Debates of 2 Aug 2021

MR FIRST DEPUTY SPEAKER
PRAYERS 11:41 a.m.
VOTES AND PROCEEDINGS AND THE OFFICIAL REPORT 11:41 a.m.
Mr Speaker 11:41 a.m.
Hon Members, we would go straight away to the item numbered 4 - Correction of Votes and Proceedings and the Official Report. We would start with the correction of the Votes and Proceedings of Friday, 30th July,
2021.
Page 1…7 --
Mrs Angela Oforiwa Alorwu- Tay 11:41 a.m.
Mr Speaker, I am sorry to take you back to page 6 where I was marked absent on Friday, even though I was here.
Mr Speaker 11:41 a.m.
Hon Member, I was trying to locate your number, and it is item numbered 4, the number 10 on page 6. The Table Office should kindly take note.
Page 7…8 --
Dr Kingsley Nyarko 11:41 a.m.
Mr Speaker, on page 8, the item numbered 8, we have the phrase: “…The Hon Member for Asikuma/Odoben/ Brakwa…” There should be a comma after the word “Brakwa” before his name, “Alhassan Kobina” comes.
Mr Speaker 11:41 a.m.
So, your concern is about the punctuation. All right, thank you Hon Member, they would take note.
Page 9 -
Dr Kingsley Nyarko 11:41 a.m.
Mr Speaker, on page 9, the item numbered 10(i), there should be a comma after the word “December”, and in the item numbered 10 (ii), there should be the letter “s” after the word “Department”. So, it should be captured as “Ministries, Departments and Other Agencies…” Again, in the item numbered 10(iii), there should be another comma after the word “December”, and then in the item numbered (iv) also, another comma after the word “December”.
Mr Speaker, I thank you.
Mr Speaker 11:41 a.m.
The Table Office should kindly take care of the punctuations. However, for the item numbered 10(ii), the word there should be “Departments” and not “Department”.
Page10 --
Dr Kingsley Nyarko 11:41 a.m.
Mr Speaker, I would want to seek your guidance on the item numbered 14. This is because we were made to understand that the Budget Statement was not a Motion. I also heard that it should not be a debate but a Statement. However, when we look at the item numbered 14, the opening paragraph reads:
“Debate on the Motion commenced and Hon Members of the House took turns to make comments…”
Therefore, if there was not going to be a debate, then I think it should read:
“The Motion commenced and Hon Members of the House took turns to make comments…”
This is because the word “Debate” starts the sentence, but we are also told that Hon Members made comments. This makes me kind of confused.
Mr Speaker 11:41 a.m.
Hon Member, your observation is relevant, but on the issue of the Votes and Proceedings, I realised that even today, the Order Paper still captures the item that you are talking about as a Motion. So,
what the Hon Minister did was to move the Motion from the beginning, and at the end, he ended with the phrase: “I beg to move”. So, for the records of the Votes and Proceedings, they would have to capture that sense, and that is why when I took over I commented on it. That influenced the second part which talks about comments from the submission of the Hon Majority Leader and the rest of the Hon Members. Therefore it became clear that it should not have been moved as a Motion, but it is still on the Order Paper as a Motion. So, at the end of the day, we would take the right decision for people to understand. However, it is still a Motion because the House has not taken any decision different from that but at the end of the day, we would rectify it. So, your comment is well noted.
Page11 --
Mr Patrick Banor 11:51 a.m.
Mr Speaker, page 11 reads,
“The House was adjourned till Monday next …”.
The word “week” is omitted. It should read,
“The House was adjourned till Monday next week at ten o'clock in the forenoon”.

believe you did not get the sense right. “The House was adjourned till Monday next...”. That is the next Monday from Friday.
Dr Kingsley Nyarko 11:51 a.m.
Please, on the same adjournment, the first line should read, “And at thirty-eight minutes”, and not “And at a thirty- eight minutes”. Therefore, the word “a” must be deleted.
Mr Speaker 11:51 a.m.
That is right. The word “a” should be deleted to read “And at thirty-eight minutes after two o'clock in the forenoon”. Clerks-at- the-Table, kindly take note.
Page 12 --
Dr Kingsley Nyarko 11:51 a.m.
Mr Speaker, this correction is on punctuation. Item numbered 1 reads “Opening. The Committee met on Wednesday 28th, July, 2021 …”. There should be a comma after “Wednesday”.
Mr Speaker 11:51 a.m.
It is noted.
Mr Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa 11:51 a.m.
Mr Speaker, on page 12, item numbered 1(i)(a) should be
“The Head of the National Cardiothoracic Centre”.
The word “National” is omitted. That is the proper title of the centre.
It should be consistent with what has been captured in item numbered 3(viii) on page 13 so it should be “The Head of the National Cardiothoracic Centre” for consistency.
Mr Speaker 11:51 a.m.
Clerks-at-the- Table, kindly take note. It is in item numbered 1(i) on page 12 under “Korle Bu Teaching Hospital”.
Page 13, 14 --
Mr Ablakwa 11:51 a.m.
Mr Speaker, this being a House of record, we have consistently said that when we receive guests and we capture their names, it is important that the roles they play with their organisations are stated. We only have where they work and that is it, but when you look at the staff of the Parliamentary Service, from item numbered 3(xviii), everybody's specific role is indicated. However, above that, we just have “Radiology Department”, “CSIR”, “Korle- Bu Teaching Hospital”, and we are not told who does what. It does not help us as a House of record.
Mr Speaker 11:51 a.m.
Clerks to Committees, kindly take all these details, not just where they come from but also the positions they hold in those Departments and Agencies. It is necessary for our records.
Hon Members, in the absence of any further corrections, the Votes and Proceedings of Friday, 30th July, 2021, as corrected, is hereby adopted as the true record of proceedings.
Unless otherwise requested by Leadership, we would take item numbered 5, which is Urgent Questions.
Mr Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 11:51 a.m.
Mr Speaker, if I may, I would want to plead that we alter the Business of the day to allow the Papers listed to be presented to the House before we go to Question time.
Mr Speaker 11:51 a.m.
The Hon Majority Leader has requested that we alter the Business as arranged on the Order Paper, and move to item numbered 10, which is on the Motion that was moved by the Hon Minister for Finance to continue with the debate.
Mr Haruna Iddrisu 11:51 a.m.
Mr Speaker, my understanding as I walked in and listened to the Hon Majority Leader is for us to have Presentation of Papers, so, we could go to Commencement of Public Business as you have rightly observed, vary the order of Business which is in your bosom, then we can come to the Motion. I just want to serve notice that for every Paper which is read for
the First time, I would like to see the correspondence from the Office of the President on it.
Mr Speaker 11:51 a.m.
Clearly, the submission of the Hon Majority Leader was not audible. If that is the position, we would go to page 3 of the Order Paper.
At the Commencement of Public Business, we shall take the item numbered 8 - Presentation of Papers. The following Papers are to be presented - item numbered 8(a), by the Minister for Education.
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 11:51 a.m.
Mr Speaker, if I may present the Paper for the Hon Ministers- Minister for Education and Minister for Defence. [Pause] I believe the Hon Deputy Minister for Defence is here so, I will do so for the Minister for Education.
Mr Speaker 11:51 a.m.
Do you want to lay the Paper for and on behalf of the Minister for Education? You may do so.
PAPERS 11:51 a.m.
Mr Speaker 11:51 a.m.
Item numbered 8(b), by the Minister for Defence.
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 11:51 a.m.
Mr Speaker, the Hon Deputy Minister for Defence is here if you would so permit him to present the Paper on behalf of his Minister?
Mr Haruna Iddrisu 12:01 p.m.
Mr Speaker, we have no objection but the Hon Leader of Government Business, for instance, just laid a Paper for the Ministry of Education. If the Hon Minister is not even in the House, he has several Hon Deputy Ministers, so we would not encourage that culture of him standing in -- [Interruption] -- No! I said I have no objection --
Mr Speaker, is he in charge? [Laughter] -- That is all right. However, I have agreed to the application.
Mr Speaker 12:01 p.m.
That is a conversation between Hon Leaders.
We have not taken note of it, so let us proceed.
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 12:01 p.m.
Mr Speaker, clearly the Hon Minority Leader did not hear what I said. I submitted an application on behalf of the Hon Deputy Minister --
Mr Speaker 12:01 p.m.
Which he had no objection to.
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 12:01 p.m.
Yes, Mr Speaker. The Hon Minority Leader said that the Hon Minister had several Deputy Ministers, so one of them could lay the Paper but the application was that the Hon Deputy Minister should present the Paper on behalf of the Hon Minister.
Mr Speaker 12:01 p.m.
I said it is a conversation between Hon Leaders, so we would not take note of it. We would permit the laying of the Paper with respect to item numbered 8(b), by the Hon Majority Leader.
By Mr Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu (on behalf of (the Minister of Defence) --
Performance Sales and Purchase Agreement between the Government of the Republic of Ghana (represented by the Ministry of Defence) AERO Vodochody AIROSPACE a.s.
of the Czech Republic for an amount of one hundred and eleven million, three hundred and ninety-three thousand, four hundred euros (€111,393, 400.00) for the supply of six (6) L-39 Next Generation (L- 39NG) Aircrafts and the provision of support in terms of Products, Services, and Ground Based Training System associated with the Aircraft operation for the Ghana Armed Forces.
Referred to the Committee on Defence and Interior.
Mr Speaker 12:01 p.m.
Item numbered 8(c), by the Hon Minister for Energy.
Dr Matthew Opoku Prempeh 12:01 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I would first want to make an amendment and insert item numbered 8(c)(iv) which was omitted.
Mr Speaker 12:01 p.m.
Hon Minister, yes, you could make the amendment before you lay the Paper.
Dr Prempeh 12:01 p.m.
Item numbered 8(c)(iv), should read:
“Provision of a loan not exceeding US$1.65 billion to finance the acquisition at a price to be negotiated which might not
exceed US$1.3 million and GNPC Explorco share of Capital Expenditure (CAPEX) to Pecan Phase I First Oil of US$350 million''.
Mr Speaker 12:01 p.m.
Should it be substituted?
Dr Prempeh 12:01 p.m.
Yes, Mr Speaker, it has to be substituted for item numbered (d).
Mr Speaker 12:01 p.m.
So, what you would lay would be item numbered 8(d) instead of 8(c)?
Dr Prempeh 12:01 p.m.
No, Mr Speaker. This would be item numbered 8(c)(iv).
Mr Haruna Iddrisu 12:01 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I want to suggest to the Hon Minister to be methodical. We should finish with items numbered 8(c)(i) and (ii), then when we get to where he wants to make the amendment, he could do it. We would follow the reading from the Table Office to appreciate what would be laid and its accompanying Cabinet referral to Parliament.
Mr Speaker 12:01 p.m.
Hon Minister, let us start from item numbered 8(c)(i) so that when we get to item numbered 8(d), you could make the necessary corrections.
Mr Haruna Iddrisu 12:01 p.m.
Mr Speaker, if the Hon Majority Leader has no objection, I want to make a request that giving the weight of the numbers that have been read, that this Paper be referred to the Joint Committees of Mines and Energy and Finance because there are financial implications in all those matters.
Mr Speaker 12:01 p.m.
Hon Majority Leader, do you have any objection?
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 12:01 p.m.
Mr Speaker, in respect of items numbered
8 (c)(i) and (ii), I thought that the Committee responsible for Energy would have the remit to consider them. However, I agree that in respect of the item numbered 8(c)(iii), the services of the Finance Committee could be needed but maybe, because the whole thing is intertwined - it is one of the same consideration, so we may perhaps involve them but indeed, with regard to items numbered 8(c)(i) and (ii), the Finance Committee does not have any burden. However, it is one of the same thing so if we involve the leadership of the Finance Committee at the very outset, I will be all right with that.
Mr Haruna Iddrisu 12:01 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I have read items numbered 8(c) to (d) and there are major financial issues -- what does the 37 per cent interest represent? This would be more of a financial matter than just a matter for the Committee on Mines and Energy. Further in those items, there are questions as to valuation of the interest, so to allow for a more thorough scrutiny - and with the figures involved even though the Hon Minister has already indicated that would change to GH¢1.65 billion - and although it is not a loan, it is huge and we are to take a decision on it. So, I want to still urge my Hon Colleague so that it could be referred to the Joint Committees on Finance and Mines and Energy.
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 12:11 p.m.
Mr Speaker, at the end of the day that was what I settled on. I said that in respect of items numbered 8(c)(i) and (ii), technically, it was not essential for the Finance Committee to be involved, however, item numbered 8(c)(iii), which is also related to the same thing, would require the services of the Finance Committee, so there is no harm in involving them from the very outset.

Referred to the Joint Committees on Mines and Energy and Finance.

By the Minister for Energy --

(ii) Request for the Establishment of a Joint Operating Company among GNPC Explorco, Aker Energy Ghana Limited, and AGM Petroleum Ghana Limited.

(iii) Request of Mandate for the Minister for Energy and the Minister for Finance to Agree on a Purchase Price with Aker Energy Ghana Limited and AGM Petroleum Ghana Limited.

(iv) Provision of a loan not exceeding US$1.65 billion to finance the acquisition of shares in Aker Enerrgy Ghana L i m i t e d / A G M Ghana Limited at a price to

be negotiated which might not exceed US$1.3 billion and GNPC Explorco share of Capital Expenditure (CAPEX) to Pecan Phase 1 First Oil of US$350 million.
Mr Speaker 12:11 p.m.
Hon Members, the right rendition of the loan in item numbered 8(c)(iv) can be found in the Votes and Proceedings of tomorrow. So, to get the correct rendition, see tomorrow's Votes and Proceedings as read by the Table Office.
Mr Haruna Iddrisu 12:11 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I know you have made a referral appropriately to the Joint Committees but I noticed that in respect of item numbered 8(c)(iii), we are giving a mandate to the Minister for Finance and Minister for Energy. I would want to believe that whatever mandate they are executing would be subject to a final decision of this House for and on behalf of the people of Ghana and that they are not just walking away with a mandate for whatever they go and negotiate because we would have expected that these agreements would have been preceded by a conclusive discussion on them. So, I need that assurance.
Mr Speaker 12:11 p.m.
Well, exactly what are they here for? -- [Interruption.] Hon Minister for Energy, any comments?
Mr Speaker 12:11 p.m.
Yes, and that is my understanding. The request is being made to the House for us to give mandate to the Minister for Energy and the Minister for Finance to agree on the purchase price. So, the Report would definitely give us more details for the House to give them the mandate. We can decide not to give them the mandate; that definitely is within our authority and power but I do not think there is any problem with this.
Hon Majority Leader, yes?
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 12:11 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I certainly agree with you on that except that what they are going to do would lead to a situation where they would come with a request for us to allow them to take some amount from the Consolidated Fund to pay.
Now, when it comes to that much, Parliament would be required to agree via a resolution and that would be in tandem with article 181 of the 1992 Constitution. So, really, I am not even too sure that it was required of anybody to come to Parliament to seek its mandate. What is required is provided in article 181 of the 1992 Constitution that Parliament may, by a resolution supported by the votes of a majority of all the members of Parliament, authorise the Government to enter into an agreement for the granting of a loan out of any public fund or public account. And they are required to come here and that would be supported by a resolution of majority of members of this House, but to inform us that they are coming for our mandate to go and negotiate really -
But Mr Speaker, the House has approved of that and eventually, they would have to come to the House for us to approve by a resolution of what amount they would want to take from the national kitty.
Mr Speaker 12:11 p.m.
Well, the Ministry is simply becoming more open and transparent. First, they want the mandate to be given by the House. What they are going into is a negotiation. After they have negotiated and come to some agreement, they would come back to the House for
the resolution. So, it is in order and they could have done it without coming to the House for this mandate but once they are here, we would consider it and give them the mandate.
Hon Members, item numbered 8(d), by the Chairman of the Committee. I do not think this Report is ready. It is not yet ready. I am told the Committee was to meet today to finalise it but because of other commitments, they have not been able to meet. So, we would not take item numbered 8(d) on the Order Paper.
We would move to item numbered 8(e) at page 5 of the Order Paper.
By the Chairman of the Committee --
(i) Report of the Joint Committee on Foreign Affairs and Defence & Interior on the Memorandum of Under- standing between the Government of the Republic of Ghana (represented by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration) and the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Commission relating to the establishment
of the National Early Warning and Response Mechanism Centre in Accra, Ghana.
(ii) Report of the Joint Committee on Defence & Interior and Foreign Affairs on the National Centre for the Coordination of Early Warning and Response Mechanism Bill, 2021.
Mr Speaker 12:21 p.m.
Hon Members, could we now move to item numbered 10 on the Order Paper, Motion?
We would continue with the debate on the Motion that was moved by the Hon Minister for Finance on the Mid- Year Fiscal Policy Review of the Budget Statement and Economic Policy of the Government of Ghana.

I have two lists; the leadership has increased the numbers. I was told that it was four contributions from Each side of the House but it has now been increased to five. Is that the position?
Mr Ahmed Ibrahim 12:21 p.m.
Mr Speaker, it is just a provision. We wrote Hon Eric Opoku and as I speak, he has just informed us that he should be replaced with his Deputy Ranking
Mr Speaker 12:21 p.m.
So, instead of Hon Eric Opoku, we would have Hon Akandoh to make his contribution right? I want to get the numbers first from your Side. I have Hon(s) Kwabena Mintah Akandoh, Eric Opoku, Kweku Ricketts-Hagan, Ahmed Ibrahim and Hon Alhassan Bashiru Fuseini. Those are the five names.
Mr Ahmed Ibrahim 12:21 p.m.
Mr Speaker, please cancel Hon Eric Opoku's name to make it four names.
Mr Speaker 12:21 p.m.
Now, on the Majority side, I have; Hon(s) John Kumah, Stephen Amoah, Sheila Bartels, Dr Nyarko and Dr Maafo. That makes five and in this situation, who do I eliminate?
Mr Haruna Iddrisu 12:21 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I will add the fifth name as the debate progresses. I will just do some consultation and so, that should make five names from each Side then tomorrow, the Leaders will conclude.
Mr Speaker 12:21 p.m.
Hon Member, the earlier decision was 10 minutes each.
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 12:21 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I was just going to say that you add the time so Hon Members know and I am happy you have done that.
- 12:21 p.m.
Mr Haruna Iddrisu 12:21 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I do not intend to respond to the Leader of Government Business --
Mr Speaker 12:21 p.m.
So, we can go on since you do not intend to -- [Laughter] --
Mr Haruna Iddrisu 12:21 p.m.
Mr Speaker, rightly so.
However, if the Hon Majority Leader listened carefully to me on that day, I said that the time -- when one dances, he or she largely dances with his or her leg. I said that dance which enters the next day, the thigh is always not in a haste to start it. That is what I told him and so, if he accommodates the four and five -- [Interruption] --
Mr Speaker 12:21 p.m.
So, Hon Members, we will start from the Minority side with Hon Kwabena Mintah Akandoh. Hon Member, you have 10 minutes.
Mr Ahmed Ibrahim 12:21 p.m.
Mr Speaker, the first day, we started with Hon Ato Forson and ended at the Other side. So, today, we should start from there and end here.
Mr Speaker 12:21 p.m.
Hon Member, if we ended at the other Side, it means we will start from this Side and from your guidance, Hon Akandoh is the next person to comment. So, Hon Member, you may go on and I know you are fired up and ready.
Mr Kwabena Mintah Akandoh (NDC — Juaboso) 12:21 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I am most grateful. Before I start, I will like to draw your attention to the fact that the Hon Majority Leader on Thursday drew the attention of the House to the fact that we may comment and not debate because the Hon Minister for Finance does not need the approval of the House.
However, although the Hon Minister is not seeking for additional money, there are some adjustments in the Mid-Year Review Budget and therefore, I need your guidance on this issue. I could give examples on that particular matter and so, if you may direct him accordingly.
Mr Speaker 12:21 p.m.
Well, if the adjustments are not going to affect the total figure that we approved in the Budget, then there will be no need for us to talk about approval or to debate it but we can make comments on it.
Mr Akandoh 12:21 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I am guided.
I am most grateful for the opportunity to comment on Motion numbered 10 in today's Order Paper. May I refer you to paragraph 982 of the main 2021 Budget?
Mr Speaker, at one particular paragraph, it was stated among other things --
Mr Speaker 12:21 p.m.
Hon Member, did you say, the main budget?
Mr Akandoh 12:21 p.m.
Mr Speaker, yes.
It was stated among other things under Agenda 111 that Government has awarded 101 District hospitals on contract in the main Budget and then seven (7) regional hospitals and 1 psychiatric hospital.
Mr Speaker, in the Mid-Year Review Budget, at paragraphs 400 and 401, we are now talking about architectural and engineer designs, an objective to even recruit local consultants. In the main Budget,
rose
Mr Speaker 12:21 p.m.
Hon Member, are you on a point of order?
Mr Kwame G. Agbodza 12:31 p.m.
Mr Speaker, yes.
Mr Speaker, my Hon Colleague just said that the Government awarded a project for a GH¢111 million so if he can tell us the hospital project which was awarded this amount of money.
Mr Speaker 12:31 p.m.
I heard the Hon Member say that in this House, we have approved contracts awarded by the Government for GH¢120 million and GH¢150 million. The 111 was referring to the number of hospital projects but not the cost of the construction of the hospitals.
Maybe you have to rephrase your objection.
Mr Agbodza 12:31 p.m.
Mr Speaker, he said that the Government has awarded one district hospital project for GH¢120 million, so I am asking him to mention which hospital it was. Mr Speaker, his point was that the GH¢700 million cannot build 111 hospitals because even one has been awarded at an amount of GH¢120 million so I want him to mention the hospital project that was awarded for GH¢120 million.
Mr Speaker 12:31 p.m.
Hon Member, actually, this is not a point of order.

