. You are looking for time and were pleading that your Colleagues opposite should rather reduce the number of supplementary questions. The Leadership is now rather spending the time of the Hon Minister. I think that you should allow us to move on. We would take your concerns on board, but we cannot curtail the rights of Hon Members to ask questions.
If we have to stay longer hours here, we would do so. We sometimes do not start on time because there are issues to be resolved before we come to Sit. In fact, we were at the lobby resolving some issues concerning the Business of the House and that took some time. That is why we did not commence at 2 p.m. So please, if you are able to resolve your differences and do not bring them to the lobby of
Ms Helen Adwoa Ntoso 4:54 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I would like to know from the Hon Minister whether he has received any report from the Oti Region that teachers who have been posted to the allied communities have run away from post? If yes, may I know the plans he has -- [Interruption] - - But that is the question.

If yes, may I know the plans he has to send these people back -- [Interruption] -- That is the question.
Mr Speaker 4:54 p.m.
Hon Member, this is a substantive question and not a supplementary question. You are at liberty to file that question for the Hon Minister to come and answer but now, the question has to do with the gap on pupil/teacher ratio among urban and rural basic schools in Ghana. That is the issue before us.
Mrs Ntoso 4:54 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I asked this question because it talked about the gap --
Mr Speaker 4:54 p.m.
Hon Member, do you want to challenge my ruling?
Mrs Ntoso 4:54 p.m.
Mr Speaker, can I reframe my question?
Mr Speaker, I would want to know what the Hon Minister would do about teachers who have refused to report at places where they have been posted to.
Mr Speaker 4:54 p.m.
Hon Member, this question did not talk about the gap - if you want to support her, you could ask for her views before you come in but that was not the question.
rose
Mr Speaker 4:54 p.m.
Yes, Hon Member for Pusiga; because you are a lady I cannot refuse you. [Laughter.]
Ms Laadi Ayii Ayamba 4:54 p.m.
Mr Speaker, the Hon Minister stated in his answer that there is a higher attrition rate of teachers, especially in the rural areas, and because of that the pupil/ teacher ratio is not encouraging. Would he consider the reintroduction of the “bond'' for teachers so that when they complete training college, they would have to, at least teach for five years before they could have the opportunity to do anything else?
Mr Speaker 4:54 p.m.
I did not understand the first aspect which talked about attrition rate of teachers in the rural areas but the second part is really a supplementary question.
Dr Adutwum 4:54 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I know that when allowances are paid to teachers they are required to stay in the Service, so I do not understand the reintroduction of the “bond''. I also know that anywhere a teacher is posted to, he or she has to be at that post for three years before he or she could request to be transferred and that is the Ghana Education Service Policy.
Mr Speaker 4:54 p.m.
Hon Members, we would move to Question numbered 60, which stands in the name of the Hon Member for Builsa South, Dr Clement Apaak.
Hon Member, you may ask your Question.
Supply of Kapek Scientific Mathematical Instruments
Dr Clement A. Apaak (NDC -- Builsa South) 4:54 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I beg to ask the Minister for Education if Messrs Bluegrass Group Limited had supplied 853,009 units of Kapek Scientific Mathematical Instruments (SMI) to the Ministry of Education at
an estimated cost of GH¢63,975,675.00 (unit cost of
GH¢75.00).
Dr Adutwum 4:54 p.m.
Mr Speaker, the Ministry, on 11th October, 2019, signed a contract with Messrs Bluegrass Group Limited to supply a total number of 853,009 Kapek Scientific Mathematical Instruments (SMI) prescribed by the West Africa Examination Council for Senior High Schools at a unit cost of GH¢75.00.
The contract was amended and signed by both parties on 22nd October, 2020, to extend the deadline for submission of the Mathematical Instruments to 19th January, 2021.
Messrs Bluegrass Group Limited has supplied 416,060 Scientific Mathematical Instruments to the tune of GH¢31,204,500.00 out of the total quantity to be supplied per the contract, hence breaching the contract under Section 24.1 (a) of the General Conditions of Contract (GCC). Due to this, the contract has been terminated.
Mr Speaker 4:54 p.m.
Hon Member, do you have any supplementary question?
Dr Apaak 4:54 p.m.
Mr Speaker, indeed, I have many supplementary questions.
Mr Speaker 4:54 p.m.
Hon Member, ask one supplementary question at a time. You have asked about five questions in one.
Dr Apaak 4:54 p.m.
Mr Speaker, very well. I would abide by your guidance. I would like to ask the Hon Minister when the gadgets arrived and whether they were available to students for the purpose of which the contract was signed between the Ministry and Messrs Bluegrass Group Limited?
Dr Adutwum 4:54 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I am fully aware that this is a House of record. I do not have the date with me and I do not want to give any date that I have not verified. I would verify the date and submit it to the House,
so that the record would reflect when it arrived and when they were distributed.
Dr Apaak 4:54 p.m.
Mr Speaker, could the Hon Minister tell us if the students who took their WASSCE exami- nations in August 2020, had use of the said mathematical sets?
Dr Adutwum 4:54 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I would check the timeline and as I indicated, I would submit it to the House.
Dr Apaak 4:54 p.m.
Mr Speaker, the Hon Minister is being evasive.
Mr Speaker 4:54 p.m.
Hon Member, that is not fair.
Dr Apaak 5:04 p.m.
Mr Speaker, very well, I withdraw it.
Mr Speaker, I would like to ask the Hon Minister why the contract with Messrs Bluegrass Group Limited was terminated?
Mr Speaker 5:04 p.m.
Hon Minister, yes, why was the contract terminated?
Dr Adutwum 5:04 p.m.
Mr Speaker, in my response to this Question, I indicated that they asked for extension and that was given but still they did not supply
and so, we terminated it for non- compliance.
Mr Speaker 5:04 p.m.
Yes, it is in your Answer to the Question;
Breach of the contract under section 24 (1) (a) of the general conditions of contract. Due to this, the contract has been terminated.
Yes, let me start with Hon Ablakwa and I would come to the Hon Ranking Member before I recognise the rest of you.
Yes, please?
Mr Ablakwa 5:04 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I am most grateful.
At the Appointments Committee, the Hon Nominee at the time who is now the Hon Minister told us that all the 853,009 Kapek scientific mathematical sets had arrived and were being distributed. Indeed, this House gave the Ministry a tax waiver for all the quantum of 853,009 mathematical instruments to be cleared. Can the Hon Minister reconcile his answer as we are hearing this for the first time?
The records available to this House shows that all were delivered. Can the Hon Minister reconcile what he told this House at the Speaker's Appoint-
ment Committee and what we are now being told? What accounts for the discrepancy?
Dr Adutwum 5:04 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I really do not recall ever saying during my vetting that all the items had been supplied. I did not in any way, shape or form indicate that. I do not recall that I said all the items had been supplied.
Mr Peter Nortsu-Kotoe 5:04 p.m.
