Debates of 29 Jul 2021

MR FIRST DEPUTY SPEAKER
PRAYERS 12:03 p.m.
VOTES AND PROCEEDINGS AND THE OFFICIAL REPORT 12:03 p.m.
Mr First Deputy Speaker 12:03 p.m.
Hon Members, we shall take the Votes and Proceedings of the 36th Sitting of the Second Meeting of the First Session of the Eighth Parliament held on Wednesday, 28th July, 2021.
Page 1 -- 3
Yes, Hon Deputy Minority Whip?
Mr Ahmed Ibrahim 12:03 p.m.
Mr Speaker, before we commence business, I would like to remind us of our Standing Order 13 to explain to the House or inform us about the unavoidable absence of Mr Speaker.
Mr First Deputy Speaker 12:03 p.m.
Hon Member, I did not get the Order you
MR KYEI-MENSAH-BONSU]mentioned. -- [Pause] -- Yes, what do you want of the Order 13?
Mr Ahmed Ibrahim 12:03 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I was just drawing the House's attention to Order 13(2):
“Whenever the House is informed by the Clerk-at-the- Table of the unavoidable absence of Mr Speaker, the First Deputy Speaker may take the Chair”.
Mr Speaker, we are just beginning and I thought the Clerk was going to inform the House about the unavoidable absence of Mr Speaker before you proceed.
Mr First Deputy Speaker 12:03 p.m.
I am advised that Mr Speaker is available.
Mr Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 12:03 p.m.
Mr Speaker, with respect, I agree with the issue raised by my Hon Colleague. The Orders provide that whenever the House is informed by the Clerk-at-the-Table of the unavoidable absence of Mr Speaker, whatever might have occasioned the absence of the Speaker should be communicated to us that the Speaker is unavoidably absent and because of that, the First Deputy Speaker is assuming the Chair. So, really, I would not like to describe it as dereliction of duty but let us go back and make
the proper announcement and we could proceed.
Mr First Deputy Speaker 12:03 p.m.
Hon Members, I am aware that all through the week, Mr Speaker has been busy with other official responsibilities so either myself or the Second Deputy Speaker started so; if we may just continue, he is available but he is engaged in other official responsibilities.
I thank you.
Page 2 --
Mr Alhassan Suhuyini Sayibu 12:03 p.m.
Mr Speaker, sorry to seek further direction and clarification from the issue raised by the Hon Deputy Minority Whip. If we read Order 13(2) carefully, my understanding is that that communication to the House is to be done by the Clerk and not the Deputy Speaker. It says:
“Whenever the House is informed by the Clerk-at-the- Table of the unavoidable absence of Mr Speaker, the First Deputy Speaker may take the Chair”.
Mr Speaker, so, my understanding is that Order 13(2) leaves the responsibility of that announcement to
the House with the Clerk, and not the First Deputy Speaker. But I stand for your guidance.
Mr First Deputy Speaker 12:03 p.m.
Order 13(2) is very clear. If Mr Speaker is absent, the Clerk would make the announcement. But Mr Speaker is not absent; that is the point I am making. He has been available and working with other responsibilities all throughout the week. If he is absent, the Clerk would announce that to the House.
Hon Members, we would continue with the correction of the Votes and Proceedings.
Page 3 -- 7
Mr Samuel Nartey George 12:03 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I see that I have been marked absent as well as a number of my Hon Colleagues including the Hon Sylvester Tetteh and the Hon Cynthia Mamle Morrison. Yesterday, we were all present in Parliament; our Committee even did sit and so, it is strange that we have been marked absent. We came into the Chamber earlier in the day. At the time we came into the Chamber, persons who handle the signing were not here before we went to our Committee meeting which started at 12.00 noon. We came to the Chamber at 11.00 a.m. and there was nobody here for
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 12:13 p.m.
Mr Speaker, a Member is required to be at the plenary Sitting. If for any reason he cannot avail himself, he signs a leave of absence which would be approved by the Speaker.

But if they come at 10 a.m. -- Parliament is required to start at 10 a.m. and you come at 10 a.m. and Parliament has not started and plenary has not begun, then you come and observe the edifice and leave, you cannot be marked as having been present.

Mr Speaker, with respect to my Hon Colleague, I appreciate the principle. He came into the Chamber when plenary had not commenced, so how can he say that he was present at plenary? This is a recording of plenary proceedings. Thank you.
Mr Edwin Nii Lantey Vanderpuye 12:13 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I stand to disagree with the Hon Majority Leader. If it is 10.00 a.m., then this Plenary must start work at 10.00 a.m.
This is because we set meetings for Committees at 11.00 a.m., 12.00 noon and 1.00 p.m. because of the fact that Plenary would Sit at 10.00 a.m.. And so if Sitting was to start at 11.00 a.m., and the Chamber is not opened and we would have to go for a committee meeting which is also a work of Parliament --
Mr First Deputy Speaker 12:13 p.m.
Hon Member, kindly listen. Were you in the Chamber when the Business Statement was read on Friday? The time of Sitting was advertised that Sitting would start at 11.00 a.m. and not 10.00 a.m..
The important thing which point has been made over and over again is that your first call is Plenary. You report at Plenary before you go to committee meetings. And so if you have a reason to complain that you have been marked absent but were present, deal with the Table Office. However, the rules are very clear. If you are not at plenary, you are absent. Let us proceed.
Mr Mahama Ayariga 12:13 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I do not think that we should be belabouring this point. Our own Standing Orders defines Sitting to include a period during which Parliament is sitting continuously without adjournment and a period during which it is in Committee.
Mr Speaker, when it says it is in committee, is it the Committee of the Whole or it is referring to ordinary committees of the House? Mr Speaker, I think we need your clarification on this matter today so that Hon Members who come and attend Committee sittings and sign as having attended Committee sittings would know whether by your ruling, they should be recorded as having participated in the proceedings of this House for those days when Committees sat.
Mr Speaker, we need your guidance on this matter.
Mr First Deputy Speaker 12:13 p.m.
Hon Members, if we are interpreting what the Hon Member read “Sitting includes a period in which Parliament is Sitting continuously without adjournment and a period in which it is in Committee”, the “it” refers to Parliament.
So whether we are at Committee of the Whole or a Joint Caucus Meeting, that is a Parliament Sitting. A committee meeting is another matter. That is why I am suggesting that this ruling has been given time and over again that if you go straight to a committee meeting and do not report at Plenary, the Table Office is not wrong in marking you absent.
Now, let us proceed. Today is a busy day. I am on page 7.
Mr Rockson-Nelson Etse Kwami Dafeamekpor 12:13 p.m.
Mr Speaker, seeking further guidance, if you take this, for instance at the supplementary page of the Votes and Proceedings, Hon Members are marked as present at committees but marked absent meanwhile we are dealing with the same documents. As the Hon Majority Leader puts it, these are records of proceedings as of yesterday. So we need to connote the interpretation to reconcile some of these evidence.
Mr First Deputy Speaker 12:13 p.m.
I think that there is no issue arising. It is borne out of the interpretation already given. You were present at the Committee meeting, but absent at proceedings of the House, that is all.
Hon Members who are attending Committee meetings are encouraged to show up and ensure that they are recorded present before they continue.
Page 7, 8 --
Mr Alhassan Sayibu Suhuyini 12:13 p.m.
Mr Speaker, on page 8, item numbered 7, the rendition would be made better if “was” is replaced with
Mr First Deputy Speaker 12:13 p.m.
You are right. The Table Office would take note.
Page 9, 10 --
Mr Anthony Mwinkaara Sumah 12:13 p.m.
Mr Speaker, item numbered 8, page 10, there is a repetition of the “Minister for” to read, “the following question was asked of the Minister for Minister for Roads and Highways”.
Mr First Deputy Speaker 12:13 p.m.
Very well. The Table Office will take note. Thank you.
Page 11 -- 18.
Mr Vincent Ekow Assafuah 12:13 p.m.
Mr Speaker, item numbered 1, the second line, the proper rendition should be “Report” and not “Deport”.
Mr First Deputy Speaker 12:13 p.m.
Very well. The Table Office would take note and effect the correction.
Page 19.
Hon Members, the Votes and Proceedings of the 36th Meeting, held on 28th July as corrected is hereby adopted as the true record of proceedings.
Item numbered 5, Question time. The Hon Minister for Gender, Children and Social Protection is expected to answer a number of Questions. The first Question is in the name of the Hon Member for Adaklu, Mr Kwame Governs Agbodza.
Yes, Hon Minority Leader?
Mr Haruna Iddrisu 12:13 p.m.
Mr Speaker, a while ago, Hon Agbodza came here to consult with me and I asked him to pick a certain document in his office. So, I would seek your leave for Hon Bedzrah to ask the Question on his behalf. He was in the Chamber a while ago. Thank you.
Mr First Deputy Speaker 12:13 p.m.
Very well. Yes, Hon Member for Ho West?
ORAL ANSWERS TO 12:13 p.m.
QUESTIONS 12:13 p.m.
MINISTRY OF GENDER, 12:13 p.m.
CHILDREN AND SOCIAL 12:13 p.m.
PROTECTION 12:13 p.m.
Mr Emmanuel Kwasi Bedzrah on behalf of (Mr Kwame Governs Agbodza (NDC --Adaklu) 12:23 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I beg to ask the Hon Minister for Gender, Children and Social Protection what circumstances led to the termination of appointment of Mrs Gertrude Quashigah at the School Feeding Secretariat, and her subsequent reinstatement.
Mr First Deputy Speaker 12:23 p.m.
Hon Members, Order!
Minister for Gender, Children and Social Protection (Ms Sarah Adwoa Safo) 12:23 p.m.
Mr Speaker, the Question has just come to my notice and the answer is not with the Table Office, so I would ask leave of you to step it down so that I would come at an appropriate time to provide the answer.
Mr First Deputy Speaker 12:23 p.m.
Hon Minister, why did you not confirm with the leadership for the Question to be taken out?
Hon Leaders, what is your guidance?
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 12:23 p.m.
Mr Speaker, this Question came before us and it was programmed appropriately but it turned out that the
Hon Minister reported to me yesterday that she had just received the Question yesterday and therefore, could not avail the response. As she has requested, we could step the Question down and if it is possible, maybe, before we adjourn on Friday, we could have further consultation with her so that she could come and respond to it but certainly not for today.
Mr Haruna Iddrisu 12:23 p.m.
Mr Speaker, understandably as you enquired this was not brought to your attention when you asked what we were to consider. However, since the Hon Minister has asked to be rescheduled, we would accommo- date her and trust that she would come back to the House to provide the answer per your directive. You could proceed to the next Question as you were already looking for an opportunity to save time for the Hon Minister for Finance.
Mr First Deputy Speaker 12:23 p.m.
Hon Minister, what about the next two Questions? Is it the same circumstance or you have answers for them?
Ms Safo 12:23 p.m.
Mr Speaker, yes, I have answers for them.
Mr First Deputy Speaker 12:23 p.m.
Very well.