Hon Akandoh, but you can draw his attention to the hospital. I think you are talking about district hospital projects that have been awarded by this Government and costing GH¢120 million or GH¢150 million.
Mr Akandoh 12:31 p.m.
Mr Speaker, a typical example is the Shama District Hospital.
Mr Speaker 12:31 p.m.
How much was it?
Mr Akandoh 12:31 p.m.
Mr Speaker, it was €32 million.
Mr Speaker 12:31 p.m.
What is the equivalent of €32 million, using the exchange rate at that time? [Laughter]
Hon Members, I think the point he just wanted to make is that the amount that is being approved which is GH¢779 million, would not suffice for the construction of 111 hospitals. However, do not forget that the construction is in phases and not all the 111 would be completed within a year. There would be other budgets that would follow. So, this is phase 1 and that is why your Hon Colleague sitting by you has raised a strong
Mr Akandoh 12:31 p.m.
Mr Speaker, thank you.
Mr Speaker, that is even a more dangerous precedent that we should not encourage in this House. We should not start projects without funds. If we think that the GH¢779 million can construct five hospitals then we have to say so and not to scratch the surface of the earth and say we are building, then we leave the project for a year or two years. Mr Speaker, we must be ready before we start such projects. I think it is even dangerous if we go with that assertion.
Again, in this country, the only Government that has been in power for four years without starting, continuing, completing and operationalising a single hospital is the Government led by President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo. This has never happened before in the history of this country. Mr Speaker, the hospitals that they even inherited are
still abandoned including the Kumawu District Hospital, the Afari Military Hospital, the Sewua Regional Hospital, and the Abetifi District Hospital.
Mr Speaker, paragraph 383 of the Mid-Year Review Budget Statement talks about COVID-19 testing. We are in the era of COVID-19 pandemic therefore I agree that testing is one of the major activities in the fight against COVID-19, however, the reality is that we are not doing much testing. I know a patient who was infected by the virus but nobody followed up or traced people who may have come into contact with the person.
Mr Speaker, some patients had to arrange on their own for their relatives to be tested and they had to pay money. Mr Speaker brings to mind what is currently happening at the Kotoka International Airport and it is of public interest. Before a person arrives at the Kotoka International Airport, the person is expected to produce a negative PCR test and also conduct an antigen test upon arrival.
Mr Speaker, but we have to note that the PCR test is superior to the antigen test so if persons arrive and they test positive to the antigen test, they must be given an opportunity for a second independent opinion on their COVID-19 status. This is not difficult to ask, therefore, I expect that with
immediate effect, the Hon Ministers responsible for the aviation and health sectors must put their heads together to find a measure for people to have a second opinion about their COVID- 19 status. Mr Speaker, such people could be transported easily from the airport to Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research to verify their samples.
Mr Speaker, clearly, as a nation we have failed our country on the issue of vaccination because per their plan, more than 10 million people should have been vaccinated by now but we have done barely one million people. Since last year when the President spoke about the deployment of vaccines, there were no pragmatic steps in place to procure vaccines from anywhere. As I speak, the ordinary Ghanaian does not know when he or she would be vaccinated meanwhile we are still in the COVID- 19 era.
Mr Speaker, may I refer you to page 98 of the Mid-Year Review Budget Statement? You would realise that as a country we have spent about GH¢19 billion on COVID-19 related expenditures without establishing a single laboratory at any of our entry points. We have spent GH¢19 billion yet we still owe frontline health workers, we have irregular supply of
oxygens at the various hospitals and we cannot even show a single hospital in this country. Mr Speaker, we should not allow this to stand and I am calling on the House to institute an investigation or probe into this expenditure.
Mr Speaker, on page 98 we have spent about GH¢1.7 billion on support to household, spent GH¢1.522 billion on health response; supplies, equipment and reliefs for health workers, and spent GH¢600 million on health infrastructure. Mr Speaker, which of the health infrastructures in this country are they referring to? Under security operations we have spent about GH¢1.2 billion and under economic relief we have spent about GH¢5.522 billion.
Mr Speaker, what is the difference between support to household and economic relief? They have allocated about GH¢1.7 billion as support to households and GH¢5.5 billion to economic relief. Again, GH¢600 million was allocated to COVID-19 supplementary relief. Mr Speaker, this is a clear attempt to conceal vital information from the House and the good people of this country.
We need details and a breakdown of this expenditure because we cannot allow this to stand in this House.
rose
Mr Speaker 12:31 p.m.
Hon Member, hold on.
Mr Afenyo-Markin 12:31 p.m.
Mr Speaker, my Hon Colleague started 15 minutes ago and Hon Agbodza interrupted him so the time was stopped.
Mr Speaker 12:41 p.m.
My debate timer is in front of me and as at now the Hon Member has spoken for 11 minutes 57 seconds, but because of the earlier interventions.

Please, I am checking. Whether he stopped or not, I am checking. So it is not 15 minutes, please. It would be difficult for me sitting here as your father to disown you. Please I am on top; do not worry.
Mr Akandoh 12:41 p.m.
Mr Speaker, the Minister for Finance is a threat to our economy. I say so because if you go to page 101, the man has made payment of GH¢16 million to procure
vaccines outside this country without insisting on the required procedure.
Mr Patrick Yaw Boamah 12:41 p.m.
On a point of order.
Mr Speaker, I think you made a referral to a special committee investigating this matter. This is a prejudicial statement from a member of the committee. He must recuse himself from that committee before the Report of the Committee comes to the Floor.
Mr Speaker, I do not know if you have seen the Report? It is a very dangerous comment from him, a Ranking Member of the Committee on Health and a Vice Chairman of the Committee that you have set up to investigate the matter and report to this House. To make comment on the Minister for Finance's statement, he is bringing his views on the committee to the Floor of the House which is very dangerous.
Mr Speaker 12:41 p.m.
Hon Member, I thought your point of order was on his reference to the Hon Minister of Finance as “that man'. I thought you were going to raise objection on that? You are rather talking about him calling on the House to set up the committee and where he put across his own views, you are saying because
he put across his own views, they are prejudicial and therefore, he should recuse himself from the committee. I do not see this as a right point of order.
Mr Boamah 12:41 p.m.
Mr Speaker, a matter as serious as the procurement of vaccines which has become so topical and Ghanaians are waiting for the outcome of that investigation, for a vice chairman of that committee, prior to the production of the Report of the Committee, to make that comment that the Minister did not follow the right procedures, which is a subject matter of investigation by the Committee. This is my point, Mr Speaker.
Mr Speaker 12:41 p.m.
I do not see that to be prejudicial because those are his views, and those views may form part of the report. But we deal with the decision of the Committee and not individual views or comments. It is a decision of the Committee that carries weight on the Floor. And so an individual's comment cannot be prejudicial to the Report of the Committee.
Hon Members, you are entitled to it, but please, your last sentence.
Mr Akandoh 12:41 p.m.
Mr Speaker, in concluding, the Minister --
Mr Speaker 12:41 p.m.
I did not say conclude. I said your last sentence. [Laughter.]
Mr Akandoh 12:41 p.m.
Mr Speaker, the Minister has blamed almost everything including the economic woes on the COVID-19 pandemic. The figures and the facts do not support so.
Mr Speaker, if you look at the growth of this economy --
Mr Speaker 12:41 p.m.
Hon Members, we now move to the Majority side and listen to Hon John Kumah make his comments.
Mr John Ampotuah Kumah (NPP -- Ejisu) 12:41 p.m.
Thank you very much, Mr Speaker.
Mr Speaker, I rise to speak in support of the Mid-Year Budget Statement. This is one of the refreshing financial statements that we have heard in the year. It came without asking for Supplementary Budget, and it is a clear signal that the Government is committed to its fiscal discipline and to ensure fiscal consolidation.
Mr Speaker, as you speak, in spite of the COVID-19 pandemic which is still ravaging, the first quarter of the year had a positive growth of about 3.1 per cent. The finance minister has also indicated that the fiscal deficit of
Mr John Ampotuah Kumah (NPP -- Ejisu) 12:41 p.m.
9.5 per cent will also be achieved within the year. I think it is in respect of this that no extra expenditures were requested as part of the Mid-Year Budget Review Statement.
Also, the good news is that at the moment, Ghana has achieved about 5 per cent of import cover with about US$11 billion in our bank reserves, and a single digit inflation as we speak today. It shows to a more recovering economy and a stable economic outlook.
Mr Speaker, I think one of the main focus of this Mid-Year Budget Review was on the Youth Agenda and Job Creation for young people in our country. So the Hon Minister has spoken about how in the next medium-term, Ghana would create about one million jobs not only in the public sector, but also in the private sector.
Government would do that through a number of interventions. Because we are already out of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) programme, Government has started giving financial clearance to several agencies and institutions of government to start recruitments.
Mr Speaker, the focus is also on the Nation Builders Corps (NABCO) trainees to be given the right of choice in all Government's vacant spaces and

Mr “Chairman” , it would be a new product sitting in the existing commercial banks, but it would allow many young people --
Mr Speaker 12:41 p.m.
Hon Member, I am Speaker and not Chairman.
Mr Kumah 12:51 p.m.
I am sorry, Mr Speaker, respectfully. I meant to say Mr Speaker.
Mr Speaker, I am sorry about that. The YouBanC product would sit with the existing banks, but it would enable young people with great business ideas to walk to any of these banks under flexible terms of repayment and with no collateral so that they can receive financing arrangements for the scale up of their businesses. Government strongly believes this would help create jobs in the private sector for many young people.
There would also be an inter- ministerial job creation committee which the Ministries of Finance, Employment and Labour Relations, Lands and Natural Resources, Youth and Sports -- “Mr Chairman” —
Mr Speaker, I am sorry. The Ministries for Lands and Natural Resources, and Trade and Industry are coming with a special programme called the Alternative Livelihood Support for Galamseyers. This programme alone is targeting about 500,000 young people in this country. And in the medium-term, this in addition to many other interventions like the special flagship programmes of the Government would help to achieve the one million jobs that Government intends to create.
Mr Speaker, when you look at paragraph 278 of the Mid-Year Fiscal Policy Review, we are talking about Ghana Infrastructural Investment Fund (GIIF). Many people have expressed concern about infrastructural development in our budget because they do not see specific allocations on infrastructural development.
Going forward, the tool for infrastructural development would be the GIIF, where Government is targeting to leverage the GIIF to raise more funds in the private sector through the Public Private Partnership arrangements so that Government could build more roads, complete the railways and do other infrastructure in the country.

Then also, the Agenda 111. The Agenda 111 would be pursued in

terms of its payments through the GIIF and I am happy that Mr Speaker corrected the impression that was created by Hon Akandoh when he spoke about the Agenda 111. As Mr Speaker correctly puts it, it is going to be in two phases. The phase I is what talks about the pre-contract works and the phase II talks about the construction and execution stage. So what you are talking about is not different from the agenda that Government has set and we believe that under the financing arrangement of the GIIF, we would be able to pay for all the construction cost as aligned.

Mr Speaker, the Hon Member spoke about vaccines and I must indicate that Ghana is part of the global space for these vaccines and we all know the global politics with vaccines today. Government has always been ready to acquire these vaccines but it is a question of availability. Every country as we speak today has been struggling to acquire these vaccines. So it is not a question of Government's inability to pay for these vaccines. It is more to do with the lack of availability of these vaccines that is the reason why Government has not been able to achieve the head immunity as previously arranged.

However, Mr Speaker, we strongly believe as outlined in the mid-year
Mr Speaker 12:51 p.m.
Thank you, Hon Member. You are within the ten minutes.
It is now the turn of the Hon Member for Cape Coast South. Hon Kweku Ricketts-Hagan.
Mr George K. Ricketts-Hagan (NDC -- Cape Coast South) 12:51 p.m.
Mr Speaker, thank you for the opportunity to contribute to the Statement made by the Minister for Finance on the Mid-Year Budget Review.
Mr Speaker, I would like to situate my comments on three critical areas that I believe if care is not taken, the economy of this country could be heading to a very serious challenge.
Mr Speaker, this Government has borrowed astronomically in the last five years. As of 2020 when the Budget was read, we were told that the public debt of Ghana was 291.6 billion.
Mr Speaker, in just six months from that date, Ghana's debt has now gone up to 334 billion, which means that in the last six months, Government has added over 40 billion to Ghana's debt.
Mr Speaker, 30 billion of this 40 billion relates to Eurobond borrowing. The Government came to this House to get an approval to borrow 5 billion for 2021.
Mr Speaker, in just the first six months of the year, they have borrowed all the US$5 billion. That 5 billion that they have borrowed amounts to GH 30 billion. This is a borrowing bigger than all the Eurobond that was done under President Kufuor, President Mills and under President Mahama in 2016 and all of them combined. There was no Eurobond under President Mills. The total Eurobond from 2007 when Eurobond started to 2016 when the NDC Government left office amounted to US$4.5 billion. In just six months of this year, this Government has added up to US$5 billion.
Mr Speaker, in fact, all the Eurobonds that we have done in this country since 2007 is equivalent to about GH¢100 billion. Out of that GH¢100 billion, this Government, in the last five years alone, accounts for GH¢75 billion of that GH¢100 billion.
Only GH¢25 billion of it would go towards 2007 to 2016.
Mr Speaker, if we do not take care, this country is going to get to the cliff and all these moneys that they have borrowed, they basically have nothing to show for it.
Mr Speaker, they use our money to invest in Planting for Food and Jobs. Yet, the crops that they have invested in, its contribution to GDP is actually going down.
Mr Speaker, they have done 1D1F and there is nothing to show for it. They claimed 332 factories are in various stages yet there is nothing to show for it.
Mr Speaker, they are now saying that they are going to be creating a million jobs for the unemployed youth. Mr Speaker, in the last five years that the NPP Government has been in office, they have done nothing much to contribute to youth unemployment.
Mr Speaker, I have this graph in my hand. This is the graph published by the International Labour Organisation and I would table this when I finish making my point. This is a youth unemployment graph from 1999 to 2019. This is critical because it takes out 2020, which is supposed to be a pandemic year. This tells us
Mr George K. Ricketts-Hagan (NDC -- Cape Coast South) 1:02 p.m.
that unemployment rate was lowest in the first term of President Kufuor. It started going up during the second term of President Kufuor and it peaked under President Mahama in 2014/2015. Then because of the policies by President Mahama and the NDC Government, it started coming down. It got to 8.8 per cent and then the NPP Government came in 2017.

Mr Speaker, there has not been any change. This is what is called a flat curve; it has been stagnant. There has not been any change in job creation for the youth yet, they have borrowed so much to invest in so many flagship programmes, but the result is nothing. “To whom much is given, much is expected”.

Mr Speaker, I would move on to the job creation issue that was raised in the Mid-Year Budget Review. In the Budget of 2021 which was read in November, 2020, we were told that it would create 420,000 jobs with GH¢100 billion. They produced a pamphlet called “The Ghana CARES Obaatanpa Programme” after the Budget Statement, which with your permission, I beg to read:

“Will Ghana CARES lead to job creation? The programme is

targeted at creating 420,000 productive and decent jobs in a span of three (3) years from 2021 to 2023.”

Mr Speaker, today, they are telling us that they will create one million jobs. I would want to know the realignment that they have done under this programme. I would also want to know the reallocation that they have done to give them the space to create one million jobs.

Mr Speaker, sometimes, they will tell us that debt does not matter. This is the same political party that was allergic to borrowing when they were in opposition. Today, they are trigger- happy borrowing all over the place. They say that borrowing does not matter, and that even Japan has over 240 per cent debt to GDP and the USA is over 100 per cent. I would want the Government to understand that Ghana is not the USA. Mr Speaker, 75 per cent of USA's debt is owned by local participants. The 25 per cent which is foreign is by investors who export to the USA and use their proceeds to invest in the USA market in buying bonds.

Mr Speaker, in Ghana, it is the reverse. If we look at the 2020-2021 debt, it is GH¢291 billion. This means that GH¢141 billion of it is external and GH¢149 billion is domestic. In percentages, it translates to 49 per cent and 51 per cent. But the Government fails to understand that our external debts which are owned by foreign investors are not entirely owned by foreign investors. This is because for our domestic debt, foreign investors participate directly or indirectly, and there is a law for that. Actually, about 50 per cent of our domestic debt is owned by foreign investors. When that is added to the 49 per cent, it means that 75 per cent of our debt is not controlled by us. Therefore, the mnore we add to it, the more problems we would create.

Mr Speaker, they said they are doing smart borrowing. They are borrowing to refinance existing debt -- pushing the can down the road - When we were kids we used to play a game called “chaskele”. It is played with a mangled milk tin, which is supposed to be thrown into a hole, if the player does not succeed, his or her colleagues will just kick it down the road. What they are doing is kicking our debt down the road.
Mr Speaker 1:02 p.m.
Hon Member, conclusion.
Mr Ricketts-Hagan 1:02 p.m.
Mr Speaker, in conclusion, basically this Government has failed awfully to address the problems of Ghanaians. We have been borrowing heavily, and we have not created any jobs. Few utilities and oil prices are going up. They have taken so much money, but not a single hospital has been built. When they are asked, they tell us they have Agenda 111, but the start date for Agenda 111 keeps changing.
Mr Speaker, if elections were to be held today, honestly, I do not know what the NPP would tell Ghanaians as their achievements, because their transcript of achievement is abysmal. Ghanaians are suffering and this Government must wake up to do something and stop the talking. They should begin to walk the talk.
Mr Speaker 1:02 p.m.
Hon Members, we would now listen to Hon Stephen Amoah.
Mr Stephen Amoah (NPP -- Nhyiaeso) 1:11 p.m.
Mr Speaker, thank you for the opportunity. Because of time, I would like to touch on a few things I deem extremely important.
My friends on the Minority side have raised a number of issues or

commented on some extracts from the Mid-Year Budget Review, particularly, our debt portfolio as a country. Surprisingly, in terms of respective performances, in considering trend analysis or comparative analysis, at all times, they have performed worst in our history.

Mr Speaker, I would give the basis. Between 2000 and 2004, our debt portfolio was increased by 52.53 per cent. From 2004 to 2008, it increased by 23.66 per cent; from 2008 to 2012, it increased to 286.96 per cent. [Uproar!] -- And between 2012 and 2016, it was by 234.43 per cent. Mr Speaker, during the eight-year period of the first NPP Administration, we increased our debt portfolio by just 46.98 per cent [Hear! Hear!] -- Meanwhile, the immediate past NDC Government's eight years increased the debt portfolio by 1,148.29 per cent [Uproar.].

