Debates of 27 Jul 2021

MR FIRST DEPUTY SPEAKER
PRAYERS 2:15 p.m.
VOTES AND PROCEEDINGS AND THE OFFICIAL REPORT 2:15 p.m.
Mr First Deputy Speaker 2:15 p.m.
Hon Members, item numbered 4 - Correction of Votes and Proceedings and the Official Report.
We have the Votes and Proceedings of Friday, 23rd July, 2021. Any corrections?
Page 1, 2 … 9 --
Mr Samuel O. Ablakwa 2:15 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I tried to catch your attention at page 8. Mr Speaker, at item numbered 7(ii), the Table Office should insert ‘of' before “Governors” so that it reads ‘member of the Board of Governors”.
Also, item numbered 7(xi), the name of the former Hon Majority Leader of this House has been spelt wrongly. The correct spelling of his name is ‘Hon Abraham Ossei Aidoo' and not “Abrahim”.
Mr First Deputy Speaker 2:15 p.m.
Hon Member for North Tongu, we are now considering the proceedings of Friday, 23rd July, 2021 before that of Monday, 26th July, 2021.
Page 9, 10 … 17.
Mr First Deputy Speaker 2:15 p.m.
We would now move to the Votes and Proceedings of Monday, 26th July,
2021.
Page 1, 2 … 8 --
Mr Ablakwa 2:15 p.m.
Mr Speaker, on the item numbered 7(ii), the Table Office should insert ‘of' before “Governors” so that it reads ‘member of the Board of Governors”.
Also, item numbered 7(xi), the name of the former Hon Majority Leader of this House has been spelt wrongly. The correct spelling of his name is ‘Hon Abraham Ossei Aidoo' and not “Abrahim” as has been captured.
Mr First Deputy Speaker 2:15 p.m.
Very well.
Page 9, 10 … 12 --
Mr Ablakwa 2:15 p.m.
Mr Speaker, item numbered 3(vi), (vii), (viii) and (xi), with regard to the positions or roles of the officials from the Ministry of Health, only one has been captured and that is item numbered (iv) which is the Director of Infrastructure at the Ministry of Health. Mr Speaker, no positions have been stated for the others so if it can be amended to be consistent with our practice?
Mr First Deputy Speaker 2:20 p.m.
Very well.
The Secretariat of the Committee would review this and make any corrections.

Hon M embers, the Votes and Proceedings of Monday, 26th July, 2021 as corrected is hereby adopted as the true record of proceedings.

Hon Members, we would vary the order of Business and go to public Business, Presentation of Papers.

At the commencement of Public Business - Presentation of Papers.

Item numbered 8(a), by the Minister for National Security?

Yes, Hon Majority Leader?
Mr Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 2:20 p.m.
Mr Speaker, before we come to the presentation of Papers, I am sorry to take us back. In the list of absentees for yesterday's Sitting, I realised that a couple of Hon Members were here who unfortunately have been marked as absent. I refer to Hon Osei Bonsu Amoah who was here yesterday; Hon Michael Okyere Baafi; and Hon Augustine Collins Ntim.
Mr Speaker, these three Hon Members were here. Hon Kennedy Osei Nyarko was here and Hon Mrs Abena Osei-Asare was also here. I am surprised all these have been marked as absent.
Maybe, I would liaise with the Clerks-at-the-Table.
Mr First Deputy Speaker 2:20 p.m.
Very well. We have adopted the Votes and Proceedings already. I direct the Table Office to effect the corrections as it is.
Are you laying the Report on behalf of the Minister for National Security?
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 2:20 p.m.
Yes, Mr Speaker. The Hon Minister for
Mr Haruna Iddrisu 2:20 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I have no objection at all. I had the privilege to participate in the President's launching of this document. Therefore, if it is being laid for our purposes, the better.
Mr First Deputy Speaker 2:20 p.m.
Very well. Item numbered 8(a)?
PAPERS 2:20 p.m.
Mr First Deputy Speaker 2:20 p.m.
Item numbered 8(b) (i)?
By the Majority Leader --
(i) Report of the Auditor- General on the Public
Accounts of Ghana (Public Boards, Corporations and Other Statutory Institutions) for the year ended 31st December, 2017.
(ii)Report of the Auditor- General on the Public Accounts of Ghana, Ministries, Departments and Other Agencies (MDAs) for the Financial year ended 31st December, 2017.
(iii) Report of the Auditor- General on the Statement of Foreign Exchange Receipts and Payments of the Bank of Ghana for the year ended 31st December, 2017.
(iv) Report of the Auditor- General on the Public Accounts of Ghana (Consolidated Fund) for the year ended 31st December,
2017.
Referred to the Public Accounts Committee.
Mr First Deputy Speaker 2:20 p.m.
Item numbered 8(c), by the Minister for Finance.
Yes, Hon Majority Leader?
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 2:20 p.m.
Mr Speaker, if the Hon Minister for Health may be allowed to present the Paper in respect of the item numbered 8(c) (i) on behalf of the Minister for Finance?
Mr First Deputy Speaker 2:20 p.m.
Very well. Item numbered 8 (c) (i)
By the Minister for Health (Mr Kwaku Agyeman-Manu) on behalf of (the Minister for Finance) --
Request for waiver of Import Duty, GETFund Levy, NHIL, Import VAT, EXIM Levy, and Special Import Levy amounting to the Ghana cedi equivalent of twenty-seven million, one hundred and sixty-one thousand, and seventy-six euros thirty-eight cents (€27,161,076.38) on materials and equipment required for the construction of the Tema, Nkoranza, and Dormaa Hospitals and the Rebuilding of the Central Medical Stores and ancillary facilities.
Mr First Deputy Speaker 2:20 p.m.
We would proceed to item numbered (m). The Hon Ranking Member of the Committee could present the Report.
By the Ranking Member (Mr Haruna Iddrisu) on behalf of (the Chairman of the Committee) --
Ninth Report of the Appoint- ments Committee on H. E. the President's nomination of Mr Kissi Agyebeng for Appointment as Special Prosecutor.
Mr First Deputy Speaker 2:20 p.m.
Item numbered (n), by the Chairman of the committee.
Yes, Hon Minority Leader?
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 2:20 p.m.
Mr Speaker, if I may present this Report from the Finance Committee. The Hon Ranking Member is also unavailable. So I would want to present the Committee's Report.
Mr First Deputy Speaker 2:20 p.m.
Very well. Yes, Hon Minority Leader?
Mr Haruna Iddrisu 2:30 p.m.
Mr Speaker, we would not encourage the Hon Majority Leader to be laying Reports for chairmen of committees. He must demonstrate that he has some aspirations that I know quietly, and that he is in charge of committees in this House.