Steps to Minimise or Eliminate concerns about Child Abduction

in Ghana
Mr Kwame Dzudzorli Gakpey (NDC -- Keta) 12:23 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I beg to ask the Hon Minister for Gender, Children and Social Protection what steps the Ministry has taken to minimise, if not eliminate, the growing concerns about child abduction in the country.
Minister for Gender, Children and Social Protection (Ms Sarah Adwoa Safo) 12:23 p.m.
Mr Speaker, the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection through Regional and National Child Protection Committees have carried out community sensitisation programmes on child protection including abduction at the community level in partnership with the Local Government Service and Non- Governmental Organisations.
So far, 34,000 people have been sensitised through our face-to-face interactions on child protection issues and 2.4 million people have been reached on our social media platforms. We are collaborating with key law enforcement agencies and have organised trainings to improve prosecutions and convictions of perpetrators. We have also launched a software called the Social Welfare
Information Management Systems (SWIMS) to facilitate and enhance collaboration among relevant stakeholders at the National and Decentralised levels in the management of Social Welfare cases which also include child protection. The implementation of it will facilitate the arrest and prosecution of perpetrators. We are in the process of amending the Children's Act and the Juvenile Justice Act to provide for more stringent measures.
Mr First Deputy Speaker 12:23 p.m.
Hon Member, do you have any follow up question?
Mr Gakpey 12:23 p.m.
Mr Speaker, in the Hon Minister's Answer she said that they would arrest and prosecute people so, I would like to find out from her how many people have been arrested and prosecuted so far by her Ministry?
Ms Safo 12:23 p.m.
Mr Speaker, the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection, on these matters work closely with the Domestic Violence and Victim Support Unit (DOVVSU) which falls under the Ministry of the Interior and those information and statistics are available with that Ministry. However, with your permission we could make it available.
Mr Gakpey 12:23 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I would like the Hon Minister to furnish the House with that information because we would need them.
Mr Speaker, my next question has to do with the sensitisation and education she mentioned in her Answer. These activities usually happen in the rural areas and most of these rural areas are not used to the mainstream media and social media so, I would want to find out from her which plans the Ministry has towards rural areas with regard to sensitisation?
Ms Safo 12:23 p.m.
Mr Speaker, as I provided in my Answer, most of these face to face sensitisation programmes are done at the rural level as well. So, those who do not have access to social media and other media are also sensitised at that level.
Mr Gakpey 12:23 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I would like to find out from the Hon Minister whether traditional authorities or the National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE) are part of the educational programme.
Mr First Deputy Speaker 12:23 p.m.
Hon Member, could you repeat the question?
Mr Gakpey 12:23 p.m.
Mr Speaker, the Hon Minister mentioned the channels that are used to reach out with regard
to these issues and I would like to find out from her whether traditional authorities as well as the NCCE are also part of the channels her Ministry uses to reach out to the rural communities?
Ms Safo 12:23 p.m.
Mr Speaker, yes, traditional authorities and opinion leaders in these rural areas are part of the sensitisation programmes at every community that we visit.
Mr First Deputy Speaker 12:23 p.m.
Question 138 which also stands in the name of the Hon Member for Keta, Mr Kwame Gakpey.
Plans to Address Increasing Domestic Violence among
Women and Girls
Mr Kwame Dzudzorli Gakpey (NDC -- Keta) 12:23 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I beg to ask the Minister for Gender, Children and Social Protection what plans the Ministry has to address increasing domestic violence among women and girls in the country.
Mrs Safo 12:23 p.m.
Mr Speaker, the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection is carrying out community sensitisations at the community level against domestic violence. This is being done in partnership with our Partners including the traditional and opinion leaders.
Mrs Safo 12:33 p.m.


We have set up two toll-free hotlines of hope for the reporting of all social protection issues including domestic violence cases.
Mr Speaker, the hotlines are 12:33 p.m.
0800800800 and 0800900900. We also set up a BOAME APP which is called the Orange Centre specifically for domestic violence cases. The number for this orange centre is 0800111222. The lines are fully active and receive calls to support victims and the vulnerable groups. We have also renovated the domestic violence shelter where we provided accommodation, care and support to victims. Our Ministry works closely with DOVVSU for the prosecution of perpetrators.
Mr Gakpey 12:33 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I would like to inquire from the Minister -- She made mention in her Answer that they have set up hotlines, social platforms and other platforms.
What about the communities that are in deprived areas? What are they supposed to do?
Ms Safo 12:33 p.m.
Mr Speaker, as earlier stated in the Answer, the hotlines are only complementary to the
sensitisation that we do at the community levels. I also know that the Ministry of the Interior through the Ghana Police Service also has police posts around where cases of such violence against victims could be reported.
Mr Gakpey 12:33 p.m.
Mr Speaker, those who are victims of domestic violence such as women and children are sometimes referred to health facilities. I would like to know from the Hon Minister the role her Ministry plays because sometimes even signing the document at the medical facility requires payment. As well, there are costs that are even involved in preparation towards the Police report.
What role does her Ministry play with regard to that?
Ms Safo 12:33 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I am happy to announce that the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection has written to the Chief Justice of this country and so, all these statutory payments that have to be paid for by victims of domestic violence, rape and other assault cases would be waived. We have sent such notices to the Ministry of the Interior so that the Police would stop charging these fees before they get the health reports to prosecute perpetrators.
Mr Gakpey 12:33 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I would also like to find out from the Minister whether there is any timeframe with regard to the waiver of these fees because the victims are suffering especially when they are filling the medical forms?
Mr First Deputy Speaker 12:33 p.m.
Hon Member, ask your question, please.
Mr Gakpey 12:33 p.m.
Mr Speaker, is there a timeframe with regard to that?
Mr First Deputy Speaker 12:33 p.m.
Yes, Hon Minister, do you have any timeframe to share?
Ms Safo 12:33 p.m.
Mr Speaker, as I earlier indicated, the notice has gone to the Ministry of the Interior for these charges to be waived, so the rest would be administrative and I would assure the House that we would follow it through to ensure that the waiver that we have gotten from the Chief Justice is actually implemented.
I thank you, Mr Speaker.
Mr First Deputy Speaker 12:33 p.m.
Very well, Hon Minister, we thank you for attending upon the House to answer questions. You are discharged.
Is the Hon Minister for National Security available? [Interruption] --
Very well, I would move on to the Minister for Works and Housing.
Question numbered 169 by the Hon Member for Keta.
MINISTRY OF WORKS AND 12:33 p.m.
HOUSING 12:33 p.m.
Mr Kwame Dzudzorli Gapkey (NDC-Keta) 12:33 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I beg to ask the Hon Minister for Works and Housing what plans the Ministry has towards dredging the Keta Lagoon, which is the largest natural lagoon in West Africa.
Minister for Works and Housing (Mr Francis Asenso- Boakye) 12:33 p.m.
Mr Speaker, the Keta Lagoon is part of the Volta estuary comprising a complex array of lagoons and several islands. The Keta lagoon complex is a designated Ramsar site and it is about one hundred and thirty kilometres (130 kms) in length.
The lagoon is surrounded by many settlements and towns, which include Anloga, Woe, Keta and Kedzi to the south; Anyako and Anlo Afiadenyigba to the north; Kedzi, Alakple and Tregui to the west; and Denu and Adina to the east. The lagoon and its environs host major settlements, which
Mr Gakpey 12:33 p.m.
Mr Speaker, based on the Answer, I would take the words of the Minister and I would keenly follow up on this.
I thank you very much.
Mr First Deputy Speaker 12:43 p.m.
Very well, the next Question is in the name of the Hon Member for Sege, Mr Christian Corletey Otuteye.
Hon Member, yes, you may ask your Question.

Commencement of the Construction of the Ada West

Sea Defence Project
Mr Christian Corletey Otuteye (NDC -- Sege) 12:43 p.m.
I thank you, Mr Speaker, for the opportunity to ask the Minister for Works and Housing when the Ministry will commence the construction of the Ada West Sea Defence Project.
Minister for Works and Housing (Mr Francis Asenso- Boakye) 12:43 p.m.
Mr Speaker, the Ministry of Works and Housing has completed the first two phases of the Ada Sea Defence Project to protect the Ada coastal stretch against beach erosion and flooding.
The first phase entailed the construction of seven armour rock groynes which provided protection to 5kms of the Ada coastal stretch.
Mr Speaker, following the completion of the first phase, the second phase of the project was implemented to protect 10kms of the coastal stretch. The second phase involved the construction of 15 armoured rock groynes and dune hiking at low lying areas over a stretch of about 14kms from the Volta River estuary westward.
The project included a beach nourishment campaign entailing the pumping of sand from the sea unto the beach with the aim of stabilising the beach. About 5million cubic meters of sand was pumped from deep sea in the process.
Mr Speaker, any works under the third phase of the Ada Coastal Protection Project could consist of the construction of armour rock groynes with beach nourishment over a stretch
of about 10kms to the west of Ada. Extensive feasibility studies will be required ahead of any works and the project will have the benefit of enhancing fishing activities, promoting tourism and protecting livelihoods and property. It remains on our programme for the immediate future.
The Ministry has an ongoing engagement with the Ministry of Finance on its coastal protection programme and as funding becomes available, feasibility studies will commence for the third phase.
Mr Speaker, I wish to assure the Hon Member and this august House that my Ministry will provide updates on the progress we make on this project.
Mr Otuteye 12:43 p.m.
Mr Speaker, the Hon Minister's Answer was very clear and precise but it described that of Ada East but my Question was precisely on Ada West.
So, from the Hon Minister's Answer, the only area I could gather which was referring to Ada West had to do with the “extensive feasibility studies to be undertaken to implement the project”. May I know when that would be done because the Question was referring to Ada West for which no phase of the project has yet started?
Mr Asenso-Boakye 12:43 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I would like the Hon Member to repeat his question please.
Mr First Deputy Speaker 12:43 p.m.
Hon Minister, the Member said your Answer related to Ada East and so, when will any action be taken on Ada West?
Mr Asenso-Boakye 12:43 p.m.
Mr Speaker, with respect to the supplementary question, I would like to assure the Hon Member that I will check with the technical officials and get back to him as soon as possible.
Mr Otuteye 12:43 p.m.
Mr Speaker, in that wise, it means my question has not been answered. However, I will still go ahead to appeal to the Hon Minister that should there be any interventions or support, the affected households or people by the tidal waves along the coastline be considered as plans are being taken for feasibility studies to start the project.
Mr First Deputy Speaker 12:43 p.m.
Hon Member, meet with the Hon Minister after here and he will give you all that is available.
Mr Otuteye 12:43 p.m.
Mr Speaker, my question has not been answered and so, what do we do about it?
Mr First Deputy Speaker 12:43 p.m.
Hon Member, he has offered an answer. If
you think it is not sufficient, ask another question.
Hon Minister, thank you for attending upon the House to answer Questions. You are discharged. Now, I see the Hon Minister for National Security in the House.
Hon Minister for National Security?
Yes, Hon Majority Chief Whip?
Mr Annoh-Dompreh 12:43 p.m.
Mr Speaker, with respect, I think as we agreed at the conclave, we will take Questions related to gender and children and then works and housing and then we will defer the rest of the Questions to tomorrow to allow the Hon Finance Minister to do the presentation.
Mr First Deputy Speaker 12:43 p.m.
Very well.
That brings us to the end of Question time for today.
Hon Chief Whip, are we ready to take item numbered 7? Any Papers to present?
Mr Annoh-Dompreh 12:43 p.m.
Mr Speaker, unfortunately, none of the Papers is ready and so with your leave, if you may allow the Hon Minister for Finance?
Mr First Deputy Speaker 12:43 p.m.
Very well.
We may move to item numbered 8 then. Is the Hon Minister for Finance in the House?
Mr Annoh-Dompreh 12:43 p.m.
Mr Speaker, exactly so. He is being ushered in.
Mr First Deputy Speaker 12:43 p.m.
He must be here before I move the Motion.
[Pause] --
12. 53 p.m. -- Sitting suspended.
1.00 p.m. -- Sitting resumed.
Mr First Deputy Speaker 12:43 p.m.
Hon Members, we would move to item numbered 8 - Motion.
Hon Minister for Finance?
MOTIONS 12:43 p.m.
Minister for Finance (Mr Ken Ofori-Atta) 12:43 p.m.
Mr Speaker, Hon Members of Parliament, on the
authority of His Excellency, President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, I beg to move that this august House approves the Mid-Year Fiscal Policy Review of the Budget Statement and Economic Policy of the Government of Ghana for the 2021 Financial Year, which I present today, 29th July,
2021.
Mr Speaker, I am performing this function in fulfilment of section 28 of the Public Financial Management Act of 2016 (Act 921).
Mr Speaker, this Statement is an abridged version of the Mid-Year Fiscal Policy Review of the Budget Statement and Economic Policy of the Government of Ghana for the 2021 Financial Year. I respectfully request that the entire Mid-Year Fiscal Policy Review of the 2021 Budget is captured in the Hansard.
Mr Speaker, in December 2020, the people of Ghana renewed their confidence in the President for another four-year term. Let me take this opportunity to thank His Excellency the President for the confidence he retains in the Ministry of Finance Team, and for the privilege and opportunity to continue in this national service of managing the economy and our public finances for another four years. I also wish to
Minister for Finance (Mr Ken Ofori-Atta) 1:10 p.m.