Mr Speaker, the astonishing factor is that we are confronted with the COVID-19 Pandemic. Worldwide they know that in terms of trade activities, industrial activities and productivity, there are issues and therefore, these are the key performance parameters of any GDP growth on the globe. Even with outlier issues, we have performed far better than them. Even in their own document -- the Press Release that they did --

They quoted that in 2020 our debt portfolio was getting to GH¢291,614 million, a percentage of 142.22 per cent. Even that one is better than their two regimes. So, I am surprised at the mathematics that went into their calculation.

Mr Speaker, I would not even try to heap scorn on their ability to explain issues. Let us understand the fact that trying to harmonise the key performance parameters of all budget statements in the world; our revenue, our outlays or expenditure, the difference gives us a surplus or a deficit. When we have a period in which our productivity, revenue generation and trade performances are so low and industries underperform their benchmarks which we cannot attribute to the doing of any Government, definitely, our Gross Domestic Product (GDP) would not grow alongside our expenditure. Once we have problems of naturally not getting revenue generated through taxation, we would be actually restricted to borrowing. The Government would have no other alternative. They have been asked severally, but they tell us to go and beg.

Mr Speaker, I have never seen any economic policy in the world which is called “begging policy”, except with the National Democratic Congress

(NDC). Even if we are refused, what would be the point? He talked about revenue, but what is the revenue about? All that we are saying is that it is possible that they would one day come to power, so, they should take their time and learn from us because I think that they really do not understand the mechanics of harmonising key performance indicators of the budget allocation.

Mr Speaker, one interesting area that the Hon John Jinapor, my Hon Colleague from the Minority side talked about was the minimum wage. He said that our minimum wage as against our inflational rate does not give us any good picture, and he was so emphatic. I am shocked, and I wonder if he has done a historical analysis of their performance. In the

year 2016, the minimum wage was around GH¢8, and inflational rate was 15.4 per cent. However, inflational rate today is about 7.8 per cent. In fact, our minimum wage is over 12 per cent. All that we are saying is that with the mid-year budget and the economic performance of this Government, if we were to even develop any lead table, the NDC would go on relegation. [Hear! Hear!] This is because they cannot be compared to us, and these are facts. They are their own figures.

Mr Speaker, the key factors to consider in developing any economic framework is the primary micro- indicators. In fact, the NDC's Government policy rate is even bigger than the lending rate today, and that is unprecedented. It was around 25.5 per cent, but now we would get about 20.7 per cent. So, I am surprised at the way they speak.

The fact of the matter is that we need to understand -- in fact, I am not a legal practitioner, but even section 18 of the PFM Act of 2016, (Act 921) states emphatically without any debate and ambiguity that even in times such as these, three conditions; war, natural disaster and health epidemic, we are supposed to even in consultation suspend our fiscal policies and rules. So, with what we are experiencing today, even by the
rose
Mr Speaker 1:11 p.m.
Hon Member, please, give me just a minute.
Yes, Hon Bedzrah, any point of order?
Mr Bedzrah 1:11 p.m.
Mr Speaker, yes, it is on a statement by my Hon Colleague. He should make reference to the subject matter. I heard my Hon Colleague on the Other side making reference to statements that are not in reference to the subject matter that the NDC Government should go and learn from them. I have not seen that
in this budget statement that NDC should learn from them. Mr Speaker, I would prefer that my Hon Colleague would continue to refer to his notes, and the reference to his notes should be to this subject matter.
Mr Speaker 1:11 p.m.
Hon Member, that is not a point of order.
Yes, Hon Stephen Amoah, you may continue.
Mr Amoah 1:11 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I humbly thank you for the opportunity.
Mr Speaker, all that I am saying is that the translation of the economic management under this regime, which is the secondary micro-indicators that talks about industries, agriculture, infrastructure, and even extension into the redistribution policies, which is the social intervention policies, we have done so much work, and the most difficult segment of any educational stream in the world is the college level. Out of prudent economic management, we have been able to implement that.
Mr Speaker, all that I am trying to say is that when they even complain that our budget does not handle employment issues and that we have not employed anybody since we came for four years, I am surprised. Maybe,
we have a second Ghana somewhere. As a result of policy credibility, the NDC went to the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and there was an embargo on public sector recruitment or employment. Have they forgotten? It was to the extent that nurses, teachers and other public sector - that is why we have a huge backlog of employment issues in our country. [Hear! Hear!] This was all through the years of 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017 and 2018. They should go and check.
Mr Speaker, what we are saying is that under His Excellency Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo Ayebiafo, [Hear! Hear!] We could not have done better than we have done. This is because there is a mechanisation process in managing the --
rose
Mr Speaker 1:11 p.m.
Hon Member, I ask for another pause.
Yes, Hon Murtala Muhammed?
Mr M. M. Ibrahim 1:11 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I thank you.
Mr Speaker, the most important ingredient that regulates our conduct in this House and what we say is honesty and sincerity. It is very clear
Mr Speaker 1:11 p.m.
Hon Murtala, when it is your turn, then you can put that across, but this is not a point of order.
Hon Stephen Amoah, you may continue. I have ruled that it is not a point of order, so, I would want the Hon Member to continue.
rose
Mr Speaker 1:11 p.m.
Hon Deputy Majority Leader, what do you have to say?
Mr Afenyo-Markin 1:21 p.m.
Mr Speaker, in all humility, when the debate or the commentary started, the Hon Boamah was up on a point of order, and you gave a strong signal that such point of orders would not be entertained.

I noticed that our Hon Colleagues have had a good flow, but when it gets

to our turn, then, they get up on point of order to obstruct and disrupt - [Interruption]. Mr Speaker, that is most unfair. We are having a good flow. All of them spoke without anybody from the Majority side getting up. I had serious issues with Hon Ricketts-Hagan, but I kept quiet so that when we have our turn, we would speak. Mr Speaker, we humbly call for your fullest protection.
Mr Speaker 1:21 p.m.
Hon Deputy Majority Leader, I am sure you were not in throughout, if not, you would have realised that when Hon Akandoh was making his comments, there were point of orders. That even led to me giving him more than 10 minutes. That issue was raised by the Hon Majority Leader. I know why I did that, even though the time is always stopped when points of orders are raised, the person to come back takes some time to try to realign his thoughts.
Thus, sometimes, I am very generous by giving some time to the person so that he can conclude properly. I am taking note of all that. I will definitely not encourage point of orders. I usually give signal to the Hon Member, but when he insists by still standing, definitely, it is not also for me to guillotine the debate; I have to give opportunity, and that is what I have been doing. I am as fair as possible.
Hon Member, please, conclude.
Mr S. Amoah 1:21 p.m.
Mr Speaker, in conclusion, in managing the economy of this country, even under this situation, we have done so much work to the extent that we are among the best managers in world ratings. Not only that, the reviewed Budget Statement demonstrates the fact that as much as we are trying to mitigate impact on the living standards of Ghanaians by not introducing new taxes, we are at the same time translating this budget into the form that would ensure that there would be job creation with the GH¢100 billion.
In fact, to make sure that we ensure commercialisation of our farming activities and make them attractive to the youth, all government flagship programmes, the National Enterpre- neurship and Innovation Programme (NEIP) Microfinance and Small Loans Centre (MASLOC) -- the good thing is that, now, there would be a vehicle that would ensure that the youth in our country today would have access to cheap and adequate funds to go into entrepreneurship.
Aside that, our women - a country without women -- in fact, it shows how smart and splendid our decisions are in terms of alternatives. Our women would be given opportunity
to procure -- at least, 20 per cent of all public procurement process -- Where will you get this?
In conclusion, the Hon Minority Leader should sneak nicodemously to the Ministry of Finance, and get some bits and pieces.
Mr Speaker, I end what I want to say.
Mr Haruna Iddrisu 1:21 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I heard “Hon Minority Leader should sneak nicodemously to the Ministry of Finance”. For the record, in the last five years, I have not gone around the Ministry of Finance safe to pray at the Ministries mosque. So, to use the word sneak would be to suggest to want to do wrong. I take serious objection to Hon Stephen Amoah's assertion.
Mr S. Amoah 1:21 p.m.
Mr Speaker, in the first place, it was a slip. I meant the Minority Group so, I apologise and retract. I used the word “sneak” because I believe they would not be happy going there for tutorials. But to the Hon Minority Leader, I am very sorry. I apologise and retract. I did not mean him harm.
Mr Speaker 1:21 p.m.
That ends that matter.
We will listen to the next speaker, the Hon Member for Wa East, Hon Dr Godfred Seidu Jasaw.
Dr Godfred Seidu Jasaw (NDC -- Wa East) 1:31 p.m.
Thank you very much, Mr Speaker, for the opportunity to comment on the Motion for the approval of the Midyear Fiscal Policy Review of the Budget Statement for this country.
Mr Speaker, I do not intend to comment on propaganda lines; I intend to speak to the review document that the Hon Minister for Finance presented. One thing that keeps coming up in the review document is achievements of flagship programmes. One of the flagship programmes that keeps coming up is Planting for Food and Jobs (PFJ). Mr
Speaker, PFJ has been implemented since 2017, and one of the reasons for embarking on that programme was to improve yields and the production of our crops such as maize, rice, soya bean and so on.
Mr Speaker, if you look at the figures that we are being fed with, first, from the 2021 Budget Statement that was presented to this House by the Hon Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu, it was reported that fertiliser worth 424,000 metric tonnes were distributed under PFJ against a target of 430,000 metric tonnes. Mr Speaker, it then means that it was just a marginal number that could not be met.
Therefore, the question is, did the 424,000 metric tonnes of fertiliser actually go to the farmers? Mr Speaker, the report we have got is that these fertilisers went to the farmers, but at the same time, it has been reported and accepted even by the Ministry of Food and Agriculture that GH¢120 million is lost through smuggling. Mr Speaker, when you compare the numbers, you are unable to appreciate the direction and the import of what message we are communicating.
Mr Speaker, I would want to go on record as arguing that the smuggling has no effect, if there is anything at all. If you look at the
receipting arrangement, if your target is 430,000 metric tonnes and your farmers, 1.7 million of them, are able to get 424,000 metric tonnes, then it means that it goes to your farmers. At the same time, in reality, the farmers on the ground argue that they cannot get the fertiliser so, we should stop these theories.

Before the fertiliser supplier is paid, the District MoFA office receipts the Ministry to inform them about the number of farmers who have received the fertiliser and that the supplier should be paid. If they receipt and the distribution system in the district is good and the report which they have so far reported that they have so far distributed 424 metric tonnes of fertilizer, then they cannot argue that the fertiliser has been smuggled. If they say that the fertiliser has been smuggled, then something is missing somewhere and we should look into that.

Mr Speaker, the same argument is made in this Mid-Year Review Budget Statement and paragraph 242 indicates that 405,000 metric tonnes of fertiliser have been distributed to 1.5 million farmers already. Where are the maize that have been produced, if only they said they have invested all these amount of fertiliser to the

farmers? The evidence is that the maize is not available in the country.

Mr Speaker, one case in point is the complaint by the Poultry Farmers Association. They have been in the news for the past three weeks that they have money but 100kg of maize and a bag of rice that used to cost GH¢106 now costs GH¢350 and yet, they cannot find them to buy but they argue that Planting for Food and Jobs have produced “X” quantum of maize. My question is na ebro no wohen? To wit, “where is the maize''? They should show us where the maize is so that we could be sure that the maize they have produced under Planting for Food and Jobs is available for consumption in the country and as a result of that they would drive down food prices.

That has not happened and I hope that the Hon Minister for Finance would see this as an urgency and propose arrangements in this Mid- Year Budget Review to be sure that we align the input supply to this Flagship Programmes in order to cause the best impact to our consumers and the farmers but that is not the case. As I speak, fertiliser is not available to crop farmers. We do not know where the fertiliser is and yet when they report for accounting purposes, they report that this has been taken care of properly. They
Dr Godfred Seidu Jasaw (NDC -- Wa East) 1:31 p.m.
have deceived if not, misled the public so that should be looked at carefully.

Mr Speaker, in 2020 under the COVID-19 pandemic, the agricultural sector was touted as the most robust sector. One of the reasons is that at least, it recorded a growth of 4.5 per cent. What we hoped to see was that more investments would be put into the sector to make sure that whatever gains that had been made could be

consolidated. Even if we go back to the so called gains of Planting for Food and Jobs, we would ask - if we do not know how to manage the yields could we not think of something innovative? One structure that has been put in place is the National Food Buffer Stock. At the moment, this country cannot boast of any national buffer of food in case there is crisis and that is because in 2009, the late President Mills established by an Executive Instrument, the National Food Buffer Stock and gave it a seed money of GH¢15 million. Till date, no pesewa has gone back to that organisation, so the organisation is into buying and selling.

Mr Speaker, at the moment, the School Feeding Programme is indebted to that organisation and it has taken money from the local banks at competitive rate. So, I thought the Hon Minister would come to this House and say that this was a strategic reserve, organisation, or agency that had something to contribute to Planting for Food and Jobs if we have yields at all. So, we need to do something to secure it and that they could even look at something to give them some budget line or give them some letter of credit to be able to go to the international market and raise money at lower rates but at the moment they have raised it with competitiveness in the local system.

Mr Speaker, if we look at some of these things it means we are in extraordinary times and I wished that the Mid-Year Budget Statement would have brought some extraordinary measures to be able to ameliorate some of the problems and challenges we face. However, we find the same talk and about 75 per cent of it talked about the COVID-19 pandemic and nothing on what we would do to be able to sustain whatever gains we have made.
Mr Speaker 1:31 p.m.
In conclusion?
Dr Jasaw 1:31 p.m.
Mr Speaker, in conclusion, I would want to call on the Hon Minister for Finance to come again because what he came to present was just talks and with the comments I have heard so far from the Majority side, nothing spoke about the data. The data and the reality of the impact of the Mid-Year Review Budget Statement is that there is hardship in the country. If it has to do with food, we do not have it because food prices have gone up and that has to be looked at. The reality is that Ghanaians do not think that they are doing the right thing so they better own up and give up if they cannot manage the country. [Hear! Hear!]
Ms Sheila Bartels (NPP -- Ablekuma North) 1:31 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I
thank you for the opportunity to contribute to the Motion.
Mr Speaker, I agree with my Hon Colleagues that we are in hard times. I believe that as a nation, just as many other nations across the world, we have come out of a very difficult time which is the COVID-19 pandemic that has affected all nations. So, it is important that we do not lose sight of the fact that many countries scrambled under this pandemic but somehow, our country still stands on its feet and I must commend the Ministry of Finance and especially, the Hon Minister for Finance for leading this charge.
Mr Speaker, it would be realised in the Mid-Year Review Budget Statement that we have been able to manage our country prudently throughout this period. Even though countries around the globe experienced a contraction in their growth, Ghana, was able to record a positive growth rate of 0.4 per cent. As I speak, we have been able to bring the growth of our economy up to 3.1 per cent. If we look at all of the important key projects that we set with an aim and a target to create employment for our people, it would be realised that we have stayed focused and all of these key targets are still on points.
Ms Sheila Bartels (NPP -- Ablekuma North) 1:41 p.m.


Our Planting for Food and Jobs (PFJ) is still ongoing. We have not cut anything out of our plans. All of these programmes that are meant to help us consolidate our gains, even pre- COVID-19, are still on target.

Mr Speaker, if we look at, for instance, the investment we are making in ensuring that our youth are able to continue working and those who are unemployed to also become part of the economic revenue that we are generating to keep our country afloat, we would realise that the implementation of the Youth Entrepreneurship Agency (YEA) is still ongoing.

We still have our Nation Builders Corps (NaBCo) and we still have our National Entrepreneurship and Innovation Programme (NEIP) which also invests in small companies which have innovative ideas so that they would build themselves up and generate more jobs for the youth. Our Medium and Small Loans Centre (MASLOC) programmes are still ongoing and our PFJ among others are still recorded in this Mid-Year Budget Review.

Mr Speaker, I would like to commend the Ministry also for adding the skills training programme. If we look at paragraphs 189 -- 192, we

have listed skills training which is supposed to augment what we lost throughout the period. We have also introduced a new programme which is supposed to be insurance for those who have lost their jobs which is stated in paragraph 179 under section 3.2.1; Employment and Job Creation. This is something that has been created to provide “a scheme which will provide temporary income support to workers who lose their jobs through no fault of theirs but as a result of unanticipated events”.

Mr Speaker, you would agree with me that this is unprecedented. We have never thought of supporting workers who have lost their jobs through no fault of theirs. Looking at the import of COVID-19 in the past, so many businesses were lost and so many people had to lose their jobs because of job cuts in the economy.

Mr Speaker, looking at our indicators, one would also realise that we have done so well with our fiscal performance. If I compare 2021, as of now, public debts is at 77.1 per cent of GDP. I agree with my Hon Colleague, Dr Amoah, who spoke earlier because looking at pre-COVID, 2019, one would realise that we had been able to set 12.5 per cent --

Mr Speaker, our deficit -- [Laughter] -- [Uproar]
Mr Speaker 1:41 p.m.
Hon Member, take your time, do not be ruffled at all by the catcalls and the rest. Just take your time and flow.
Ms Sheila Bartels 1:41 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I would go to our currency and I would come back to our deficit.
Mr Speaker, our currency has stabilised over the last four years. You would agree with me that prior to 2017, our currency was really volatile. Every point in time, we had our currency depreciating. Because of that, it affected the ability of our businesses, especially, those who are importing goods to get value for the money that they invest.
Mr Speaker, as of 2016, the cedi was depreciating at 9.6 per cent. Now, in 2020, it went to 3.9 per cent but as of 2021, the currency depreciation is at 0.6 per cent.
Mr Speaker, I am sure you would agree with me that we all experience this in the market especially for us women who get little “chop money” and have to go and spend whatever our husbands give to us or whatever we have earned in the market. Today, we expect to spend GH¢20 and tomorrow, we go and something else has happened, so, we are not able to use the same money for the things that we spent on yesterday. The
depreciation of the cedi is something that affects the food that goes on to our table as Ghanaians.
Mr Speaker, if we look at the way that this particular Government has managed the currency, we should trust this Government with our money because they are able to keep our rates low; 0.6 per cent is a rate I have never seen in terms of depreciation.
Mr Speaker, you would also agree with me that as all of these indicators are set at a stable rate, it helps us to build confidence in our system so that for those of us who are, for instance, entrepreneurs, building our businesses, we would know that whatever value we are getting out of the investment we are making in our businesses, we would be able to realise enough to also bring more people into our businesses and this would also translate into jobs.
Mr Speaker, in conclusion, I am particularly excited about the 20 per cent quota that is being given to women if we look at the fact that women constitutes almost 50 per cent of the population. Meanwhile, the informal sector has about 60 per cent of our women as well. This means that a lot of our women are in the informal sector and very few women are in the formal sector. Those in the formal sector have to strive with the
Mr Speaker 1:41 p.m.
Hon Members, we would give the opportunity to the Hon Deputy Minority Whip, Hon Ahmed Ibrahim to make his comments. [Hear! Hear!]
Mr Ahmed Ibrahim (NDC- Banda) 1:51 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I thank you very much for giving me the
opportunity to make a few comments on the Mid-Year Fiscal Policy Review presented to this House last week.

Mr Speaker, beyond telling this House that I have not come to ask for money, he was coming to say that he was sorry, he could not achieve the targets that were set.

Mr Speaker, why am I saying this? In 2016 when the National Democratic Congress (NDC) was leaving office, our last GDP growth rate was 3.7 per cent and we were demonised for it that we did not do well. Today, I sit here and listened to my Hon Colleagues on the other Side and they are celebrating a 0.4 per cent and they are happy. We achieved 3.7 per cent but they said we did nothing. Between the two of us, who are the better managers of this country? The worst GDP growth rate in the history of this Country was recorded in their era and the best Country growth rate in the history of this country which

was 14.4 per cent was recorded by us - [Hear] [Hear] - Even our worst of 3.7 per cent could not be attained by them neither their set target of 0.9 per cent but they claimed to be better managers of the economy.

Sometimes, when a short man who cannot even measure up to your waist is mocking at you that you are not tall -- meanwhile, he cannot even measure up to your waist. They insulted and ridiculed us when we attained 3.7 per cent for not been able to take care of the economy and now they have not even attained 1, 2 or 3 per cent as they failed to make 0.9 per cent. The nearest whole number to their GDP growth is 0; that is 0.4 to the nearest whole number is 0 and so, they are jubilating for scoring 0 and where is that going to take us to?