Mr Speaker, he cannot be laying Papers for chairmen of Committees.
Mr First Deputy Speaker 2:30 p.m.
Very well.
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 2:30 p.m.
Mr Speaker, the Chairman of the Committee was here with us. He just exited and I think he himself was unsure that this Report has been listed so he even asked me because there was something for him to do and I told him that he could exit to go and do that assignment unknown to the two of us. We did not see that item numbered (a) existed on the Order Paper for him to present the Paper.
So, Mr Speaker, I am doing so in my capacity as a Member of the Committee and not as the Majority Leader and the Minority Leader should not be over-exaggerating my strength in these matters.
Mr First Deputy Speaker 2:30 p.m.
Very well.
By Mr Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu on behalf of (the Chairman of the Finance Committee) —
Report of the Finance Committee on Guidelines for Considering and Approving Requests for the Grant of Waiver of Import Duties, Import VAT, GETFund Levy, NHIL, ECOWAS Levy, AU Levy, EXIM Levy on plants, machinery and equipment or parts as well as Corporate Tax for five (5) years of Operation being tax incentives to support implementation of the One District One Factory (1D1F) Programme.
Mr First Deputy Speaker 2:30 p.m.
Is the Chairman of the Committee on Health here?
Mr Haruna Iddrisu 2:30 p.m.
Mr Speaker, it may appear minor - the Hon Member for Mion is not in the Chamber but as I go through item numbered (d), in one of the consideration of the Votes and Proceedings, the Hon Member for Mion raised an important issue and I want us to go back to it. When you see “(d) By the Minister for Communication and Digitalisation” - Mr Speaker, the Table Office should go back to the Webster Dictionary.
They can also use their phones. When the Hon Member for Mion raised it, we did not give him attention. We have to. This is because there is no word like “Digitalisation” in any IT nomenclature so the Hon Member for Mion was right. We can say Digitisation but when we say “Digitalisation” --
Mr First Deputy Speaker 2:30 p.m.
Hon Member, I think you are picking too soon. Now I am laying Reports. If you wish for us to discuss this, we would come back to it. Can we continue and conclude - I intended to call on the Chairman of the Committee on Health.
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 2:30 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I thought we were going back to continue from the item numbered 8(c) (ii).
Mr First Deputy Speaker 2:30 p.m.
Hon Majority Leader, at the pre-meeting we said we would defer that but I would go back to them. Let me finish with - unless there is nobody here to lay the Report.
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 2:30 p.m.
Mr Speaker, that is what I want to do.
Mr First Deputy Speaker 2:30 p.m.
Very well.
By the Majority Leader on behalf of (the Chairman of the Committee on Finance) —
Annual Statement by the Audit Committee of the Office of the Head of Civil Service for the Year 2020.
Mr First Deputy Speaker 2:30 p.m.
Item numbered 8(o)?
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 2:30 p.m.
Mr Speaker, the Chairman of the Committee on Health is on his way so we can stand that one down and deal with item numbered 8(d) and proceed downwards.
Mr First Deputy Speaker 2:30 p.m.
Very well.
Item numbered (d)?
Can we take all of them together?
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 2:30 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I would do so on behalf of the Minister for Communications and Digitalisation in respect of the item numbered 8(d) (i) and (ii).
Mr First Deputy Speaker 2:30 p.m.
I was thinking we should take the item numbered (g) before I come up to the item numbered (d). So, let me finish with the Minister who is present. I was saying that rather than taking them one
Mr First Deputy Speaker 2:30 p.m.
Hon Minister for Local Government, Decentralisation and Rural Development, I think you may also have to do the items numbered (h) and (i), which were originally listed to be done by the Regional Ministers.
By the Minister for Local Government, Decentralisation and Rural Development on behalf of (the Minister for the Greater Accra Region) --
Annual Statement by the Audit Committee of the Greater Accra Regional Co-ordinating Council for the Year 2020.
Referred to the Committee on Local Government and Rural Development.
By the Minister for Local Government, Decentralisation and Rural Development on behalf of (the Minister for the Savannah Region) --
Annual Statement by the Audit Committee of the Office of the Savannah Regional Co- ordinating Council for the Year
2020.
Referred to the Committee on Local Government and Rural Development.
Mr First Deputy Speaker 2:30 p.m.
Hon Minister for Parliamentary Affairs, you wish to present item numbered (d) on behalf of the Minister for Communications and Digitalisation?
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 2:30 p.m.
That is so, Mr Speaker.
Mr First Deputy Speaker 2:30 p.m.
Very well.
By the Minister for Parlia- mentary Affairs (Mr Osei Kyei- Mensah-Bonsu) on behalf of (the Minister for Communications and Digitalisation) --
(i) Annual Statement by the Audit Committee of the Ministry of Communications and Digitalisation for the Year
2020.
(ii)Annual Statement by the Audit Committee of the Ghana Investment Fund for Electronic Communications for the Year 2020.
Referred to the Committee on Communications.
Mr First Deputy Speaker 2:30 p.m.
Is the Minister for Defence ready to lay his Report?
Item numbered (e)?
By the Minister for Defence --
Annual Statement by the Audit Committee of the Ministry of Defence for the Year 2020.
Referred to the Committee on Defence and the Interior.
Mr First Deputy Speaker 2:30 p.m.
The last one is item numbered (f), by the
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 2:40 p.m.
Mr Speaker, if the House would indulge me, I would present the Paper on behalf of the Minister.
By the Majority Leader and Minister for Parliamentary Affairs (Mr Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu) on behalf of (the Minister for Gender, Children and Social Protection) --
Annual Statement by the Audit Committee of the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection for the Year 2020.
Referred to the Committee on Gender and Children.
Mr First Deputy Speaker 2:40 p.m.
Hon Members, at this juncture - Very well, item numbered (j), by the Minister for Tourism, Arts and Culture.
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 2:40 p.m.
Mr Speaker, the Minister for Tourism, Arts and Culture is also not able to be here because of some assignment that he is attending to, so if I would
be indulged by the House, I would want to present these documents on his behalf.
Mr First Deputy Speaker 2:40 p.m.
Very well.
By the Majority Leader and Minister for Parliamentary Affairs (Mr Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu) on behalf of (the Minister for Tourism, Arts and Culture) --
(i) Annual Statement by the Audit Committee of the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture for the Year 2020.
(ii)Annual Statement by the Audit Committee of the Ghana Museums and Monuments Board for the Year 2020.
Referred to the Committee on Trade, Industry and Tourism.
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 2:40 p.m.
Mr Speaker, the Minister for Health will handle item numbered (k) for the Minister for Education.
By the Minister for Health (Mr Kwaku Agyeman-Manu) on behalf of (the Minister for Education) --
(i) Annual Statement by the Audit Committee of the
Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration for the Year
2020.
(ii)Annual Statement by the Audit Committee of the Mampong Technical College of Education for the year
2020.
Referred to the Committee on Education.
Mr First Deputy Speaker 2:40 p.m.
Hon Members, item numbered (l) by the Minister for Youth and Sports.
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 2:40 p.m.
Mr Speaker, the Minister for Defence will present the Paper on behalf of the Minister for Youth and Sports.
By the Minister for Defence (Mr Dominic Nitiwul) on behalf of (the Minister for Youth and Sports) --
Annual Statement by the Audit Committee of the Ministry of Youth and Sports for the year
2020.
Referred to the Committee on Youth, Sports and Culture.
Mr First Deputy Speaker 2:40 p.m.
Hon Members, there is one on the Order Paper Addendum. Presentation and First Reading of Bills.
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 2:40 p.m.
Mr Speaker, as I said, the Minister is engaged in some other assignments, so I want to present the Paper on behalf of the Minister for National Security as advertised on the Order Paper Addendum.
By the Majority Leader and Minister for Parliamentary Affairs (Mr Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu) on behalf of (the Minister for National Security) --
An Act to establish the National Centre for Coordination of Early Warning and Response Mecha- nism to assist the ECOWAS Commission in the timely identification of emerging crisis in the West African Sub-Region and the implementation of an improved crises response mechanism and to provide for related matters.
Referred to the Committees on Defence and the Interior and Foreign Affairs.
Mr First Deputy Speaker 2:40 p.m.
Hon Members, at this juncture, the House will be suspended and we will hold a Joint Caucus Meeting.
2.46 p.m. -- Sitting suspended.
5.32 p.m. -- Sitting resumed.
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 2:40 p.m.
Hon Members, we would move on to the item numbered 5 - Urgent Questions. We have a lot of Questions, so, I would urge Hon Members to indulge with me that apart from the questioner, who would have the chance to ask a supplementary question, no other Hon Member would be allowed to ask supplementary questions. Hon Members should please bear with me. Hon Members, we would start with the Hon Minister for Defence.
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 2:40 p.m.
Mr Speaker, the Hon Okudzeto Ablakwa is the person listed, and the other one is Hon Francis-Xavier Kojo Sosu. The two of them are not here, so, perhaps, we could allow some time for them to come to the House. Therefore, we can start with Urgent Questions 5 (a) and (b), which all stand in the name of the Hon Kwame Dzudzorli Gakpey, the Hon Member for Keta. If the Hon Member is here, then he could take his Question.
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 2:40 p.m.
Hon Members, the first Question stands in the name of the Hon Member for Keta, the Hon Kwame Dzudzorli
Gakpey. The Hon Member may ask his Question.
URGENT QUESTION 2:40 p.m.
MINISTRY OF DEFENCE 2:40 p.m.
Mr Kwame Dzudzorli Gakpey (NDC -- Keta) 2:40 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I beg to ask the Hon Minister for Defence the urgent safety measures being put in place to protect the journalist who recorded military brutalities in Wa, and his family.
Minister for Defence (Mr Dominic Bingab Aduna Nitiwul) 2:40 p.m.
Mr Speaker, adequate safety measures have been put in place by the security agencies of Ghana to ensure the safety of the journalist and his entire family, as well as all citizens that live in the Wa Township and its surrounding communities.
Mr Speaker, operational measures and military strategies are the tools that ensure that security and intelligence agencies are able to help the country remain safe. It is extremely difficult and not prudent to openly discuss these tools and strategies adopted to keep citizens safe.
Mr Speaker, these measures are operational matters, and revealing them publicly would jeopardise the safety of the individual in particular and his family in general. I am therefore assuring the general public that all individuals involved in the incident that occurred in Wa are safe, and should go about with their daily activities.
Mr Speaker, I thank you.
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 2:40 p.m.
Hon Member, any supplementary question?
Mr Gakpey 2:40 p.m.
Mr Speaker, the Hon Minister for Defence mentioned that this is a security issue, and it need not be discussed in the public domain. I accept that, but at the Committee of the Whole, the Hon Minister could brief us as Hon Members of Parliament and not the public, which I believe would be in a good direction.
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 2:40 p.m.
Very well.
Hon Members, therefore, we would move on to the Question numbered 228.
Mr Frank Annoh-Dompreh 2:40 p.m.
Mr Speaker, with your leave, we may
have to move on to the Question numbered 159 instead. Some consultations have gone on, and we would want to dispense of that before we move on to another Question.
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 2:40 p.m.
Hon Leader, respectfully, the Hon Minister for Defence is scheduled to Answer another Question, so, I would want him to Answer that Question before we move on to any other Question. Therefore, we would move on to the Question numbered 228, which stands in the name of the Hon Member for Sege, the Hon Christian Corletey Otuteye.
Hon Member, you may ask your Question.
Deployment of the Army to the Sege Constituency
Mr Christian Corletey Otuteye (NDC -- Sege) 2:40 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I beg to ask the Minister for Defence the reasons for the deployment of the army to the Sege Constituency and to know when the soldiers would leave Sege to their station.
Mr Nitiwul 2:40 p.m.
Mr Speaker, a detachment of soldiers made up of one (1) Officer and ten (10) men was deployed to Sege on Calmlife duties from 24th March to 30th June, 2021 as a result of the disturbances over
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 2:40 p.m.
Hon Member, any supplementary question?
Mr Otuteye 2:40 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I could not find where the Hon Minister read his Answer from, but then, I could use what he has just said to ask a follow up question.
Mr Speaker, I really wonder the kind of crises that the Hon Minister talks about. I have never heard of any issue for which reason we would need military intervention immediately as the Hon Minister claims. In fact, I do not know whether we have used the Police to resolve the issue and could not before we had to fall on the military.
Mr Nitiwul 5:42 p.m.
Mr Speaker, the military has been deployed in the
Bimbila Constituency since 1994, and they are still there on “Operation Gong-Gong”, depending on the threats. In fact, for Chereponi, ever since the conflict happened over there since last year, for the whole year, the military has been deployed there because of the conflict.
Mr Speaker, what I said was that there was communal violence, and the military was called in by civil authorities to assist, but after one month, they have left the place. So, it is possible that the military can be called to a place to assist in bringing calm, and once the calmness is achieved, they leave the place.
That is what they have done.

Mr Speaker, what I have also just told you is that the military are currently on “Operation Calm Life” duties in the Dawhenya-Ada enclave so they move around, but they are no more stationed in his constituency as they did before. They were in his constituency because there was communal violence over salt mining issues. They do that always.

Once there is a problem and the Police believe that it is beyond them,

they call the military, and after a few weeks or months, depending on how it is, they leave the place, and that is exactly what the military did in his area. Yes, it is possible that the military can be deployed in his constituency depending on the threat level that has been assessed.
Mr Otuteye 5:42 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I just want an assurance from the Hon Minister to let my people feel free that there would not be any military brutalities in the constituency.
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 5:42 p.m.
Hon Minister, the Hon Member wants assurance.
Mr Nitiwul 5:42 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I am unable to give assurance to him because if there is a communal violence today that leads to the loss of life, the military may be called back. The assurance should rather come from the Hon Member and the people. Once they are peaceful, I do not think the military would be needed in the area. That assurance should come from the Hon Member.
Mr Speaker, there would not be any brutalities, and there cannot be any brutalities. If there are any, he should let me know; we would
investigate and punish the people. He should give the assurance to his people that if there are brutalities that result from the military, he should let me know. We will investigate, and if someone is found guilty, we will punish him.
Mr Speaker, I would not be able to assure him that we cannot deploy the military in any part of his constituency because if there is communal violence that leads to the loss of lives and property, the military may be called upon to support the civil authority which is the Police.
rose
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 5:42 p.m.
Hon Woyome, I said earlier that we would not give any opportunity to other Hon Members to ask any supplementary questions.
Hon Minister, we are so grateful to you for attending upon the House to answer Questions from Hon Members. Thank you very much. You are discharged.
Can we go back to the Hon Attorney-General and Minister for Justice? I can now see him. Hon Member for North Tongu, you may ask your Question.
QUESTIONS 5:42 p.m.
MINISTRY OF JUSTICE 5:42 p.m.
Mr Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa (NDC -- North Tongu) 5:42 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I beg to ask the Attorney- General and Minister for Justice the status of the pursuit of justice in the following murder cases: (i) Ahmed Hussein-Suale (ii) Hon J. B. Danquah- Adu (iii) Hon Ekow Hayford (iv) Prof. Emmanuel Benneh.
Attorney-General and Minister for Justice (Mr Godfred Yeboah Dame): Mr Speaker, indeed, I am in the position to speak to progress that has been made in respect of the cases specified by the Hon Member. I begin with the case involving the murder of Ahmed Hussein-Suale.
Ahmed Hussein-Suale
This is a matter being investigated by the Criminal Investigative Department (CID) of the Ghana Police Service. Indeed, no docket has been built and presented to the Office of the Attorney-General for prosecution since the deceased was killed on 6th January, 2019. The Attorney-General is thus not seized with the matter.
However, on being appointed Attorney-General and Minister for Justice, the Inspector-General of Police (IGP) paid a courtesy call on me on 29th March, 2021. Being concerned about the failure to resolve this as well as other homicide cases, I enquired about the state of investigations into same. A report was submitted to me. In exercise of my discretion as the principal legal advisor to the Government, I will share with this honourable House parts of the report that was given to me. Other parts I will take out for the sake of not compromising the investigations.
Mr Speaker, the relevant facts are that 5:42 p.m.
following the murder of the deceased, Ahmed Hussein-Suale, investigations by the Police commenced immediately. Two empty shells of 9x19 mm pistol were found on the ground while three other empty shells and three spent pellets of 9x19 mm ammunition were also found in the car. An iPhone 7 Plus mobile phone and a Huawei smart phone belonging to the deceased were also found and retrieved.
On 17th January, 2019, an autopsy was performed on the body of the deceased by Dr Osei Owusu Afriyie, pathologist at the Police Hospital, after the body had been identified by a maternal uncle of the deceased, Ex- WO1 Alhaji Mahama in the presence
of the Police. The pathologist gave an interim cause of death as:
a. hemorrhagic shock;
b. severe chest injury; and
c. gunshot at close range.
On 22nd January, 2019, the exhibit retrieved from the scene were sent to the police forensic science laboratory for ballistic examination. In the course of investigations, two key eye witnesses, namely, Asare Bediako, aged 28, and Abdul Rahman Awal, were contacted. They gave vivid descriptions of the two suspects. Consequently, a request was made to the Department of Geomatic Engineering of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) for the following analysis to be made:
a. The use of satellite imagery;
b. Sketching of the assailants from the description of the witnesses; and
c.The use of telecommunications networks.
Based on the recommendations of the Department of Geomatic Engineering, the two eye witnesses
were presented before the forensic to artist on 27th January, 2019. After listening and recording a description of the assailants, the forensic artists sketched two artistic images. The witnesses finally confirmed the sketched images as the perfect resemblance of the assailants.
Mr Speaker, upon intelligence, suspects, Edward Jackson Kofi Gokah, Musah Iddrisu, alias Yaa Ponoo, Francis Osei Poku, alias 666, and Abdul Rashid Mezongo, alias Kakalika, were arrested for investigations. The four suspects were taken through the investigation processes, but the eye witnesses could not identify them. The suspects were subsequently granted police enquiry bail and are assisting in investigations. Statements were taken from certain citizens of the country who all denied any involvement in the murder.
Investigations in the United States of America
The mobile phones of the deceased persons were sent to the United States of America (USA) for unlocking and extraction of information by the information technology experts in that country. On 17th July, 2020, a request letter to that effect was sent to the US Embassy. On 11th August, 2020, the phones
BOSSU 5:42 p.m.
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 5:52 a.m.
Very well. Hon Member, any supplementary questions?
Mr Ablakwa 6:02 a.m.
Mr Speaker, I am most grateful. I would exhaust all the three supplementary questions but before doing so, since this is a House of records if you would permit me to draw attention that the date provided at page 19 of today's Order Paper, the Hon Minister's response, Ahmed Hussein Suale was killed on the 16th of January, 2019, not on the 6th January, 2019.