Mr Speaker, in the Hon Minister's Answer, he mentioned that 416,060 scientific mathematical instruments were supplied by the company, Messrs Bluegrass Group Limited.
I would want to find out from the Hon Minister if the Ministry has any plans to ensure that the difference between the 853,009 and 416,060 is made available to WAEC?
Dr Adutwum 5:04 p.m.
Mr Speaker, unfortunately, maybe it is because of the mask, I did not hear my Hon Colleague very well.
Mr Speaker 5:04 p.m.
Hon Member, repeat your Question. He just wanted to know the efforts you are putting in place to make sure that the difference be procured and supplied.
Am I right? -- [Interruption] --
Dr Adutwum 5:04 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I would make every effort to do just that. I thank you.
Mr Speaker 5:04 p.m.
He says that he would make effort, so he is to start.
rose
Mr Speaker 5:04 p.m.
Yes, which of you is a member of the Education Committee? [Interruption] --
None? So, which of you is senior? [Interruption] --
Let me give the chance to the Hon Norgbey; I have not heard his voice recently.
Mr Ernest H. Norgbey 5:04 p.m.
Mr Speaker, first of all, I would want to know the procurement method that was used in procuring these mathematical sets. To the best of my knowledge, the market price of a standard mathematical set is about
GH¢ 7.00
Can the Hon Minister justify why the GH¢75 was used as a unit price for a mathematical set?
Mr Speaker 5:04 p.m.
So, your question is the method of procurement?
Yes, Hon Minister?
Dr Adutwum 5:04 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I believe the cost has been stated here and it was single-sourced because of the proprietary nature of the item in question. Of course, it had to go through Public Procurement Authority (PPA) approval.
Mr Yusif Sulemana 5:04 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I think I would have to put my question aside and insist on the question that my Hon Colleague asked.
What is the procurement method used in this contract? Can we justify why we are paying this huge sum of money for a mathematical set?
Mr Speaker 5:04 p.m.
The question is on the procurement method used. Do not talk about the price.
Dr Adutwum 5:04 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I probably think it is the mask. I said that it was single-sourced because of the proprietary nature of the equipment.
Mr Speaker 5:04 p.m.
Hon Minister, I did not hear the single-source but I heard about the issue of the pricing.
Yes, Hon Dafeamekpor?
Mr Dafeamekpor 5:04 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I thank you for the opportunity.
Clearly, from the Hon Minister's Answer, barely half of the instruments that we contracted the company to supply have been supplied. And from his own Answer, it appears the requisite sum has been paid because it is stated in the Answer.
My interest is that my students in South Dayi never got the benefit of receiving the first batch that was supplied prior to termination. So, I would want to ask the Hon Minister the steps he is taking to ensure that the outstanding number of mathematical sets that this House approved to be supplied are supplied so that my students in South Dayi can be given their fair share.
Mr Speaker 5:04 p.m.
This question has already been asked and answered.
Any further supplementary questions? -- [Interruption] --
Yes, Hon Edward Bawa?
Mr Edward Bawa 5:04 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I just would want to know what the
track record of Messrs Bluegrass Group Limited was because he said it was sole-sourced. What was the track record of Messrs Bluegrass Group Limited that they engaged?
Mr Speaker, he claimed they sole- sourced and they failed because per his response, the contractor did not deliver and on that basis the contract was terminated.
The question then is: what was the track record that informed your decision to sole-source to that particular company?
Dr Adutwum 5:14 p.m.
Mr Speaker, the Kapek mathematical instrument or set is used by WAEC in the other West African countries that participate in the same examination and their recommendation was that it has what makes it possible to avoid situations where other instruments may be programmed and therefore lend itself to cheating in an examination.

So, this came highly recommended by the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) and it is not so much about the track record but the equipment we needed to procure.
Mr Afful 5:14 p.m.
Mr Speaker, in the Hon Minister's Answer, he indicated that the contract was abrogated due to the inability of the contractor to supply the equipment. May I know whether there were sanctions in the contract signed with the contractor and if yes, what sanctions were given to the contractor? His failure has denied us of acquiring the mathematical sets for our students for the examination. So, if there were sanctions, which of them were meted out to the contractor?
Mr Speaker 5:14 p.m.
Hon Member, you mean sanctions against the contractor for failure to deliver? Yes, Hon Minister?
Dr Adutwum 5:14 p.m.
Mr Speaker, there were no sanctions applied but after extending it, we terminated the contract.
Mr Ebenezer Okletey Terlabi 5:14 p.m.
Mr Speaker, did I hear the Hon Minister say that they could programme the mathematical sets and that was the reason they had to buy it at that cost?
Mr Speaker 5:14 p.m.
Well, your supplementary Question is to get clarification from the Hon Minister as to whether he said they programmed the mathematical sets?
Mr Terlabi 5:14 p.m.
Mr Speaker, yes.
Mr Speaker 5:14 p.m.
Hon Minister, was that what you said?
Dr Adutwum 5:14 p.m.
Mr Speaker, the Kapek instrument is not just a mathematical set, but also comes with a calculator. So, it is a combination and consequently, the aspect that can be programmed is the calculator that is attached to it.
Mr Speaker 5:14 p.m.
Any other supplementary question?
Hon Suhuyini Sayibu?
Mr Alhassan Suhuyini Sayibu 5:14 p.m.
Mr Speaker, the Hon Minister in his Answer, says, Messrs Bluegrass Group Limited supplied 416,060 scientific mathematical instruments to the tune of GH¢31,204,500.00. I would like to find out if Messrs Bluegrass Group Limited was paid in full, the contract sum before the delivery?
Dr Adutwum 5:14 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I am not an accountant but the basic understanding I have in accounting and finance is that we do not pay someone in full before they deliver. So, I do not know that such a transaction took place such that the supplier was paid in full before delivery.
Mr Speaker 5:14 p.m.
Hon Members, we move to Question numbered 61, which also stands in the name of the Hon Member for Builsa South - Dr Clement Apaak.
Funding, Procurement and Distribution of Past Examination
Questions
Dr Clement Abas Apaak (NDC — Builsa South) 5:14 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I beg to ask the Hon Minister for Education if Government would procure and distribute past examination questions to final year students preparing to write the West African Senior High School Certificate Examinations (WASSCE) this year, 2021, and how that would be funded?
Dr Adutwum 5:14 p.m.
Mr Speaker, to help prepare the final year students of our senior high schools for the 2021 West African Senior High School Certificate Examinations (WASSCE), the Ministry has procured 446,954 past questions for the examination and it is going to be paid out of the Free Senior High School budget.
Dr Apaak 5:14 p.m.
Mr Speaker, in the Hon Minister's response to another Question on todays' Order Paper, he indicates that Messrs Kingdom Books and Stationery was the entity that was contracted to provide 446,954 past WASSCE questions at
a unit price of GH¢78. This works out to GH¢34,862,412.
May I ask the Hon Minister how the said company was selected to produce and supply the said examination questions?
Dr Adutwum 5:14 p.m.