Mr Speaker, anyway, I am not surprised that my Hon Colleagues find it very difficult to make comments on the Statement because when one is in Government, he or she still has to defend government though it is indefensible.

Secondly, when the Hon Minister for Finance came to the House, apart from telling us that he failed to achieve 0.9 per cent benchmark but came out with 0.4 per cent, he further went on to say that he had planned to give the District Assemblies Common Fund

(DACF) GH¢2.4billion but was only able to give GH¢415. So from January till date, he has not been able to provide the GH¢2billion.

Mr Speaker, I am not surprise that the worst local governance regime in the history of this country is happening under the NPP-led administration. Today is 2nd August and yet, the Government is unable to appoint District Chief Executives (DCEs) to the district assemblies because there is no money. If the Hon Minister wanted to give GH ¢2.4billion, we have come halfway into the year; 2.4 divided by 2 should give us 1.2. The Hon Minister has even not been able to give up to GH¢500 but only GH¢415. What is that for? He is collapsing the decentralisation system in this country which was the most enviable decentralised structure that the Gambians, Kenyans and Ugandans come and understudy us. Now, under their regime from January to August, no DCEs are at post and they are still sitting on the DACF.

Mr Speaker, worse of it all is that they are unable to defend their own initiatives. Gone were the days when unfinished government projects were left unattended to because the government that started it left office. With this, they started but are unable
Mr Speaker 1:51 p.m.
Hon Member, the Hon Deputy Majority Leader is on his feet. Yes?
Mr Afenyo-Markin 2:01 p.m.
Mr Speaker, the contention by Hon Ahmed Ibrahim to the effect that the worst GDP growth has been experienced in this administration is misleading.
Mr Speaker, reference to page 201 of the Budget Statement and the Economic Policy points clearly to the fact that there has been steady growth
since the year 2017 and that statement cannot remain in the records of this House.
Suffice to state that during the COVID-19 situation where the world economies recorded a low turnaround in their economic growth and even in West Africa, Ghana did better. So, if the Hon Member is making an absolute statement on the year 2020, he should say so but if he says that over the period then he is misleading the House.

Mr Speaker, for the avoidance of doubt, GDP growth for 2014 is 2.89 per cent, 2015 is 2.2 per cent, 2016 is 3.4 per cent, 2017 is 8.1 per cent, 2018 is 6.3 per cent, 2019 is 6.5 per cent. He failed to add these figures to his submission and he only misled the listening public by only referring to the growth in the COVID-19 era. This is misleading.

Mr Speaker, thank you for your kind audience and patience.
Mr Speaker 2:01 p.m.
I have information that you are unlikely to get the opportunity to contribute and that is why I tolerated you. If not, this is not a point of order but you have also put across your point.
Mr Ahmed Ibrahim 2:01 p.m.
Mr Speaker, it is a fact that the worst growth rate in the history of Ghana is 0.4 per cent and it was achieved in 2020 during the tenure of His Excellency President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo. [Hear! Hear!]

Mr Speaker, the Hon Deputy Ranking Member for the Committee on Food and Agriculture said that the Hon Minister is unable to pay for fertilisers and the Hon Minister for Agriculture was recently crying that they have not paid for the fertilisers. Mr Speaker, we are now in August so when will the farmers receive the

fertilisers? The earlier we pay for the fertilisers the better because we cannot achieve the target in the agricultural sector if the fertilisers are not paid for. So, I would call on the Hon Minister for Finance to make sure the fertilisers are paid for to sustain the Planting for Food and Jobs Programme.

Mr Speaker, in conclusion, per the Hon Minister's own statement, the Planting for Food and Jobs Programme is collapsing. The School Feeding Programme that was started by former President Kufuor is also collapsing and the Free Senior High School is also collapsing. The radical construction of schools to create access to secondary education under the Community Day School Project is also collapsing, but the President who is not able to even feed little children is now talking about free education at the tertiary level. Mr Speaker, with this, I would not be surprise if the President is not able to continue with the projects of former President Kufuor but creates another slogan as “free tertiary” although he is not able to even feed those at the basic level.

Mr Speaker, with these words I thank you for the opportunity but call on my Hon Colleagues on the Other side not to be happy with the 0.4 per cent. It is the worst in the history of

this country and they are the worst managers of this economy but we are the best with 14.0 per cent.
Mr Speaker 2:01 p.m.
It is now the turn of the Hon Member for Kwadaso Constituency, Dr Kingsley Nyarko.
Dr Kingsley Nyarko (NPP -- Kwadaso) 2:01 p.m.
Mr Speaker, thank you for the opportunity to add my voice to the Motion on the Floor.
Mr Speaker, I have not done economics to a very high level but my basic economics and the occasional readings I do on economics and financial issues shows me that in situations such as a pandemic of this nature, pragmatic leaders use innovative means to address issues that confront them. I want to challenge the economists in this House, especially those on the Other side that what are the solutions they are professing to help us navigate from the roots?
Mr Speaker, in situations where as a result of a devastating pandemic, jobs are being lost, businesses are collapsing, revenues are experiencing shortfalls and parents are going through stress as a result of job losses, then what interventions could be put in place to bring the economy back to a sound footing? If we do not put
up efforts to increase domestic revenue and seek external support by borrowing, then what else could be done? Mr Speaker, they should tell us. During the era of the NDC Government when there was not a pandemic of this nature and they benefitted from so much capped revenues, the economy did not do well as it is now.
Mr Speaker, I would challenge the Hon Deputy Minority Whip that he should not compare apples with oranges. It is true that the economy grew by 0.4 per cent last year but the Hon Member also knows that within the sub region, the economic growth was -1.9 per cent but Ghana was one of the best. The Hon Leader must know better to inform us and not to misinform.
Mr Speaker, before COVID-19 reared its ugly face, in 2019, the IMF projected a global growth rate of 3.4 per cent, but when COVID-19 happened there was a contraction by 3.3 per cent. When we are faced with this situation and lives are being lost, what we have to do is to make sure that lives are protected and that is what this Government did. Mr Speaker, in this situation we need a leadership that is decisive, smart and apt, and we found this leadership in President Akufo-Addo and the NPP Administration. Mr Speaker, the
Dr Kingsley Nyarko (NPP -- Kwadaso) 2:11 p.m.
evidence is there for all of us to see and thanks to the visionary leadership of President Akufo-Addo and the wizardry performance of the Hon Minister for Finance, Mr Ken Ofori- Atta, the economy is being brought back to its sound footing.
Mr Speaker, last Thursday, I was privileged to be part of a panel on the Future of Education Summit and in the discussion it came to the fore that there is the need for countries to access capital markets in terms of social bonds to save our economies from further decline. Before COVID-19, globally, there was need for US$1.5 trillion to finance the education funding gap and as we speak now this figure would have gone up. If we do not put in measures to raise domestic revenue in terms of tax imposition and external borrowing then the economy would crush. Mr Speaker, President Akufo- Addo has demonstrated and that is why we are seeing some positive dividends in terms of our economic outlook.
Mr Speaker, at the height of COVID-19 inflation was 11.8 per cent but by the end of May this year, it was reduced to 7.5 per cent and by the end of June, inflation was 7.8 per cent. In the midst of COVID-19, this
is a good sign. Mr Speaker, fiscal deficit was 5.1 per cent against a projected figure of 5.9 per cent at end of year.

Mr Speaker, this shows that Government is doing everything possible as she protects lives to also be discipline in terms of spending.

Mr Speaker, one remarkable gain and performance by this Government is about how relatively stable our currency is. The cedi appreciated by 3.6 per cent against the Euro. This does not normally happen, but it did. It fell by only 0.6 per cent to the United States (US) dollar. These are positive signs. A growth rate of 3.1 per cent in these times when some economies are struggling? If you cannot attribute this to sterling performance and visionary leadership, then what else?

Mr Speaker, during the period, it is on record through what the Minister for Finance gave us that even growth rate with oil was 3.1 per cent and without oil, it was 4.6 per cent, which is even better. Our reserved position by the end of June was US$11 billion, equivalent to five months of import cover against US$9.2 billion of 4.5 months import cover of same period last year.

Mr Speaker, within the period, Foreign Direct Investments (FDIs) has also seen some impressive increase. By the end of June this year, FDIs amounted to US$954.2 million, which is an increase of about 71.2 per cent from last year's figure of US$557.2 million.

Mr Speaker, let us come to the COVID-19 pandemic. We are assured that we would receive 17 million Johnson and Johnson single dose vaccines; 1.2 million Pfizer vaccines to the Covax Facility to the United States of America (USA).

Mr Speaker, this morning, when I was watching Aljazeera, Pfizer and Moderna are even increasing prices for their vaccines. Pfizer is going for US$23 per dose and Moderna is going for US$25.5. All these would tell you that it would increase the burden of debt on any country.

Mr Speaker, this morning, I even got to know that even Israel is considering a third dose which they call a booster, and we need a dynamic and visionary leadership that thinks about their people to invest in their wellbeing.

Mr Speaker, one laudable intervention I saw was about job creation and business opportunities

to the youths. About 1 million jobs are being planned for the next two and half years. During the National Democratic Congress (NDC) era, a union group was formed in this country; Unemployed Graduate Association of Ghana. It is because they could not provide jobs for the youth. But under President Akufo-Addo, at least we have the NABCO which is catering for about 100,000 of the youth. With this intervention, we are hopeful that more youth would get jobs to do.

Mr Speaker, as we speak, some countries are even cutting down on their educational budget, but this Government did not do that. In the budget for 2021, the allocation for the education sector was GH¢15 billion, a 14 per cent increase over the last year's figure of GH¢13 billion. It tells you that this is a Government and leader that thinks about forward match of this country.

Mr Speaker, in the midst of the pandemic, Free Senior High School programme has not stopped; the Planting for Food and Jobs programme has not stopped; and in the midst of the pandemic, roads are still being constructed. I left Kwadaso this dawn to Kumasi and I saw that some of the roads are being fixed.

Mr Speaker, in the midst of the pandemic --
Dr Nyarko 2:11 p.m.
Mr Speaker, if I have to conclude, permit me to quote from paragraphs 23 and 24 of the Budget Statement presented by the Hon
Minister for Finance. It says 2:11 p.m.
“Mr Speaker, I would like to note that notwithstanding our elevated debt levels as a result of COVID-19, 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 allowance. Furthermore, we did not go to the IMF for a bailout programme. This is because we have managed the economy much better than it was managed up to 2016”.
Mr Speaker, on this call, at least, it is clear that when it comes to the performance of the economy, between the NDC and the New Patriotic Party (NPP) Governments, NPP is always a better manager of the economy.
Mr Speaker, on this note, last Thursday, my good friend on the Other side, Hon John A. Jinapor, in
concluding his statement congratulated you on your recent award. I do same, but to also add that God bless you and may He continue to guide you to exhibit your impartiality in the deliberations of this House.
Mr Speaker 2:11 p.m.
That is where you “but” would have to be taken off your sentence. When you continue and say “but”, then it is negative. However, this “but” came with a positive. Dr Nyarko, thank you very much.
Hon Members, before I call the next Hon Member to comment. I think it is important that I rule that what the Hon Minister for Finance did was to submit a Policy Statement, a Statement on the Mid-Year Review of the programmes, policies and activities of the Government that we approved in the 2021 Budget. And so we would take it that what he did is a Statement, and what Hon Members are doing is commenting on the Statement under Standing Order
70(2).
Hon Members, I read, carefully, article 179 of the 1992 Constitution and also looked at the provisions of the Public Financial Management Act, of 2016 (Act 921), and I am convinced that what he did is a Statement. And so I would direct that the Table Office, from tomorrow
onwards, change the item on the Order Paper to Statements and not Motion. What the Hon Minister for Finance did was not in accordance with the rules of the House. I so direct.
So tomorrow you may see that it would not be titled Motion. It would be Statements. And so what you are doing are comments. It is tomorrow that the Leaders would be concluding their comments for us to take a decision.
But I see the Hon Minority Leader up on his feet. Yes, Hon Minority Leader?
Mr Haruna Iddrisu 2:21 p.m.
Mr Speaker, without seeking to question your ruling, may I refer you to page 96 of the Mid-Year Fiscal Policy Review, in particular, just one item . [Interruption] It is good but I am drawing his attention to a table -
Mr Speaker 2:21 p.m.
Address the Speaker.
Mr Haruna Iddrisu 2:21 p.m.
Mr Speaker, Compensation of employees in the Budget is GH¢30,313,597,722. Now, we see he has revised it to GH¢31,490,824,819. So there is an adjustment there of an amount of
GH¢1,177,227,000. This is still the Hon Minister's Statement, so when you say that we should comment, yes, we would comment but on page 96 of the Minister's Statement - I would point out about five of these but I am just giving you one to guide you.
For the Compensation of em- ployees, there is a revision, and in that revision, he must be asking this Parliament to grant him approval. It cannot be a comment. Then somebody should explain to me. This is my copy and I have referred you to just one item on page 96 - Compensation of employees. I have seen “Revised Budget”. He said he came here with a Statement but on “Compensation of employees” - I can go further and whether you rule on it or not, your ruling must be sound and it must be based on a data. I have given you one reference of the data.
Mr Speaker, maybe my use of the word “sound” may be too harsh. I withdraw that. But your ruling must be based on a data. I have given you one item and I am saying that I would share five of those revisions which put me in a difficulty to treat this only as a Statement for me to comment on. I have given you the data for compensation. I am still reading and tomorrow, I would come to interest payments. I will even come to reference cocoa's contribution to the
Anyimadu-Antwi
Mr Speaker 2:21 p.m.
Hon Minority Leader, I am really surprised that you raised this issue. There are more revisions. As you said, even on page 96 - but we gave an amount in the Budget which we approved and that amount has been allocated to various items. During the cause of implementation, the Hon Minister has made some variations but it is within the global figure that we have approved. So there is nothing that is being requested of us again to do because we approved all that amount. He is only telling us that in the implementation, these are the issues.
You mentioned Compensation. It was negotiated. It has now been negotiated and the negotiation has increased the compensation. Because of that I would go to this item and reduce it and you can see even at the same page that provision of health infrastructure has been reduced from GH¢1.4 billion to GH¢779 million. So, yes, you have this revision and variations but the total amount is not
affected, which is what we approved in the Budget, and that is why I think that there is no request for us again to approve anything.
If you go through article 179 of the 1992 Constitution, under supplementary budgets -- read it carefully and go to the Financial Management Act and read it. You would see that what we are doing is actually - That is why you all agreed to make comments and we discussed this a number of times. So I am surprise you have raised this objection. I am happy you withdrew your use of the word “sound”. Definitely, the Speaker would not give unsound judgements or ruling in the House.
Anyway, I saw that the Hon Majority Leader was on his feet - if he has anything to say?
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 2:21 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I think you have just made the point very clear. We discussed this in conclave this morning and I raised this issue that if the amount contained in the Appropriation's Act - the amount that we have approved of is being increased as a global amount, then certainly, it would require the Hon Minister to come by a supplementary estimate, which is not what he did. What it means is that what we are
doing is contained in the original. It is not going to exceed that amount.
Mr Speaker, you just pointed out to the Hon Minority Leader that just at the same page that he was very strong on “Compensation”, two items beneath that is “interest payment”. “Compensation”, he said increased by GH¢1.1 billion. What he is not talking about is “interest payments” from GH¢35.8 billion which has now gone down to GH¢32.5 billion. It has scaled down to GH¢3.3 billion. So, what this tells us is that there have been some virement, and to the extent that it does not affect the overall figure, we are within the confines of the appropriated amount.
Mr Speaker, if you come down again, “Other Expenditures” - GH¢7.8 billion. Again, it has come down to GH¢6.7 billion and there is a net gain there of GH¢1.09 billion. So, Mr Speaker, it is the virement that the Hon Minority Leader is referring to and certainly, as I have said, to the extent that it does not affect the global figure, we are still within the appropriated amount.
So, Mr Speaker, I believe we can go on. I do not know whether you intend to call one more from either Sides?
Mr Speaker 2:21 p.m.
Well, it is left with one from each Side and I actually wanted to hand over to the Second Deputy Speaker but I decided to make this ruling and to give the directive so that tomorrow, we can conclude what we are doing properly to align what we are doing now to the final decision that the House would take. That is why I made the ruling.
Mr Haruna Iddrisu 2:21 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I respect the ruling but I am just saying that for the purpose of what guides a decision and a ruling by you, I am relying on the same page 96 - I see your argument is based on “total expenditure - GH¢110,005,226,597. So the Hon Minister is not asking for anything as he said. He is not here to ask for more money. But Mr Speaker, there is an adjustment and I am just asking what role Parliament would play tomorrow if such occurrences take place with his data?
Now, let us go to “Goods and Services”. In the Budget, it is GH¢5,966,791,693. He has revised it upwards to GH¢8.5 billion. That is a revision. So, is this House approving it or because he has made savings of GH¢3 billion and re-allocating it, we should just look at it and say we are making comments?
Mr Speaker 2:31 p.m.
Hon Minority Leader, I thought you were going to throw in the towel, but you still insist after we have discussed this thoroughly together. You are by this trying to throw a wedge into an earlier discussion we agreed upon. We went
through all the items. Now, your attention has been drawn to many others, when you go through the same page 96, you would see that foreign finance is zero. No money is being asked for in terms of a loan or anything to fill in any financial gap in the Budget that we approved. You also talked about interest payments. If you look at other expenditure, what we approved was GH¢7.88billion, now it has been revised downwards to GH¢6.79billion. Are you saying that we would have to approve all that?
Usually, after we have done the general approval, because if you go to article 179(2) of the 1992 Constitution, it talks about:
“The estimates of the expenditure of all public offices and public corporations, other than those set up as commercial ventures --
(a)shall be classified under programmes or activities which shall be included in a bill to be known as an Appropriation Bill and which shall be introduced into Parliament to provide for the issue from the Consolidated Fund or such other appropriate fund, of the sums of money necessary to meet that expenditure and the
appropriation of those sums for the purposes specified in that bill; and
(b) shall, in respect of payments charged on the Consolidated Fund, be laid before Parliament for the information of members of Parliament.”
It did not say “for the approval of the House”. Where approval comes in is article 179(8) where it states clearly:
“Where, in respect of a financial year, it is found that the amount of moneys appropriated by the Appropriation Act for any purpose is insufficient or that a need has arisen for expenditure for a purpose for which no sum of moneys has been appropriated by that Act, a supplementary estimate showing the sum of money required, shall be laid before Parliament for its approval.”
Hon Members, that is where approval comes in. You can litigate it further not only on the Floor, but in the court of law and we will all be directed as to what is the right thing to do. But my reading of the law from the 1992 Constitution to all the enabling acts has convinced me that
this is not a matter that would need a parliamentary approval. That is why from the onset, since yesterday, we all agreed that we would be making comments. Some of the comments are debatable because the Statement itself has raised debatable issues. So, when we look at our Standing Order
70(2):
“A Minister of State may make an announcement or a statement of government policy. Any such announcement or statement should be limited to facts which it is deemed necessary to make known to the House and should not be designed to provoke debate at this stage. Any Member may comment briefly, subject to the same limitation”.
So, by the nature of the Statement the Hon Minister made, there are some issues that he raised that are provoking debate. The second part says that:
“Any Member may comment briefly subject to the same limitation.”
So, if the Hon Minister has raised some issues that you disagree with and you would want to debate it, you are entitled to do so. I still stand by my ruling and my direction to the Table Office to, from tomorrow, in the
Mr Muhammed Murtala Ibrahim (NDC -- Tamale Central) 2:41 p.m.
Mr Speaker, thank you for the opportunity to contribute to the debate.
Mr Speaker, we have listened to some of the most slippery economic analysis made this morning, and we have listened to what we describe in Ghanaian parlance as voodoo economics. Analysis are being made about the economy from 2004 to 2008, juxtaposing that to what happened under the National Democratic Congress (NDC) Administration, but falls short to indicate that there was some debt relief as a result of us going under Heavily Indebted Poor Country (HIPC) Initiative. As Members of Parliament, we need to state the facts in absolutes.
Mr Speaker, it is true that the NDC refused to learn from the New Patriotic Party (NPP) because if we had learnt from them, then the economy would have been in the shambles we are experiencing under this Government. If we had learnt from them a bag of cement which was sold under the NDC Government at GH¢22.00, at least would be sold above GH¢50.00 as we are experiencing today. If we had learnt from them a gallon of petrol which was sold at GH¢22.00 would have been sold at that abnormal rate as we experience today. If we had learnt from them, the State which was peaceful would have been in a disastrous state as insecurity has reached its crescendo under this Government. So, it is good the NDC Government did not learn from them. [Hear! Hear!] --The best thing that ever happened to the people of this country was the refusal of the NDC Administration to learn from them as to how they manage all sectors of the economy of this country.
Mr Speaker, listening to some of my Hon Colleagues who read the document presented by the Hon Minister for Finance to this honourable House, glancing through the document and what we heard today, as to how jobs are being created, the Hon Minister himself admitted in the Statement, paragraph 182, that per
the Ghana Statistical Service, which is the official statistical body of Ghana, unemployment has increased to 8.4 per cent.
Mr Speaker, as a matter of fact, if we checked what happened - we can check from the International Labour Organisation (ILO) website. In 2014, the unemployment rate in this country was 6.53 per cent. It increased to 6.81 per cent in 2015, and decreased to 5.45 per cent in 2016. We all know that for policy interventions leading to the creation of jobs in any country would not happen within a year.