So, it ought to be corrected. It should be 16th January. Also, on page 22 of the Order Paper, paragraph 11, reads, “The case has been adjourned to the 12th, 13th, and 14th of July

2015”. It cannot be 2015 and I believe that it should be 2021 instead.

Finally, on page 26, paragraph 4, under trial, it reads, “…Kaneshie District Court which committed him to the High Court for trial on 21st June 202”. I want to believe that it should be “2021”. Could our records reflect the correct date?

Mr Speaker, my first supple- mentary question is on the investigation so far on the murder of Ahmed Hussein-Suale, the slain investigative journalist who belonged to the Tiger Eye Investigative Group. Listening to the facts as presented by the distinguished Hon Attorney- General and Minister for Justice, he presented names that bear no semblance to a recent claim by the Hon Chairman of the Committee on Defence and Interior, Hon Kennedy Agyapong, published on Ghanaweb on the 24th of May, 2021.

He is said to have revealed the actual killer of Ahmed Hussein-Suale. He gave the name as one Ansu Gyeabour, a resident of Kumasi. He made a revelation on Adinkra TV in New York. The publication reveals that Hon Kennedy Agyapong said that he was briefed extensively by the Ghana Police Service, and that the suspect, Ansu Gyeabour, has not been picked up because any time the Police

makes a move, informants within the Ghana Police Service gives him tipoff and he ‘flies'. Is the Hon Attorney- General aware of this new information that Hon Kennedy Agyapong has put out, and if so, why is there absolutely no reference to it in the facts that have been presented?

Mr Speaker, unfortunately, the Hon Majority Leader is taking all the attention of the Hon Attorney-General and Minister for Justice, so I do not know if he is hearing me? Is the Hon Attorney-General and Minister for Justice aware of this new development from the Hon Chairman of the Committee on Defence and Interior of Parliament?

I am glad that the Hon Attorney- General and Minister for Justice said that he has in recent times, met with the Inspector-General of Police. Is the Hon Attorney-General and Minister for Justice aware of this fact and what is his response to it?
Mr Dame 6:02 a.m.
Mr Speaker, first, to respond to the specific date on which Ahmed Suale was killed, yes, the date stated in my written answer is correct. It is 6th January, 2019. Then also, there was the omission of “1” at the end of “2021” in the date of committal
of the accused persons in the Prof. Benneh murder trial.
Mr Speaker, my information is based on investigations that have been conducted by the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) of the Ghana Police Service. I rely on official information from the Ghana Police Service and I am not aware of any statement that has been made by any Hon Member of this House anywhere, apart from what I got from the Ghana Police Service. I deal with only official information and I believe that if Hon Kennedy Agyapong has more information, that could be made available to the CID. As I said, investigations continue in the matter.
Mr Ablakwa 6:02 a.m.
Mr Speaker, my second supplementary question is on the unfortunate and tragic murder of our colleague, Hon Danquah-Adu. It has taken the State more than five years to bring the perpetrators to justice. The Hon Attorney-General and Minister for Justice has talked about COVID-19 in his response. COVID-19 is just about a year and I am not too sure that the COVID-19 explanation would suffice.
Mr Speaker, can the Hon Attorney-General and Minister for Justice assure this House that this slow pace would cease and that we would begin to see some expedition in
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 6:02 a.m.
Yes, Hon Minister, assurance?
Mr Dame 6:02 a.m.
Mr Speaker, it is inaccurate for the Hon Member to contend that the reason assigned for the failure to conclude the prosecution of the matter is due to the COVID- 19 crisis. I stated that the matter was discontinued, pursuant to the entry of nolle prosequi by the Attorney- General and Minister for Justice in 2017. That is because it became necessary to unravel the identity of the specific perpetrators of the offence as well as the masterminds of the offence.
Subsequently, the trial was recommenced on 25th January, 2019 through the filing of the first bill of indictment, then the matter was faced with difficulties. First and foremost, there was the need to refer the accused persons for psychiatric evaluation as a result of certain developments in court. It took almost one year for the psychiatric analysis to be concluded. So, that really pushed the trial to about the end of 2019. Then in early 2020, COVID-
19 struck and after that, the previous presiding Judge, Justice Buadi, was transferred to the High Court which took another period of time for another presiding Judge to take over the matter.
Mr Speaker, I would like to just assure my good friend, the Hon Member, that the matter is, indeed proceeding at lightning speed. The trial actually recommenced on 3rd February, 2021 and so far, three out of nine prosecution witnesses have been called. I indicated that even today, the trial continued in court and as a result of the impending legal vacation, the matter has been adjourned to October. So, going by the speed at which we are proceeding, I am sure that after the legal vacation, the matter would be concluded before the next year's legal vacation which would be in July, 2022. So, definitely, the matter would be concluded in the life of the next legal year. I am very sure.
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 6:02 a.m.
Hon Member, your last supplementary question.
Mr Ablakwa 6:02 a.m.
Mr Speaker, I am grateful for the assurance of the Hon Attorney-General and Minister for Justice. My last question is from the Hon Minister's response on page 25 of the Order Paper, relating to the
murder of Prof. Emmanuel Benneh who was my very good friend. May his soul rest in perfect peace.
The Hon Attorney-General and Minister for Justice tells this House that the first suspect, James Nana Womba, who is believed to have strangled the deceased to death, died in custody on 17th October, 2020. Is the Hon Attorney-General and Minister for Justice able to tell this House the cause of his death? Has that matter been investigated? How did the State ensure that the suspect was protected? Are we sure that the circumstances surrounding his death are natural because this is the first suspect in this high profile murder case? Can the Hon Attorney-General and Minister for Justice give us an indication on the cause of his death?
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 6:12 p.m.
Yes, Hon Minister?
Mr Dame 6:12 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I am not too sure where the Hon Member obtained information that the first suspect, James Nana Womba, died of unnatural causes. The information I have is that the first suspect died in custody. Beyond that I have no further information as to whether his cause of death was unnatural or natural. The
trial would proceed and the other accused person would be charged for abetment of the crime of murder.
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 6:12 p.m.
Hon Members, we would move to Question numbered --
rose
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 6:12 p.m.
No! I have already said that I would not admit any supplementary question from any Hon Member other than the questioner. I made this position clear early on.
Hon Deputy Minority Leader?
Mr Avedzi 6:12 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I agree with you that you would want to limit the number of questions but this is not a constituency specific Question. It is a public interest Question, so we want to appeal to you if you could take one or two supplementary questions from Hon Members.
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 6:12 p.m.
Mr Speaker, for today, we have 15 Questions and it is because of this that you issued these directives at that very outset. We were all in the House - so midstream to amend the directive is difficult. However, just so that nobody would say that the Hon Attorney- General and Minister for Justice has
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 6:12 p.m.
Yes, Hon Member for South Dayi?
Mr Dafeamekpor 6:12 p.m.
Mr Speaker, thank you very much.
Mr Speaker, this is a very technical matter and I refer to the account from the Hon Minister contained in page 26 of the Order Paper. Under “Trial'', the Hon Minister said that even though evidence available to investigators point to the fact that one Opambuor Agya Badu Nkwansah was invited by the suspect who had actually died in custody, who they believed committed the crime, they had discharged him to serve as prosecution witness.
Mr Speaker, under the Criminal Offences Act, an evidence such as this is a ground to charge somebody with abetment and conspiracy. So, even though the recommendation from the investigators to the Hon Attorney-General and Minister for Justice is for --
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 6:12 p.m.
Hon Member, you may ask your question.
Mr Dafeamekpor 6:12 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I want to lay the proper foundation for the question because it is a very technical matter. Even though the investigators have recommended for prosecution, the Hon Attorney- General and Minister for Justice, faced with this evidence has decided not to charge this person with conspiracy but rather make him prosecution witness.
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 6:12 p.m.
So, what is the question?
Mr Dafeamekpor 6:12 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I want to find out why the Hon Attorney-General and Minister for Justice did that?
Mr Dame 6:12 p.m.
Mr Speaker, with all due respect, I do not think the Hon Member listened carefully to my narration of the facts. I said on 10th September, 2020, the accused purposefully aided James Nana Womba who is now deceased, to intentionally cause the death of Prof. Emmanuel Yaw Benneh by unlawful harm. The accused definitely is not Opambuor Agya Badu Nkwansah.
Mr Speaker, Opambuor Agya Badu Nkwansah was treated as a
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 6:12 p.m.
Hon Minister, please, address the Chair.
Mr Dame 6:12 p.m.
Mr Speaker, even though there had been an earlier invitation by the accused person for Opambuor to assist him in the commission of the crime, that invitation was not carried out. So, in actual fact there was no otiose, and if there was no otiose definitely, there is no crime. The charge was specifically for murder and the point that has been made by the investigations is that Opambuor Agya Badu Nkwansah, never appeared at the crime scene so he is only used as a prosecution witness so that he could assist with the unravelling of further facts.
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 6:12 p.m.
Hon Members, we would move to Question numbered 160 which stands
in the name of the Hon Member for Madina, Mr Francis-Xavier Sosu.
Hon Member, you may ask your Question.
Steps to amend our laws to abolish death penalty
Mr Francis-Xavier Kojo Sosu (NDC -- Madina) 6:12 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I beg to ask the Hon Attorney-General and Minister for Justice on the steps being taken to amend our laws to abolish the death penalty, as recommended by the Constitutional Review Commission in the year 2010.
Mr Dame 6:12 p.m.
Mr Speaker,
1. The death penalty in Ghana has constitutional and statutory underpinnings in terms of the creation of offences for which the penalty is death.
2. These offences include high treason, murder, genocide, piracy and organised criminal group contrary to provisions set in the Criminal Offences Act of 1960 (Act 29).
3. The offence of high treason is created by article 3(3) of the 1992 Constitution. A penalty of death is stipulated in the provision for its commission.
Mr Dame 6:22 p.m.
4. Furthermore, article 19(2)(a) provides a clue that the framers of the Constitution were cognisant of the existence on the statute books of Ghana offences punishable by death other than high treason. The provision in setting out the procedure for the trial of a certain class of offences, stipulates thus:
“A person charged with a criminal offence shall
(a)in the case of an offence other than high treason or treason, the punishment for which is death or imprisonment for life, be tried by a judge and jury”.
5. High treason is not tried by a judge and jury. The provision in article 19(2)(a) on the clear wording, therefore, suggests that the framers of the Constitution contemplated the existence of offences for which the punishment will be death or life imprisonment shall be tried by a judge and jury.
6. It is my respectful submission that an abolition of the death penalty will imply an amendment of articles 3(3) and 19(2)(a) of the 1992 Constitution as well as provisions of the Criminal Offences Act of 1960 (Act 29).
7. An amendment of Act 29 is the duty of Parliament, and not the Executive.
8. However, an amendment of article 3(3) and 19(2)(a) of the 1992 Constitution must be effected through a recourse to the procedure stipulated in article 290 of the 1992 Constitution, since the provisions are entrenched.