Mr Speaker, I want to personally thank you for your noble and wise leadership over this unique composition of this Eighth Parliament and to assure you that Government will continue to work with you and this House to deliver on the priority needs of the people.

Again, permit me to express my heartfelt gratitude to this august House for your patience and forbearance in postponing my vetting and subsequent approval, giving me time to recuperate. I recognised the historic nature of this second term, and as indicated at my vetting, I commit to ensuring the protection of the public purse and the transformation of the economy.

Mr Speaker, it is my hope that the spirit of partnership that guided our work with the previous Parliament will continue to define our collaboration over this second term for the collective good of the nation.

Mr Speaker, it is difficult to attempt to normalise the catastrophe that has befallen the world. The devastating impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on lives and the global economy is widely acknowledged. The grim statistics are that over 196 million people have been infected by the virus, 4.19 million dead, and over US$15 trillion spent. In Ghana, we join in mourning with the 823 families who have lost loved ones and pray for the recovery of those afflicted.

The COVID-19 induced global recession has been the deepest since the end of World War II, 76 years ago. The global economy contracted by 3.3 per cent in 2020, a 6.7 per cent decline relative to the 3.4 per cent growth forecast by the IMF back in October, 2019. Growth in Sub- Saharan Africa was -1.9 per cent. Ghana achieved a 0.4 per cent growth.

From the very first day that the novel Coronavirus arrived here in Ghana in March 2020, the Government of President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo recognised the dire consequences that it would have on our economy, particularly on jobs, and on our ability to raise revenues to meet both the cost of managing the pandemic and Government's regular spending obligations. If I may quote

from the President's address on 27th March, 2020, where he underlined the challenge and the approach:

“Should the virus continue to linger for the rest of the year, the effects on our economy would be dire. However, as we have demonstrated over the course of the last three years, where we inherited an economy that was growing at 3.4 per cent and transformed it into one which has grown by an average of 7 per cent over the last three (3) years, I assure you that we know what to do to bring back our economy back to life. What we do not know how to do is to bring people back to life. We will therefore protect people's lives, then their livelihoods.”

Mr Speaker, therefore, the hardships that COVID-19 pandemic visited on people's lives, the stress on parents, the frustrations of young people, the negative impact on businesses, for both employers and employees, the worsening of the unemployment situation, the effect on the public debt and the stress on revenue mobilisation, was unprecedented but expected. Indeed, no country in the world had prepared for the crisis that unfolded.

That is why leadership was therefore, assessed by the measures that individual countries and their respective leaders took to deal with the crisis. Here in Ghana, we took responsible, innovative, decisive and bold actions to tackle the crisis.

That is why, a year ago, on Thursday, 23rd July, 2020, I came before this House to present what I called “an extraordinary Mid-Year Fiscal Policy Review of the 2020 Budget Statement and Economic Policy”, and secured more funds to provide an immediate and appropriate response to the severe economic impact of the pandemic.

In addition, the 2021 Expenditure- in-Advance-of-Appropriation presented to this House on 28th October, 2020, saw to the uninterrupted delivery of Government business in the first quarter of this year; and, the on-going implementation of the 2021 Budget and Economic Policy of Friday, 12th March, is driving the revitalising economy in line with our theme of Completion, Consolidation and Continuity.

With these approvals, we intervened with timely measures to help, particularly, households, schools, hospitals and businesses to withstand the impact of the pandemic. Government provided direct transfers to households through food

MR OFORI-ATTA][MR OFORI-ATTA]

distribution and absorption of water and electricity bills. Tax waivers to frontline health workers and stimulus packages to small and medium-scale enterprises were also provided.

Mr Speaker, these interventions stabilised the situation, protected lives, supported businesses and preserved jobs which would otherwise have been lost. In fact, although the workload from the public sector had to be reduced in many cases, all through this COVID-19 crisis, Government has never for once embarked on any programme of laying off workers. Rather, we have continued to pay all workers and even proceeded to employ more in some critical areas such as Security and Health services.

Mr Speaker, let me use this opportunity to thank Organised Labour and Employers for their role in concluding wage negotiation with Government in May. The negotiations were marked by a shared understanding of the state of the economy, that we as a nation cannot share what we do not have; a collective will to improve productivity, raise more revenue and ensure decent wages in the years to come.

Mr Speaker, as a result of our competent management of the crisis

situation, Ghana's economy has outperformed its peers, recovering faster. After recording negative growth in the second and third quarters of 2020, the economy rebounded strongly in the last quarter of the year, continuing well into the first quarter of 2021.

The Ghana Statistical Service reports that overall GDP growth for the first quarter of 2021 was 3.1 per cent. The growth was even better excluding oil at 4.6 per cent. The Bank of Ghana Composite Index of Economic Activity (CIEA) attests to the strong growth recovery, with the index growing at 33.1 per cent at the end of May, 2021 as compared to a contraction of 10.23 per cent at the end of May, 2020.

Mr Speaker, on inflation, we are witnessing one of the lowest numbers on record in about two years. Inflation, which, at the height of the pandemic, hovered around 11.8 per cent, dropped to 7.5 per cent in May, 2021 before inching up slightly to 7.8 per cent in June. The Bank of Ghana will continue to implement appropriate monetary policy to maintain inflation rate within the target of 8+-2 per cent.

The cedi has been relatively stable in the past four years, and maintained

its stability even in this pandemic year. For the first time in the Fourth Republic, the exchange rate did not see a spike after an election year. Cumulatively, from the beginning of the year to date, the exchange rate has depreciated by 0.6 per cent against the US dollar thus appreciating by 3.6 per cent against the Euro. This stability is expected to continue as we move towards the close of the year.

The relatively strong performance of the external sector led to an increase in the reserves position to US$11.0 billion which is equivalent to 5.0 months of imports, one of the highest on record. This compares well with a reserved position of US$9.2 billion, equivalent to 4.3 months imports cover, in the corresponding period last year.

Mr Speaker, we are managing the finances of the country with discipline and competence. The fiscal operations for the period of January to June, 2021 indicates that the overall budget deficit was GH¢22.32 billion, which is equivalent to 5.1 per cent of GDP. The corresponding primary balance for the period was a deficit of GH¢7.3 billion, also equivalent to 1.7 per cent of GDP as against a target deficit of GH¢4,797 or 1.1per cent of GDP. 23. We will continue to pursue our fiscal consolidation agenda

to ensure that we remain within the appropriation given by this House.

Mr Speaker, I would like to note that notwithstanding our elevated debt levels as a result of the COVID-19 but our inflation rate is lower than it was in 2016, our interest rates are lower than they were in 2016, our exchange rate is more stable than it was in 2016, our foreign exchange reserves are much higher than they were in 2016, and we did not have to lay off any workers, nor cancel teacher and nursing training allowances. Furthermore, we did not go to the IMF for a bailout programme, neither have we built an interchange for the price of three. This is because we have managed the economy much better than it was managed up to 2016. Let us not forget this.

On the back of these and other deliberate policies, our country has attracted more foreign direct investments in the midst of the pandemic. As at the end of June 2021, the total FDI into the country was valued at US$954.2 million, indicating an increase of 71.2 per cent from US$ 557.2 million recorded over the same period last year.