As a result of those pragmatic and visionary policies that former President Mahama formulated and implemented that occasioned the reduction of unemployment in this country from 6.81 per cent to 5.45 per cent in 2016. As a matter of fact, in the first year of the administration of this Government, the reduction in the unemployment rate continued, and it explains why there was a reduction of unemployment in this country in 2017. These figures are not created by the National Democratic Congress (NDC) or any of us. They are the official figures provided by this Government and by a statistical service that is headed by

an appointee of this Government. However, that unemployment rate in this country is 8.4 per cent, and in fact, what is even shocking is the rate of unemployment amongst the youth. The information provided put the youth as those who are between the brackets of 15 to 35 years. That is the economic active class of every country. However, the unemployment rate is over 12 per cent, and that is the rate at which we are, and I ask myself what is the essence of the Nation Builders Corps (NABCO) programme.

Mr Speaker, in this House and in the debate in this country, some of us indicated that the figures that were provided by this Government to the people of this country in the year 2018, which they continued with that propagandist fashion in years 2019 and 2020 were not accurate.

If we take the year 2018's Budget Statement, this Government told us that they had created about 100,000 jobs as a result of NABCO. They were not smart enough to realise that running a Government is not like selling kelewele on the street, or like my grandmother selling her koko on the street, where one would decide to increase the quantity today, and the next day decide not to sell the koko again. However, for any dime to be spent, it must be approved by this House, and it is not just approving the
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 2:41 p.m.
Hon Member, your time is up, please wind up.
Mr M. M. Ibrahim 2:41 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I would conclude -- [Interruption] --
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 2:41 p.m.
Hon Members, he is supposed to speak for ten (10) minutes, and the time here indicates that he has spoken for ten (10)minutes.
So, Hon Member, please, wind up.
Mr M. M. Ibrahim 2:41 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I thank you for giving me, at least 30
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 2:41 p.m.
Thank you very much, we would take the last contributor who is in the person of Hon Dr Marfo, Hon Member of Parliament for Oforikrom.
Mr Afenyo-Markin 2:41 p.m.
Mr Speaker, we have an application. We would want to vary that --
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 2:41 p.m.
That is the list you gave me.
Mr Afenyo-Markin 2:41 p.m.
Mr Speaker, that is correct, you are right.
However, with your leave, we may want to --
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 2:41 p.m.
Incidentally, the Hon Member is here. [Interruption].
Mr Afenyo-Markin 2:41 p.m.
Mr Speaker, we would therefore go by the list.
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 2:41 p.m.
Very well.
Yes, Hon Member for Oforikrom?
Dr Emmanuel Marfo (NPP -- Oforikrom) 2:51 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I thank you very much for the opportunity to comment on the Mid-Year Fiscal Policy Review of the 2021 Budget Statement and Economic Policy that was ably delivered to this House by the Hon Minister for Finance.
Mr Speaker, in commenting on the statement, I would like to first of all commend Government for the role that it has played in enhancing environmental sustainability in our country. Most often when we are debating the economic policy, perhaps, because of the title of the policy, we have always tend to dwell on the finances and the economic growth figures.

However, we know that as a country what we have subscribed to is to pursue sustainable development, the three legs of sustainable development are economic growth, social equity and environmental sustainability. However, often, we debate Budget Statements focussing mainly on the economy forgetting that without a resilient environment, we may not be able to sustain our achievements in the economic growth, infrastructural development and so on. That is why I am happy that in presenting this Statement, the Hon Minister for Finance echoed our war against galamsey.

Mr Speaker, we all know that the pollution that comes from galamsey is significant. Our water bodies have been turbid; there is a plethora of literature that shows that dissolved oxygen levels in our fresh water bodies in this country is low, and chemical pollution is high. Therefore, any attempt to rescue the environment by any Government is one that needs commendation. Hence, the war that this Government has waged against galamsey and the success we have observed should be commended.

Mr Speaker, if we were to put monetary value on the savings we

have made as a country - if we were to put monetary value on the health and degradation savings that we have made, and all the positive sides of rescuing the environment, perhaps, the GDP growth that we are talking about within the period might have gone up. Therefore, I believe the Government needs to be commended.

In addition to that, as a country, we know one of the problems that we have is the degradation of our environment through deforestation, and we have set ourselves to ensure that every year, we are able to meet a policy target of planting 25,000 hectares if we are to be on the level of sustainable development.

Mr Speaker, it is refreshing to note that in addition to the about 22,000 hectares or so that the Forestry Commission reports as the area of land that they have planted for the year 2020, this Government embarked on the “Green Ghana Project” that planted almost five million trees -- [Interruption] It is. We planted almost five million trees.

Mr Speaker, that should translate into about 4,500 hectares. If you are a Government that embarks on a programme that is able to plant about 4,500 hectares of trees a day or a week, in addition to whatever that we
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 2:51 p.m.
Leadership, I have exhausted the names.
Mr Afenyo-Markin 2:51 p.m.
Mr Speaker, there was elucidation of certain facts, and he was yielding to Hon Ahenkorah -- [Interruption] - He has done seven minutes. Wait, we are learning. Why are you in a rush? Mr Speaker, the rules allow for elucidation. That is a fact. It is in our rules. Hence, he is allowed, and he is yielding to Hon Ahenkorah for the rest of the minutes.
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 2:51 p.m.
Hon Leader, I will disallow it. You should have made me aware.
Mr Afenyo-Markin 2:51 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I am making an application to you very humbly.
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 2:51 p.m.
Leadership, I am jumping into Questions.
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 2:51 p.m.
Mr Speaker, we would do Question time now.
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 2:51 p.m.
We would go to the main Order Paper, and take Urgent Question numbered (a) whcih stands in the name of the Hon Member for Afadzato South, and the Question is directed to the Majority Leader of this House.
Hon Member for Afadzato South, you may ask your Question.
URGENT QUESTIONS 2:51 p.m.
MINISTRY OF 2:51 p.m.
PARLIAMENTARY AFFAIRS 2:51 p.m.
Mrs Angela Oforiwa Alorwu- Tay (NDC -- Afadzato South) 2:51 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I beg to ask the Leader of the House what measures are in place for the use of vehicle undercarriage scanners to check vehicles that enter the precincts of Parliament to ensure proper security for everyone working in Parliament.
Majority Leader (Mr Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu) 2:51 p.m.
Mr Speaker, Parliament House is considered as a High Value Target
(HVT) and there is the need for vehicles entering the precincts to be thoroughly searched to ensure that weapons or explosive ordinance devices (EODs) are not concealed in them.
Vehicle undercarriage scanners are generally designed to scan the whole of a vehicle and its contents without the vehicle user having to open the boot of the vehicle or its engine compartment. It is provided with a monitor to display the content(s) of the vehicle on a screen.
The need for the installation of vehicle undercarriage scanners at Parliament House has been on the drawing board for some time now. Indeed, during the presentation of the Message on the State of the Nation on 9th March, 2021 by the President of the Republic, two (2) Vehicle undercarriage scanners were hired and placed at the two main gates. At the post-event conference, one of the recommendations made was that there was the need for an outright purchase of the vehicle undercarriage scanners as a permanent feature in our physical security infrastructure.
Subsequently, the Marshal Department proposed the installation of vehicle undercarriage scanners at the three (3) vehicular entrances/exits to Parliament House, namely, the
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 3:01 p.m.
Hon Member, do you have any supplementary question?
Mrs Alorwu-Tay 3:01 p.m.
Mr Speaker, this is not a constituency specific question so it must be opened for all of us.
Mr Speaker, in 2018, I filed a similar question and the Hon Majority Leader made us aware that the Chinese had donated some kind of device to us and that they would be used. However, from that time to date, nothing has been done about it. Today, he has promised us that it would be done and that procurement processes are in place. I want to know the exact stage of the process of procurement.
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 3:01 p.m.
Mr Speaker, the ones that I related to are
the manual ones -- the handheld scanners. Those were donated by the Chinese and they are available. What I am talking about is the automated ones - that is why I said that we had two that were leased to Parliament for use on 9th March, 2020 and they are in the custody of the Development Office. Of course, when we come to apply the automated ones, they would complement the handheld ones.
Mrs Alorwu-Tay 3:01 p.m.
Mr Speaker, the Hon Majority Leader has not told us the stage of the procurement process.
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 3:01 p.m.
I heard the Hon Majority Leader say that by the time we come for the Third Meeting, it would be in place. Hon Member, if you did not hear that then I heard that.
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 3:01 p.m.
Mr Speaker, you are dead right. That was what I said; that hopefully by the time we resume in late October, 2021 after adjourning sine die, they would be in place. There is a procurement unit and they do their own thing, so they are in the process of doing it.
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 3:01 p.m.
Yes, Hon Member for Odododiodioo, Mr Vanderpuye?
Mr Edwin N. L. Vanderpuye 3:01 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I thank you very much --
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 3:01 p.m.
Hon Member, why are you not on your seat?
Mr Vanderpuye 3:01 p.m.
Mr Speaker, my seat has been taken over by the Hon Member for North Tongu, Mr Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa.
Mr Speaker, with regard to this issue on security, I would want to ask the Hon Minister for Parliamentary Affairs the parking arrangements in this facility. Hon Members are expected to park at the car park and walk to their offices even when it rains. Meanwhile, there are vacant spaces at the new block and there are people from various --
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 3:01 p.m.
Hon Member, this is a different context all together.
Mr Vanderpuye 3:11 p.m.
Mr Speaker, this is about security. Parking at the car park and walking to my office is a security problem to me. We walk from the car park to our offices and we meet different people whom we do not even know their security status or where they come from. All of us are targets --
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 3:11 p.m.
But please, ask your question; I do not think it is just a statement.
Mr Nii Lante Vanderpuye 3:11 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I am asking that what arrangements are being put in place to ensure that our security is assured so that we would not be confronted by people within the precincts of Parliament but we can have easy access to our offices without compromising our security?
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 3:11 p.m.
Very well, Hon Majority Leader, if you are minded.
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 3:11 p.m.
Mr Speaker, the Hon Member who asked the question if I heard him, started off by saying that he is asking the question of the Minister for Parliamentary Affairs.
Mr Speaker, the Minister for Parliamentary Affairs is not responsible for the security of Parliament.
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 3:11 p.m.
Very well.
Let me come to the Hon Member for South Dayi.
Mr Dafeamekpor 3:11 p.m.
Mr Speaker, the Minister intimated to the House in his Answer that the procurement processes are ongoing for the installation of the scanners.
Would the Minister be kind enough to tell the House how much it would cost the House for that to be done?
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 3:11 p.m.
Hon Majority Leader, he is talking about figures.
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 3:11 p.m.
Mr Speaker, respectfully, my Hon Colleague the Hon Mrs Angela Oforiwa Alorwu-Tay who asked the Question asked it of the Leader of the House and not the Minister for Parliamentary Affairs.
Mr Speaker, the Minister for Parliamentary Affairs is not responsible for this.
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 3:11 p.m.
Hon Majority Leader, that Question is inviting a lot of -- [Laughter] --
Yes, Hon Member for North Tongu?
Mr Samuel O. Ablakwa 3:11 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I am most grateful.
Mr Speaker, in the response provided, the Hon Leader of the House indicates that the procurement processes are underway.
Is the Hon Leader of the House able to inform us how much these scanners would cost based on the procurement processes that are underway?
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 3:11 p.m.
Hon Member, I guess your question was the same as that of Hon Dafeamekpor, only that this time it is directed at the Hon Leader of the House.
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 3:11 p.m.
Mr Speaker, this question has been properly filed and so, I would answer it.
Mr Speaker, unfortunately, I am not able to tell the Hon Member the cost. That is really within the purview of the procurement unit of Parliament but if I have to come back to it, I may seek further information from them and then let him know how much it would cost. I am not too sure of it and I would not want to give him a figure but the amount may be decided once they finish with the processes. By then, we would be able to tell him how much it would cost us.
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 3:11 p.m.
All right, I would take the two Hon Members.
Yes, Hon Member for Ningo Prampram?
Mr Sam N. George 3:11 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I rise to ask the Leader of the House a question subsequent to the last paragraph of his response which says that “the procurement processes would be expedited”.
Would the Leader be in the position to at least inform Members of this House what procurement process is being used; is it sole sourcing, restrictive tendering or open tender? At least, this House should at least be told of the process being used for the procurement.
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 3:11 p.m.
Mr Speaker, this really is for Parliament to procure. It is not being procured from outside for Parliament. So, it is the unit in Parliament that really is fully in charge.
Mr Speaker, let me say that the procurement processes actually started at the end of April of this year. The three types of vehicles undercarriage scanners have been identified and these were fully automated portable, digitised scanners. The hand held digitised camera and hand held manual mirror.
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 3:11 p.m.
Very well, finally, let me give to the Hon Terlabi.
Mr Ebenezer O. Terlabi 3:11 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I would like to find out why the hand held scanners that we have are not being used; is it that they have developed some faults? The ones that were donated by the Chinese; it does not seem to be used. I would want to find out whether they are faulty; if not, then they would have to start using them.
If there is any other reason for which they are not being used -
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 3:11 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I have no information to indicate to me that any of them has developed a fault. Then, it was because we were thinking of employing all these at various places at the same time that occasioned the development unit holding on to it. If it is that we must employ them immediately, and if they would have to have some consultations with them together certainly with the Rt Hon Speaker, we would see what to do.
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 3:21 p.m.
Very well.
Hon Majority Leader, we are grateful for being in the House to
answer Questions from Members even though this House belongs to you. You are discharged but you have to sit down.
Yes, may I invite the Hon Minister for Lands and Natural Resources to answer seven Questions? I guess he is prepared. I would start from the Urgent Question in the name of Dr Clement A. Apaak - Hon Member for Builsa South. Hon Member, you may ask your Question.
MINISTRY OF LANDS AND 3:21 p.m.
NATURAL RESOURCERS 3:21 p.m.
Dr Clement A. Apaak (NDC -- Builsa South) 3:21 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I beg to ask the Minister for Lands and Natural Resources what action the Ministry had taken in relation to five containers of rosewood impounded at the Tema Port on 17th June, 2021 and opened on 25th June, 2021.
Mr Samuel Abdulai Jinapor (Minister for Lands and Natural Resources) (MP) 3:21 p.m.
Mr Speaker, following reports that five containers loaded with rosewood have been impounded at the Tema Port, the Ministry on 13th June, 2021 sent a team led by the Deputy Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Hon Benito Owusu-Bio to ascertain the
veracity of the report. With the support of officers from the Customs Division of the Ghana Revenue Authority, the team examined the five containers and confirmed that they were indeed loaded with rosewood without any documentation.
The Ministry, working with the relevant agencies immediately commenced investigations into the ownership of the said containers and the circumstances of that attempted exploitation of the consignment.
Subsequently, by a letter dated 7th July, 2021 and referenced as CR/ FB145/2401, the Ministry wrote to the Commissioner-General of the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) requesting for the release of the rosewood to be evacuated to the depot of the Forestry Commission pending investigations.
Having secured the approval of the Commissioner-General on Friday 30th July, 2021, I led a delegation comprising officials of the Ministry, Ministry of Transport and the Ghana Revenue Authority to evacuate all the five containers of the rosewood to the Forestry Commission in Achimota. After we had gone through all the laid down procedures, we intend to donate this rosewood and indeed, all rosewood that will be confiscated in the future towards the construction of the national cathedral.
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 3:21 p.m.
Hon Member, any supplementary question?
Dr Apaak 3:21 p.m.
Mr Speaker, looking at the written response of the Hon Minister that he just read to us, he indicates in paragraph 5 -- “Mr Speaker, I am also happy to announce that our investigations …”
I thought it was a criminal act to harvest, transport and export rosewood and I am surprised. So, I want to be certain by asking the Hon Minister whether or not he or his Ministry has reported this case to the appropriate authorities in this case, the Ghana Police Service since this is an act of criminality.
Mr S. A. Jinapor 3:21 p.m.
Mr Speaker, clearly, in matters like this, the levels of investigations are multiple. We have preliminary investigations by the Ministry itself, some by the Customs Division of the GRA as I indicated and also by the Forestry Commission.
Mr Speaker, on the specific question of criminal investigation, may I respectfully refer the Hon Member to the last paragraph of my Answer where I stated and I quote:
“Mr Speaker, let me assure the House that the Ministry will follow the laid down processes to ensure that anybody found culpable will be made to face the full rigours of the laws of our country.”
Dr Apaak 3:21 p.m.
Mr Speaker, in all sincerity, I believe the Hon Minister has not answered my question. It was specific whether or not a complaint or a case had been filed with the Police? I have not disagreed with all the other layers of investigations he has talked about and with your indulgence, I insist that the Hon Minister responds to my questions.
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 3:21 p.m.
Hon Minister, it is a specific question as to whether a complaint has been made to the Police?
Mr S. A. Jinapor 3:21 p.m.
Mr Speaker, the answer I gave is captured in the last paragraph of my Answer which is that we are following all the laid down procedures including involving the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) of the Ghana Police Service to ensure that those found culpable are made to face the full rigours of the law.
Mr Speaker, we cannot mount a successful criminal prosecution with the CID. The matter speaks for itself.
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 3:21 p.m.
Hon Member, your final supplementary question.
Dr Apaak 3:21 p.m.
Mr Speaker, that was my first supplementary question.
Mr Speaker, information available to me indicates that the five containers of rosewood impounded at the Tema Port on the 17th June, were seized rosewood that were auctioned to the same company that the containers were impounded from. Can the Hon Minister tell us how this came about?
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 3:21 p.m.
Hon Member, if I understood you well, are you saying that the seized rosewood has been auctioned to the owners?
Dr Apaak 3:21 p.m.
Mr Speaker, that is accurate.
Mr S. A. Jinapor 3:21 p.m.
Mr Speaker, let me refer the Hon Member to paragraph 2 of my Answer where I stated that; ‘with the support of the officers of the Customs Division of Ghana Revenue Authority, the team examined the five containers and confirmed that they were indeed loaded with rosewood without any documentation'.
Mr Speaker, the information I have is that these containers of rosewood were not acquired through an auction. I am afraid that I have to insist that the information the Hon Member of Parliament has, is incorrect.
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 3:21 p.m.
Very well.
Hon Terlabi?
Mr Ebenezer Okletey Terlabi 3:31 p.m.
Mr Speaker, in the Hon Minister's Answer, we realised that he was interested in the owners of the rosewood. May I ask if they are also interested in those who facilitated? Because where the wood is hauled from, on their way from Tamale to Tema, , we have dotted barriers with officers from the Forestry Commission who are present and I am sure that it is their duty to check some of these things. I want to find
Mr S. A. Jinapor 3:31 p.m.
Mr Speaker, first of all, I am obviously interested in the facilitators and I am also very interested in the whole cartel and the entire syndicate behind the illegal harvesting and exportation of this wood specie. This is of enormous concern to me and would it not be a dereliction of my duty if I were not interested? I am very much interested and respectfully, it is important for the Hon Member to appreciate that the matter we are dealing with is a complicated one. We are dealing with a natural resource of our country which is valuable and people are determined to be involved illegally.
All over the world, issues relating to natural resources; whether petroleum, gold, and even with criminal cartels in the world, people would find all kinds of methods to evade the law enforcement authorities. Mr Speaker, what is important is for us to strengthen our enforcement regime and this is exactly what we are doing.
Mr Speaker, I conclude on this by stating that officials from the Forestry Commission, Customs Division and other officials ought to be commended because at the end of the day the containers were confiscated. This was through the collaboration of the Ghana Revenue Authority and the Forestry Commission that these containers were confiscated. So, I am interested in the entire cartel and all the people who are involved including the facilitators and the others.
Dr Zanetor Agyeman- Rawlings 3:31 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I would like to enquire from the Hon Minister if he has records of all the personnel with the Forestry Commission and other relevant bodies who were on duty from the time of logging till they arrived at the ports?
Mr S. A. Jinapor 3:31 p.m.
Mr Speaker, first of all, this is a good question and a good lead so I thank the Hon Member for the question.
Mr Speaker, at this stage, it would be certainly difficult to be able to have such a list but I made the point that investigations are ongoing so when we are done here, I would follow up on this and if it is not part of the investigation then I would insist that it becomes part of the investigation. Mr Speaker, but at this stage it would be difficult for me to answer in the
affirmative that I have a list of all the persons who were involved. Clearly, this is a good question that I would definitely follow up on.
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 3:31 p.m.
Hon Member for Adaklu?
Mr Agbodza 3:31 p.m.
Mr Speaker, thank you.
The Hon Minister in his Answer said that he would announce to the House that beginning from this consignment that has been confiscated, they would now donate them to the building of the National Cathedral. I commend the Hon Minister for donating proceeds of crime to a better use unlike what he did with the excavators because I am sure that there are district assemblies in this country that would have put those excavators to better use. So, I commend the Hon Minister for this act.
Mr Speaker, but if I may ask the Hon Minister, did the contractors of the National Cathedral make a request for woods to be donated in addition to the GH¢100 that we are aware? Mr Speaker, does he know the type of wood they would use? Have the contractors made a direct request for wood which has resulted in the Hon Minister offering to supply -- ?
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 3:31 p.m.
Hon Member, I will disallow this question.
Alhaji Seidu Issifu 3:31 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I would want to find out from the Hon Minister if this case was reported to the police and whether he has received any preliminary report from the police that he may want to share with the House?
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 3:31 p.m.
The Hon Member who filed the Question has already asked this question.
Alhaji Issifu 3:31 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I thought this question was not answered adequately so with your permission we want to get the information from him.
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 3:31 p.m.
Hon Member, I said the question has already been asked as a supplementary question.
We would take Question numbered 223 which stands in the name of the Hon Member for Builsa South, Dr Clement A. Apaak.
Dr Apaak 3:31 p.m.
Mr Speaker, after Question time I would provide some information to the Hon Minister regarding the point I made about the logs being seized and auctioned to the
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 3:31 p.m.
Hon Member, I have called you to ask Question numbered 223.
ORAL ANSWERS TO 3:31 p.m.
QUESTIONS 3:31 p.m.
MINISTRY OF LANDS AND 3:31 p.m.
NATURAL RESOURCES 3:31 p.m.
Dr Clement A. Apaak (NDC - Builsa South) 3:31 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I beg to ask the Minister for Lands and Natural Resources the number of Salvage Permits granted to companies to salvage rosewood logs from January 7, 2017 to January 7, 2021, the names of the companies and the quantities or rosewood logs salvaged by each company.
Minister for Lands and Natural Resources (Mr Samuel Abdulai Jinapor) (MP) 3:41 p.m.
Introduction
Mr Speaker, commercial use of Rosewood started sometime in 2004, with an initial export volume of only eighteen cubic metres (18m3). The export volume and value however increased exponentially in 2009, when the then Government granted permits
to five (5) companies to remove trees to make way for the construction of the Bui Dam. The increase in Rosewood trading also led to a lot of illegal harvesting of the wood species. Since this time, several attempts have been made by successive governments to deal with the indiscriminate harvesting, mostly through the imposition of bans.
Mr Speaker, available records shows that on 31st August, 2012, the then Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Hon Mike Hammah, imposed the first ban on the harvesting of Rosewood, except for the five companies who were harvesting in the Bui Dam Reservoir. This ban however lasted for only a little over one month, and was lifted on 5th October, 2012.
On 15th July, 2014, the ban was reimposed, but was again lifted, and permits were granted to thirteen companies in 2015, by the then Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Hon Nii Osah Mills.
In February, 2017, the Akufo- Addo-led government, realising the unsustainable nature of the industry and minded to preserve our forest cover, reimposed the ban on the harvesting and exporting of Rosewood. But following verifiable reports of large numbers of Rosewood lying in the bush, the
government granted salvage permits to certain companies to evacuate Rosewood lying in the bush. Salvage permits were therefore issued until March, 2019, when the government ceased the issuance of these permits.
Mr Speaker, Ghana is a party to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES). On February 1, 2017, CITES listed Rosewood under Appendix II of the Convention, which means, “although not necessarily now threatened with extinction, [it] may become so unless trade in specimens of such species is subject to strict regulation in order to avoid utilisation incompatible with their survival.” Such species may be traded globally with restrictions. Ghana has, unlike other countries, taken the strict measure of banning its harvesting, trading and export outrightly.
Answer to Specific Question
Mr Speaker, the question posed by the Hon Member seeks answers in respect of
“the number of Salvage Permits granted to companies to salvage rosewood logs from January 7, 2017 to January 7, 2021, the names of the companies and the quantities of rosewood salvaged by each company.”
In accordance with the highest standards of transparency and
accountability, I will want to give the House the full data beginning from January 7, 2013. My answer will therefore be in two parts, the data from January 7, 2013 to January 7, 2017 and from January 7, 2017 to January
7, 2021.
January 7, 2013 to January 7, 2017
Mr Speaker, available data shows that between January 7, 2013 and January 7, 2017, a total of thirteen (13) companies were issued with permits to salvage Rosewood. These are:
1. Trans Atlantic Resources Limited
2. GL Interlink Limited
3. Riyaad Farm and Wood Limited
4. Dero Limited
5. Kofi Vinyo and Company Limited
6. Jowak Limited
7. Time Concept Limited
8. Boakyewaa Enterprise Limited
9. Adu-Tutu and Sons Limited
10. Sikadon Woods Limited
11. Kambonse Ghana Limited
Minister for Lands and Natural Resources (Mr Samuel Abdulai Jinapor) (MP) 3:41 p.m.
Transatlantic Logistics Agency Limited 2,269.974
Kenasa Plus Limited 2,088.756
Buguma Company Limited 1,087.601
Pok and U Company Limited 1,985.451
Logsline Company Limited 1,826.090
Riyaad Farms and Wood Limited 1,556.635
Chrisgyaf Company Limited 1,432.626
Sandimms Martaba Limited 1,445.780
Carlport Company Limited 1,346.410
Softrade Impex Limited 1,303.324
Ever Rise International Ghana Limited 1,118.740
Green Nations Limited 1,104.664
Isaac Manu 2010 Limited 1,005.000
Nations Pride Manufacturing Company Limited 863.553
Bamufeeda Company Limited 862.902
Yaako Company Limited 843.131
Xylogi Company Limited 842.947
JB Connect Company Limited 801.349
Sidakon Woods Limited 738.516
J B Connect Company Limited 722.716
Kamvis Company Limited 602.887
Trade to Trade Africa Limited 582.282
Lambro Company Limited 562.800
Attakay Limited 541.405
Brasoma Company Limited 524.155
Boakyewaa Enterprise Limited 471.150
Systems Environ Tech Limited 442.200
Turnsole Furniture Company Limited 381.900
Vicraph Company Limited 361.774
Fayasco Company Limited 360.000
M Musaba Company Limited 241.200
Membo Limited 240.005
Nicdam Ventures Company Limited 220.701
Allplex Company Limited 100.500
Musaba Company Limited 80.400
Evergrand International Trading Ghana Company Limited 31.712
Grand Total 56,190.892