Mr Speaker, it is a single-sourced procurement process and of course, approved by Public Procurement Authority (PPA).
Mr Speaker 5:14 p.m.
Any further supplementary questions?
Dr Apaak 5:14 p.m.
Mr Speaker, can the Hon Minister tell us why in the year 2021, the same company that supplied the same examination questions to those who wrote WASSCE in the year 2020 was given the contract by sole sourcing?
Dr Adutwum 5:14 p.m.
Mr Speaker, as it was alluded to by my Hon Colleague, the same company has the track record.
Mr Speaker 5:14 p.m.
Hon Member, your last supplementary question.
Dr Apaak 5:14 p.m.
Mr Speaker, the Hon Minister has misrepresented me. For the records, I never said the same company had the track record.
Dr Adutwum 5:14 p.m.
Mr Speaker, my Hon Colleague is a member of the Education Committee and we have not made any policy to that effect. So, it is not a policy.
Mr Speaker 5:14 p.m.
Hon Ranking Member on the Education Committee?
Mr Peter Nortsu-Kotoe 5:14 p.m.
Mr Speaker, the last sentence of the Hon
Minister's Answer said and I quote 5:14 p.m.
“The procurement will be funded from the Free Senior High School Account”.
In the 2021 Budget, I did not see any provision under Free SHS Account. Can the Hon Minister tell the House how this budgetary allocation is to be funded because there is nothing like Free SHS Account in the 2021 Annual Estimates for the Ghana Education Service or the Ministry of Education?
Dr Adutwum 5:24 p.m.
Mr Speaker, my Hon Ranking Member has been supportive of our efforts and we reviewed the budget with them. The Free SHS Policy was fully funded by the Government and so, I do not understand why he is saying that there was no Free SHS Account. There was a Free SHS Account and that is how we are funding the Free SHS programme.
Mr Speaker 5:24 p.m.
Hon Terlabi.
Mr Terlabi 5:24 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I want to ask the Hon Minister why they decided to purchase the past questions from Kingdom Books and Stationery instead of WAEC who are the producers of the questions?
Dr Adutwum 5:24 p.m.
Mr Speaker, the responses to the questions and examiners' reports are all part of the past questions and so it was not just purchasing past questions, but it was past questions, responses and the examiners reports.
Mr Speaker, some of us who attended village schools did not see past questions. Maybe, those who attended some of the best schools in the country were privy to these past questions in their libraries and were also taught by examiners and so past
questions were nothing to them; but for those of us who attended the so- called mushrooms schools, never saw past questions. Mr Speaker, so this is an opportunity for our students to have access to reports by examiners and responses to previous questions for their studies.
Mr Speaker 5:24 p.m.
I would give the last opportunity to Hon Sam George.
Mr Samuel N. George 5:24 p.m.
Mr Speaker, thank you.
Mr Speaker, in the last response by the Hon Minister, he states that it is not just the past questions, but includes the examiners reports and so on. Mr Speaker, those are the proprietary materials from WAEC and not Kingdom Books and Stationery. So, the question remains, as why did the Hon Minister not buy from those who set the questions and give the examiners' reports but rather chose to buy from a third party which is Kingdom Books and Stationery?
Mr Speaker 5:24 p.m.
Hon Minister, they want further elucidation on the question.
Dr Adutwum 5:24 p.m.
Mr Speaker, so far as I know, WAEC is not into the business of printing and binding books.
Thank you.
Mr Speaker 5:24 p.m.
Hon Members, we would move to Question numbered 64, Hon Deputy Majority Leader?
Mr Afenyo-Markin 5:24 p.m.
Mr Speaker, with your leave, may we vary the order of Business of the day and take item numbered 8?
Mr Speaker 5:24 p.m.
Hon Deputy Majority Leader, my attention was drawn to the presence of our respected Hon Minister for Trade and Industry in connection with that issue, but I thought that looking at the Answers that have been published in the Order Paper, the Hon Minister for Education should be allowed to complete answering his Questions before we move to the Hon Minister for Trade and Industry.
The Answers to the Questions are very short and so we would finish soon and give the opportunity to the Hon Minister for Trade and Industry.
Mr Afenyo-Markin 5:24 p.m.
Mr Speaker, with respect, I made the application because the intervening commu- nication gave an indication that Mr Speaker would oblige me and so that was why I made the application. However, if it is Mr Speaker's pleasure for us to proceed as normal, we would respect that.
Mr Speaker 5:24 p.m.
Hon Deputy Majority Leader, my understanding was that after we finish with Question time, you would apply for me to vary the order of Business for us to move to that item. My understanding was not that we would break during Question time, move to that item and return to Question time. I do not think that is quite neat, so let us allow the Hon Minister for Education to finish then we would handle my very good Friend, the Hon Minister for Trade and Industry.
Mr Afenyo-Markin 5:24 p.m.
Mr Speaker, this is a reputational matter. Mr Speaker, I respect procedure and pay attention to procedure. I am saying that the intervener had given that communication and insisted so perhaps the intervener did not get the right communication from your end. However, I respect it but he kept insisting that Mr Speaker would oblige for us to take that item so that the Hon Minister would continue and I even engaged the Hon Minister for Education on that.
Mr Speaker, having said so, we are in your hands and so we shall proceed accordingly, except that I did not do the wrong thing.
Mr Speaker 5:24 p.m.
Hon Members, Question numbered 62 standing in the
name of the Hon Member for Builsa South, Dr Clement A. Apaak.
Cost of Procurement of SHS Past Examination Questions
Dr Clement A. Apaak (NDC - Builsa South) 5:24 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I beg to ask the Hon Minister for Education how much it cost the State to procure 568,755 past examination questions for Senior High School students who wrote the West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) in 2020 and the source of funds for the procurement.
Dr Adutwum 5:24 p.m.
Mr Speaker, in 2020, Government through its efforts to help students amidst COVID-19 to prepare for the 2020 West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) procured 568,755 past questions for students to try their hands on before sitting for the actual examinations. The Ministry of Education contracted Messrs Kingdom Books and Stationery to supply 568,755 WASSCE past questions at a contract price of
GH¢33,641,043.75.
The procurement of these questions was funded through the Free Senior High School Account and the results of the 2020 WASSCE was tremendous when compared to the previous years' WASSCE performance.
Mr Speaker 5:24 p.m.
Hon Member, any supplementary question?
Dr Apaak 5:24 p.m.
Mr Speaker, the judgment of the performance is still up to the jury and, in any case, I would want to find out from the Hon Minister what accounted for the increase per unit of examination questions procured and supplied to students between 2020 and 2021 at 32 per cent provided by the same supplier when even textbooks have not seen a price increase?
Dr Adutwum 5:34 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I have not done any calculation to know that it is 32 per cent. I do not know where the 32 per cent is coming from?
Mr Speaker, in 2020, a total of GH¢33,641,043.75 was spent to procure 568,755 past examination questions. When you compute, it works out to GH¢59 per unit.
Dr Apaak 5:34 p.m.