Mr Speaker, the strong rebound in growth, the low inflation rates, the stable currency, the strong reserve
Mr Speaker, towards consoli- dating the gains made, we have, amongst others 1:10 p.m.
a. Pursued prudent macro-fiscal policies that puts us back on track to restore economic stability and growth;
Mr Speaker, towards consoli- dating the gains made, we have, amongst others 1:20 p.m.


b. Fostered a resilient financial ecosystem, under Ghana- CARES, by establishing the building blocks for stronger and catalytic collaboration between institutions such as Ghana Incentive-based and Risk Sharing Scheme for Agricultural Lending (GIRSAL), Ghana Commodity Exchange (GCX), Venture Capital Trust Fund (VCTF) and the restructured Ghana Enter- prises Agency (formerly NBSSI) to anchor a new age of entrepreneurship, job creation and wealth building for our post-COVID transformation;

c. Issued the historic foreign currency-denominated zero- coupon bond in our financing mix, thus creating the fiscal space to build our financial resilience; and

d. Revamped the energy sector to further stabilise electricity supply for households and businesses.
Mr Speaker, our pledge on Continuity has also driven us to 1:20 p.m.
a. Continue to implement the phase II of the GhanaCARES “Obaatanpa” programme to revitalise our economy, after a successful execution of the Stabilisation measures in Phase I;
b. Continue to implement our key flagship programmes, including Free SHS, PFJ, 1D1F among others to enhance the quality of life of our people and further advance our transformation agenda;
c. Continue our Environmental Agenda by embarking on a war against illegal mining (galamsey) to preserve our water bodies and protect the environment; and
d. Continue Government's historic partnership with Labour and Employers, and also with the Faith-based organisations.
Mr Speaker, in addition to the above, we have continued to provide the needed resources, equipment and personnel to maintain security and peace within our borders. We are on course to transform the security
services to enable them to adequately respond to emerging national and sub-regional threats.
Mr Speaker, we are aware of various conversations and we would take appropriate measures at the right time and we beg this House to support us in that bit.
In line with Government's agenda to enhance our global stature, Ghana placed a bid and was elected as a non- permanent member of the United Nations Security Council for the 2022/2023 term. Additionally, H.E. the President was also elected unanimously for a second term as Chairman of the Authority of Heads of States and Governments of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS). President Akufo Addo remains Co-Chair of the United Nation's (UN) Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) Advocate group, with Norway's Prime Minister, Erna Solberg. He is also the AU Champion for both Financial Institutions and Gender Affairs.
As a result of the increased international visibility and the exemplary leadership of the President during this pandemic, Government has been able to procure and administer 1,271,393 doses of the
COVID-19 vaccines. While 865,422 people have received the first dose, 405,971 have been fully vaccinated, as at the end of June this year.
Mr Speaker, our diplomatic efforts are yielding results and we are expecting to receive, through the COVAX facility, 1.2 million Pfizer vaccines from the United States of America and 249,600 AstraZeneca vaccines from the United Kingdom. In addition, Government has committed itself to purchase, through the African Medicine Supply Platform, 17 million Johnson & Johnson single dose vaccines. Furthermore, the President has set up a committee dedicated to facilitating our domestic capacity to manufacture the COVID-19 vaccines, beginning with the process of fill and finish.
Mr Speaker, on the economic front, the additional policies and strategies outlined in the GH¢100 billion GhanaCARES “Obaatanpa” Programme will be vital in our journey towards economic recovery and transformation. Our strategy to place the private sector at the heart of this endeavour is to accelerate competitive import substitution and export expansion to generate sustainable jobs for our teeming youth (under 35 years), who make up about 71 per cent of the population.
Mr Speaker, our pledge on Continuity has also driven us to 1:30 p.m.


Summary of macro-economic performance

Mr Speaker, even though the second quarter of 2021's Gross Domestic Product (GDP) data is yet to be released by the Ghana Statistical Service, provisional data for the first quarter of 2021 showed that, the recovery process from the COVID-19 pandemic is gaining some momentum and the targets for most of the macroeconomic indicators are largely on track.

Fiscal developments

Mr Speaker, I now present highlights of the 2021 half-year fiscal performance. The implementation of the 2021 Budget has been successful so far. We remain fully committed to achieving the fiscal deficit target of 9.5 per cent of GDP for the year in order not to derail from the objective of returning to the Fiscal Responsibility Act (FRA) fiscal deficit and primary balance thresholds of 5 per cent of GDP and positive primary balance, respectively, by 2024.

Mr Speaker, the provisional fiscal data for Jan-June, 2021 shows that Total Revenue and Grants amounted to GH¢28.3billion, equivalent to 6.5

per cent of GDP, against a programmed target of GH¢32.4 billion or 7.5 per cent of GDP. For the same period, Total Expenditure, including the clearance of arrears, amounted to GH¢50.6 billion which is equivalent to 11.7 per cent of GDP, against a programmed target of GH¢55.1billion or 12.7 per cent of GDP.

Mr Speaker, the fiscal deficit for the period was financed from both foreign and domestic sources. Net Foreign Financing of GH¢15.2billion constituted 68.3 per cent of the total financing and included inflows from Eurobond proceeds. On the other hand, Total Domestic Financing amounted to GH¢7.1billion, representing 31.7 per cent of total financing.

Public debt development

Mr Speaker, the total public debt stock, as a percentage of GDP, increased from 76.1 per cent at the end of December, 2020 to 77.1 per cent of GDP at the end of June, 2021. This stock includes the financial and energy sector bailouts. Excluding the Financial Sector Bailout, the nominal debt stock as percentage of GDP is 72.9 per cent. The increase in the debt stock was mainly because of the Eurobond issuance in April 2021, COVID-19 pandemic effect,

contingent liabilities, and front-loading of financing to meet cash flow requirements for the first half of the year.

COVID-19 Impact and Mitigating Measures

Health Impact

Mr Speaker, the loss of human capital as a result of COVID-19 continues to be devastating. The reported steady decline in weekly average infections which stood at 379 by the week of 5th March, 2021 was sustained to 60 cases by the week of 20th June, 2021. Since then, however, the detection and spread of the delta variant has largely driven up reported cases. As of 25th July, 2021, overall COVID-19 infections since the first confirmed case on 12th March, 2020 has reached 103,019. There are currently 4,983 active cases; 97,213 recoveries and against all efforts, 823 persons have died due to COVID- 19 over the same period.

Economic impact of the pandemic

Mr Speaker, improving regional and global supply chains and rising demands led to total exports reaching US$2.5 billion in the first two months

of 2021. By June, this had significantly increased to US$7.6 billion.

In addition, the COVID-19- related regulatory reliefs and policy measures introduced by the Bank of Ghana continued to promote bank lending activities. From the beginning of the year to June 2021, new advances reached GH¢16.0 billion, marginally above the advances of GH¢15.8 billion during the same period in 2020. It is expected that as economic activities rebound and lending rates drop further, private sector credit will pick up.

Mr Speaker, proactive and pragmatic policies have ensured that the tourism and hospitality industry which had perhaps endured this most difficult year in 2020 is on a rebound. Tourist arrivals into the country as at the end of 2020 was about 370,000, as against a revised target of 400,000 for 2020. With the re-opening of the Kotoka International Airport in September 2020, arrivals at the end of the second quarter of 2021 were 231,000, representing 65 per cent of the full year arrivals in 2020.

Mr Speaker, there are also other positive trends from this pandemic, as digital technology is assuming a more significant role in the operations of businesses. Almost 9 out of 10 firms

are now leveraging digital platforms to market their products. Similarly, mobile money, door-to-door delivery via courier services and internet usage for business operations also increased by 77 per cent.

Updates on Government's Mitigating Measures to the Pandemic

Health-related Measures

Mr Speaker, since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, Government has developed and implemented a number of interventions expressed in the National COVID-19 Emergency Preparedness and Response Plan (EPRP I & II); and the National Strategic COVID-19 Response Plan: July, 2020 - December, 2024.

Mr Speaker, these plans and related interventions provided a comprehensive framework to mobilise and disburse funds which have proved vital to the success of the national containment and case management measures. Since Ghana recorded its first two cases on 12th March, 2020, the Ghana Health Service has conducted 1,416,952 tests as of 25th July, 2021, with a cumulative positivity rate of 7.3 per cent.

Mr Speaker, Ghana implemented the COVID-19 vaccination campaign as part of the containment strategy and has developed the National Deployment and Vaccination Plan (NDVP). It is planned that 20 million Ghanaians will be vaccinated in order to achieve herd immunity.

Mr Speaker, we have upgraded our national, regional and district cold chain facilities to widen our access to vaccines like Pfizer and Moderna that requires -700C cold chains. These include 16 ultra-low cold freezers, 58 units of ultra-low freezers, 50 normal vaccine refrigerators, 300 boxes to be filled with ice packs, 300 ice packed freezers, 10 cold chain vans and 120 temperature monitoring devices.

Government has also committed to providing seed funding of US$25 million towards the development of the country's capacity to produce vaccines domestically. This will be achieved through the establishment of a National Vaccine Institute.

Coronavirus Alleviation Programme Business Support (CAPBuSS)

Mr Speaker, the pandemic further threatened our efforts to tackle discrimination and inequality against women, since the sectors are hard-
Mr Speaker, our pledge on Continuity has also driven us to 1:40 p.m.
hit by the crisis, like tourism, hospitality and small-scale retailing all, employ a large number of women. It is important to note that, Ghana was one of the few countries in the world that devised a plan to ensure that the impact of the pandemic on MSMEs will be minimised. Through the Ghana Enterprises Agency (GEA), formerly National Board for Small Scale Industries (NBSSI), a number of programmes were implemented to minimise the impact of the pandemic and also to support in the realisation of the Government's vision of diversity, inclusivity and job creation.
Under the GH¢600 million Coronavirus Alleviation Programme Business Support (CAPBuSS), a total amount of GH¢520,111,918.67 had been disbursed to 299,490 to MSME beneficiaries between May, 2020 and June, 2021. For the 299,490 beneficiaries who benefited under the Coronavirus Alleviation Programme Business Support Scheme (CAP Buss), 60 per cent of the beneficiaries were women-owned businesses or MSMEs.
The intervention unlocked access to finance mainly to women who would not have been able to access funds to support and build their businesses. Technical Support was also provided in the form of training
in Entrepreneurship and Financial Management to 15,748 beneficiaries across Ghana, with about 67 per cent being females. Over 740,000 jobs have been protected and a database of 914,000 MSMEs has been created to inform policy.
Support was also given to specific sectors such as the Creative Arts, Media, and the Private Education to enable them continue to offer key services in the peak of the pandemic. As at the end of June 2021, a total of GH¢52,293,093.00 has been disbursed to 29,698 beneficiaries within the creative arts industry.
Additionally, 5,410 private schools, universities and associations within the educational sector received a total of GH¢41,211,577.

Social Interventions

Electricity Subsidies

Mr Speaker, to sustain the quality of life for Ghanaians during this pandemic, Government subsidised the cost for various categories of household and industrial electricity consumption from April to December, 2020. Altogether, 4,772,512 customers benefited from the electricity reliefs for the period. The

policy however, continued for lifeline customers from January to March,

2021.

Water Subsidies

Mr Speaker, as part of Government's social interventions for the supply of free water under the COVID-19 initiatives, the Ministry of Sanitation and Water Resources partnered the Ghana Water Company Limited (GWCL) and Community Water and Sanitation Agency (CWSA) to ensure the full realisation of the objective. The programme started in April 2020, and was extended to June 2021, for domestic consumers whose monthly consumption does not exceed 5000 litres.