9. Mr Speaker, I submit, once again, that the processes to trigger an amendment of an entrenched provision of the 1992 Constitution, including the provisions on the death penalty, are the prerogative of Parliament. The Executive may not be involved. Article 290(2) of the 1992 Constitution makes this clear.

Constitution Review Commission

10. The Constitution Review Commission was set up in January, 2010 pursuant to the Constitution Review Commission of Inquiry Instrument, 2010 (C.I. 64), to examine the operation of the 1992 Constitution of Ghana and come up with proposals for amendment of relevant provisions in order to boost the cohesion and development of the nation.

11. Following the completion of the work of the Constitution Review Committee, the Constitution Review Implementation Committee was established in September 2012, to implement the Government's White Paper on the recommendations of the Constitution Review Committee.

12. The Constitution Review Implementation Committee proposed forty (40) amendments of entrenched provisions with two additional consequential amendments and transitional provisions, as well as fifty (50) non-entrenched proposed amendments and six additional clauses. Towards achieving this, the Constitution Review Implementation Committee before the expiry of its mandate on 31st December, 2016, presented to the then Attorney- General and Minister for Justice, Mrs. Marietta Brew Appiah-Oppong, a Constitution (Amendment) (Entrenched Provisions) Bill and a Constitution (Amendment) (Non- Entrenched Provisions) Bill. Clause 2 of the Constitution (Amendment) (Entrenched Provisions) Bill provides for the abolition of the death penalty. Effectively, this would have replaced the death penalty with imprisonment for life without parole.

13. Given the limited time, inadequate consultation and the

requirement of a referendum under article 290 of the 1992 Constitution, the Constitution (Amendment) (Entrenched Provisions) Bill did not go through the processes constitutionally required for its passage.

14. With the change in Government, the then Attorney- General and Minister for Justice, Miss Gloria Afua Akuffo, established the Constitution Amendment Review Committee on 17th October, 2018, chaired by my humble self, to review the work of the Constitution Review Implementation Committee and to identify practical ways to facilitate the implementation of the proposed amendments.

15. It was rightly observed that the manner in which the erstwhile Constitution Review Implementation Committee had proposed forty (40) amendments of entrenched provisions with two additional consequential amendments and transitional provisions, as one Bill, to be voted upon at one referendum was unfeasible, unwieldy and not in the national interest. The intended exercise could actually be interpreted as an attempt to force the hands of the electorate to make such an important decision without reference to the substantially diverse nature of
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 6:22 p.m.
Hon Member, any supplementary questions?
Mr Sosu 6:22 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I have one supplementary question. Given the fact
that since 1993, we have not been able to carry out any such death sentences and given the fact that an amendment of various provisions in Act 29 would assist us in achieving nearly 95 per cent of abolition of death penalty from our statute books, what would your office do in support of a Private Member's Bill that has been admitted by the Speaker for the amendment of Act 29 with the intention of achieving at least 95 per cent abolition of death penalty from our statute books?
Mr Dame 6:22 p.m.
Mr Speaker, respectfully, I know the question clearly seeks to elicit my opinion. My personal opinion is that the death penalty in a way serves very deterrent purposes and I think this view I share is not peculiar to myself. It is actually the view that has been held by a number of Attorneys-General in the past.
Mr Speaker, it is also important to state that the death penalty has not actually been banned or prohibited under international law. Indeed, the international covenant on civil and political rights which entered into force in 1976 asserts that the right to life and the right not to be arbitrarily deprived of life are very essential and it obliges States which have not abolished the death penalty to take
steps to do so and to maintain same only in relation to very serious crimes.
Mr Speaker, under international law, the maintenance of the death penalty is in respect of very serious offences, especially in relation to offences committed by persons at the age of majority is acceptable, in my respectful view. I think that in this country, indeed, the death penalty is not even exercised in relation to minors and my view is that a Private Member's Bill is what it is - and I think this honourable House has the powers to enact the relevant laws to amend any specific provisions of the existing law. Already, there is precedent to that effect; I have heard of the amendment that is being carried out in relation to a certain specific matter last weekend. So, I will leave it to the honourable House.
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 6:22 p.m.
Very well, Hon Minister, we may want to thank you very much for attending upon the House to answer questions. We are very grateful and you are hereby discharged.
Hon Members, we would move to Question numbered 94 on page 2 of today's Order Paper. The Question stands in the name of the Hon Member for Central Tongu, Hon Alexander Roosevelt Hottordze.
Mr Dafeamekpor 6:22 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I have his authority to seek your leave to ask the Question on his behalf because he is not well.
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 6:22 p.m.
Very well.
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 6:22 p.m.
Hon Minister, hold on a bit.
Hon Majority Chief Whip, is there any issue?
Mr Annoh-Dompreh 6:32 p.m.
Mr Speaker, if you may indulge me, I see an Urgent Question also directed to the Minister for Health and that is item
numbered 5 (b). I thought we could take that one first before the others.
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 6:32 p.m.
Very well.
The Question stands in the name of the Hon Member for Keta - Mr Kwame Dzudzorli Gakpey.
URGENT QUESTIONS 6:32 p.m.
MINISTRY OF HEALTH 6:32 p.m.
Mr Kwame Dzudzorli Gakpey (NDC -- Keta) 6:32 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I beg to ask the Hon Minister for Health what urgent steps have been taken to address the highly contagious COVID-19 Delta variant that has been detected in the country.
Minister for Health (Mr Kwaku Agyeman-Manu) 6:32 p.m.
Mr Speaker, the Delta variant is one of the many variants of SARS-COV 2; the virus that causes COVID-19 and other key variants are the Alpha, Beta and Gamma. The Delta variant of the SARS-COV 2 was first detected in Ghana in May, 2021 when a random sample of COVID-19 positive samples were taken through genomic sequencing as has been the key component of Ghana's response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
In July, 2021, we further confirmed the circulation of the Delta variant within the Ghanaian population. The Delta variant is known to be more infectious and hence likely to result in an increase in the number of cases in general and severe and critical cases as a consequence. The increase in cases of severe illness relates more to the high ineffectivity of the variant.
As a Ministry, the measures in place for preventing the transmission of COVID-19 have remained the same irrespective of the strain. This is because the mode of spread for the virus is the same irrespective of the strain.
Mr Speaker, the time tested measures are 6:32 p.m.
Appropriate face mask use -- wearing the face mask at all times when in public;
Hand hygiene -- effective hand washing or the use of an alcohol base hand sanitisers and
Maintaining social distancing.
To this end, we are strengthening all our existing measures as follows:
1. Risk communication and social mobilisation for
COVID-19;
i. mobilisation of opinion, religious and traditional leaders, key influencers and et cetera.
ii. Putting in place contextualised risk communication messages for locations such as schools, work places et cetera.
iii. Established and enforced adherence to COVID-19 safety protocols where appropriate.
2. Surveillance:
i. strengthening contact tracing, quarantine and isolation; and
ii. strengthening surveillance at all points of entry including landing beaches.
3. Laboratory:
i. scaling up of the testing capacity for COVID-19.
4. Case Management:
i. Continuous strengthening of the capacity for case management including oxygen supply.
ii. Public education on the need to visit health facilities when unwell for testing and appropriate treatment.
Mr Speaker, the time tested measures are 6:32 p.m.