Mr Speaker, in the Hon Minister's own Answer with regard to same, he indicated very clearly that in the year 2021, the Ministry procured 446,554 past examination questions at a rate of GH¢78. This works out to
GH¢34,862,412.
Mr Speaker, doing the computation, this is a quantum leap of 32 per cent. What accounts for this quantum leap procured from the same entity by the same Ministry?
Mr Speaker 5:34 p.m.
Hon Minister, it is a rehashed question, but you may answer.
Dr Adutwum 5:34 p.m.
Mr Speaker, the difference is based on the number of volumes. The number of pages in the 2021 copies is different from that of the 2020.
Mr Speaker 5:34 p.m.
Yes, Hon Ranking Member of the Committee on Education.
Mr Peter Nortsu-Kotoe 5:34 p.m.
Mr Speaker, according to the Hon Minister, in 2020, they procured 568,755 WASSCE question papers. However, this year, they are acquiring 446,954. Does that mean there is a decrease in the number of students writing the WASSCE this year?
Dr Adutwum 5:34 p.m.
Mr Speaker, it is not an indication of the decrease in the number of students sitting for the examination. Libraries across all our schools are given copies of the books. Also, since most of them have the previous ones, we added a few
Mr Speaker 5:34 p.m.
The last supple- mentary question; yes, Hon Member for Ashaiman?
Mr Ernest Henry Norgbey 5:34 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I would want to know from the Hon Minister whether the over GH¢33 million contract was also awarded based on the single sourcing procurement method?
Dr Adutwum 5:34 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I heard something about 83 million, and I do not know where that is coming from.
Mr Speaker 5:34 p.m.
He talked about the GH¢33.6 million in the Answer.
Dr Adutwum 5:34 p.m.
Mr Speaker, all right. We used the same procedure as the previous.
Mr Speaker 5:34 p.m.
Hon Members, we move to Question numbered 64, standing in the name of the Hon Member for Afram Plains North, Hon Ms Betty Nana Efua Krosbi Mensah.
Hon Members, you may now ask your Question.
Measures to tackle Teacher Deficit in the Kwahu Afram
Plains North District
Ms Betty Nana Efua Krosbi Mensah (NDC -- Afram Plains North) 5:34 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I beg to ask the Minister for Education what measures the Ministry is putting in place to tackle the teacher deficit in the Kwahu Afram Plains North District.
Dr Adutwum 5:34 p.m.
Mr Speaker, the issue of teacher deficit in deprived areas is a national challenge and does not only apply to Kwahu Afram Plains North District. EMIS data indicates that, there is inequity in the distribution of teachers across the country, implying that schools at the pre-tertiary level may be overstaffed or understaffed in some parts of the country. The inequitable distribution of teachers is caused by various reasons, including the following:
Refusal of newly-trained teachers to accept postings to deprived areas;
High attrition rate for teachers in deprived areas;
Interference in teacher deployment example: requests for reposting; and
Inadequate incentives for deployment and the retention of teachers in deprived areas.
The Ministry and Ghana Education Service are addressing these challenges and have put in place measures to make postings of teachers to these areas more attractive. The measures include the introduction of the following for teachers in deprived areas:
Deprived Area Allowance Scheme;
Accelerated Promotion for Teachers;
Accommodation for Teachers;
Study Leave with Pay for Teachers;
Continuous Professional Development for Teachers; and
Prioritised School Preference.
Mr Speaker, it is the hope of the Ministry that teachers will accept and maintain their postings to these deprived areas including the Kwahu Afram Plains North District with these new measures in place.
Ms B. N. E. K. Mensah 5:34 p.m.
Mr Speaker, the Hon Minister's response indicates that newly-trained teachers
refused postings to deprived areas such as Afram Plains North and this has resulted in over 500 teacher deficit in one district.
Mr Speaker, what are the Hon Minister's plans for indigenes of Afram Plains North who have completed various Colleges of Education in 2018, 2019 and 2020 and are willing and ready to be posted to all parts of the district to serve and bring good education to the people of Afram Plains North?
Dr Adutwum 5:34 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I get excited when my colleagues bring up questions and bring out solutions. I would be speaking to my colleague after this Question time is over.
Mr Speaker 5:34 p.m.
Hon Member, any further question?
Mr Ebenezer Okletey Terlabi 5:34 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I would want to ask the Hon Minister if he would not consider decentralising employment of teachers. If newly trained teachers are posted and they are refusing to go, does he not think decentralising to recruit teachers in communities would help fill the gap?
Dr Adutwum 5:34 p.m.
Mr Speaker, this is turning out not to be a question but a comment and good suggestion, which I accept.
Mr Thomas Nyarko Ampem 5:44 p.m.
Mr Speaker, in the second paragraph, the Minister has stated that the Ministry through the GES has put in place some measures, and he has listed a number of them. The first one is, deprived area allowance scheme.
Mr Speaker, can the Minister give us an idea of how much this allowance will be? How much would he pay a teacher in a deprived area and how soon would this be implemented?
Dr Adutwum 5:44 p.m.
Mr Speaker, before I get into trouble, I said that these are options that the GES is considering. As soon as the decision is made, I would announce it to the whole world, and I would be very happy to come to this House to announce it.
Mr Speaker 5:44 p.m.
Hon Minister, your answer did not follow from the main Answer. The main Answer reads:
“The Ministry and Ghana Education Service are addressing these challenges and have put in place measures to make postings of teachers to
these areas more attractive. The measures include the introduction of the following for teachers in deprived areas:
Deprived Area Allowances Scheme…”
Hon Minister, so the measure is in place. Now, what is the outcome of the measure? That is what the Hon Member wants to know.
Dr Adutwum 5:44 p.m.
Mr Speaker, the briefing I had from the GES is that they are in discussion with the unions and they have not come up with an amount yet. Probably, I should have rephrased it that they are considering instead of saying it is in place.
Mr Speaker 5:44 p.m.
Hon Minister, the Scheme is in place, but the amount has not been decided because there are categories of teachers, and they would not have the same allowances.
Hon Members, we would move to Question numbered 65, which stands in the name of the Hon Member for Ashaiman. Please Hon Member, you may ask your Question now.
Completion of School Buildings in Ashaiman
Mr Ernest Henry Norgbey (NPP -- Ashaiman) 5:44 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I beg to
ask the Minister for Education when the construction of the following school buildings in Ashaiman would be completed and commissioned: (i) Ashaiman No. I Junior High School (ii) Clementina Junior High School (iii) Bethel Junior High School and (iv) Presbyterian Junior High School.
Dr Adutwum 5:44 p.m.
Mr Speaker, these projects were awarded through the Ashaiman Municipal Assembly and are at various stages of completion. All contractors on the projects have abandoned site. The Ministry will therefore engage the Ashaiman Municipal Assembly together with (GETFund) to see to the early completion and commissioning of these projects for the Municipality.
Mr Norgbey 5:44 p.m.