In all, over 10 million urban dwellers were supplied with potable water by GWCL from April to December, 2020. This initiative currently supplies free water to a total of over 2.3 million urban domestic dwellers whose monthly consumption does not exceed 5000 litres with potable water at a cumulative cost of GH¢836.82 million.

Mr Speaker, CWSA on the other hand supplied 17.92 billion litres of potable water to rural and peri-urban population of 5.81 million at a total

cost of GH¢100.28 million between April, 2020 to June, 2021.

COVID-19 National Trust Fund

Mr Speaker, the COVID-19 National Trust Fund was set up under Act 1013 to receive and manage contributions and donations from well-meaning individuals, groups and corporate bodies.

As at 30 th June, 2021, the COVID-19 National Trust Fund had received a total amount of GH¢57.15 million in cash donations. These donations were made between the period of April, 2020 and March, 2021. As at 30th June, 2021, the Fund had disbursed an amount of GH¢52,501,540.44, for various programmes and for the procurement of items.

Global Advocacy

Mr Speaker, the COVID-19 pandemic has forced Africa into a liquidity crisis that needs to be reversed. At the just ended 2021 AfDB Annual Meeting held in Accra, African Finance Ministers were in consensus that the current global financial architecture which was designed about 75 years ago without Africa has become less responsive to Africa's liquidity and financing needs and is no longer fit for the purpose. Africa cannot truly rise unless there is

a tectonic shift in the global financial architecture to support it. To this end, African Finance Ministers have commenced global advocacy for the IMF to on-lend between 25-30 per cent of its new SDR 650 billion to Africa.

We are also advocating for the establishment of the African Stability Mechanism and the African Liquidity and Sustainability Facility (LSF). Akin to the European Stability Mechanism, the African Stability Mechanism will protect the continent against external shocks by providing instant emergency access to financial assistance for countries in financial difficulty. The Liquidity & Sustainability Facility (LSF) could also underwrite a more effective market in African debt that reduces the high liquidity premium African countries pay for sustainability-linked investments.

Implementation of Ghana CARES (Obaatanpa) Programme

Mr Speaker, with every crisis, the need to re-structure and diversify the economy becomes imperative. The recent experience of the COVID-19 pandemic, with its disruptive impact on global and regional value chains has once again highlighted the need to build a transformed Ghana Beyond Aid.

It is for this reason that in November 2020, Government launched the audacious GH¢100 billion Ghana COVID-19 Alleviation and Revitalisation of Enterprises Support (Ghana CARES) ‘Obaatanpa' Programme. The first phase of the programme also known as the “Stabilisation Phase” was implemented between July - December, 2020. It alleviated the immediate impact of COVID-19 on our economy and restored normalcy in the lives and livelihoods of Ghanaians through:

Substantially subsidised water and electricity costs;

hot meals and food packages distributed to vulnerable and underprivileged persons;

Increased allocation for the CAP-Business Support Scheme to support MSMEs;

GH¢2 billion Guarantee Scheme established to support large business;

Established skills training programmes in collaboration with Social Partners and FBOs; and

Passage of urgent legislation to enforce COVID-19 safety protocols.
Mr Speaker, our pledge on Continuity has also driven us to 1:50 p.m.


Mr Speaker, since the turn of this year, we have been purposefully pursuing the second phase of the Ghana CARES Obaatanpa programme to revitalise the economy and set it on track for transformation. As already articulated, our approach under this programme is to revitalise the private sector in targeted sectors to fast-track competitive import substitution, export expansion and the creation of decent jobs for our youth in a commercial environment that is increasingly regionally integrated.

We have operationalised a well- thought-out implementation and coordination framework with a functional and staffed Ghana CARES Coordinating Office within the Ministry of Finance. Additionally, the Ghana CARES Delivery Units (including sector specialists from the Private Sector) have been activated in all participating MDAs.

Implementation compacts that outline the most critical interventions for 2021, delivery and reporting arrangements as well as commitments by MoF and participating MDAs have been signed. The participating MDAs include MoFA, MoTI, MESTI, MoCD, MoTAC, GIPC, and GRA.

Mr Speaker, in line with our commitment to a functioning financial ecosystem, under the Ghana CARES ‘Obaatanpa' programme we are establishing the building blocks for stronger network of institutions to support business and entrepreneurship, including Development Bank of Ghana (DBG) GIRSAL, the Ghana Commodity Exchange (GCX), Venture Capital Trust Fund (VCTF) and the recently established Ghana Enterprises Agency. This network of institutions will anchor a new age of entrepreneurship, job creation and wealth building for our post-COVID transformation.

Mr Speaker, to modernise our agricultural sector, we are investing in initiatives that will improve production and productivity in the rice, poultry, soybean, and tomato sub-sectors this year. The recent engagement with all the value-chain actors in these sub- sectors has sharpened the focus of investments in a holistic manner. We are therefore providing interest rate subsidies, facilitating equipment acquisition, linking markets and producers as well as promoting relevant research in these sub-sectors. The youth are being supported this year to become out-growers to anchor farmers and boost their participation in commercial farming.

Mr Speaker, The Ghana CARES ‘Obaatanpa' programme is providing

catalytic support to drive efficiency and improve outputs in the agricultural sector by investing in data and digital technology. These technologies would revolutionise the targeting of inputs such as seed inputs, extension services and acquisition of land for commercial farming.

Additionally, the programme would support the reform of the fertiliser subsidy system using digital technology to make it more efficient and less prone to smuggling. This would be achieved by registering farmers for improved targeting. The registration will provide information on farmers' bio data, crops cultivated, acreage, digital location of farms to track seed and fertiliser subsidy programme. By the end of February, 2022, 1.2 million farmers will be registered.

Mr Speaker, accelerated expansion of Ghana's light manufacturing is a focus under Ghana CARES ‘Obaatanpa' programme. Government is delivering dedicated support to expand the production capacity of our pharmaceutical, garments and textiles industries as well as the processing capacity of our agro-processors to increase exports and create additional jobs.

Specific interventions include support for the establishment of a cassava processing plant, provision of technical assistance to the garment and textile industries as well as the pharmaceutical industries. Key pharmaceutical manufacturing companies are being supported to upgrade their operations to attain Good Manufacturing Practice Standards and benefit from the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA). Additionally, Government is working feverishly to establish a garment industrial park in Dawa which will boost exports and create additional jobs under the Ghana CARES Obaatanpa programme.

Mr Speaker, rapid acquisition of capabilities to manufacture machine tools to support industrialisation is a major priority under the Ghana CARES Obaatanpa programme. Govern-ment, under MESTI, has therefore established the foundry for the fabrication of tools and is in the process of identifying a suitable private sector operator to manage the foundry. We are also providing incentives to the private sector to manufacture key agricultural implements and prototype industrial research work on a commercial basis.

Mr Speaker, we are aggressively promoting international and domestic tourism through the Ghana CARES Obaatanpa programme by
Mr Speaker, our pledge on Continuity has also driven us to 1:50 p.m.


supporting the modernisation and development of selected tourist sites. We are therefore upgrading the skill of sector operators, working to reduce the cost of doing business and improving the competitiveness of enterprises in the sector, as well as transforming targeted tourist beaches to increase patronage such as in Sakumono, Axim, Elmina.

Mr Speaker, in support of Government's agenda to provide sustainable and completed affordable housing, we are providing funds to the National Homeownership Fund (NMF). This Fund, to be matched by participating financial institutions, will provide low blended mortgage interest rates of between 11 to 12 per cent as compared to the current market rates between 25 to 26 per cent. Through this intervention, which builds upon and expands the pilot project implemented last year, our quest to promote residential homeownership while boosting the domestic construction sector to provide more jobs, is on course.

Mr Speaker, the ‘Obaatanpa' programme Ghana CARES is providing catalytic investment for the development of communication infrastructure this year. Government is consolidating and expediting projects such as Smart Workplace, National ID, Digital Address Systems,

Land Records Digitisation, as well as virtual learning platforms to bridge the digital divide for the benefit of all citizens. Funds have been allocated to MoCAD for the establishment of digital and innovation hubs in 4 additional cities following the successful pilot of the digital and innovation hub in Accra. These hubs will eventually be expanded to all regions in subsequent years.

Mr Speaker, ongoing efforts to consolidate the fibre assets of Volta River Authority (VRA), Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG), Ghana Grid Company Limited (GRIDCo), Ghana National Gas Company Limited, Bureau of National Communication, Ghana Investment Fund for Electronic Communication (GIFEC) and others are being sustained under this programme. We are also enhancing the capacity of key institutions and improving coordination with the private sector for quality service delivery to facilitate business expansion and economic transformation.

Mr Speaker, Government is aware of the critical importance of additional revenue to finance all these initiatives that underpin our recovery and transformation agenda. Indeed, we are committed to raising our tax to GDP from the current 14 to 20 per cent as our peers in the sub-region. The Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA)

is therefore implementing a transformation agenda to block the huge leakages in key sectors of the economy. This transformation agenda is not just about mobilising more, it is equally about mobilising efficiently through technology and integrated data systems.

We have also established the Revenue Assurance and Compliance Enforcement (RACE) Initiative to complement the efforts of the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA). The remit of RACE is to identify and prevent revenue leakages while reinforcing the culture of compliance nationwide. A formal launch of this Initiative is scheduled for Monday, 2nd August

2021.

Mr Speaker, the Ghana Investment Promotion Centre (GIPC) also has a crucial role to play under the Ghana CARES ‘Obaatanpa' programme by spearheading the mobilisation of GH¢70billion in private sector investment. We are supporting GIPC to be more targeted and proactive in seeking investment into the prioritised sectors for the nation. The intentional and dedicated effort to attract global and regional brands in the likes of Twitter and Google will be leveraged to grow local enterprises.

Mr Speaker, as part of measures to mitigate the impact of unanticipated future socio-economic crisis such as the COVID-19 pandemic on Ghanaian workers, Government announced in the 2020 Mid-Year Review of Fiscal Policy about the establishment of a National Unemployment Insurance Scheme (NUIS) and Training/Retraining Programmes as part of the Ghana CARES ‘Obaatanpa' Programme.

Mr Speaker, we are currently in the design phase of the NUIS and key stakeholders are being consulted. The consultations will be scaled up to include more stakeholders and technical experts to ensure that the project design suits the Ghanaian labour market.

Mr Speaker, the implementation of the training and retraining component of the Programme has been accelerated. Government, together with Social Partners, has decided to pilot the national training and retraining programme in the two sectors that were mostly affected by the pandemic, namely the private education sector and the hospitality and tourism sector.