2018

Species Export Companies Volume (m3)

Rosewood Barbtronics Limited 1,609.524

Debabs Investments Company Limited 1,369.284

M A Ghana Expert Limited 1,787.449

Lord King Enterprise Limited 1,787.191

God Is Able Company Limited 1,707.709

Bamatex Company Limited 1,486.853

Phat I Entertainment Limited 1,225.320

Systems Environ Tech Limite 1,205.871

Green Nations Limited 1,205.222

Durah and Sons Limited 1,204.013

Yaako Company Limited 1,124.589

N K Bedie and Sons Company Limited 1,124.548

Caseben Woods Limited 1,104.716

Dahali Company Limited 1,102.900

Allplex Company Limited 984.612

Clap Larrey Company Limited 828.401

Tete Mmofra Timber Company Limited 981.330

Vicraph Company Limited 903.910

Kamvis Company Limited 883.300

Buzaza Company Limited 844.116

Evernesto Company Limited 820.970

Oduro Anane Company Limited 803.951

M Musaba Company Limited 803.540

Kwabena Owusu Timbers Limited 783.939

Oscbricks Company Limited 783.900

Royal Blessing Investment Limited 763.156

R K Peprah Company Limited 723.577

Caseken Company Limited 681.446

Rowbed Sky Plus Company Limited 642.989

Alicemay Enterprises Limited 642.458

I C K B Timbers Company Limited 623.100

Aziz Chifado Limited 623.000
Minister for Lands and Natural Resources (Mr Samuel Abdulai Jinapor) (MP) 3:41 p.m.


Bamufeeda Limited 542.590

Sunshine Brothers Limited 522.600

Pok and U Company Limited 522.195

Mcdon Woods and Timber Limited 502.482

Xylogi Company Limited 461.796

Ever Rise International Ghana Limited 445.100

Trade To Trade Africa Limited 441.927

Ntesco Company Limited 422.061

Lambro Company Limited 421.900

Debo Gab Descendant Ventures Limited 381.900

Turnsole Furniture Company Limited 381.013

Okyerema Nkoa Company Limited 341.700

Great Menz Construction Limited 321.392

Sandimms Martaba Limited 321.178

Fayasco Company Limited 300.200

Askraf International Company Limited 291.272

Kande Jinwara Company Limited 281.000

Frigiana Company Limited 280.975

Nicdam Ventures Company Limited 261.242

Kadmay Ventures Limited 241.010

Logsline Company Limited 180.325

Delin Wood Limited 148.014

JB Connect Company Limited 140.699

Jusdal Plus Company Limited 140.302

Agro Projects Limited 120.600

A S V Ghana Company Limited 120.400

Softrade Impex Limited 100.355

Telmak Limited 100.116

Transatlantic Logistics Agency Limited 100.100

Ickb Timber Company Limited 80.400

Zintex Portfolio Service Limited 80.400

Savanna Investment Ghana Limited 80.000

Buguma Company Limited 60.300

Ivag Construction Limited 60.186
Minister for Lands and Natural Resources (Mr Samuel Abdulai Jinapor) (MP) 3:41 p.m.


Steve Abundant Grace Enterprise 40.112

Chrisgyaf Company Limited 40.000

AIM Manufacturing Company Limited 36.205

Great Odum Company Limited 20.100

Isaac Manu 2010 Limited 20.000

Marpie Woods Limited 20.000

Carlport Company Limited 20.000

Grand Total 42,561.031

Bahtibre Ghana Limited 321.600

Autumn Investment Limited 281.400

Alicemey Enterprises Limited 281.323

Bondziees Company Limited 261.185

Evernesto Company Limited 260.000

Phat I Entertainment Limited 220.909

Kumtech Limited 201.000

Turnsole Furniture Company Limited 181.180

Logsline Company Limited 180.663

N K Bedie and Sons Company Limited 160.800

Mcdon Woods and Timber Limited 160.800

Ntesco Company Limited 160.730

Quick Bon Construction Limited 140.774

Dahali Company Limited 140.200

Ednak Real Estate Development 120.600

Marpie Woods Limited 120.400

La Esmano Company Limited 120.396
Minister for Lands and Natural Resources (Mr Samuel Abdulai Jinapor) (MP) 3:41 p.m.
2019
Species Export Companies Volume (m3)
Rosewood Becol Ghana Limited 1,285.663
Royal Xchange Investment Limited 1,164.743
3EL Construction Limited 1,104.496
Penyman Company Limited 722.981
Oscbricks Company Limited 422.100
Makro Services Company Limited 421.820
Estee Glory Company Limited 361.541
Oduro Anane Company Limited 361.280

Kande Jinwara Company Limited 120.200

Rowbed Sky Plus Company Limited 100.500

R K Peprah Company Limited 100.283

Wunzaligu Tishegu Limited 100.000

Fayasco Company Limited 80.100

Clap Larrey Company Limited 60.300

Caseken Company Limited 60.300

JB Connect Company Limited 60.300

Salley Delwinde Company Limited 60.300

Jersey Supplies and Logistics Limited 60.100

Bempasteele Company Limited 20.100

Original Asaase Aban Complex Limited 20.100

Lambro Company Limited 20.081

Grand Total 10,021.248
Dr Apaak 3:41 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I take notice of the Hon Minister's response on page 6 where he indicates that there is an attached list of about 140 companies that were granted permit within the period, January 7, 2017 to January 7, 2021. I have not seen that list. I believe that list is very important because the Hon Minister went through pains to list some other 13 companies.
Dr Apaak 3:41 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I have probably an Order Paper Addendum that is different from what my Hon Colleagues have. In any case, I would crosscheck. But I would have wished that the Hon Minister read that as well since my Question was within the period 2017 to 2021. The Hon Minister chose to read a list from 2013 to 2017.
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 3:41 p.m.
Is that not an elaborate Answer?
Dr Apaak 3:51 p.m.
Mr Speaker, why was it all right to read the list before 2017 and to refuse to read the list after
2017?
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 3:51 p.m.
So what is your question?
Dr Apaak 3:51 p.m.
Mr Speaker, what was that intended to achieve?
Mr Speaker, here is my first follow-up question 3:51 p.m.
my Question asked for the salvage permits. The Hon Minister in his response has not indicated the number of salvage permits that were granted. I would want to know from the Hon Minister
what the number of salvage permits granted were.
Mr Speaker, I argue this because that is different from the number of companies and the quantities of salvage rosewood logs. Merely giving a permit to a company does not presuppose that that company is going to act on it. So how many salvage permits were issued within the period?
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 3:51 p.m.
Hon Minister, how many salvaged permits were issued?
Which period? Is it 2013 to 2017 or 2017 to 2021?
Mr S. A. Jinapor 3:51 p.m.
Mr Speaker, the Answer to the Question is in the Answer that I provided.
Mr Speaker, let me refer him to page 6 of my Answer. I said that between January 7, 2017 and January 7, 2021, a total of 104 different companies were granted salvagef permits to evacuate rosewood from the bush.
Mr Speaker, when it came to between 2013 and 2017, I said that between 2013 and 2017, a total of 13 salvaged permits were granted for the evacuation of rosewood.

Mr Speaker, while I conclude, it may interest the House and perhaps my very good friend and senior brother, Hon Apaak who has a lot of passion for asking questions about rosewood should pose the question -- who are the directors and sponsors behind Savannah Investment Ghana Limited so that we answer that question.
Dr Apaak 3:51 p.m.
Mr Speaker, the Hon Minister in his response, on page 7 of the Order Paper Addendum 1 has provided a Table that he has said should be captured in the Hansard - in column 2020, there is dash, dash, dash and that is to suggest that no salvage permit was issued in the year 2020. I have here a copy of a salvage
permit dated, 24th June, 2020; issued to Messrs Original Asaase Aban Company Limited to evacuate 487 billers of rosewood at an estimated volume of 107 cubic meters within the Navrongo forest district. Specifically, at Kayoro, Napon, Wiala Kaadema --
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 3:51 p.m.
Hon Member, what is the Question?
Dr Apaak 3:51 p.m.
Mr Speaker, the Question is -- it was signed by Oppong Sosu, Executive Director.
Mr Speaker, in light of this, would the Hon Minister still maintain the claim that in 2020, no salvage permit was issued to salvage rosewood?
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 3:51 p.m.
The question is, the Hon Minister said in 2020, no salvage permit was granted --
Dr Apaak 3:51 p.m.
Mr Speaker, according to the Table, yes.
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 3:51 p.m.
So what is the authenticity of the figures you read out?
Dr Apaak 3:51 p.m.
Mr Speaker, the point I am making is that --
Dr Apaak 3:51 p.m.
Mr Speaker, this is a salvage permit that was issued to the company that I indicated - Messrs Original Asaase Aban Complex Limited to evacuate 487 billers of rosewood with an estimated volume of 107 m3 with the Navrongo forest district and it was signed by Oppong Sosu, Executive Director.
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 3:51 p.m.
Very well. So Hon Minister, is there any information you can provide?
Mr S. A. Jinapor 3:51 p.m.
Mr Speaker, first of all, in all modesty and humility, I am speaking to official records. So with the greatest of respect to the Hon Member, we would have to look into this matter where he is reading from his mobile phone but I am speaking from official records provided by State institutions and therefore I would respectfully say that the information given to me by the Hon Member from his mobile phone, quite clearly, somebody is sending this to him. It will have to be checked and if its veracity is established, we can deal with it. But Mr Speaker - [Interruption]
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 3:51 p.m.
Please, let us listen to him. When he
finishes, you would be allowed to ask any further question you want to ask.
Mr S. A. Jinapor 3:51 p.m.
Mr Speaker, if I may be allowed to answer the question, I want to conclude my answer to the question that the most fundamental for me, of the answer I have given is found on page 7 which I quote as follows:
“Mr Speaker, for the avoidance of doubt, I must point out that since becoming Minister for Lands and Natural Resources on 5th March, 2021, I have not, to date, granted a s i n g l e authorisation for the harvesting, salvaging or exporting of rose- wood and I do not intend to do so in the foreseeable future…”
Mr Speaker, if an Hon Member of Parliament provides me with the information and it is verifiable and that any procedure has been breached, the officers involved would be dealt with.
Thank you, Mr Speaker.
Dr Pelpuo 4:01 p.m.
Thank you, Mr Speaker.
Mr Speaker, if we look at Question numbered 223 and the response he
gave, the purpose as I see is to get the Minister to respond to a Question on whether we have salvaged rosewood and whether in future, we would stop the production of rosewood. But in the Minister's response which he posed a question to the Hon Member. I would like to understand why he posed that questions. Was it part of the response to show no rosewoods have -- ? [Interruption] --
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 4:01 p.m.
Hon Member, address the Chair, just ignore that question posed by the Minister and ask your question.
Dr Pelpuo 4:01 p.m.
Mr Speaker, it is a very important issue to me because the question he posed to the Hon Member gave the impression that there is something wrong, which we are not aware of. If the Hon Minister poses a question that does the Hon Member know the company and what it has done; it shows that there is something deeper that we need to know.
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 4:01 p.m.
Hon Member, I said just ignore that. Just ask your question. Your duty is to ask the Hon Minister a question.
Dr Pelpuo 4:01 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I am happy that the Hon Minister extended
the question beyond the expected levels. I would want to know whether it is an indication to him that henceforth permission would not be granted for the production of rosewood, and those that are salvaged would definitely not be given back to their owners?
Mr Second Second Speaker 4:01 p.m.
Hon Minister if you can assure us henceforth you are not going to grant any permits.
Mr S. A. Jinapor 4:01 p.m.
Mr Speaker, the senior Hon Member and my uncle should be rest assured.
Mr Stephen Amoah 4:01 p.m.
Mr Speaker, the Hon Minister stated the volumes of rosewood exported between 2013 and 2017 -- [Interruption] -- As against the period between 2018 and 2021. He listed a number of entities that play critical roles and he stated as a matter of fact that even moneys accrued, although volumes were small from 2018 to 2021, and name a company. May I know from the Hon Minister the owners of Savannah Investment Ghana Limited which played a critical role in terms of volumes and profit?
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 4:01 p.m.
Hon Minister, are you minded to answer the question?
Mr S. A. Jinapor 4:01 p.m.
Mr Speaker, first of all, I never posed the question in a manner that it is being referred to. I said it may excite Hon Dr Apaak who has a lot of passion on this matter to ask that question -- [Interruption] -- So, I will hold my peace. If the question is properly laid I will make the information available to the House.
Mr Adamu M. Ramadan 4:01 p.m.
Mr Speaker, between 2013 and 2017, we had just about 13 companies who had been granted permits. Yet, between 2017 and 2021, we have over a hundred companies who were granted permit. May I know the criteria for granting permit and are they time bound?
Mr S. A. Jinapor 4:01 p.m.
Mr Speaker, the principles and the policy which inform the grant of salvage permits is mostly anchored on following:
1. If it turns out that the wood species have been harvested and left in the bush and therefore, if the wood species are not evacuated or salvaged, they will be wasted. Therefore, the Government or the State is minded that instead of allowing these wood species to go to waste, they grant permits for companies to
salvage them. That is why they use the word ‘salvage'; or
2. If there is going to be a road construction and inevitably these wood would be cut down. Instead of Government allowing them to be cut down indiscriminately without getting any value out of them, Government will grant salvage permit for them to be harvested.
Like I indicated, when the dam was being constructed, former President John Evans Attah-Mills' Government felt it was necessary that permit should be granted for the wood to be salvaged and harvested. So, that is the rationale behind salvaging. What is the procedure? It goes through the Forestry Commission and ends up on the desk of the Hon Minister for Lands and Natural Resources for authorisation or approval. When that happens, then the permit is issued. The permits are time bound. They are not in perpetuity.
Mr Kwame Governs Agbodza 4:01 p.m.
Mr Speaker, it was difficult to take a point of order on my Hon Colleague, the Hon Minister. The Hon Majority Leader always guides we the young ones in the House that when we are dealing with certain
issues that are of national dimension, we should reduce the level of politicisation.
Mr Speaker, the Hon Minister's Answer, he read out 13 companies that were registered before President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo's Government, yet he just asked us to refer to attachment of the 154 companies. That is not fair to the 13 companies.
Mr Speaker, on the Order Paper Addendum 2, page 4, I beg to read 4:01 p.m.
“Between January 7, 2017 and January 7, 2021, a total of one hundred and four (104) different companies were granted salvage permits to evacuate Rosewood from the bush.”
Mr Speaker, yet when we come to page 5, the Table provided there contains 154 companies. Since he had the time to go through these, how did he arrive at the difference between 104 and 152? Did he grant permit to 104 companies or 154 companies?
Mr S. A. Jinapor 4:01 p.m.
Mr Speaker, first of all, I would want to state that I have no intention to politicise the Answer I gave. Except that as I stated in my Answer, I felt that it is only fair, transparent and accountable that I
provide the House with the full data beginning from January 7, 2013 and that is exactly what I have done.
Mr Speaker, the answer to why I have 104 and 154 is, 154 permits were issued, but 104 companies actually executed the permits. That is the difference, thank you.
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 4:01 p.m.
Very well.
Yes, Hon Leader?
Mr James K. Avedzi 4:01 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I would want to find out from the Hon Minister that in providing the Answer in the Order Paper Addendum 2, pages 4 and 5, he made a comparison between the volume of Rosewood harvested between the years of January, 2013 to January, 2017. With the year of January, 2017 and the year of January, 2019, the Hon Minister compared the volume of rosewood harvested and the value. Did the Hon Minister factor in time value in doing the comparison by looking at the obsolete figures of an amount of GH¢93 million for the first batch and the amount of GH¢291 million? He says that the one harvested from the year 2017 to the year 2021 brought in more money to Government. So, did he factor in time value before he came to that conclusion?
Mr James K. Avedzi 4:01 p.m.