Mr Speaker, in the Minister's Answer, he said that contractors have abandoned the site. Can the Minister tell me why the contractors abandoned their sites? [Laughter]
Dr Adutwum 5:44 p.m.
Mr Speaker, unfortunately, I cannot tell him. [Interruption]
Mr Speaker 5:44 p.m.
Hon Member, the contracts were awarded by the Ashaiman Municipal Assembly and not the Ministry. He did not say GETFund.
Mr Norgbey 5:44 p.m.
Mr Speaker, could the Hon Minister assure the people of Ashaiman by giving us timelines within which the completion and commissioning of the projects will be done?
Mr Speaker 5:44 p.m.
Hon Member, did you say completion and commissioning? The Answer of the Minister is that they will engage. They have not yet engaged the Municipality or the GETFund to see to the early completion. So, how will they tell you when it would be completed?
Mr Norgbey 5:44 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I would rephrase my question. When will the Minister engage these stakeholders for the project to be completed and commissioned?
Mr Adutwum 5:44 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I would engage my Hon Colleague, the Member of Parliament, and then we would set up a meeting with the Ashaiman Municipal Assembly and GETFund. I would sit with him in my office to go over this issue within next week. So, he should count on it that I would be talking to him.
Mr Nortsu-Kotoe 5:44 p.m.
Mr Speaker, in the Hon Minister's Answer, he said the contracts were awarded through the Ashaiman Municipal Assembly. I would like to find out from him
Dr Adutwum 5:44 p.m.
Mr Speaker, the procedure is simple. When GETFund has allocation for municipalities, the communication goes directly to the municipalities. Then the municipalities through their own Entity Tender Committees, award the contract and supervises it. So, that is the procedure. In those cases, the Ministry does not directly award the contract, but the municipality, which on the authority of GETFund in terms of the availability of funds, awards and supervises the contract.
Mr Dafeamekpor 5:44 p.m.
Mr Speaker, in an answer to a supplementary question from the Hon Member for Ashaiman, the Minister said that he cannot tell. I would want him to clarify. Is he saying that because the project was awarded by the Ashaiman Municipal Assembly, he is unable to tell or he has information but he will not give it to the House? If he says he cannot tell us, it means he has information, but he will not tell us. But if he wants to suggest or convey that he is unable to tell because the awarding agency does not fall under his supervisory Ministry, then it would be clear.
Mr Adutwum 5:44 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I do not have the information.
Mr Andrew Dari Chiwitey 5:44 p.m.
Mr Speaker, this is in line with what Hon Dafeamekpor said. I know that we cannot file Questions directly to agencies under the Ministry, and that was why the Hon Member filed the Question to this Ministry. Is the Hon Minister telling us that we should file questions directly to the Ashaiman Municipal Assembly for answers?
Mr Speaker, I would need your guidance here. We expect that the Minister in charge of the Ministry comes to the House and give us answers to Questions. If he comes and tells us that because the Ministry did not award the contract, he cannot give us answers, then Mr Speaker, how do we get answers to our questions?
Mr Speaker 5:44 p.m.
Hon Member, the subject matter is under the Ministry of Education, but the municipality is not under his Ministry. The GETFund is under his Ministry. So he gets to know that they were awarded through the municipality.
5. 54 p.m.
The information that he got is that all the contractors have abandoned site. So, he is going to engage the
Ghana Education Trust Fund (GETFund) and the municipality to try to solve the issue. That is where he is now.
Hon Member, you may not be satisfied with the answer of the Hon Minister, but that, as somebody said, is left to the jury. That is what you have to do. However, Hon Minister, if you have any further information that you would want to give, you may please do so, if not, then we would go on to the next question.
Dr Adutwum 5:44 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I do not have any information.
Mr Speaker 5:44 p.m.
Hon Members, we would move on to the Question numbered 66, which stands in the name of the Hon Member for Ashaiman, the Hon Ernest Henry Norgbey.
Hon Member, you may ask your question.
Time for Completion and Commissioning of the
Community Day School (E- Block) in Ashaiman
Community 22
Mr Ernest Henry Norgbey (NDC -- Ashaiman) 5:44 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I beg to ask the Hon Minister for
Education when the construction of the Community Day School (E- Block) situated in Ashaiman Community 22 would be completed and commissioned.
Dr Adutwum 5:44 p.m.
Mr Speaker, the project in question is part of the Phase One Community Day Senior High School Projects funded by the Government of Ghana and re- awarded to Messrs Upgrade Developers. The Ministry of Education (MoE) is committed to completing and making use of these projects and has since 2017 to date facilitated the completion and commissioning of 30No. E-Blocks across the country.
Mr Speaker, the overall progress of the Project at Michel Camp Community 22 in the Ashaiman Municipality is 70 per cent complete and the breakdown of work done is as follows:
E- Block roofed;
Door and Window Frames fixed;
Wall Plastering ongoing;
Ballustrades fixed.
The Contractor, Messrs Upgrade Developers has abandoned site and
Mr Norgbey 5:44 p.m.
Mr Speaker, is the Hon Minister aware that the Ghana Education Service placed students in the uncompleted building in the bush?
Mr Speaker 5:44 p.m.
Hon Minister, are you aware?
Dr Adutwum 5:44 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I am aware that in certain instances when the main block has been completed and certain facilities have not been completed, with the support of the municipal assembly, the Member of Parliament (MP) and other stakeholders, facilities like that may be in partial use.
Mr Norgbey 5:44 p.m.
Mr Speaker, according to the Hon Minister, the Ministry is committed to completing the said Project, and so what steps is the Ministry taking to come to that realisation, since according to the Hon
Minister, the contractor abandoned the site?
Dr Adutwum 5:44 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I would undertake some Ashaiman projects and so, I would meet with my colleague to jump-start this and make sure we complete this building for the benefit of the children of Ashaiman.
Mr Speaker 5:44 p.m.
Hon Member, your last supplementary question.
Mr Norgbey 5:44 p.m.
Mr Speaker, can the Hon Minister assure the House and for that matter the people of Ashaiman by giving us some timelines for the completion and commissioning of the said Project?
Dr Adutwum 5:44 p.m.
Mr Speaker, the time frame that I have indicated is the meeting with my colleague and other stakeholders involved in this Project, and that, I would fulfil that.
Mr Speaker 5:44 p.m.
Hon Members, we would go to the last question, which is the Question numbered 67, which stands in the name of the Hon Member for Atebubu/Amantin, the Hon Sanja Nanja.
Hon Member, you may ask your Question now.
Plans by the Ministry to Construct a Dining Hall for the
Amantin Senior High School
Mr Sanja Nanja (NDC -- Atebubu/Amantin) 5:44 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I beg to ask the Minister for Education what plans the Ministry had to construct a dining hall for the Amantin Senior High School.
Dr Adutwum 5:44 p.m.
Mr Speaker, the construction of a dining hall for the Amantin Senior High School will be programmed for implementation together with other infrastructural requests from various Senior High Schools when funding is made available.
Mr Speaker 5:44 p.m.
Hon Member, any supplementary question?