The “Compacts” which have been signed between the Ministry of Finance and a number of MDAs specify specific results to be achieved by the MDAs and the catalytic
Mr Speaker, our pledge on Continuity has also driven us to 2 a.m.


resources to be provided by the Ministry of Finance. Each Compact includes a clear Results Tracking Framework, with the further releases of funds tied to performance. I am happy to report that this exciting performance-based arrangement is up and running; the catalytic resources have started flowing and the MDAs are energised and getting on with their activities.

The Compacts ensure effective and timely delivery of targets under Ghana CARES for the 2021 fiscal year. It ensures predictability of and the flow of catalytic resources to the agreed interventions. We have strongly linked resources to results to facilitate optimal delivery of outputs and outcomes. Through the Compacts, we are also strengthening sustainable alliances and collaboration with private sector players and development partners for economic transformation in a post-COVID era.

Mr Speaker, Government is demonstrably committed to the nation's economic recovery and eventual transformation as envisioned by the Ghana CARES ‘Obaatanpa'programme. We are innovating new ways to get results. We are engaging all actors to secure keen participation and involvement. We are aggressively mobilising resources to deliver the programme.

The recent urgency brought to bear by our youth is appreciated. We will continue to prioritise their opportunities as a means for this transformation journey.

Other Government Interventions

Mr Speaker, the implementation of the Ghana CARES ‘Obaatanpa' programme complements the existing flagships programmes such as Free SHS, PFJ, 1D1F among others which are being rationalised to enhance the quality of life of our people and further advance our transformation agenda. To this end, the recent challenges relating to the School Feeding Programme and IPEP are being resolved.

The Employment and Jobs for our Youth

Mr Speaker, despite the generally strong performance of our economy in recent decades, the issue of employment and jobs for our youth, who constitute close to 71 per cent of our population, persists. This situation has been exacerbated by the impact of this pandemic. Taking the lesson from our recent past, we are deliberately intervening to avoid a jobless economic growth and recovery.

Mr Speaker, at the strategic level, our comprehensive and holistic

response to the employment and job issue remains anchored on the private sector. It is for this reason that Government's recovery programme and transformation agenda is easing the constraints of the private sector to enable them expand and provide jobs for the youth.

Mr Speaker, amidst this promise from these efforts, we know that key obstacles still stand in the way of the private sectors' growth and ability to absorb jobs. Prominent among these challenges is the persistent skills gap among our youth. A recent survey indicated that about 50 per cent of local employers report misalignment of or inadequacy of skills in the market. It also reports, that at least 50 per cent of new tertiary institution entrants are enrolling in programmes in sectors with no or little growth in labour market.

Mr Speaker, in response to this, we are strengthening the links between education and the job market stakeholders. We are also revitalising the skills development initiatives under the Ghana Enterprises Agency, NEIP, YEA and COTVET. We are also feverishly working on a scheme that enables the private sector to train new recruits/entrants at a subsidised rate by Government.

Mr Speaker, our intention of building an entrepreneurial nation is already known. We aim to empower our youth to be at ease and venture into business. The clean-up of the financial sector and the invigoration of the entrepreneurial eco-system is expected to help remove the binding constraints of financing and market linkage for our daring youth. Our focus will remain on establishing a strong value system for entrepreneurship to flourish.

Mr Speaker, recognising that more needs to be done, Government is today announcing a “One Million jobs initiative” to aggressively respond to the need of the country. This is to promote growth in SMEs, support new ventures, and stimulate innovation and start-ups.

Enterprise and Youth Support Fund (EYSF)

Mr Speaker, the Enterprise and Youth Support Fund, which aligns with Government's overall strategy of developing a competitive and viable private sector economy, will set up a “Youth banc” with the aim of financing youth-led start-up businesses across the country. As part of this initiative, an online investment hub will be established for youth across the
Mr Speaker, our pledge on Continuity has also driven us to 2 a.m.


country to access information for the purpose of establishing businesses. Under this initiative, it is estimated that over 100,000 jobs will be created.

Mr Speaker, the EYSF will be managed by the Venture Capital Trust Fund (VCTF), which is being revamped to be better positioned to carry out the designated activities as a Fund Manager.

Mr Speaker, we are also pursuing the “Obaatanpa” Youth Entrepre- neurship Drive, Ghana Skills and Enterprise Development Project, Student Entrepreneurship Initiative, the Youth in Community Improvement Module, and the Alternative Employment and Livelihood programmes as direct interventions in targeted sectors to help our youth live decent lives and contribute to nation building.

Mr Speaker, these interventions are clearly designed to bring us closer to confronting the jobs and employment challenges of our youth. To ensure dedicated resources, the Ministry of Finance and all participating institutions will, next month, sign an implementation compact on youth employment which will tie release of resources to delivery of results. This compact will also track youth focused initiatives across

the value chain of interventions under the Ghana CARES ‘Obaatanpa' programme.

Women-focused Interventions

Mr Speaker, our women have been disproportionately impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic through lesser earnings and savings. To advance the economic well-being of our women, Government is activating a policy to have 20 per cent of procurement awarded to women. Women would also be supported with specific capacity building programmes and will be empowered to leverage the gender-sensitive lending policies to be implemented by DBG.

Road Sector Development

Mr Speaker, H.E. the President declared 2021 as the “2nd Year of Roads” and Government prioritised roads for economic development and putting the economy back on track following the devastating effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.

From January to end of June 2021, routine maintenance was carried out on 11,174kms of the trunk road network; 5,389kms of the feeder road network; and 2,937kms of the urban road network. Additionally, periodic maintenance comprising; re- gravelling/spot improvement and resealing works were carried out in

the same period on 44kms, 167kms and 262kms of the trunk, feeder and urban road networks respectively.

Mr Speaker, works were completed on the Tema Motorway roundabout (Phase 1) in June, 2020. The phase II of the project which involves the 3rd-tier of the interchange is expected to take off by 3rd quarter, 2021. Following the completion of phase I of the Obetsebi Lamptey Circle Interchange and other ancillary works, works on phase II has started and is currently at a physical progress of 15 per cent.

In 2020, works were also started on the La Beach Road Project (Lots 1 & 2) which involves improving capacity along the Accra Tema Beach Road and the construction of a 3-tier interchange at Nungua Barrier. Physical progress for Lot 1 and Lot 2 is 13 per cent and 11 per cent respectively.

Physical progress of works on the Kumasi Lake Roads and Drainage Extension projects is 73 per cent complete as at the end of June, 2021.

The construction of 7No. bridges: Kulun, Garu (2No.), Ambalara, Kulungugu, Doninga and Sissili in the Northern Region were completed. In addition, works were completed on

13No. Spanish Bridges located in Detsebu, Dayi, Tsawoea, Alabo, Osiem, Birim, Akora, Osene, Okyi, Bukam, Linkale and Mogli. Works on 5No. Belgium Bridges are nearing completion with 4No. launched and 1No. at sub-structure level. Overall progress is 70 per cent as at the end of June, 2021.

Mr Speaker, works began in 2020 for the construction of 50No. bridges nationwide aimed at improving connectivity within areas cut-off by waterways. The first batch of 21 steel bridge components have arrived in the country. Works have started on 14No. sub-structures and 3No. were completed.

Government has awarded contracts for the implementation of 84No. critical regional and inter- regional road projects with an estimated length of 2,237.51kms at a cost of GH¢7,839 million.

Security

Mr Speaker, even though Ghana remains a pillar of stability in the region, the sub-regional security situation continues to be rather volatile. Terrorist threats and general cross-border security issues are becoming increasingly imminent in view of the continuous terrorist attacks in the Sahel Region and
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particularly from Mali and Burkina Faso.

In particular, the southward drift of the activities of violent extremists, terrorists and pirates in the Gulf of Guinea (GoG) have become more widespread, frequent and deadly, with the underlying dynamics growing increasingly complex and posing high risks to littoral countries. There were as many as 5,845 fatalities to terrorist related activities in 2020, a 21 per cent increase in the 2019 figure of 4,825 in the West African Sub- Region.

Mr Speaker, it has become imperative to address the existing vulnerabilities, and intensify pre- emptive, preventive and counter measures to any potential threats to our security and sovereignty in the light of the risk of the sub-region suffering from the contagion effects in the short to medium term.

Following an assessment of the threat on the Northern border of the country, Government has deployed a robust pre-emptive and preventive response along the border. Plans are underway to install state-of-the-art ground and air integrated intelligence infrastructure, upgraded immigration border cabins at the major entry points, and integration of

communications infrastructure which will be reinforced by heavy military deployment with ground and air support in the short term.

Mr Speaker, Government has revamped and retooled the Ghana Boundary Commission since the beginning of 2021 to undertake its strategic mandate of determining and demarcating the land boundaries and the delimitation of maritime boundaries of Ghana in accordance with accepted principles of international law. Government will further support the Ghana Boundary Commission to enhance their operations to ensure that our land and maritime boundaries with our neighbouring countries are secured and protected.

Mr Speaker, we are also working to further retool the intelligence agencies through the deployment of enhanced intelligence infrastructure to ensure that the intelligence agencies are able to effectively provide early warning as well as targeted responses to any envisaged threat.

Mr Speaker, Ghana continues to demonstrate leadership on sub regional security issues, coordinated through the Accra Initiative, which serves as a coordinating and intelligence sharing platform with neighbouring countries with the objective of preventing spill over of

terrorist activities from the Sahel, and to address transnational organised crime and violent extremism in member countries' border areas. The countries forming the initiative are Benin, Burkina Faso, La Cote d'Ivoire, Ghana, Mali, Niger and Togo.

Retooling of the GAF

Various equipment were acquired for GAF in an effort to retool them to enhance their combat and operational capabilities. Pick-ups, SUVs, trucks, high occupancy buses, ambulances and armoured personnel carriers have been added to the inventory of the GAF over the period. Government will continue to retool the Military to ensure combat readiness towards emerging security threats.

Construction of a Forward Operating Base (FOB)

His Excellency the President cut the sod on 16th December, 2019, to commence the construction of a Forward Operating Base (FOB) at Ezinlibo close to the Western border to protect the country's oil, gas and other natural resources. The FOB will improve the Navy's response time to the oil fields at the western border. The project also includes acquisition of high-speed phantom boats and

associated equipment. Work is progressing steadily.

Government aims to establish 15 FOBs across the country, 8 of which will be in the northern part of Ghana, to prevent cross border crimes and terrorist infiltration.

Ghana Infrastructure Investment Fund

Mr Speaker, the Ghana Infrastructure Investment Fund (GIIF) was established to mobilise, manage, coordinate and provide financial resources for investment in infrastructural projects and ease the burden of quasi-public debt on our budget.

Over the last decade, we have witnessed an increasing trend where Sovereign Funds have been deployed as catalysts for growth and development in emerging markets such as Asia and the Middle East. This is also beginning to be adopted in Africa, and the Government of Ghana intends to allow GIIF to increasingly play a similar role for Ghana.