5. Vaccination:

i. increasing its capacity to handle different brands of vaccines including for those that require ultra-cold storage facilities,

ii. revision of the vaccine deployment plan in line with current COVID-19 situation. That is, prioritising hot spot regions or districts, highly populated areas and at risk groups that is, persons who are 60 years and above and those with underlying medical conditions.
Mr Gakpey 6:32 p.m.
Mr Speaker, in fact, research has shown that the Delta variant is about 50 per cent more contagious than the Alpha variant and the Alpha variant is itself 50 per cent more contagious than the original Coronavirus. The spread of this highly contagious Delta variant is causing infection and hospitalisation to rise again in the country.
Mr Speaker, based on the Answer provided by the Hon Minister, I would like to know what kind of surveillance is being done: passive or active as well as in which areas contact tracing is being done?
Mr Agyeman-Manu 6:32 p.m.
Mr Speaker, contact tracing is ongoing
across the country especially, in Accra and Kumasi. When we find a person who is positive, we do the same as we had done in the past and try to find ways to do a mop up and ramping up to actually test people.
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 6:32 p.m.
Yes, Hon Member, any further questions?
Mr Gakpey 6:32 p.m.
Mr Speaker, under the laboratory, the Hon Minister made up scaling up of testing capacity for COVID-19. I would like to know where we are now and where we are going because there is no data supporting this.
Mr Agyeman-Manu 6:32 p.m.
Mr Speaker, when we got the first case of COVID-19 in March, 2020, we had only two testing centres in the country; Noguchi and KCCR.
As I speak, we have 43 different sites across the country that belongs to the State where people could undergo testing and almost all regional and a number of district hospitals now have PCR test kits that they use. Again, we have licenced private facilities that are also doing some testing especially, in Accra and Kumasi. So, we have indeed expanded our testing capacity.
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 6:32 p.m.
Hon Member, your last supple- mentary question.
Mr Gakpey 6:32 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I would like to ask that since the Kotoka International Airport (KIA) is one of the entry points where testing is ongoing, how many companies are doing the testing at the KIA and why are infants being charged US$150?
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 6:32 p.m.
Hon Member, your question is not related to the main Question and so, I am not admitting this one.
Mr Gakpey 6:32 p.m.
Mr Speaker, he mentioned that testing is ongoing at entry points in his Answer and the KIA happens to be one of the entry points. That is why I premised my question on that. The Hon Minister provided it in his Answer and it is clearly stated here - “Scaling up testing capacity of COVID-19 and entry points. Strengthening all points of entry including landing beaches”.
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 6:32 p.m.
Mr Speaker, you have given a directive and I thought that the Hon Member will take a cue. The Standing Orders 69 provides that:
“As soon as a Question is answered in the House any member beginning with the Member who asked the Question may, without notice, ask a supplementary Question for the further elucidation on any matter of fact regarding which, the answer has been given but a
supplementary question must not be used to introduce a matter not included in the Original Question.”
Mr Speaker, this is not in terms of the Answer provided by the Hon Minister as the Member is quoting the Answer. The supplementary question should not go outside the Original Question and that is what our Standing Orders provide. The Hon Member should not litigate the matter with the Speaker who has given a directive.
Mr Avedzi 6:32 p.m.
Mr Speaker, what the Hon Majority Leader read is correct but the Member will ask supplementary question based on the Answer provided by the Hon Minister and that is exactly what the Member is doing. That the Hon Minister mentioned “testing sites” and so, he is asking the question based on the “testing site”.
So, the Hon Member should be allowed.
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 6:32 p.m.
Yes, Hon Minority Leader, respectfully, my ruling has already been taken. Hon Colleague, sorry, we have to move on. So, we move to Question numbered 94 on today's Order Paper in the name of the Hon Member for Central Tongu. My Hon Colleague, you may ask the Question on his behalf.
ORAL ANSWERS TO 6:32 p.m.
QUESTIONS 6:32 p.m.
MINISTRY OF HEALTH 6:32 p.m.
Mr Rockson-Nelson Dafeamekpor on behalf of (Mr Alexander Roosevelt Hottordze) 6:32 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I stand on my earlier submission to you, to ask the Hon Minister for Health what plans the Ministry has for the refurbishment of the dilapidated health infrastructure of the District Hospital at Adidome.
Mr Agyeman-Manu 6:42 p.m.
Mr Speaker, currently the Adidome District Hospital has not been captured in our 2021 plans and budget for any current refurbishment.
We will, however, do an assessment based on the request and evaluate it for consideration and budgeting in the ensuing years' budget. Our ability to implement this will largely depend on the quantum of budgetary allocation to the Ministry in subsequent years.
Mr Dafeamekpor 6:42 p.m.
Mr Speaker, the Hon Minister has said to the House that pursuant to this Question, he would take steps to capture it for
future programme. My simplest supplementary question is that would this happen this year?
Mr Agyeman-Manu 6:42 p.m.
Mr Speaker, it can only happen based on the availability of funding.
Mr Dafeamekpor 6:42 p.m.
Mr Speaker, that would be all for me.
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 6:42 p.m.
Very well.
We would move to Question numbered 95 which stands in the name of the Hon Member for Kintampo North, Mr Joseph Kwame Kumah.
Upgrading of Kintampo Hospital to a Teaching Hospital
Mr Joseph Kwame Kumah (NDC -- Kintampo North) asked the Minister for Health if there are plans to upgrade the Kintampo Municipal Hospital to a Teaching Hospital.
Mr Agyeman-Manu 6:42 p.m.
Mr Speaker, there have been discussions with regard to upgrading the Kintampo Municipal Hospital to a Teaching Hospital. A committee has been set up to come out with the modalities towards the upgrade of the Kintampo Municipal Hospital to a Teaching Hospital. We will update the House when the committee presents its report and roadmap towards the proposed implementation.
Mr J. K. Kumah 6:42 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I thank the Hon Minister for the plans for the Kintampo Municipal Hospital. Mr Speaker, I would want to ask the Hon Minister the time frame within which the committee must finish its report?
Mr Agyeman-Manu 6:42 p.m.
Mr Speaker, the committee is actually working and we expect to receive their report in the next two months.
Mr J. K. Kumah 6:42 p.m.
Mr Speaker, the Kintampo Municipal Hospital is always overwhelmed with accident cases that occur on that stretch so by way of referrals, is the Hon Minister thinking of an interim accident emergency plan for the hospital until the main hospital is considered in future?
Mr Agyeman-Manu 6:42 p.m.
Mr Speaker, we have not had any plans towards this. Until we receive the report, we would not know the exact thing to put in so based on the recommendations in the report, we would determine the next roadmap to try and resolve the situation that the Hon Member is talking about.
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 6:42 p.m.
Hon Members, we would take Question numbered 108 which stands in the name of the Hon Member for Jaman North, Mr Frederick Yaw Ahenkwah.
Completion of a 60-bed facility at Sampa Government Hospital
Mr Frederick Yaw Ahenkwah (NDC - Jaman North) asked the Minister for Health when the actual construction of a 60-bed facility commenced at the Sampa Government Hospital as captured in both the 2019 and the 2020 Budget Statements and Economic Policies of the Government would be completed.
Mr Agyeman-Manu 6:42 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I wish to state that, the construction of a 60-bed facility was earmarked under the Sino-Hydro project. Unfortunately, this funding source could not materialise, therefore, we are exploring other funding sources to fund this project. The moment funding is secured, the necessary project planning and implementation arrangements would start towards the smooth implementation of the project.
Mr Ahenkwah 6:42 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I want to ask the Hon Minister whether there is any timeline to explore for a new source of funding for the project?
Mr Agyeman-Manu 6:42 p.m.
Mr Speaker, we do not have timelines. I am only relying on the budgetary allocations and how the Ministry of Finance would allocate funding to us.
Mr Ahenkwah 6:42 p.m.
Mr Speaker, this project is dear to the hearts of the constituents so I would want an assurance from the Hon Minister whether the project would see the light of day.
Mr Agyeman-Manu 6:42 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I do not think that I can give an assurance but to state for a fact that I come from that area as well and the hospital was one of the first areas I visited when I was appointed as the Hon Minister for Health. I was instrumental in getting it scheduled for the Sinohydro funding but unfortunately it could not materialise. Mr Speaker, we are looking for funding so I cannot assure, but anytime funding is available we would try and rehabilitate the hospital.
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 6:42 p.m.
Hon Members, we would take Question numbered 109 which stands in the name of the Hon Member for Shai-Osudoku, Ms Linda Obenewaa Akweley Ocloo.
Plans to Build CHPS Compounds in some communities in Shai-
Osudoku Constituency
Ms Linda Obenewaa Akweley Ocloo (NDC -- Shai-Osudoku) asked the Minister for Health if there are plans to build CHPS compounds in the following communities in the Shai-Osudoku Constituency to provide access to healthcare: (i) Lubuse (ii) Gigedokum (iii) Agbekotseko (iv) Gozakope (v) Klebuse.
Mr Agyeman-Manu 6:42 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I wish to state that, currently
the areas listed in the question have not been captured in our 2021 plans and in the budget for any construction of CHPS compounds.
We will however, do an assessment based on the request and evaluate them individually for consideration and budgeting in the ensuing years' budgets. Our ability to implement this will largely depend on the quantum of budgetary allocation to the Ministry in subsequent years.
Ms Ocloo 6:42 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I would commend the Hon Minister for this Answer. However, he indicated that the communities that have been listed have not been captured in the 2021 Budgetary Allocation for CHPs Compounds, meaning there are no future plans for these communities.
Mr Speaker, I would want to find out from him when these communities would be captured to enable the people have access to quality healthcare?
Mr Agyeman-Manu 6:52 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I just said we would have an assessment. We have a policy in capturing CHPS compounds. What we cannot do is for every electoral area to have at least one Community Health (Based) Planning Service (CHPS) compound.
When I talk about assessment, apart from population and distance from other facilities, we also look at the electoral area, whether they have some or nothing at all. That is what determines whether we would capture or not capture all or any of these towns or villages my colleague has mentioned. So not until after the assessment, it would be difficult for me to even begin to tell the time.
Ms Ocloo 6:52 p.m.
Mr Speaker, inadequate funds is a major challenge to the healthcare facility. I would want to find out from the Hon Minister whether apart from the budgetary allocation, there are other avenues that could be considered?
Mr Agyeman-Manu 6:52 p.m.
Mr Speaker, apart from budgetary allocation from Government of Ghana (GoG) funding, we might only be lucky to see a philanthropists who donates for us to come and put a CHPS compound there or through a community's initiative, the Ministry could support with budgetary allocations.
Apart from these, the other sources are borrowing for bigger ones and not necessarily CHPS compounds. So we rely on budgetary allocations which include some part of the oil moneys. Besides the
allocations to the Ministry of Health, these are the sources of funding we can utilise to build CHPS compounds in the areas.
Ms Ocloo 6:52 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I would want to also remind the Hon Minister of the Universal Health Coverage in the Agenda for Jobs creation, 2018- 2021. In view of this, could the Hon Minister ensure that these communities are duly captured in the 2022 Budget with adequate funds?
Mr Agyeman-Manu 6:52 p.m.
Mr Speaker, we are very mindful of the Universal Health Coverage. We try to make sure that we have facilities closer to people, affordable access and others.
As I said earlier, our assessment means distances from existing facilities. The villages the Hon Member is talking about might be very close to even some facilities elsewhere. Going round the country. We can have two towns very close to each other. Immediately one CHPS compound gets to one side, the other side wants one, like my colleague in Ketu North and its environs. They want hospitals in all the towns around.
So we would take cognisance of these and after our assessments, we would look at what we can do for the
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 6:52 p.m.
Hon Minister, was your reference an invitation to the Hon Deputy Minority Leader to also ask a question?
Mr Agyeman-Manu 6:52 p.m.
Mr Speaker, please, no. I withdraw.
Mr James K. Avedzi 6:52 p.m.
Mr Speaker, he mentioned my name or made reference to me, but I would not ask a question based on that.
Mr Speaker, could the Hon Minister consider a loan facility that can take care of a number of CHPS compounds? For instance, for one district hospital, we do not need less than US$20 million, but this amount could build more than 50 CHPS compounds. Would the Hon Minister consider taking a facility so that as many CHPS compounds as possible could be provided in our electoral areas?
Mr Agyeman-Manu 6:52 p.m.
Mr Speaker, that is considerable, but Parliament approves these facilities for us to use. After we have hit 72 per cent debt to Gross Domestic Product (GDP) ratio, if the House would also consider still adding on to our debts, the Minister would willingly consider using the facility for CHPS compounds.
rose
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 6:52 p.m.
Hon Deputy Minority Leader, I gave you that opportunity --
Mr Avedzi 6:52 p.m.
Mr Speaker, it looks like the Hon Minister did not take account of the import of my question. What I said was that, the cost of building one district hospital could provide for more than 50 CHPS compounds which is cost-saving and could cover a greater population. This was the import of my question and not about adding on to our debts. Would we not borrow again? They would be borrowing.
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 6:52 p.m.
Very well. We would move to Question numbered 110, which stands in the name of Hon Adama Sulemana, the Hon Member for Tain.
Completion of Seikwa Nursing and Midwifery Training College
Mr Adama Sulemana (NDC -- Tain) 6:52 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I beg to ask the Minister for Health when the administration block of the Seikwa Nursing and Midwifery Training College will be completed.
Minister for Health (Mr Kwaku Agyeman-Manu) (MP) 6:52 p.m.
Mr Speaker, our records shows that, the administration block of the Seikwa Nursing and Midwifery Training College was awarded and implemented in 2016 at the Bono Ahafo Regional Coordinating Council with funding by GETFund. Further checks also revealed that the project has been suspended due to erratic flow of funds. The Ministry will liaise with the College to assess the level of completion and ascertain how much is required to complete and liaise with the GETFund and the Bono Regional Coordinating Council to see to the completion of the project.
Mr Adama Sulemana 6:52 p.m.
Mr Speaker, as the Hon Minister stated, the funding source is important and he agrees with me. I would want to find out whether the Hon Minister would recheck the source of funding for the project. He stated that his records shows but I would want to
find out whether he rechecked the source of funds?
Mr Speaker, I was the Chief Executive in 2016 before the project was awarded. I know the funding source was the National Health Insurance Fund. So I would want to find out whether the Hon Minister would recheck the funding source since it is critical for the completion of the project.
Mr Agyeman-Manu 6:52 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I have checked and rechecked. I have visited the school at Seikwa. I queried the uncompleted building I saw in 2018. On my return, I picked some of the facilities that were commenced with Ghana Education Trust Fund (GETFund) projects, and I actually wrote to the Minister for Education to support the Ministry of Health to source for continuous funding to complete this project, but I could not get any good result out of that.
This is why I said we would liaise with the Bono Coordinating Council and GETFund to see how best we could source again to complete the project. It is not one of the NHIA- funded projects at all.
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 6:52 p.m.
Hon Member, are you all right, or you still want to ask a question?
Mr A. Sulemana 6:52 p.m.
Mr Speaker, as the Hon Minister is aware, it is his Region, and I would want to find out whether he could give us timelines since the students are really suffering?
Mr Agyeman-Manu 6:52 p.m.
Mr Speaker, these are exogenous factors and activities. A purse that one does not control, giving timelines becomes very difficult. I would liaise with the Bono Coordinating Council and the GETFund. I would not know what their priorities are, and so for me to give deadlines would be difficult. I would try. He knows I come from that area. We would work on it.
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 7:02 p.m.
Very well. So we move to Question numbered 136 which stands in the name of the Hon Member for Nadowli/Kaleo, Mr Anthony Sumah.
Hon Member, you may ask your Question.