Mr Nanja 5:44 p.m.
Yes, Mr Speaker.
Mr Speaker, I would want to know if the Ministry, as a stopgap measure, would like to collaborate with the Amantin and the Nkese Community Bank to complete the dining hall project that they started in 2016, which has been stalled? [Interruption] The school does not have any dining hall structure.
Dr Adutwum 5:44 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I have already indicated that we get requests
from schools across the country, and the Amantin Senior High School would be added to the list. When the opportunity comes, I would like to make my Hon Colleague happy and so, I would add it to the list of projects which would be executed when funds are available.
Mr Speaker 5:44 p.m.
Hon Minister, his request is that there is a structure that is under construction now to serve as a dining hall which was started in 2016. Therefore, he was asking whether you would support the stakeholders to complete that structure in the meantime? That was what he was talking about.
Dr Adutwum 5:44 p.m.
Mr Speaker, GETFund can get itself involved in that, but normally, they would do the structural integrity test. When they test the building and the structural integrity is right, then it would be possible for us to take over from there and complete it.
Mr Speaker 5:44 p.m.
Hon Member, any further supplementary question?
Mr Nanja 5:44 p.m.
Mr Speaker, in the Hon Minister's last answer, he said that he would check the building to know whether it is in good shape before he supports its building. I
Mr Speaker 5:44 p.m.
Hon Member, this is a matter that you should get in touch with the Hon Minister on. He is talking about GETFund, and says the Fund could do that, but before they do that, they would have to test the structural integrity of the project. So, you should get in touch with the Ministry, discuss this, and then through your intervention it could be done faster. That is my piece of advice.
Mr Nanja 5:44 p.m.
Thank you, Mr Speaker.
Mr Speaker 5:44 p.m.
Hon Members, we may now move on to the next item, and with your kind permission, I would want to thank the Hon Minister for Education for attending upon the House and answering the questions.
Hon Minister, we are grateful, and you are hereby discharged.
Hon Members, we would now move on to the item numbered 8 on today's Order Paper -- Motion, by the Hon Chairman of the Committee. We are now on the Motion by the
Committee on Trade, Industry and Tourism.
Yes, Hon Chairman of the Committee?
MOTIONS 6:04 p.m.
Chairman of the Committee (Mr Kingsley Carlos Ahenkorah) 6:04 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I beg to move, that this honourable House adopts the Report of the Committee on Trade, Industry and Tourism on the Interim Trade Partnership Agreement between the Government of the Republic of Ghana, on one Part, and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and the Northern Ireland, on the other part.
Mr Speaker, in doing so, I present your Committee's Report.
1.0 Introduction
The Ratification of the Interim Trade Partnership Agreement between the Republic of Ghana, on one part, and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, on the other part was laid in Parliament on Monday 29th March,
2021 by the Hon Minister for Employment and Labour Relations, Mr Ignatius Baffour Awuah, on behalf of the Minister for Trade and Industry. The Rt Hon Speaker referred the Interim Agreement to the Committee on Trade, Industry and Tourism for consideration and report pursuant to article 75 (2)(b) of the 1992 Constitution and Order 159 of the Standing Orders of the House.
2.0 Acknowledgement
The Committee met with the Minister for Trade, Industry and Tourism, Mr Allan John Kwadwo Kyerematen, the Chief Director of the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Tourim and his technical team and officials of the Ministry to discuss the Agreement.
In attendance were also officials of Golden Exotic Company Limited, Pioneer Food Cannery and Volta River Estates. The Committee is grateful to them for their in-depth clarification on the Agreement.
3.0 Reference Documents
The Committee referred to the following documents during the deliberation:
i) The 1992 Constitution of the Republic of Ghana.
ii) The Standing Orders of the Parliament of Ghana.
iii) The Interim Trade Partner- ship Agreement between Ghana and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and the Northern Ireland.
iv) The Public Financial Manage- ment Act of 2016 (Act 921).
4.0 Background
Since November 2007 that Ghana and the European Union (EU) initialled the text of an interim Economic Partnership Agreement (iEPA) or Stepping Stone Agreement to constitute the legal framework for trade between Ghana and the EU, trade between Ghana and the UK had been conducted within this framework. The iEPA was formally signed by Ghana and the EU in July, 2016 and ratified by the Parliament of Ghana in August, 2016.
The need for the iEPA was based on the fact that ECOWAS and the EU had been unable to reach agreement on the text of an ECOWAS - EU Economic Partnership Agreement as required by the Cotonou Agreement. The Agreement was necessary to protect the interest of Ghanaian exporters to continue having duty free quota-free access to the EU market. With the contemplated exit of the UK
Chairman of the Committee (Mr Kingsley Carlos Ahenkorah) 6:14 a.m.
Mr Speaker, the ratification will allow this Agreement to be the legal framework for trade between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and the Northern Ireland and Ghana. Mr Speaker, there was a sad beginning of this Agreement. We knew years back that the United Kingdom (UK) was planning the European Union (EU), and so, negotiation began in
2018.
Unfortunately, by December 2020, we had not finalised the Agreement, and the UK imposed stiff sanctions on specific products which originate from Ghana. Mr Speaker, it affected profitability and the competitiveness of Ghanaian businesses. We met these traders, and they have not recovered up to this point.
Mr Speaker, there is a clear lesson to be learnt from this experience that we must project and make sure we are ahead of the board that this will not happen again. As some of the traders explained to us, it would be difficult for them to even recover because within that period where they
were not competitive, a lot of countries took their businesses, and they are struggling to recover from that. Clearly, there are a lot of lessons to be learnt.
Mr Speaker, there were very good points in this Agreement. What is really important in this Agreement is that it recognises that we would sign this legal agreement with the UK so that our efforts at economic integration in the sub-region is fundamental. That is why the text itself was taken from that Agreement. It is very important.
Mr Speaker, that must tell us that if we look at this Agreement closely, where we as a country would get an advantage would not come from an agreement with the UK; it would come from an agreement within our Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) region or within the continent. That is why for example, we must be so focused on the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA). We have talked about the advantages in it.
Even while we approve this Agreement, we have to understand that the panacea for our economic independence and freedom would never come from this Agreement with the UK. However, let me point out that this is very important because if
you look at the non-traditional export to the EU, as this Report has stated, almost 35 per cent of them go to the UK. It means that the UK market is very critical for us. That is why this Agreement is very important.
As it has been stated, one critical element has to do with trade liberalisation. There are products originating from Ghana that would be imported into the UK free of custom duties.

And Mr Speaker, clear advantage; we have to look at where we are with our industries, we have to look at the type of products we export and the value addition advantage that UK has.

So the question must really be asked about the benefits. We asked in discussions with the Ministry for the cost benefit analysis. Originally, that was not brought but when it was finally brought to us, it became obvious that in first year for example, 2021, Ghana would lose revenue to the tune of over GH¢115 million, representing 10.16 per cent of total revenue. In the coming years, the revenue that we were going to lose, were not provided and I think we have asked the Ministry to make sure that that information is forthcoming.