Government intends to reduce our infrastructural gap by enabling GIIF to drive sizeable but economically viable infrastructural projects to conclusion, which will also create
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additional fiscal space for the Government to operate in.

As such, we have nominated GIIF as the vehicle to be used to restructure and refinance expensive debt of the Independent Power Producers in the energy sector as well as take equity positions in some cases to help reduce the fiscal burden of over-capacity charges we have been left with. Negotiations with several of the Independent Power Producers are in their final stages. Government also intends to use GIIF as a vehicle, under the Ghana CARES ‘Obaatanpa' programme to drive our structural transformation through funding for critical infrastructure such as Agenda 111, quality and affordable housing, improved rail and road networks and ICT infrastructure.

We have therefore revised the Earmarked Funds Act to allow a 20 per cent increase in the allocation of ABFA capex to GIIF for the funding of Agenda 111 and other development expenditures.

Update on Agenda 111

Mr Speaker, on the 26th of April, 2020, His Excellency, the President, as part of his eighth address to the nation on Government's efforts to combat the Coronavirus pandemic,

laid out an ambitious plan to tackle Ghana's health infrastructural deficit and restore the country on the path of achieving economic and social transformation.

This transformational project, now dubbed Agenda 111 will require that Government constructs:

101 standard district hospitals with accommodation for doctors and nurses;

6 new regional hospitals in the 6 new regions;

1 regional hospital for the Western Region;

Rehabilitation of Effia-Nkwanta Hospital in the Western region;

Constructing 2 new psychiatric hospitals; and

Construction of a new Accra Psychiatric hospital.

The objective is to use a local team comprising Ghanaian consultants, project managers and construction firms. It is envisaged that upon the successful completion of the Agenda 111 Project, Ghanaians across the country will experience a marked

improvement in access to health care and productivity.

Mr Speaker, Government has engaged over twenty (20)local consulting firms through a Lead Project Consultant to provide Architectural/Engineering Designs and Project Management support towards the execution of this all important project. As is typical with such sizeable infrastructure/ construction assignments, Agenda 111 will be implemented in two phases.

Phase 1 involves the engagement of relevant consultants, survey and inspection of the proposed sites, feasibility studies, geotechnical studies, concept drawing, preparation of detailed drawings, BOQ's, specifications, contract documents, processing of the necessary permits and documentation and others.

Mr Speaker, an important project such as the Agenda 111 requires extensive preparation and due diligence. We are confident and happy with the level of detail and attention that has gone into the pre- contract works which will ensure that the construction phase will be executed on time and without a hitch due to the amount of preparation done.

Rehabilitation and Expansion of the Sunyani Airport

Mr Speaker, the rehabilitation and expansion of the Sunyani Airport aligns with Government's policy objective to have, at least an operational aerodrome/airstrip in each of the regions in the country. The rehabilitation and expansion will adequately address the current operational challenges and propel business and industrial growth in the Bono Region and its catchment areas.

Mr Speaker, the expansion is also to serve the growing demand for domestic air transport by adding capacity to also cater for international passengers. The phase II development will extend the existing runway to a minimum length of 1900 meters inclusive of RESA. This expansion will allow airlines operating with Bombardier Regional Jet CRJ- 200 and Boeing 737-700/AIRBUS
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A-320 to be operated safely on the airport. In addition, the existing terminal building will undergo expansion and remodelling to make space for all necessary facilitation and create clear separation of arrival and departure operations.

Lands and Mining

Mr Speaker, the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources, in line with the President's vision has held a national dialogue, followed by two regional dialogues on small scale mining. Following this, several measures are being put in place to build a sustainable, viable and responsible small scale mining industry that protects the national environment. The Ministry will beef up the personnel and other logistics of the Inspectorate Division of the Minerals Commission to undertake strict monitoring and enforcement of our mining laws.

On lands, the Lands Commission has commenced the process of regional education and sensitisation on the new Land Act of 2020 (Act 1036). Efforts to protect forests and recover lost ones have included the Green Ghana Project, which saw the planting of over five million (5,000,000) trees on June 11, 2021, (the Green Ghana Day); the outright

ban on the harvesting and exportation of rosewood; and the declaration of forest reserves as Red Zones for mining.

Mr Speaker, while continuing with these initiatives, the Ministry intends for the rest of the year to undertake the following projects:

i. Digitisation of the Records of the Lands Commission

Mr Speaker, digitisation of records on lands will reduce the time for registration to a maximum of one month. The digitisation will also be a step forward towards the implementation of the electronic conveyancing introduced by the Land Act. With these interventions, Government seeks to develop an efficient, robust, land administration anchored on integrity, which responds to the needs of the citizenry and contributes to the development of the national economy.

ii. Alternative Employment and Livelihood Programmes for Illegal Small-Scale Miners

Mr Speaker, as part of our efforts to create jobs for young people, Government will, in the coming weeks, launch a National Alternative Employment and Livelihood Programmes for illegal small-scale

miners affected by the activities of Operation Halt II.

This programme will be anchored on six main interventions namely; National Land Reclamation and Re- afforestation; Agricultural and Agro- processing; Apprenticeship, Skills Training and Entrepreneurship; Responsible, Viable and Sustainable Community Mining; Mine Support Services and Community Enhance- ment Projects. These initiatives will target mainly illegal miners displaced by the ongoing efforts to sanitise the mining industry. Government recognises the need to protect our environment, just as it finds it necessary to provide alternative employment and livelihoods for our compatriots who will inevitably fall through the cracks.

We are determined to ensure the responsible or sustainable exploitation of the lands and natural resources of our country.

Energy

Mr Speaker, the COVID-19 pandemic has amplified the campaign for a transition away from fossil fuels. Given the prevailing sentiments around energy transition, there is a strong possibility that Ghana may be left with stranded assets, unless we accelerate

our exploration activities and develop a home-grown strategy to extract our fossil fuels.

As such, GNPC is looking at opportunities for its subsidiary, GNPC Explorco, to acquire such assets and become an operator in its own right to ensure the expeditious development of our hydrocarbon resources. The new strategy may require an amendment or revision of the PRMA to allow GNPC enter into some Reserve-Based Lending (RBL) transactions in order to be able to raise the required financing to consummate these acquisitions and to finance the exploration and development of such fields without having to rely primarily on GoG for funding.

Mr Speaker, to that extent, GNPC has already identified some major potential acquisition targets of offshore blocks and has entered into discussions with the shareholders with an aim to acquiring a controlling equity stake and eventually becoming the operator through Explorco. We shall always come back to the House with any agreements once concluded.

Sustainable Bonds

Mr Speaker, the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) calls for urgent action by all
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countries aimed at encouraging sustained economic growth underpinned by social, economic and environmental sustainability - a blueprint for peace and prosperity for people and the planet, now and in the future.

Accordingly, the Government of Ghana recognises that we must be at the forefront and promote the building blocks for an inclusive and sustainable recovery. Our focus remains to move urgently towards opportunities and solutions that achieve sustainable and broad-based economic growth without harming our climate or leaving hundreds of millions of families in poverty.

As such, Government has commenced discussions with international organisations such as the World Economic Forum (WEF) to identify the SDG financing gap and develop a roadmap to attract innovative finance to close the gap, for the attainment of the SDGs by 2030. Ghana and Switzerland have also agreed on a roadmap for 50m tonnes of carbon capture.

Globally, the international capital market is moving its financing appetite towards sustainable initiatives that support such goals. Ghana is also keen on positioning itself to benefit from this desire to provide such

financing by developing an ESG framework which would allow proceeds raised or an amount equivalent to such proceeds raised to be used to financing or refinance eligible green and sustainable projects such as renewable energy, health and education related infrastructure, amongst others.

Collaboration with Faith-Based Organisations

Mr Speaker, our partnership with the FBOs has directly and indirectly benefited over 46,000 and 100,000 trainees respectively, in fashion, catering, cosmetology, electronics, soft business and managerial skills. Efforts are being made to roll out the next phase by end of the third quarter. We continue to count on our FBO partners to sensitise and ensure adherence to the life-saving mask- wearing, social distancing and enhanced hygiene protocols within our communities.

State of the National Cathedral

Mr Speaker, work on the National Cathedral is progressing speedily, and following the programme of the contractors, and with the help of God, the National Cathedral is expected to be officially commissioned on March 6, 2024. Upon completion, the National Cathedral would provide a sacred space for formal religious

activities of State and symbolise the enormous contribution of faith to nation building.

Mr Speaker, the State-Church partnership envisaged by the President to develop the National Cathedral is on course. An initiative, the GH¢100- a-Month Club, also dubbed ketewa biara nsua will be launched by the trustees of the National Cathedral on 12th August, 2021, to give as many Ghanaians as possible, the opportunity to be part of the history to build the National Cathedral. The aim of the club is to raise one million Ghanaians who will give GH¢100 a month for the construction of the National Cathedral. A special short code — *979# — has been developed for this purpose. We look forward to Mr Speaker and all the Members of this august House joining the — GH¢100-a-Month-Club.

Message to the Youth

Mr Speaker with your permission, may I convey a special message from H.E. the President to the young people of our beloved country.

The last couple of years have not been easy for our young people. Your education has been disrupted; for many of you, your business plans are on hold because of lack of funding or opportunities. You may have lost your

job or are simply tired of joining long queues or filling job application forms for vacancies that are filled even before your ink is dry. But we have a message for you: big opportunities are coming, and the President wants you to be part of that.

The President is determined to see as many of you having the opportunity to help shape our future. We value your input, and even as we roll out programmes to support you, we will continue to engage you.

Now, more than ever, we need to create a large pool of employment opportunities for the growing number of young Ghanaians, who now have increased access to education. At the heart of the policies outlined in today's statement is the rolling out of various programmes to build an economy that allows you to unleash the wealth and breadth of your energies.

Your President believes in the power of constructive collective action. Together we can ensure that yesterday's problems are tackled today so that we do not carry them on to the next generation. As the Great American, Franklin D Roosevelt, once said,

“the only limit to our realisation of tomorrow will be our doubts
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of today”. We must confront the spirit of doubt and face our fears in faith.

Mr Speaker, today, we have announced key job creation and entrepreneurship interventions such as the YouBanC product, and a host of other Government interventions that target young people. These should enable us to connect applicants to the appropriate job opportunities or provide assistance to allow applicants to confidently start their own businesses and take full advantage of the supportive ecosystem we have put in place.

So, to the young people of Ghana, let me stress to you that our policies are not simply about the next election, even as we persevere to break the proverbial eight. But more importantly, it is about empowering this generation for them also to prepare a brighter Ghana for the next generation. Our responsibility as your government is not just about responding to the judgment of our critics today, but to the judgment of posterity.