Status of Project -- Charikpong Health Centre
Mr Anthony Mwinkaara Sumah (NDC -- Nadowli/Kaleo) 7:02 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I beg to ask the Minister for Health the status of construction
of the project to remodel and expand Charikpong Health Centre towards upgrading it to a polyclinic.
Mr Agyeman-Manu 7:02 p.m.
Mr Speaker, the Upper West Region has received a number of Polyclinics in the previous years. The Charikpong Health Centre was initiated in 2012 to renovate existing facility and expansion for maternity and observation ward. The current progress of work is at 40 per cent completion and the following works have been completed: Roofing, plastering, ceiling, floor tiling, doors and window frames fixed with burglar proofing. The project stalled in 2016 due to lack of funds. The Ministry is seriously exploring funding to complete the project.
Thank you, Mr Speaker.
Mr Sumah 7:02 p.m.
Mr Speaker, the Answer is very much appreciated. On the original schedule of the project, it is now eight years overdue for completion and from the Minister's own response, from 2016 till now, it means it has stalled for over five years. What is the source of funding for this project and have you made it a priority such that it has been budgeted for in the capex from 2016 till now and have not been considered for funding to complete the project?
Mr Agyeman-Manu 7:02 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I have made several efforts to even try to find the source of funding. The indication I was getting was from IGF of the facility which is very small with this big project. Now, over the last four years, funding for health infrastructure has been quite minimal and we have several of them dotted across the country that I inherited. So we scale up and do one or two here and at other places. That is why I am saying that we are seriously looking for funding. This is very close to seeing light and I believe immediately we pick some good money, we would get there and get the work done.
Thank you, Mr Speaker.
Mr Sumah 7:02 p.m.
Mr Speaker, would the Hon Minister be kind enough to let me know if the project has provisions for equipment to equip the maternity ward and the observation ward?
Mr Agyeman-Manu 7:02 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I would say no for the moment.
Mr Sumah 7:02 p.m.
Mr Speaker, in the interim, if we are finding difficulties in sourcing for funding for the project that has gotten to this stage, are there any alternatives other than relying on
Government of Ghana or probably the IGF that he referred to so that the place can be completed or so that they could be itemised other than leaving it in the state that it has been for the past eight years?
Mr Agyeman-Manu 7:02 p.m.
Mr Speaker, whatever I would say is still Government of Ghana. There is just one big source, which is Government of Ghana funding for facilities. We get limited resources from Health Insurance from time to time even if it is approved by Parliament. I would check on all these. That is why I said we are seriously looking for funding and we would see how best we can get it done. From time to time, if we get funding outside Government of Ghana, like a contractor bringing money for us to approve to do the project, that would also be considered. So if in the pipeline we find somebody who would bring money for us to borrow to complete that project, that would be considered.
Thank you, Mr Speaker.
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 7:02 p.m.
Hon Members, we move to Question numbered 137 standing in the name of Dr Zanetor Agyeman-Rawlings, the Hon Member for Klottey Korle.
Dr Zanetor Agyeman-Rawlings (NDC -- Klottey Korle) 7:02 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I beg to ask the Minister for Health when the Adabraka Polyclinic is to be upgraded to a District Hospital.
Mr Agyeman-Manu 7:02 p.m.
Mr Speaker, the Ministry of Health is aware that the population of Klottey Korle is growing and as part of our policy, it will require a much wider service package than what the current health facility is providing.
However, the provision of the Greater Accra Regional Hospital within this catchment area is to complement the services of the Adabraka Polyclinic. In view of this, the said facility has not been programmed for any form of upgrade currently. However, the Ministry will engage the Ghana Health Service to assess the facility and advice on the exact needs and appropriate recommendations in terms of upgrade for the facility. This will be planned for in the Ministry's budget in subsequent years.
Dr Agyeman-Rawlings 7:02 p.m.
Mr Speaker, is the Hon Minister aware that on the 9th of March, 2020, the
Greater Accra Regional Minister on opening of the isolation centre in the polyclinic committed the Government to including the Adabraka Polyclinic as one of the hospitals to be upgraded to a district hospital?
Mr Agyeman-Manu 7:02 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I do not think I am aware of this situation.
Thank you.
Dr Agyeman-Rawlings 7:02 p.m.
Mr Speaker, given the fact that the Hon Minister is not aware, I would like to inquire whether other Ministers have the mandate to make such commitments on behalf of the Ministry of Health in such a situation because other support that was going towards the renovation of the accident and emergency section of the polyclinic was suspended because of the commitment to upgrade it to a district hospital.
Mr Agyeman-Manu 7:02 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I do not think I can exhaust this type of question. There are assemblies who support facilities. Some build and expand hospitals in their areas. So if this commitment is not coming from the Health Minister and it is coming from the Regional Minister or the Mayor of Accra, that may mean that they may have probably sourced for funding and
were planning to do it or probably collaborating with us. I may have to check on it to see what prompted that commitment from the Regional Minister. If there is money sitting somewhere, we would pick it and work on it. But Mr Speaker, I have just said in my Answer that we would request Ghana Health Service, which is the agency that owns the facility to do some quick checks for us to see what specific things we can put there not by way of upgrading it to a district hospital but by way of expanding it a little bit to see how complementary it can be to the Ridge Hospital.
Thank you, Mr Speaker.
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 7:02 p.m.
Thank you, Hon Minister. You have come to answer eight separate Questions. We are very grateful to you for attending upon the House.
You are hereby discharged.
Hon Members, we move to Question numbered 144 which stands in the name of the Hon Member for Nkwanta North, Mr John Kwabena Bless Oti.
Hon Member, you may ask your Question.
MINISTRY OF SANITATION 7:02 p.m.
AND WATER RESOURCES 7:02 p.m.
Mr John Kwabena Bless Oti (NDC -- Nkwanta North) 7:02 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I beg to ask the Minister for Sanitation and Water Resources the steps being taken to fix the problem on the Kpassa Community Water System which is on the verge of collapse.
Minister for Sanitation and Water Resources (Ms Cecilia A. Dapaah) 7:02 p.m.
Mr Speaker, the Damanko-Kpassa Water Supply System which supplies safe water to Kpassa Township and its environs, was completed in March, 2011 with consultation support from DANIDA and funding from the United Kingdom Department for International Development (DfID) and Govern- ment of Ghana (GoG).
Upon completion of the Water Supply Project, it was handed over to the Nkwanta North District Assembly for management by the Water and Sanitation Management Team (WSMT) in accordance with the prevailing policy on rural water management.
Anyimadu-Antwi
Minister for Sanitation and Water Resources (Ms Cecilia A. Dapaah) 7:12 p.m.


After a few years of operations, the Water Supply System broke down and had accumulated electricity bills owed to the Northern Electricity Distribution Company (NEDCO) to the tune of about GH¢400,000.

Mr Speaker, the Community Water and Sanitation Agency (CWSA), in November, 2017, took over the broken down Damanko- Kpassa Water Supply System and immediately restored water supply. The CWSA has also settled the indebtedness of the Water System to NEDCO in full. However, in view of the excessive damage caused to most of the components, especially the pumps and transmission pipelines, water supply to the Kpassa Township has not been as frequent as expected.

Mr Speaker, Cabinet and Parliament have approved a €30 million funding secured from the UK Export Finance, HSBC Bank and Government of Ghana to construct Water Supply facilities (150 Point Water Systems with Nano-Filtration Systems and 12 Small Towns Pipe Water Systems) in five regions (Ashanti, Eastern, Volta, Oti, and Greater Accra) Damanko - Kpassa Water System will benefit from the facility.

Currently, design activities have started and rehabilitation works will start in December, 2021. The CWSA has also employed technical staff to operate the Damanko-Kpassa Water System to stabilise water supply to the communities.