Mr Speaker, a point that was made was that there was cost of some fiscal adjustment in terms of support that we would get from the UK to really help cushion these losses we have talked about, which is very important. Also, very important, is that there are certain sensitive export products that we have excluded from this regime to ensure for example that we can protect our poultry industry in the agriculture sector and certain critical areas that we want to be able to be strong on.

Mr Speaker, this Agreement is very important and so we must just sign it but we must not take our eyes off the ball. For example, one of the things we asked the Ministry of Trade and Industry to do is the issue of monitoring; they should strengthen the monitoring regime to ensure that indeed, we are following the spirit and letter of this Agreement. Mr Speaker, on that note, I ask that this House approves this Agreement. Mr Speaker, I thank you very much.

Question proposed.
Mr Yusif Sulemana (NDC -- Bole/Bamboi) 6:14 a.m.
Mr Speaker, I beg to support the Motion that this House ratifies this Agreement between the UK and the Government of Ghana. The Chairman and the Ranking
Mr Speaker, this Agreement has some very important elements in it 6:14 a.m.
we are talking about regional integration as one of the elements; we are talking about tariff liberalisation; we are talking about exemption in relation to custom duties and other charges, all contained in this Agreement; we are talking about creating an avenue for us to be able to enhance our agricultural, fisheries and food security; we are talking about rules of origin in terms of what we produce within the country and where we are taking it to and what the UK produces and when it is coming to Ghana.
Mr Speaker, another very important element in the Agreement is trade defence measures, which is very important that we take note of it in this Agreement. And I am very happy that it has been captured in this Agreement.
Mr Speaker, we cannot talk about going into a contractual agreement without also looking at the issue of dispute settlements. And these have
also been captured very well in this Agreement.
Mr Speaker, also important is the issue of ratification and entry. Today, the essence of this engagement is for us to ratify this Agreement. There should be a gauge where we can also exit; it is very important in contract agreement. And this is also captured in the Agreement so that anytime that any of the countries wants to exit, there is a condition that they would have to satisfy it: they would have to give notice for at least six months before they could exit. And that for me, is comforting.
Mr Speaker, like the Ranking Member stated, in terms of cost benefit analysis, the UK stands to get more gains than we would get; however, there is the need for us to still go into this Agreement. So, when we look at the financial analysis, yes, we are losing but comparatively, we can also gain in the long run. And that is what gives us the motivation to ask that this House should ratify this Agreement.
Mr Speaker, I cannot sit without talking about some potentials that this Agreement brings. And like I have mentioned some of them, we are now going to have a situation where our local industries would be competitive. We would also benefit from protection
of sensitive industries under this Agreement. And finally, in terms of benefits, we would end up creating more jobs for our people: once our local industry is booming, that would bring about job creation.
Mr Speaker, something very important which again has been mentioned, has to do with monitoring. We cannot go into this Agreement and just allow it like that and so, the Committee recommended as one of our observations that we should put in place a monitoring framework. And what have we suggested? We have recommended to the Ministry that every six months or so, they should be able to give an update as to how this Agreement is implemented so that we are guided; where we think we are not reaping the benefit that we are supposed to get, then we can advise ourselves by triggering the exit clause in the Agreement.
Mr Speaker, with this contribution, I would like to call on the House to fully support the ratification of this Agreement because Ghana stands to benefit from it.
Mr Speaker, I thank you for this opportunity.
-- [Hear! Hear!] --
Mr Speaker 6:14 a.m.
Hon Members, let us listen to the Hon Minister. I think what has been said, shows that we agree that it is a very good Agreement and we have to ratify it, but let us listen to the Minister for Trade and Industry. He has been here since morning and I thank him for his patience all this while.
He is not a Member of Parliament; he is a Minister of State.
Yes, Hon Minister?
-- [Interruption] --
Mr Speaker 6:14 a.m.
Hon Members, you are in Parliament; this is the floor of Parliament, not a rally ground.
Minister for Trade and Industry (Mr Kwadwo Alan Kyerematen) 6:14 a.m.
Mr Speaker, I wish to express my profound gratitude to the Select Committee for the excellent collaboration between the Committee and my Ministry. I also thanked Hon Members for the bi-partisan support for this Agreement.
As has already been said by Hon Members who have spoken before, the Agreement provides an opportunity for our country to export to the UK duty-free, quota-free. And I am fully convinced that importers
Minister for Trade and Industry (Mr Kwadwo Alan Kyerematen) 6:24 a.m.
who are currently exporting to the UK, would also provide the lead for other exporters of non-traditional exports to take advantage of the UK market.
Mr Speaker, it is important to note that between 2016 and 2019, Ghana exported over 1.5 billion worth of goods to the UK. Without the benefits of this Agreement, trade would be disrupted and we would lose the benefit of this significant export value.

So, I can only end by assuring the Hon Members of this House that in implementing the Agreement, the interest of our country would be fully protected. Thank you, Mr Speaker.
Mr Speaker 6:24 a.m.
Hon Members, I think that we should conclude the debate now and then I would put the Question.
Question put and Motion agreed to.
Resolved Accordingly.
Mr Speaker 6:24 a.m.
Hon Members, we would now move on to the Resolution.
RESOLUTIONS 6:24 a.m.
Mr Kyeremateng 6:24 a.m.
Mr Speaker, I beg to move, that
WHEREAS by the provisions of article 181(5) of the 1992 Constitution the terms and conditions of any international business or economic transac- tion to which the Government of Ghana is a party shall not come into operation unless the said terms and conditions have been laid before Parliament and approved by Parliament by a Resolution supported by the votes of a majority of all Members of Parliament;
PURSUANT to the provisions of the said article 181(5) of the Constitution, and at the request of the Government of Ghana acting through the Minister responsible for Trade and Industry, there has been laid before Parliament the terms and conditions of an Interim Trade Partnership Agreement between the Government of the Republic of Ghana, on one Part, and the United Kingdom of Great
Britain and Northern Ireland, on the other part.
THIS HONOURABLE 6:24 a.m.
HOUSE HEREBY RESOLVES 6:24 a.m.
Mr Ahenkorah 6:24 a.m.
Mr Speaker, I beg to second the Motion.
Question put and Motion agreed to.
Resolved accordingly.
Mr Speaker 6:24 a.m.
Any guidance from Leadership?
Mr Afenyo-Markin 6:24 a.m.
Rightly so, Mr Speaker. May we move to item numbered 7 (h).
Mr Speaker 6:24 a.m.
Hon Members, before we do that, let me on behalf of all of you thank the Hon Minister for Trade and Industry for at least

May I say that item 7 (a) not be laid now but the practice of pre-laying should commence. Therefore the draft Standing Orders of the Parliament of Ghana, 2021, be submitted to the Subsidiary Legislation Committee for them to set in motion, the process for the pre-laying. After that, we can formerly lay the instrument before the House.