Speaker, I am compelled to refer my much respected Hon Colleague to Standing Order 69. On the basis of Standing Order 69, his question does not qualify as a supplementary question. For the avoidance of doubt, I would read Standing Order 69 for him to follow. It says, and I quote:

“As soon as a Question is answered in the House any Member beginning with the Member who asked the Question may, without notice, ask a supplementary Question for the further elucidation of any matter of fact regarding which the answer has been given, but a supplementary Question must not be used to introduce matter not included in the Original Question.”

Mr Speaker, the Hon Minister was very emphatic. He has given us the facts, but the Hon Deputy Minority Leader is now asking to know whether or not he has determined inflation and other matters and all that -- no! If between the years of 2013 and 2017 Government got a revenue of an amount of GH¢1from the export of rosewood, then it is so. If between the years of 2017 and 2020 it was an amount of GH¢2, then that also is so. If he would want to ask a --
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 4:01 p.m.
Hon Member, I have got your point of order.
Mr Afenyo-Markin 4:01 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I would want to make one more point.
Mr Speaker, when the Rt Hon Speaker himself is in the Chair, our Hon Colleagues have a way that they behave, but when you come in, there is a different way that they behave, and this must stop.
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 4:01 p.m.
Hon Minister, are you minded to answer the question?
Mr S. A. Jinapor 4:01 p.m.
Mr Speaker, the records are provided to the House obviously to enlighten the Answer, so that the House would get a fuller picture of the situation from the years of 2013 to 2021.
Mr Speaker, I said that from the years of 2013 to 2016, the volume of rosewood harvested stood at an amount of GH¢181,277.31. The amount of money received accrued to the State and the Government on account of the amount of GH¢181,000 stood at an amount of GH¢93,980,607. That is how much the State received when the State harvested 181,000 cubic metres.
Mr Speaker, in comparing to the year 2017 to the year 2021, whereas 108,773.171 metres cubic of rosewood was harvested, the amount received stood at an amount of GH¢291,807,856.00. So, with the time value, clearly, even while in the year 2013 to the year 2017, 181,000 volumes of rosewood was harvested and from the year 2017 to the year 2021, 108,000 was harvested. In the case of how much the Ghanaian people received on account of the export of this rosewood, the Ghanaian people received three times the amount that they received between the year 2013 and the year 2017. This time value is a very important point.
Mr Speaker, the point is that more rosewood was harvested between the year 2013 and the year 2017, more than the 2017 to 2021 years. Yet, the amount of money accrued to the Ghanaian people was three times the amount acquired from the years 2013 to 2017. So, I would want to conclude by stating that on the contrary, the time value affirms and verifies that the amount of money that was accrued and the value accrued to the State from years 2017 to 2021 was three times that which accrued from the year 2013 to the year 2017.
Mr Avedzi 4:01 p.m.
Mr Speaker --
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 4:01 p.m.
Hon Leader, I am not inclined to turn you down when you want to speak, but we would need to move on.
Mr Avedzi 4:01 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I need to respond to some of the issues that the Hon Minister raised.
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 4:01 p.m.
You are not to respond, you are only to ask questions.
Mr Avedzi 4:01 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I am not sure that the Hon Minister understood my question. Sometimes, it is difficult when one is dealing with financial issues. These activities took place at different times, and the rosewood is an exportable product, which has links with the dollar. So, at any particular point the exchange rate determines how much one would receive as an exporter. Those are the issues that I am talking about in terms of time value. So, looking at the absolute figures to say that because one had received an amount of GH¢291 against an amount of GH¢93, there is more received by the State during these periods is completely false.
Mr Speaker, the Hon Minister should accept it, and factor it in. If he wants my services as a consultant, then I would help him to determine it,
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 4:01 p.m.
Yes, Hon Majority Leader?
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 4:01 p.m.
Mr Speaker, the Hon Minister has answered the question, but the Hon Deputy Minority Leader wants to introduce time value and so on and so forth. Is the Hon Minister aware that in the year 2016 and the year 2017, there would not be any material difference?
Mr Speaker, is the Hon Minister aware that in the year 2016, the volume of rosewood that was exported was 96,684 cubic metres? In the year 2016, 96,000 cubic metres fetched an amount of GH¢55 million, and just a year after, 56,000 cubic metres fetched an amount of GH¢148 million. Is the Hon Minister aware of that? It also goes for those who are concerned with time values.
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 4:01 p.m.
Hon Minister, are you aware of that? [Interruption]
Mr S. Jinapor 4:21 p.m.
Mr Speaker, in 2016, the volume of rosewood harvested stood at 96,684.51 cubic metres. Just a year after, the volume of rosewood harvested stood at 56,190 cubic metres. Essentially, that was less than 40,000 cubic metres in 2017. However, the amount of money accrued to the State and the Government for development in 2016, even though almost double rosewood was harvested, stood at
GH¢55,534,309.70.
Mr Speaker, in 2017, even when a far less volume of rosewood was harvested as compared to 2016, the amount of money which accrued to the Ghanaian people into the exchequer and our treasury stood at GH¢148,814,846. For that reason, in answer to the Hon Majority Leader and Hon Minister for Parliamentary Affairs, I am fully aware of this huge disparities.
rose
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 4:21 p.m.
Hon Members, I have already ruled that that would be last supplementary question. In fact, I respectfully gave the Leadership -- The Hon Minister has a lot of Questions to answer. Please, let us move on.
Mr Afenyo-Markin 4:21 p.m.
[Inaudible].
Mr Kwame Governs Agbodza 4:21 p.m.
It is important that he withdraws. I respect the Chair irrespective of the personality in it. I would want the Hon Deputy Majority Leader to withdraw the statement that this Side behaves differently. I would want him to withdraw -- [Interruption]. Mr Speaker, has given me the Floor.
As an Hon Member of Parliament, I respect the Chair irrespective of the personality sitting in it, and I respect you a lot. The statement by the Hon Deputy Majority Leader that when you are in the Chair, we behave differently is dangerous, and I would want him to withdraw it now. Mr Speaker, you are not a lesser Speaker; you are a Speaker when you are in the Chair. That is the Chair of Parliament, so, I would want the Hon Deputy Majority Leader to withdraw that statement.
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 4:21 p.m.
Hon Deputy Majority Leader, kindly do us the honours.
Mr Afenyo-Markin 4:21 p.m.
Mr Speaker, my statement was well founded in the sense that consistently -- and I am happy he has brought it up -- [Interruption]. No, I will stand on my feet on that.
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 4:21 p.m.
Hon Deputy Majority Leader, do us the honours.
Mr Afenyo-Markin 4:21 p.m.
Mr Speaker, with respect, you are in charge of maintaining order in the House. I sit here, and I have observed that when the Rt Hon Speaker is in the Chair, the posture --
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 4:21 p.m.
Hon Leader, please, do the honours for me.
Mr Afenyo-Markin 4:21 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I agree with you. Out of respect for you, I am only appealing to my Hon Colleagues. Mr Speaker, my junior Hon Colleague who sits directly in front of the Hon Member for Okaikoi North must do me the courtesy of listening to me in silence. He should stop shouting because that is not the way to behave in Parliament.
Mr Speaker, regardless of who is in the Chair, whether the Rt Hon Speaker, the Hon First Deputy Speaker or the Hon Second Deputy Speaker, we owe the Chair a duty to conduct ourselves in a manner acceptable. Mr Speaker, I withdraw the statement that it is their Side, especially when you are in the Chair, but they are gaining notoriety for doing
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 4:21 p.m.
Hon Members, he has withdrawn it; let us move on please.
Mr James Klutse Avedzi 4:21 p.m.
Mr Speaker, my Hon Colleague, has qualified the withdrawal. He said that he has withdrawn that statement, but impugned another motive that we are getting notoriety for that. Mr Speaker, that is another statement he made. He should withdraw that as well.
Mr Afenyo-Markin 4:21 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I withdraw the coincidence of their behaviour; it is a coincidence and I withdraw.
Mr Avedzi 4:21 p.m.
Mr Speaker, he is worsening the situation.
Mr Afenyo-Markin 4:21 p.m.
The notoriety of coincidence is what I have withdrawn.
Mr Avedzi 4:21 p.m.
No, that is not what you mean.
Mr Afenyo-Markin 4:21 p.m.
Mr Speaker, he is demanding more than I have said. I said that coincidentally, they have gained notoriety for that, and I have withdrawn it. What again? [Interruption]. I have withdrawn it.
Mr Speaker, it has become coincidental, but I have withdrawn it.
Mr Avedzi 4:21 p.m.
Mr Speaker, if he has withdrawn it, he should apologise to us.
Mr Afenyo-Markin 4:21 p.m.
Oh, what do you mean? [Laughter]
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 4:21 p.m.
Hon Leader, just withdraw the word “notoriety”.
Mr Afenyo-Markin 4:21 p.m.
I have so yielded to your pleasure.
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 4:21 p.m.
Very well, so we would move on to Question 224. Hon Clement Apaak, so many Questions. Why?
Mr Apaak 4:21 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I am a Builsa man. When we come, we come forcefully. Incidentally, the Hon Minister is a Gonja man, and he knows what I mean.
Impounded Rosewood
Dr Clement A. Apaak (NDC -- Builsa South) 4:21 p.m.
I beg to ask the Minister for Lands and Natural Resources the quantity of rosewood impounded between January 7, 2017 and January 7, 2021, how the impounded rosewood was disposed
of, and any revenue realised from the disposal.
Mr S. A. Jinapor 4:21 p.m.
Mr Speaker, again, in accordance with the highest standards of transparency and accountability, I will want to give the House the full data beginning from January 7, 2013.
I. January 7, 2013 to January 7,
2017
Mr Speaker, between January 7, 2013 and January 7, 2017, rosewood impounded by the Forestry Commission were given to the thirteen (13) companies that were granted salvage permits to process and export. Impounded rosewood was not separately accounted for, and thus, there is no data to determine the actual volumes impounded.
II. January 7, 2017 to January 7,
2021
Mr Speaker, between January 7, 2017 and January 7, 2021, a total of twenty-two thousand, six hundred and twenty-six cubic metres (22,626m3) of rosewood were impounded. All impounded rosewood species were disposed off by public auction, pursuant to court orders. A copy of one such court order from the High Court, Wa, is attached to this Answer.
The total amount realised from these public auctions for the period under consideration is eight million, one hundred and eighty-one thousand, seven hundred and seven Ghana cedis
(GH¢ 8,181,707.00).
Mr Speaker, the breakdown is captured in Table I and I will want the Hansard to capture same.
YEAR VOLUME (m3) VALUE (GHS)
2017 4,986.00 295,457.00
2018 - -
2019 814.00 3,349,000.00
2020 16,826.00 4,537,250.00
7th January, 2021 - -
TOTAL 22,626.00 8,181,707.00
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 4:31 p.m.
The court orders have been shown
to me and it would be distributed to Hon Members.
Hon Member for Builsa South, you may ask your supplementary question.
Dr Apaak 4:31 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I continue to be amused by the Hon Minister's penchant to make references to a time period that was never captured in any of my questions. However, I want to find out from him what other sanctions would be meted out to those who possess illegal Rosewood besides impounders.
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 4:31 p.m.
Hon Minister, did you get the question?
Mr S. A. Jinapor 4:31 p.m.
No, Mr Speaker.
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 4:31 p.m.
Hon Member, you may repeat the question.
Dr Apaak 4:31 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I want to ask the Hon Minister what would happen after the Rosewood has been impounded from those who possess it but are not entitled to do so.
Mr S. A. Jinapor 4:31 p.m.
Mr Speaker, there is a substantive question on this matter which I would very soon
answer -- but such persons would be prosecuted in accordance with our laws.
Dr Apaak 4:31 p.m.
Mr Speaker, this is just for the sake of the records. In the Hon Minister's responses, he made references to “harvesting'' but it is rather “salvaging'' because officially, permits are usually not issued for harvesting Rosewoods.
Mr Agbodza 4:31 p.m.
Mr Speaker, the Hon Minister stated early on that henceforth, Rosewood seized would be donated to the National Cathedral and yet in his Answer he said that it would be auctioned. I want to know exactly what they would do with the seized Rosewood. Would they auction some and give some to the National Cathedral or auction all of them? At a point he said henceforth all the wood would be donated to the National Cathedral and at another instance he said they would be auctioned.
Mr Speaker, could he tell us exactly what they would do to the Rosewood because the two answers are totally different. [Interruption] -- [Laughter] -- Yes, I want to understand him. Would they auction or donate them to the National Cathedral?
Mr S. A. Jinapor 4:31 p.m.
Mr Speaker, the power to dispose of confiscated Rosewood, is vested in the Hon Minister. The policy as it stands now is that confiscated Rosewood, would be given to public institutions beginning with the National Cathedral. Clearly, the National Cathedral would not need all the volumes we have today. I have said it publicly several times that when we provide the needs of the National Cathedral, we would determine how to use the reminder of the confiscated Rosewood.
Mr Speaker, I want to bring it to the attention of the Hon Member that it is important that we all appreciate that the major component of the fight against the harvesting of the Rosewood, is embedded in how they are disposed of and not so much the ban on it. This is because if there is a ban on the harvesting and people know that they could harvest it illegally but there is a route through which they could clean or launder the wood up through auctions, all they have to do is to factor the cost of acquiring the wood through these so called public auction into their cost of doing business and then the business would go on. Which is why for instance, the ban on the export of the Rosewood for me, is the most important measure we have taken so far. This is because the wood has no
Mr Chiwitey 4:31 p.m.
Mr Speaker, the Hon Minister said that the confiscated Rosewood would be used to facilitate the building of the National Cathedral. Is the National Cathedral our priority with regard to the number of schools that do not have furniture or the number of dilapidated schools that we have? Does the Hon Minister think we should rather use the confiscated Rosewood to build National Cathedral before we think of providing furniture for schools?
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 4:31 p.m.
Hon Member, so, what is your question?
Mr Chiwitey 4:31 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I would want to find out from the Hon Minister whether the National Cathedral is our priority? If we have to compare the number of children who sit on the floor to write and building the National Cathedral, do we have to use the confiscated Rosewood to build the National Cathedral and leave our classrooms empty?
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 4:31 p.m.
Mr Speaker, my Hon Colleague unfortunately wants to engage in arguments and our Orders frown on that. If he wants to ask a question, he could do that but he should not argue his question that there is greater need for something so it should be applied. He is being argumentative and Order 67 (1) (b) would not permit him to argue his case in a question form.
Mr Speaker, in that regard, I invite you to rule that question out.
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 4:31 p.m.
Hon Minister, you are not minded to answer the question.
Dr Agyeman-Rawlings 4:31 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I would want to inquire from the Hon Minister what measures he has put in place to track and trace all confiscated Rosewood to ensure that once it has been redistributed to whichever institutions, the institutions cannot in any way redistribute or sell those pieces of wood and that it would remain in their jurisdiction and would not be used for any other purpose.
Mr S. A. Jinapor 4:41 p.m.
Mr Speaker, first of all, one would reasonably assume that the kinds of institutions we would present these wood species to are largely responsible ones. For the rest of my life, I cannot
contemplate how the National Cathedral would deal in Rosewood in an improper manner. The Hon Member's question is valid but for instance, if Parliament were involved in any construction or development and the Ministry donates Rosewood to it, I would comfortably assume conclusively that it would not be dealt with improperly. However, whenever we donate Rosewood to institutions, we would also take it upon ourselves to have the institutions account for them because as I said earlier, the most important part of the regime of enforcement is to ensure that the wood does not eventually get into the hands of people who are already involved in the illegal harvesting of it.