Mr Speaker, it is expected that by the end of the year, 2022 water supply would improve to meet the water demand of the population of Kpassa and it's surrounding communities.
Mr Oti 7:12 p.m.
Mr Speaker, the Audit Report for 2014 and 2015 has indicted some members of the management board of the water system. I do not know whether the Minister is aware. If she is aware, what has she done about it to serve as a deterrent to others?
Ms Dapaah 7:12 p.m.
Mr Speaker, currently, I am not aware, but I will get the necessary documents to find out what has happened.
Mr Oti 7:12 p.m.
Mr Speaker, in the Minister's Answer, I will follow-up on it. I would want to assure the Minister that I will follow-up. Once her Answer is clear that from December, 2021 work will commence, I will get the Government Assurance Committee to follow-up to ensure that the assurance made on this Order Paper is fulfilled.
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 7:12 p.m.
Hon Members, we will move to Question numbered 184, which stands in the name of Hon Mohammed Adamu Ramadan.
Extension of Water Supply to most Residents of Adentan
Mr Mohammed Adamu Ramadan (NDC -- Adentan) 7:12 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I beg to ask the Minister for Sanitation and Water Resources what the Ministry is doing to ensure that Ghana Water Company extends its services to most residents in the Adentan Constituency who have applied for pipe-borne water to their homes.
Ms Dapaah 7:12 p.m.
Mr Speaker, the Adentan Municipality has a total distribution pipeline length of 220kms. To significantly increase access to water and improve supply in the Adentan Constituency, the Ghana Water Company Limited (GWCL) has planned some pipeline improvement works for the implementation in Amrahia, Ashiyie, Amanfrom, Otano, Dzen Ayor and Ogbojo under the Greater Accra Metropolitan Area (GAMA) Sanitation and Water Project (Additional Financing).
In the interim, Mr Speaker, the GWCL is currently undertaking main
extension works in Adenta, Commandos and Amrahia areas. These interventions will continue in a progressive manner, using internally generated funds to extend water supply to areas in the Municipality which are currently not being served.
Mr Speaker, to connect to GWCL pipe mains, residents are to apply to their respective GWCL district offices to enable the GWCL conduct an inspection to determine the feasibility and cost of the application. If the application is upheld on the basis of operational protocols, an estimate of the new service connection works will be submitted to the applicant. Upon payment of the new service connection fees, the applicant will be connected.
Mr Ramadan 7:12 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I thank the Minister for her response. However, to place the situation in proper perspective, the Adentan Municipality has had a housing stock of 50,000 and it has a land size of approximately 930 square kilometres. Therefore, to have a total distribution pipeline length of only 220 kms, this is certainly inadequate. Therefore, as the Minister rightly put it, there are plans to significantly increase and improve upon the supply. When will the planned improvement works in the new localities commence?
Ms Dapaah 7:12 p.m.
Mr Speaker, as I said, the solution will come from the additional financing of GAMA, and also the IGF of GWCL. The actual timetable can be supplied to the House later.
Mr Ramadan 7:12 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I am aware that there are residents who come together and apply to the GWCL for service. However, what happens is that GWCL gives them an estimate of the cost of the service extension into the respective neighbourhoods. It is the mandate of GWCL to extend water to these localities.
Why would GWCL have to bill the residents to extend those services to their neighbourhoods and their homes? --
Mr Speaker, the Minister says she does not understand it.
Ms Dapaah 7:12 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I did not say that I did not understand. I am asking the Hon Member to kindly repeat the question, so that I can clearly give him answers.
Mr Ramadan 7:12 p.m.
Mr Speaker, it is the mandate of GWCL to extend service lines into the respective neighbourhoods. However, for neighbourhoods without water
extension, the resident association will come together and apply for service.
When they do that, GWCL ends up billing them for the cost of extension of service into their neighbourhoods and also bill them individually to connect service lines into their homes.
7. 22 p.m.
Ms Dapaah 7:12 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I would consider this to be a peculiar case, so, I would love to have the situation investigated by the Ghana Water Company.
Mr Speaker, I thank you.
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 7:12 p.m.
Yes, Hon Deputy Minority Leader, do you want to say something?
Mr James K. Avedzi 7:12 p.m.
Mr Speaker, the Hon Minister said that if individuals apply to the Ghana Water Company, the company would do an assessment and give them the bill so that if they pay, then they would be connected. I would want to know from the Hon Minister whether the Ghana Water Company in giving the cost adds something to it for their profit, or they just give the cost of the materials to the individuals to pay?
Ms Dapaah 7:12 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I would have to look at the detailed billing before I can give an answer.
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 7:12 p.m.
Very well.
Hon Members, we would move on to the last Question on today's Order Paper, which is Question numbered 185, which stands in the name of the Hon Abed-Nego Azumah Bandim, the Hon Member for Bunkpurugu. Is “Yunyoo” added to it?
Hon Member, the Hon Minister is available, so, you may ask your Question.
Accute Water Shortage in Nakpanduri Township and its
Environs
Mr Abed-Nego Azumah Bandim (NDC -- Bunkpurugu) 7:12 p.m.
Mr Speaker, my Constituency is “Bunkpurugu”. It has been detached from “Yunyoo”.
Mr Speaker, I beg to ask the Minister for Sanitation and Water Resources when the Nakpanduri Township and its environs would benefit from Community Water Projects to address the acute water shortage in Nakpanduri and its environs.
Ms Dapaah 7:12 p.m.
Mr Speaker, currently, there are four groundwater based Limited Mechanised Water Systems provided by the District Assembly, World Vision International and some private individuals, serving sections of Nakpanduri and its environs.
Additionally, under the Northern Region Rural Integrated Project (NORRIP) funded through a Canadian grant, 12 boreholes fitted with hand pumps were provided at various locations in the community. However, a number of these water facilities have broken down due to poor management resulting in inadequate water supply.
Furthermore, the CWSA, in 2009, took steps to provide Nakpanduri and its environs with a Small Town Piped Water System under the Northern Region Small Towns Water Project (NORST), with funding from a Canadian grant. Unfortunately, it was unsuccessful due to low yields of the boreholes.
Mr Speaker, to address the acute water supply situation in Nakpanduri, the CWSA will engage with the Bunkpurugu-Nakpanduri District and the Communities with a view to carrying out technical assessments on
Ms Dapaah 7:12 p.m.


the broken down boreholes in a bid to repair them to serve the population. Additionally, the Ministry of Sanitation and Water Resources, working through the CWSA, will continue to carry out hydrological studies to determine a suitable and reliable source of water for a Small Town Water System for Nakpanduri and its environs.
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 7:12 p.m.
Yes, Hon Member, any supplementary question?
Mr Bandim 7:12 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I do not have any follow up questions, except to appeal to the Hon Minister to as a matter of urgency, prevail on the Community Water and Sanitation Agency to speed up carrying out the hydrological studies, to determine a suitable place of water for the people of Nakpanduri and its environs because they are really suffering.
Ms Dapaah 7:12 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I would surely let them do that.
Mr Speaker, I thank you.
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 7:12 p.m.
Thank you, Hon Minister, for attending upon the House to answer questions from Hon Members. I can conclude that you were here early
enough and sat through our proceedings up to this time. We are grateful, and you are hereby discharged.
Yes, Hon Majority Chief Whip?
Mr Annoh-Dompreh 7:12 p.m.
Mr Speaker, if you may, we could take the item numbered 19 on page 12 of today's Order Paper.
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 7:12 p.m.
Very well.
Hon Members, we would take the item numbered 19 - Private Member's Motion. Hon Members, we recall that this particular Motion was moved by the Hon Majority Chief Whip, Hon Frank Annoh- Dompreh, and it was seconded by the Hon Member for South Dayi, the Hon Rockson-Nelson Etse Kwami Dafeamekpor on Friday, 16th July, 2021, about two weeks ago. However, debate was deferred, so, the Motion having been moved and seconded, it is now for the consideration of the House. Therefore, we may invite Hon Members - or, Hon Majority Chief Whip, would you want to move the Motion again?
Mr Annoh-Dompreh 7:12 p.m.
Mr Speaker, if I may remind you, the last time, I moved the Motion as you
rightly intimated, but you ruled in the direction that you would reserve the right to speak to the Motion at an appropriate time. So, if you may, I can lead and begin the debate.
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 7:12 p.m.
Very well, you can speak to the Motion.
MOTIONS 7:12 p.m.
Mr Frank Annoh-Dompreh (NPP -- Nsawam-Adoagyiri) 7:12 p.m.
Mr
Speaker, I thank you for this unique opportunity. I would want to say that this is a very important Private Member's Motion, largely supported by both Sides of the House. If we take a look at the Motion, the key words are “cogent”, “equitable” and “sustainable national development” that regard Corporate Social Responsibility.
Mr Speaker, if we would recall, right from the days of Brundtland Commission, the former Norwegian Prime Minister who gave a definition of what sustainability is, and it has come to stand the test of time. It has been accepted globally by the United Nations (UN). In today's narration, sustainability and equitable distribution of resources often run through the blueprint of most developing countries particularly, and it serves as a guiding principle in our quest as a world towards development.
Mr Speaker, Corporate Social Responsibility gained a certain heightened attention in literary writing, especially in the 1930s and the 1940s. That was when the world really started writing about it. Before then, right from the Roman Empire and then the reign of the Crown, it has been discussed in various forms. In England, it has been seen through homes and orphanages and their relationship to society. The Crown
Mr Frank Annoh-Dompreh (NPP -- Nsawam-Adoagyiri) 7:32 p.m.


then borrowed this and expanded it to America in the times of colonialism, and it gained root and moved on and on. Even after the Second World War, it gained tremendous currency and attention globally. That is the world stage.

Mr Speaker, today, right from America, we have what is called the Compliance Commission which is mandated by law to set a good framework for monitoring and enforcement of CSR. Mr Speaker, in England, they have expanded their Company Act which has included concerns for CSR, and also set out a clear mandate in terms of monitoring and evaluation.

Then if you move from England to Europe, Europe has put out what is called the Green Paper which is set to start a new revolution towards CSR. So, at the world stage, there is a conscious effort towards that evolution and building a new template towards CSR. Mr Speaker, India is reputed to be the first country in the world to have passed a law devoted to CSR. This was in 2014. India, as a country, is still regarded as one of the countries that have set the tone.

Mr Speaker, when we come to our own country, we have the Directive Principles of State Policy which set out to make some references to CSR. We have the Association of Ghana Industries (AGI) documents, Ghana Builders Code - a number of institutions whose documentations make continuous reference to CSR. What we do not have is a comprehensive dedicated law to deal with these concerns. As a result of that, we have corporate bodies which make some kneejerk reaction. When there is a complaint from some sections of the society, they react to stage one effort or the other to meet their concerns.

Mr Speaker, this is very important for us to look at, and it is so critical that we take these matters in strides. If you look at our Constitution, and the various Acts of Parliament that exist, we still do not have a devoted law for CSR. We have the National Development Planning Commission (NDPC) which sets out to give a direction in terms of a blueprint of development that the country should follow, and because as a country, we are unable to regulate, we have been at the discretion of these corporate bodies as and when they will, then they engage in one intervention or the other. I am very convinced and confident that if, as a Parliament, we set out to put up a regulatory mechanism, we would

be able to regulate and harness all the benefits that we should.

Mr Speaker, suffice it to say that today, in recent times, Africa has become a centre of attraction for a lot of investments. The Chinese, Europe, and America are after Africa, and even Russia which is not known to be doing investments in Africa. Therefore, there are conscious attempts at making investments in Africa and hence, Africa should also prepare itself and get ready to rake in the necessary resources.

Mr Speaker, to conclude, if you look at the corporate world in Ghana today, it is fluid. We have diverse bodies which are registered as corporate bodies, foundations, associations, companies limited by guarantee, limited liability companies and the likes. It is therefore difficult to give a definite definition of what CSR would portend, but I believe if we set out as a country to find an overarching law to regulate and rake in the necessary benefits, they would go a long way to inure to the advantage of our country.

Therefore, I encourage the House to revert its mind to this need and do the needful by coming out with a good law that would regulate this concern,

and to push a lot of development to society today.