Conclusion

Mr Speaker, it has been almost sixteen (16) months since 11th March, 2020, when the World Health

Organisation declared the COVID- 19 a pandemic. However, as a country, we have reason to be optimistic and hopeful. Based on key indicators, we are on track to recovering from the most difficult crisis in the post-war era. In the next few months, the Ministry of Health aims to embark on an aggressive vaccination programme, which we are confident will help us achieve herd immunity and break the chain of infection in our nation.

Mr Speaker, we are only in the seventh month of the second four year mandate of the Government of President Akufo-Addo and the New Patriotic Party. Ghanaians renewed our mandate because they recognised that the difficult crisis that the country and the world, as a whole, were facing as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic required competent and bold leadership, which we have proved and will continue to provide under the decisive leadership of H.E. President Nana Akufo-Addo.

Mr Speaker, permit me to say with all the confidence that I can muster, that the President's promise to leave at the end of his term in January 2025, a legacy of a proud and confident nation at peace with itself and the world around it, is on course. We are pushing the boundaries of our economic activity and doing so right
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from the centre of a fast integrating single market for the continent of Africa. If we stay on course, Mr Speaker, a few years from now, within this decade, Ghana's strategic place at the centre of the African Continental Free Trade Area of one billion consumers and some US$2.5 trillion GDP and growing, will become a reality.
The policies of this government, in education, in infrastructural development, in industrialisation, in fast-tracking digital technologies, in strengthening the financial services sector, in foreign diplomacy, are all being deliberately pursued and synchronised to get this generation to establish Sub-Saharan Africa's first independent nation, Ghana, as the commercial and investment centre for Africa.
We began by setting the country on a transformational track back in 2017 with our bold vision of a Ghana Beyond Aid. The recovery is on; we are back on track, despite the pandemic. The plan of the President is to achieve, from this year, a strong and sustainable recovery of the economy.
Mr Speaker, our pillars of recovery in 2021 have been built on the strategy of completion, consolidation
and continuity. We choose to be bold in crafting a 2021 Budget that deals with the past, delivers opportunities in the present, while investing in the future in a responsible and interconnected manner. Specifically, in 2021, we aim at:
a. COVID-19 containment measures, including vaccination;
b. creating jobs, promoting entrepreneurship and wealth creation;
c. developing our infrastructure, with priority focus on roads, railways, water and sanitation, hospitals and housing;
d. diversifying productivity and high-value services;
e. implementing bold reforms to increase revenue mobilisation and the efficiency of public expenditure;
f. deepening structural reforms to make the machinery of Government work better for the people; and
g. rolling out digital technologies (e.g. National ID, Digital Address System, Payment Systems, Interoperability,

Land Title Registration, Ghana.Gov etc.) to improve service delivery.

Mr Speaker, the deliberate strategy of the Akufo-Addo Government to invest in digital infrastructure and get Ghana fully plugged into the global ecosystem of digital technologies has been further vindicated by the COVID-19 crisis. The pandemic has heightened the need for digital technology in our homes, for schools, for work and even leisure. That is why today, Ghana is at the forefront of using digital technology to expand access to finance and financial products for all Ghanaians.

Digitalisation is making the delivery of services more efficient, diversifying production and boosting productivity. In the process, it is creating new and better paid jobs for the young people of Ghana. Critical to all this, is access to affordable high-speed internet. Government is doing what it is needed to support the telecommunications industry to deliver on this.

Mr Speaker, we are making the necessary investments to empower our people and enhance the quality of their lives. Our strategy as Government is to use all the human and natural resources of our country

in a sustainable and efficient manner to improve the quality of life of every Ghanaian. That is why, in this Mid- Year Fiscal Policy Review, we have clearly outlined our strategy for economic revitalisation and transformation.

We have shown that:

a. We are on track towards a fiscal consolidation through our prudent measures;

b. we are on track to consolidate our flagship programmes to improve the welfare of our people;

c. we are on track in supporting commercial farming for food security and export expansion;

d. we are on track in building a strong light manufacturing sector in Ghana, with catalytic financial and technical support;

e. we are on track towards deploying digital technologies to enhance delivery of public service;

f. we are on track with our agenda to positioning Ghana

as a Regional Hub for investments in agro-business, Information Communication Technology (ICT), manufacturing, education, health service delivery, financial services, petrochemical industry, transportation and logistics, and aviation, among others;

g. we are on track to opening the doors of the Development Bank of Ghana to finance Ghanaian businesses and enterprises through the strengthening of Ghanaian financial institutions; and

h. we are on track towards improving the security and safety of our people.

Our journey to recovery and transformation recognises that the solutions to our challenges lies primarily with ourselves and that, with purposeful leadership and a determined people, we shall surely overcome. Our appreciation of our shared responsibility between Government and the governed; our acceptance of the principle of rendering unto Caesar what belongs to Caesar; and our appetite to see more, all that is good in us as Ghanaians, and focus more on that

which is constructive as against that which dampens our spirit, is what I will beg of all of us to dwell on the more. Dwell on our positives for they are more than our negatives.

With purpose, we have laid-out our recovery and revitalisation plan in the GH¢100 billion Ghana CARES ‘Obaatanpa' Programme. This programme is anchored on our faith in the inherent capacity of Ghanaian, both at home and abroad, to succeed. It is also anchored on a stronger partnership with the domestic private sector, employers, organised labour, foreign investors, faith-based organisations and our development partners.

By the Grace of God, with the resilience of the Ghanaian people and the competent management by this Government, our progress is assured.

Mr Speaker, just seven days ago, 14 Ghanaians began a journey to raise high the flag of Ghana at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. Their success is our success and so we should continue to keep them in our thoughts and prayers.

Mr Speaker, together as a people, we are on track to a strong economic recovery in 2021. Together, we are
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recovering from the devastations caused by this pandemic and intervening in diverse areas to enable our people thrive. But, we are not yet there. New upside risks are beginning to emerge as latest health statistics show that the COVID-19 infections are beginning to rise again. As the President remarked on Sunday:

“At a time when the economy is on the rebound, and business activities picking up, we must do everything possible to contain this outbreak. We cannot afford to return to the days of partial lockdowns, which brought considerable hardships and difficulties for all of us.”

Let us be each other's keeper. Observe the COVID-19 protocols that have served us so well, especially the wearing of face masks.

Mr Speaker, we must have a national conversation in which we pursue peace and eschew nihilism; where we build each up, and not tear each apart. Let us work with wisdom and skill. Let us see ourselves as peacemakers, salt of the earth and light of the world. So that, our collective leadership and shared sacrifices in this polarised world shall

be a blessing to our nation and as an example to the rest.

As is written at the UN, ‘the wolf and the lamb will feed together and the lion will eat straw like ox and dust will be the serpent's food. They will neither harm nor destroy on all my holy mountain, says the Lord' (Isaiah

65:25).

Mr Speaker, before I resume my seat, allow me to convey the heartfelt gratitude of the President for the support this august House continues to extend to him and his government. So far, this House has shown that we can debate and disagree on many issues and yet remain true and united on the main goal of advancing the general well-being of our people and the deepening of our democracy.

Mr Speaker, I beg to move.

[Hear!] [Hear!] --
Mr First Deputy Speaker 2:30 p.m.
Hon Members, Order!
In accordance with Standing Order 140(3), comments on the Budget Review Statement shall stand adjourned for not less than three days but I will defer to Leadership for guidance on this matter.
Mr Haruna Iddrisu 2:30 p.m.
Mr Speaker, we have heard the Hon Minister for Finance. I am not here to ask for money because we do not drink water from an empty calabash so, we can understand why he is not here to ask for money. When there are no Boards, Chief Executives and District Chief Executives in place, what would he ask for more money for?
Mr Speaker, I will only remind him that as for farmers who want fertiliser, it is seasonal, if we do not give them their fertiliser now, we lose the opportunity. So, the thigh is not in a haste for a dance that ensues the day. We will stand adjourned if that is the wish of the Hon Majority Leader so that tomorrow till Monday, we will comment and debate thoroughly on it.
I am very convinced that it is the hope of the Hon Minister and that of the President now is debt relief and forgiveness to rescue this economy. So, we can move a motion for adjournment.
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 2:30 p.m.
Mr Speaker, what the substantive Hon Minister for Finance -- [Laughter] -- has done is to relay to Parliament, the progress as the budget cycle is unfolding.
Mr Speaker, technically, this is indeed, a statement of information to this House to the extent that the Hon
Minister is not coming with a request for additional expenditure. That is the essence of this and a Mid-Year Review is a statement of information to this House, we can comment on the statement and not a matter for debate. [Uproar] --
Hon Members should understand the procedure in this House. As for comments, they could spice their comments with whatever they deemed appropriate, but the Speaker who is the moderator will be the person to bring you on track if we go astray.
Mr Speaker, having said so, to the extent that the Hon Minister is telling you that we are staying on track and nothing strenuous is being done outside the remit of the Budget that was presented, we can comment within the context of that framework.

Mr Speaker, to be fair to the House, we will stand the comments down in order to allow Hon Members
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 2:40 p.m.
to digest the statement that has been presented to us. As the Hon Minority Leader is indicating, this rarely invites comments from all of us but I noticed and recognised that tomorrow is Friday and we may not have too much space for comments. If it becomes necessary that the comments spill over to Monday, we can encourage that and then we will have, at least two days to comment on that. I do know that as many Hon Members as possible will want to comment on it but I think we should free space to engage in that exercise.

Mr Speaker, I want to express gratitude to you and the Hon Minister for Finance for coming with this statement of fact on Government Policy and in the fullness of time, comments would be passed by Hon Members from Both sides of this House.

Mr Speaker, with the time reading 2.42 p.m. I believe we can take a well-earned adjournment and return tomorrow at 10.00 a.m. because of our Hon Colleagues who are Muslims so that we can at least have enough time to begin the comments in earnest tomorrow.

Mr Speaker, I so submit and accordingly move that the House adjourns till tomorrow at 10.00 a.m.
Mr Haruna Iddrisu 2:40 p.m.
Mr Speaker, my task is simply to second the Motion for Adjournment, however, I want to remind the Hon Leader of Government Business that, as far as we are concerned, the Hon Minister for Finance moved a Motion therefore we look forward to comment or debate that Motion.
Mr Speaker, the absence of joy on his face and many others is what reflects in the eyes of many Ghanaians because he is not happy with the Budget Statement himself. Mr Speaker, is it an improvement of what he presented or it is a review of it?
Mr Speaker, I beg to second the Motion for Adjournment.
Mr First Deputy Speaker 2:40 p.m.
Hon Members, let me remind the House that if there are any parts of the Mid- Year Review that relates to revenue or expenditure, it shall stand committed to the Finance Committee for consideration and report.
ADJOURNMENT 2:40 p.m.
  • The House was accordingly adjourned at 2.43 p.m. till Friday, 30th July, 2021 at 10.00 a.m.