With this, I move to item numbered 7 (h) (i) to (iv) on page 4, by the Chairman of the Committee.
PAPERS 6:24 a.m.
Mr Afenyo-Markin 6:24 a.m.
Mr Speaker, item numbered 7 (f).
Mr Speaker 6:24 a.m.
Item numbered 7 (f) (i), (ii)?
By the Chairman of the Committee --
(i) Report of the Committee on Lands and Forestry on the Annual Report of the Forestry Commission for the Year
2016.
(ii)Report of the Committee on Lands and Forestry on the Annual Report of the Forestry Commission for the Year
2017.
Mr Speaker 6:24 a.m.
Any further guidance?
Mr Afenyo-Markin 6:24 a.m.
Mr Speaker, I beg to move, that this House be adjourned till tomorrow at 2 p.m.
Mr Ahmed Ibrahim 6:24 a.m.
Mr Speaker, I beg to second the Motion for adjournment.
Question put and Motion negatived.
Mr Speaker 6:34 p.m.
Hon Members, I understand why there was that shout because there is one important Statement we should have taken today -- the celebration of a day, which falls on 14th July. The Hon Member in question submitted a Statement which I duly admitted but because we did not take Statements today, we overlooked it but it is important we take it because it is one of our very important partners. The celebration is today, so I would give an opportunity to the Hon Member to make the Statement.
Mr Afenyo-Markin 6:34 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I wanted to hear you for the records that the Motion which was carried --
Mr Speaker 6:34 p.m.
The Motion was not carried. I am very clear it was not carried. I put the Question and I heard the voice vote but I did not give the ruling and so, it was arrested by a voice that drew my attention to an oversight. That is why I say I could recognise you by your voices so those of you who interrupt proceedings by some other meetings and conversations, I identify all of you but -- [Laughter] -- They have taken judicial notice of your voice so it is better for you not to talk again.
The six months' honeymoon which I gave to the House is over and I would make a Statement on it and we would apply the rules strictly according to how my Hon Colleague, the former Hon Second Deputy Speaker, Mr Joe Ghartey, used to apply the rules strictly - I could identify him in the House.
Hon Members, let us take this Statement which is to commemorate the occasion of the French National Day.
Hon Member for Ningo- Prampram, Mr Samuel Nartey George, you can make your Statement.
Mr Samuel Nartey George (NDC -- Ningo-Prampram) 6:34 p.m.
Mr Speaker, today, 14th July 2021, France celebrates its National Day. Many think that it commemorates Bastille Day, the beginning of the French Revolution in 1789. But it actually commemorates the “federation” of 1790 as decided by the constitution of the Third Republic. It celebrates national unity, the getting together of all different regions and cultures. Unity around values expressed in the motto: Liberté, Egalité, Fraternité to wit Freedom, Equality and Fraternity.
France and Ghana have a long history of Friendship. France was among the first countries to recognise Ghana as an independent sovereign state in 1957 and to establish an Embassy in Accra. These respectful and fruitful relations have never faded. They are based on shared values of democracy, freedom, human rights, solidarity and generosity.
In the past months, through the pandemic, France has proven constant support to Ghana, discreetly yet efficiently providing PCR tests and vaccines through the COVAX facility,
Ghana was the very first country to benefit.
Deeply involved in supporting Sahelian armies in the war against terrorism, France is sharing with Ghana its knowledge, experience, training and capacity building to support our readiness to keep terrorism away from our homeland.
Through investments and trade, the French government and French companies contribute to the development of a flourishing, inclusive and sustainable economy.
Ghana - France trade is in favour of Ghana and provides us with a surplus of 200 million USD; over one billion USD French investments are currently in Ghana and another 30 to 60 million USD each year are directly invested from France.
In times when gatherings are painfully disabled by a pandemic that has killed over 110,000 French, France celebrates the precious value of togetherness, where the concept of “federation” is a cornerstone: in building a united country along the centuries, in building Europe for over 60 years and in building a multilateral world where each country has a voice.
As France celebrates her National Day, I urge this honorable House to
express its commitment to support France's efforts for a healthier, stronger, safer Ghana and a more peaceful and equal world.
Long live France!
Long live Ghana!
Long live the Ghana-France friendship!
Mr Speaker 6:34 p.m.
Hon Members, this is a Statement under Order 71. The Order is very silent about comments but we may allow contributions and I could only take one contribution from each Side of the aisle.
Yes, Hon Ranking Member for the Foreign Affairs Committee?
Mr Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa (NDC -- North Tongu) 6:44 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I am most grateful for the opportunity to contribute to the Statement which has been eloquently delivered by the Hon Member of Parliament for Ningo-Prampram, a Statement to commemorate the French National Day.
Mr Speaker, Ghana and France have long standing bilateral relations that dates back to pre-independence. We have maintained that cordiality in many aspects of our likes in trade,
education, culture, tourism, politics, et cetera and it is virtually impossible to separate Ghana and France relations. We have forged partnerships, collaborated at the international stage and France has been a very strong ally to our country.
Mr Speaker, we are a country that cannot ignore the influence of France and all around us, our neighbours share strong colonial ties with France. We are surrounded by French speaking neighbours and we have our own Anglophone heritage. That notwithstanding, we know that it is important to work on our interest in the French language and that is why French remains one of the important second languages that is taught in our schools.
Mr Speaker, because of the very strong bond that we share with France, we are proud to assert our membership of La Francophone and we were gladly admitted into that elite class and it is testimony of how important we consider our relations with France.

Mr Speaker, the point also has to be made that France has continued to show interests in the affairs of
Mr Speaker 6:44 p.m.
Hon Members, as we continue to celebrate the 14th of July each year together with our friendly nations led by France, it is important for us to cement the relationship we have with France by going beyond the barrier of language.
I would want to call on Ghana and urge Government, particularly H.E. the President who speaks both the English and the French language to
consider seriously making both languages compulsory. That would eliminate a serious barrier in ECOWAS -- the language barrier. It would not cost the nation any much money. It is a matter of exchange of professionals and reopening some of our French Colleges and that would earn Ghana a lot more investment, income and everything. We are losing a lot just because of the language barrier and it is high time we eliminated this.
I hope Hon Members would support me in this and let us try to convince not just Hon Members but our Government to move in that direction because that is the right thing to do.
I thank you so much and I thank the Hon Member for Ningo- Prampram for the Statement.
We would now listen to the Hon Leaders to repeat the Motion for Adjournment because you are still not in my hands.
Mr Afenyo-Markin 6:44 p.m.
Mr Speaker, when you exercise your discretion, you cannot be challenged, meanwhile, you talk about strict adherence to the rules but this is your court; we would oblige you. That notwithstanding, I humbly beg to move that Sitting be adjourned till tomorrow at 2.00 p.m.
Mr Avedzi 6:44 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I beg to second the Motion.
Question put and Motion agreed to.
ADJOURNMENT 6:44 p.m.
  • The House was accordingly adjourned at 6.50 p.m. till Thursday, 15th July, 2021 at 2.00 p.m.