Mr Speaker, thank you for your consideration.
Mr Rockson-Nelson Etse Kwami Dafeamekpor (NDC -- South Dayi) 7:32 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I thank you for the opportunity to add my voice by way of secondment of this Motion. Mr Speaker, in doing so, may I anchor my submission on a very erudite statement from our own Leader of the House contained in “Private Members' Bills in Ghana: A Guide”.
Mr Speaker, on page 53 of the guidelines, the Hon Leader of the House, when he had the opportunity to address some stakeholders concerning this matter on Thursday, 16th July, 2020, had this to say in paragraph 2. He says:
“Article 108 does not impose an omnibus prohibition on the initiation and introduction of Private Members' Bills. A Private Member is perfectly entitled to introduce any legislation which does not have the specific financial implications spelt out in article 108. Mr Speaker, a very careful reading of article 108(a) would suggest that even with money or financial
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 7:42 a.m.
Hon Member, please, hold on.
Yes, Hon Majority Leader?
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 7:42 a.m.
Mr Speaker, I think for purposes of clarity, we must be sure about what we are doing. This Motion that the Hon Member is seconding reads:
“…that this House passes a law to mainstream and streamline Corporate Social Responsibility in Ghana to ensure a cogent, equitable and sustainable national development”.
The import of this Motion is to urge this House to pass a law to mainstream and streamline corporate social responsibility. At this stage, we are not dealing with the Bill but he said, we are urging this House to pass a Bill. That is not the import of this Motion.
I just want you to get it right because we are not dealing with a passage of a Bill now; we are being urged to consider as to how it is going to be done. Whether we should have a stand-alone Bill to respond to the imperatives or to amend an existing law, for instance, the Public Financial Management (PFM) Law to include a provision that would mainstream and streamline Corporate Social Responsibility just as for instance, it deals with the financial impact of a Bill that is being introduced. So, just have the understanding.
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 7:42 a.m.
Very well. Hon Member, be guided.
Mr Dafeamekpor 7:42 a.m.
Mr Speaker, indeed, the essence of what we are doing would eventually give birth to a Bill. We may not be there but it is important that we spice the debate with some of these matters but be it as it may, I am guided.
Mr Speaker, may I also refer the House to an academic research on this matter entitled ‘Corporate Responsibility in Ghana; an Over- view of aspects of the regulatory regime'? This was a research undertaken by Dr Olivia Ankutsede and Worlanyo Defor of the Human Resource Development of the University of Ghana Business School.
Mr Speaker, this article was published in an academic journal in May, 2015. Mr Speaker, may I, with your permission quote page 38 of the article as contained in the Report, particularly, paragraph 5, entitled; ‘CSR and the Law, the Aftermath of the Corporate Social Responsibility Violations'?
Mr Speaker, the two academics have this to say 7:42 a.m.
“A critical examination of both legislation and judicial precedence in Ghana seems to suggest that even though the law makes provision for the imposition of a fine or a term of imprisonment in the event of a violation of the organisation's responsibilities or liabilities, in certain instances, most regulatory enforcement agencies as well as the Court, more often than not, are disposed to imposing a fine”.
Mr Speaker, they further went on to say this at page 39 of the same article by way of conclusion. They say that:
“Over the decades, corporate social responsibility has shifted from voluntary practice to a more obligatory oriented
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 7:42 a.m.
Yes, Hon Member for Dormaa East?
Mr Paul Apreku Twum- Barimah (NPP--Dormaa East) 7:52 a.m.
Mr Speaker, I thank you for the opportunity to support the Motion that this honourable House passes a law to mainstream and streamline corporate social responsibility in Ghana to ensure cogent, equitable and sustainable national development.
Mr Speaker, let me commend the Hon Member who moved the Motion and also say that it has come timely. Indeed, across the globe, all countries are now finding ways and means to streamline corporate social responsibilities into their main business. And it has become a public policy especially within the middle and low income countries.
Mr Speaker, benefits of CSR has been espoused by the Mover of the Motion, and I do not need to say much about that, and I strongly believe that Ghana stands to benefit a lot when CSR is appropriately legislated.
Mr Speaker, the United Kingdom (UK), the Companies Act of 2006 indeed, has been expanded to ensure that the CSR activities for the publicly listed companies are captured and this is for them to be able to ensure how these companies support the various communities that these corporations operate.
Mr Speaker, the European Union Parliament on 13th March, 2007 with your leave opines as follows:
“The European Union Parlia- ment adopted a resolution on CSR in which it expressed the view that increasing social and environmental responsibility by business linked to the principle of corporate accountability represents an essential element of the European Social Module”
This was acted by the EU Parliament on the 13th of March, 2007. Clearly -- [Interruption] - it is time that Ghana as a country, we also find the appropriate law to be able to align these CSR activities to the development of our country.

Indeed, recently, I had an interview with the Daily Graphic and my issue was that why would Government and corporate entities not sit so that they can align their CSR activities to their developmental projects?

Mr Speaker, during the COVID- 19 period, it became evident that what most communities and institutions needed were health materials, but you could read from newspapers that

certain companies were even trying to present computers. All this while, Government was struggling to buy consumables for hospitals. Clearly, if we find appropriate laws for CSRs in our country, it would go a long way to enhance Government to release resources to enable it perform other activities so that companies would do other things.

Mr Speaker, in Australia in 2006, they set up a high level committee to determine how CSRs can benefit the economy. It came out that they needed CSRs to help develop their economy and certain communities as well. The Spanish Parliamentary Sub- committee also did the same and they also came out with findings that they needed those companies to align their corporate activities with the Government's development agenda.

Indeed, it is about time that Ghana found herself in that domain. We must align our CSR activities with Government projects and we can only do this if we legislate it appropriately. The United States of America (USA) at a point in time, came out with the Sarbanes-oxley (SOX) Act which found a way of regulating the corporate governance and appropriate accountability of CSRs in the USA.
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 7:52 a.m.
Hon Member for Awutu-Senya West?
Mrs Gizella Tetteh Agbotui (NDC -- Awutu-Senya West) 7:52 a.m.
Mr Speaker, thank you very much. I also beg to support the Motion.
Mr Speaker, what is CSR? Basically, it says that businesses should be good citizens. In the same way we expect that citizens should have a sense of responsibility to each other, businesses can be good citizens and have a sense of responsibility to the communities within which they exist or have any special relationship with. Sometimes, there has to be a bit more structure to this and why do we say that?
As it stands in Ghana today, people feel CSR means giving out handouts. Let me do a little bit of this, drop one borehole here and drop something else here. However, at some point, there could be a bit more coordination and compliance to better help the corporate world. So, we must incorporate social and environmental concerns and considerations into the practice. It is already being done but it needs a structure to be able to make the necessary desired impact.
Mr Speaker, there should also be blueprints. Businesses can
incorporate CSR strategies into their corporate goals, so that there is the right synergy and they would be beneficial to all. As it has a structure, there should also be stakeholder engagement. After all, businesses are situated in communities and there are a lot of stakeholders that need to be consulted, otherwise, what a company might consider as an element of CSR is not exactly what the community needs. There must be harmony and synchronisation to get that right, hence the reason stakeholder engagement is very key. You cannot operate a company as an island.
Furthermore, the synchronisation is key. If you would recall, before the Motorway Roundabout project was reconstructed, MPS undertook a CSR. They had some slip roads at the Tema Motorway Roundabout which were meant to ease the traffic situation over there. Within no time, the contract was awarded by the Ghana Highway Authority and they demolished and literally peeled off every single millimetre of asphalt that was laid by MPS and that was their
CSR.
The question is, what were the benefits they got from that? For the community in which that road was constructed, it was very short-lived. It then came back to inconvenience
all the users of the Motorway because construction had to start all over again and that was a waste of resources.
Mr Speaker, there is also the story of mining areas where mining companies try to dispose off their waste. On the other hand, the community needs for example, a football park but they do not have the space. Can they fill a rubbish dump with the waste from the mining company now that it is the sustainable way and method of showing CSR?
That becomes a win-win for all. The company is able to dispose off its waste and would not have to go so far out. It could use it to fill the place in the community and use their equipment to level it. The community would then be able to get the football park that they desire. So, it is important that the win-win situation for all is emphasised.
Mr Speaker, it is also possible that perhaps, there can be ranking, after all, not all companies are equal. Their balance sheets are all not equal, so there can be rankings in what the sizes of companies are expected to do and their output and compliance to CSR. So, for example, a smaller company with obviously a much smaller balance sheet could do something small like one borehole or whatever measure- ment that is required.
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 7:52 a.m.
Before I come to Leadership --
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 8:02 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I wanted to urge that given where we are, it appears so many other people want to express interest in this and make submissions and accordingly, I wanted to appeal to you to adjourn proceedings for us to continue on this very important subject matter tomorrow. It is just an appeal I want to make on behalf of my Hon Colleagues because it is almost 8.00 p.m. We could take an adjournment and tomorrow, allow the number of people who have shown interest in this subject matter to make their own submissions.
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 8:02 p.m.
Very well.
Mr Ahmed Ibrahim 8:02 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I rise to support the rendition made by the Hon Majority Leader and just to add that with matters of this nature and the interest Hon Members have to contribute, if the Hon Majority Leader could discuss with the Rt Hon Speaker so that we could start Sitting by 10.00 a.m. tomorrow, with the Hon Second Deputy Speaker in the Chair so that we could debate this Motion thoroughly for the media to carry it then the corporate world would call their members and make input. This is a sensitive Motion so if we discuss it without the media or without
broadcasting it very well, taking input from the corporate world, we may do good work but maybe, in the wrong way. This is because we would legislate for people to follow so it must be all hands on deck.
I attended a course and we were told that when we debate in the Chamber, we have to peep through the window and feel the heat outside and take sense from that.
I support the Hon Majority Leader's stand but I want to urge him to discuss with the Rt Hon Speaker so that Sitting could start early. Sitting started around 11.00 a.m. today and we have done a lot of good business. It is past 8.00 p.m. so, if the Hon Majority Leader could move for adjournment so that we would have more energy to come tomorrow and continue?
Mr Speaker, I also want to urge my Hon Colleagues who want to participate in the debate that this Motion and the Hansard would be a research document because the House would be measured by the kind of debate that would take place. So, Hon Members who are interested to contribute should discuss with their other Hon Colleagues and do their research so that tomorrow, we could all enrich the debate in the House.
Mr Speaker, with these few words, I support the position of the Hon Majority Leader. It is past 8.00 p.m. so we are in your hands.
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 8:02 p.m.
Hon Majority Leader, what time would Sitting start tomorrow?
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 8:02 p.m.
Mr Speaker, we would commence Sitting at 11.00 a.m. tomorrow. Let us be timeous. Today, we had to go into a Joint Caucus and that took some while. If Sitting starts at 11.00 a.m. and we have to maybe, adjourn at 8.00 p.m. as we have done today, we would be able to cover a lot of grounds.
A lot of Motions are outstanding that we could not deal with today, so let us start Sitting at 11.00 a.m. sharp tomorrow and I believe we would be able to cover much.
Mr Speaker, accordingly, I beg to move, that we take an adjournment until 11.00 a.m. tomorrow.
Mr Ahmed Ibrahim 8:02 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I beg to second the Motion.
ADJOURNMENT 8:02 p.m.
  • The House was adjourned at 8.07 p.m. till Wednesday, 28th July, 2021 at 11.00 a.m.