Mr Speaker, the Hon Member's point is well noted but I do not see how a situation like that would even arise.
Mr Mahama Ayariga 4:41 p.m.
Mr Speaker, let me commend the Minister for taking a decision to ban outright the export of rosewood. Being a former Minister for Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation, I think that is a very commendable decision.
Mr Speaker, he indicated that it is of no value here; the value is in Europe or China or any other place where it is exported to, and in several of his Answers to the Questions, the question of comparative values have arisen.
I would want to find out from the Minister, how the value that he has accounted for is determined? Is the value of the rosewood exported determined by Government or by the sales price abroad? Do we have regulations that say that one metric tonne of rosewood is valued at “x” amount or it is the market that determines the pricing of rosewood given that this whole afternoon we have been accounting for the values of rosewood?
Mr Samuel A. Jinapor 4:41 p.m.
Mr Speaker, first of all, the general factors which determine the value of the wood is not different from the market forces which determine the value of any item, if you want. So, if we sell rosewood in the open market, the value is determined by the market forces but, of course, as he knows, if it is through a public auction, the value is different. There we are doing force sales value and so on and so forth. So, the value in the open market would definitely be different from the value in the public auction. The figures
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 4:41 p.m.
Very well, I bring this particular question to a close.
We move to Question numbered 248 which stands in the name of the Hon Member for Okaikwei North, Ms Theresa Lardi Awuni.
Hon Member, the Minister is here; ask your Question.
Measures to Fence the Achimota Forest to Reduce
Attacks by Criminals on nearby Residents and Motorists
Ms Theresa Lardi Awuni (NDC--Okaikwei North) 4:41 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I beg to ask the Minister for Lands and Natural Resources what measures the Ministry is putting in place to fence the Achimota Forest, to reduce attacks by criminals on nearby residents and motorists.
Mr Samuel A. Jinapor 4:41 p.m.
Mr Speaker, security in and around the Achimota Forest is of great concern to all. The Ministry's response however is not to fence the Forest, but to work with the security agencies to provide the needed security for the protection of the forest and residents around it.
Already, the Forestry Commission, which is responsible for the protection and management of Forest Reserves has deployed a number of Forest Guards to permanently patrol the Forest to ward off encroachers and criminals.
Additionally, the Achimota Police Station, situated within the peripheral portions of the Forest Reserve, patrols the area to provide protection against encroachers and criminals. The Forestry Commission provides logistical support, particularly the provision of motorbikes and vehicle repairs to the Police Station, to beef up security in and around the Forest Reserve.
Let me add, Mr Speaker, that the Ministry is currently examining whether the Forest Reserve, in its current state, is fit for thre purpose? We are looking at proposals for developing the Forest into the likes of Central Park in New York or Hyde
Park in London, to give a facelift to the Forest while preserving its ecological integrity. This will also give further protection to the Forest and the residents near it.
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 4:41 p.m.
Yes, Hon Member, any supplementary Question?
Ms Theresa L. Awuni 4:41 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I have been in constant touch with the Achimota Police concerning the security around the forest area. The Minister in his response stated that the Ministry has provided logistics, motorbikes and other equipment to the Achimota Police. I would want to say on authority that the Achimota Police has received only two motorbikes and it is inadequate for them to patrol the whole area.
Mr Speaker, could the Minister tell this House when the provision of logistics to the Police was made and the deployment of the guards started; and are they daytime guards or night patrols?
Mr Samuel A. Jinapor 4:41 p.m.
Mr Speaker, the Hon Member is quite right that the logistical requirement of the Police ought to be enhanced and I would want to assure her that we would do just that.
I thank you, Mr Speaker.
Ms Theresa L. Awuni 4:41 p.m.
Mr Speaker, my question was not answered but I will move on.
Mr Speaker, is the Minister aware that the forest area has become a crime zone because it is not fenced, and would he consider brightening up the area with streetlights to serve as a measure of curbing nefarious activities in and around the forest area?
Mr Samuel A. Jinapor 4:41 p.m.
Mr Speaker, that would sound like a good proposal by the Hon Member, except that I would have to speak to the Forestry Commission experts and be satisfied that the provision of streetlight would not disturb the ecological integrity of the forest reserve. I would have to find out from them but if I am to get a favourable response from the Forestry Commission and to be properly advised by the experts that would be a proposal that I would take a critical look at.
I thank you very much.
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 4:41 p.m.
Hon Member, that is your last question.
Ms Theresa L. Awuni 4:41 p.m.
Mr Speaker, since the Ministry is considering giving the Forest
Ms Theresa L. Awuni 4:51 p.m.
facelift, would it also consider that residenses around the Achimota Forest area are protected and it could only be done if the forest is fenced?
My question is that the Achimota Police is scared that their lives are in danger. Quite recently, somebody was killed at the Achimota Forest and thrown down on the street. It is because the criminals can have easy access into the forest. So, whatever they do on the streets, they run right into the forest and hide.

So would the Hon Minister give us assurance that he will speed up on this consideration that he is talking about? This is because I do not think lighting would have any effect on the ecological environment.
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 4:51 p.m.
This is not a question.
Ms Awuni 4:51 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I asked if he would assure us?
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 4:51 p.m.
Hon Minister, give us an assurance.
Mr S. A. Jinapor 4:51 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I appreciate the passion of the Hon Member and I share in the sentiments she has expressed. Whatever has to
be done to ensure that that enclave does not become a safe haven for criminals -- I think it is my responsibility and that of my Hon Colleagues to ensure that.
I would like to assure her that my Ministries; that of the Interior and the National Security, would put in place whatever measures are required to protect the Achimota Forest from making it a safe haven for criminals.
Mr Speaker, finally, the solution to the Achimota forest is to have a plan by the state to convert the Achimota Forest into a proper eco-tourism park which would be befitting of our national capital.
The Achimota Forest has been what it is for years and I think it is time Government worked with other stakeholders to develop it into the likes of a Hyde Park in London or the Central Park of New York so that it becomes a proper ecological park. It is going to take a lot of investment and work but we are determined to do just that.
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 4:51 p.m.
Hon Acheampong, do you still want to ask a question?
Mr Richard Acheampong 4:51 p.m.
Mr Speaker, yes. Thank you very much for the opportunity.
I just would want to find out from the Hon Minister if he is aware that there are Biafra fighters in the Achimota Forest as we speak? This was in the news last week that they hold their meetings and some activities in the forest.
Mr S. A. Jinapor 4:51 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I am not aware that Biafra fighters from Nigeria hold their meetings in the Achimota Forest. However, with the greatest of respect, I doubt this claim.
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 4:51 p.m.
Yes, Hon Woyome?
Mr Kobena Mensah Woyome 4:51 p.m.
Mr Speaker, in the Answer provided by the Hon Minister a while ago, he was quite emphatic about the decision to improve upon the Forest but in his Answer as contained in the Order Paper, it remains a proposal and so, he is now looking into it. So, how does he reconcile the two statements? This is because he was quite emphatic that that was the way to go and what the Ministry intends and therefore, the investment portfolio and level and so on but in his Answer, it is an option to look at. So, it is quite difficult to reconcile the two.
What is the plan of the Ministry going forward in converting the
Achimota Forest into the park he has just mentioned?
Mr S. A. Jinapor 4:51 p.m.
Mr Speaker, the plan or goal to develop the Achimota Forest into an eco-tourism park precedes the Akufo-Addo Administration. It begun as far back as former Presidents Kufuor and Attah-Mills' Administration and a lot of efforts and work has been put into it. That is the intention and indeed, I should say that it is the right path to go such that if we are able to develop it into an eco-tourism park -
Mr Speaker, as the Hon Member would know, that kind of intervention requires a lot of capital investment from the private sector participation. Therefore, it will take some work and we have begun and would need the support of the House so that hopefully, in the not too distant future, we can turn the Achimota Forest into a proper park where an Hon Member can go and read some books.
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 4:51 p.m.
Yes, Hon Terlabi?
Mr Terlabi 4:51 p.m.
Mr Speaker, just to let the Hon Minister be aware that indeed, the Biafra separatist group maybe, my Hon Colleague who asked the question did not put it well. The separatist group hold their meetings there and there are videos to that
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 4:51 p.m.
Hon Member, the question please.
Mr Terlabi 4:51 p.m.
Mr Speaker, so, it is providing a safe haven for them. It is not a question, I am only giving information. I want the Hon Minister to do something about it.
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 4:51 p.m.
Hon Member, your information is well noted.
Hon Member for Ada, your question is the last I am admitting for this particular session.
Mrs Comfort Cudjoe Ghansah 4:51 p.m.
Mr Speaker, after Hon Theresah Lardi Awuni had asked the question dear to our hearts because of security around that area, the Minister has given assurance to work on it.
Mr Speaker, we have the Government Assurance Committee, we would plead with you to refer it to the Committee so they work hand-in- hand to ensure they deliver.
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 4:51 p.m.
So many assurances have been made why would you want only this question to be referred to the Committee on Government Assurance?
Anyway, we will move to Question numbered 249 in the name of Hon Rockson-Nelson Dafeamekpor. However, Hon Member, I think this particular question has been asked severally. Is that not so?
Mr Rockson-Nelson E. K. Dafeamekpor 4:51 p.m.
Mr Speaker, what I asked in the past was in respect of my people in South Dayi and the impression was that they had been paid. So, I was informed to ask in respect of the all the outstandings and the information provided today is very instructive.
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 4:51 p.m.
Alright. Go ahead with your Question.
Status of Payment of Compensation to Land Owners in
the late 1950s
Mr Rockson-Nelson Etse Kwami Dafeamekpor (NDC -- South Dayi) 4:51 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I beg to ask the Hon Minister for Lands and
Natural Resources what was the status of payment of compensation to land owners who lost their lands during the construction of the Akosombo Dam late in the 1950s?
Mr S. A. Jinapor 5:01 p.m.
Mr Speaker, the payment of compensation to land owners who have been affected by the development of the Akosombo Dam is governed by the Land Act of 2020 (Act 1036) and section 28 of the Volta River Development Act of 1961 (Act 46) as variously amended. Records for the payment of compensation to these people are disbursed between the Lands Commission and the Volta River Authority.
Mr Speaker, records available to the Lands Commission shows that after the said takeover of the land, some land owners received compensation whiles others did not due to the conflicting claims of these lands.
In the year 2008, the Government of His Excellency John Agyekum Kufuor approved an amount of GH¢198million for the payment of outstanding compensation to owners of these lands.

In 2015, however, the commission of inquiry into payments from public

funds arising from judgment debts and akin matters, appointed under C.I. 79 of 2012, found that some people made fraudulent claims for compensation, and recommended that Government suspends payment of compensation and undertake a survey work of the whole Volta Basin, to ascertain the actual size and value of the lands affected by the Dam. By a White Paper issued in November, 2015, the then Mahama Government accepted these recommendations and directed the suspension of the payment of compensation.

Pursuant to this directive, the payment of all outstanding claims was suspended. The Lands Commission is currently working with the Volta River Authority to ascertain the exact number of claims that have been honoured and those outstanding, to streamline the payment of compensation. The Hon Member and persons connected to this matter should be rest assured of our commitment to follow up on this issue with the view of bringing closure to all outstanding matters.
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 5:01 p.m.
Hon Member, in view of the fact that this Question has been asked even before you entered into this Chamber --
Mr Dafeamekpor 5:01 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I am guided but this is a very vexed matter in my constituency and the people are very emotional about it. I am happy that as part of the Hon Minister's Answer today, it has emerged that the Government stopped the payments as a result of the fact that they have directed that a detailed plan of the acreage involved in the deluge be done.
Mr Speaker, may I find out from the Hon Minister whether VRA in conjunction with the Lands Commission have really determined the size of the land that has been affected, as contained in paragraph 3 of his Answer?
Mr S. A. Jinapor 5:01 p.m.
Mr Speaker, the Hon Member sought an answer on the status of payment of compensation to land owners and I have attempted to give him the status of payment of compensation to land owners quite clearly. The matter as to whether the VRA and the Lands Commission have determined the
acreage and so on and could not have reasonably come into my contemplation. Mr Speaker, the Question that was posed was in relation to the status of payment of compensation and that is the Answer I have given, so I would plead with the Hon Member for us to work together for me to provide that information so that he can be able to brief the members of his constituency.
Mr Speaker, respectfully, I do not see how I can answer this question.
Mr Dafeamekpor 5:01 p.m.
Mr Speaker, with all due respect, the Hon Minister said in paragraph 3 of his Answer that:
“In 2015, however, the Commission of Inquiry into Payments from Public Funds Arising from Judgment Debts and Akin Matters, appointed under C.I. 79 of 2012, found that some people made fraudulent claims for compensation, and recommended that Government suspends payment of compensation and undertake a survey work of the whole Volta Basin, to ascertain the actual size and value of the lands affected by the Dam.”
Mr Speaker, since he has said this to Parliament, as the sponsor of the
Question, I am obliged to find out whether the recommendations that you have said have been accepted by Government? whether VRA in conjunction with the Lands Commission took the further steps to actually map out? Mr Speaker, because it is based on this that further compensation can be proceeded with.
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 5:01 p.m.
So, what is the question?
Mr Dafeamekpor 5:01 p.m.
Mr Speaker, the question is whether that recommendation, as accepted by Government, has been carried out and to generate a new map and value of the lands affected, for purposes of payment of compensation?
Mr S. A. Jinapor 5:01 p.m.
Mr Speaker, yes, the Hon Member is very right that indeed and in fact, pursuant to C.I. 79 of 2012, the Commission of Inquiry recommended the suspension of the payment of compensation. Further to that, in November 2015, the then Mahama Government indeed proceeded to suspend those compensations. Since then compensations have not been paid after the suspension in November,
2015.
Mr Speaker, but on the specific question, I beg to refer the House to page 11 of the Order Paper Addendum, paragraph 4, where I stated in the advertised Answer that:
“Pursuant to this directive, the payment of all outstanding claims was suspended. The Lands Commission is currently working with the Volta River Authority to ascertain the exact number of claims that have been honoured and those outstanding, to streamline the payment of compensation.”
Mr Speaker, we cannot determine the claims that have been honoured and those outstanding if we do not have the acreage. So, clearly, the Answer I have provided indicates that work is being done and a lot more work ought to be done. Mr Speaker, this is the answer and there is no difficulty about this.
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 5:01 p.m.
I would give the last opportunity to Hon Woyome. Hon Woyome are you close to that area?
Mr Woyome 5:01 p.m.
Mr Speaker, this matter is of utmost interest to a good number of people, especially the communities by the river; stretching from the upper part of the river, downstream and to the estuary
Mr S. A. Jinapor 5:01 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I would work to immediately provide the House with this information.
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 5:01 p.m.
Hon Terlabi?
Mr Terlabi 5:01 p.m.
Mr Speaker, it is because of this that my people are even resisting the payment of electricity bills because we have been highly affected. Mr Speaker, I just want to know when they were commissioned to come out with the map. Were they given timelines?
The Hon Minister has said in his Answer that after the White Paper, VRA is working to come out with the
map, so I want to know if they were given a timeline and when do we expect the map to be ready?
Mr S. A. Jinapor 5:11 p.m.
Mr Speaker, as I indicated at page 11, paragraph 5 of my Answer to the House, the Volta River Authority and the Lands Commission are working assiduously in order to bring closure to this matter. I would want to assure the sponsor of the Question and Hon Members who have such deep and strong interest in this particular matter that we would work together. I am very happy to, probably, have an occasion to sit with Hon Members for us to collaborate to see how we can resolve this matter.
Mr Speaker, I would be reluctant to say one month or two months because that would be an uninformed assurance. However, Hon Members should be rest assured that I am prepared to work with you and other stakeholders so that we can bring a closure to this important matter.
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 5:11 p.m.
Very well. Thank you very much.
We would move to Question numbered 357. Hon Member for Keta?
Mr Samuel N. George 5:11 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I rise to seek your leave to ask the Question on behalf of the Hon Member whose permission I have.
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 5:11 p.m.
Very well. Go ahead.
Laid down Processes and Procedures to be followed during Rosewood Confiscation
Mr Samuel Nartey George on behalf of) Mr Kwame Dzudzorli Gakpey (NDC -- Keta)) 5:11 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I beg to ask the Minister for Lands and Natural Resources the laid down processes or procedures to be followed when Rosewood is confiscated.
Minister for Lands and Natural Resources (Mr Samuel Abdulai Jinapor) (MP) 5:11 p.m.
Mr Speaker, the Timber Resources Management Act of 1998 (Act 547) and the Timber Resources Management and Legality Licensing Regulations of 2017 (L.I. 2254) prohibit the harvesting and/or dealing in timber, including Rosewood, without a timber right, permit or licence issued for that purpose.
Although Rosewood is listed under Appendix II of the Convention
on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), which means it can be traded subject to regulations, the Government has since 2019, placed a ban on the issuance of salvage permits for Rosewood. Accordingly, the harvesting, transportation and exportation of Rosewood remains illegal.
Mr Speaker, the law provides two procedures for dealing with seized timber, which includes Rosewood.
I. Illegal harvesting or trading in timber
First, Mr Speaker, when a person is arrested for harvesting or dealing in Rosewood illegally, the Rosewood is seized or impounded by the Forestry Commission. The person is then prosecuted. When prosecution is successful, the procedure for dealing with the Rosewood is provided by Section 17(3) of Act 547.
Under this provision, where the Court convicts a person for illegally dealing in Rosewood, the Court shall make an order for the confiscation and sale of the Rosewood. The sale is done by public auction.
In sum, the procedure is as follows:
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 5:11 p.m.
Hon Samuel George, I believe the orders given you did not include asking supplementary questions?
Mr George 5:11 p.m.
Mr Speaker, because the answer is already provided in the Order Paper, the Hon
Member has had the benefit to read and has given me supplementary questions to ask, just two of them.
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 5:11 p.m.
Go ahead.
Mr George 5:11 p.m.
Mr Speaker, based on the Answer provided, is it to conclude that anybody arrested for illegally harvested rosewood only suffers the confiscation of the rosewood and there is no fine or imprisonment meted out to the person?
Mr S. A. Jinapor 5:11 p.m.
Mr Speaker, Hon Samuel George is a very good friend of mine. Unfortunately, on this occasion, he was not listening to me. In my Answer on page 12 of the Order Paper Addendum, I said and quote:
“In sum, the procedure is as follows:
1. Arrest and seizure of the Rosewood;
2. Prosecution of the person arrested; …”
Mr George 5:11 p.m.
Mr Speaker, the Hon Minister is my good friend. It appears he was not listening to my question. The question is: when the person is prosecuted, what is the
punishment meted out: is it incarceration, a fine or only seizure of the rosewood? This is what I asked.
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 5:11 p.m.
Hon Member, no. Your duty is to ask the question on behalf of the Hon Member.
Mr George 5:11 p.m.
Mr Speaker, so the question is: when a person is prosecuted, what is the punishment? Is it incarceration, a fine or only the seizure of the Rosewood?
Mr S. A. Jinapor 5:11 p.m.
Mr Speaker, when an accused person is prosecuted, the prosecutorial powers are vested in the State. The conviction, sentencing and punishment is in the bosom of the judge of the court guided by the laws made by this House.
Mr Speaker, the punishment to be prescribed or meted out is not a matter for the Minister to determine. It is the judge who would determine whether it should be a fine, sentence or both, to borrow the Hon Member's words. It is not for the Minister to determine.
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 5:11 p.m.
Hon Member, his answer is right.
Mr George 5:11 p.m.
Mr Speaker, my last supplementary question.
Mr Speaker, I just would want to find out from the Hon Minister, my good friend that as the Minister responsible for the oversight of Act 547, which would regulate the punishment rest in the bosom of the judge as he rightly put, what does the Act say is the punishment regime?
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 5:11 p.m.
The question is turned down. Let me give the last opportunity to ask a supplementary question to the Hon Member for Klottey Korley?
Dr Zanetor Agyeman- Rawlings 5:11 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I would like to inquire from the Hon Minister whether given the sensitivity of this issue of rosewood, his Ministry would perhaps collaborate with the Atomic Energy Agency to look at ways of tracking the various trees to their specific locations so that when the logs are recovered at any point, they could be traced to where they came from and subsequently, if there is a misuse of the logs, that can also be traced?
Mr S. A. Jinapor 5:21 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I would probably have a conversation with the Hon Member for Klottey Korle after this session to get a better understanding of the contours of the question she has asked. This is because I am struggling to appreciate how Atomic Energy comes in and how they can assist us to track wood. Suffice for me to point out that there is already a wood tracking system in Ghana.
The Forestry Commission has a very elaborate, robust wood tracking system. But as always, there is room for enhancement and therefore if we can work out further arrangements and mechanisms which would ensure that the tracking regime is one that is sharpened. I would be very happy to hear from her. But clearly, we are determined to deploy all the measures and tools which are required to be able to track issues that has to do with wood.
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 5:21 p.m.
Now, we move to the last Question for the day, which stands in the name of the Hon Member for Sissala West, Mr Adams M. Sukparu.
Total Number of Seedlings Procured and Distributed on
Green Ghana Day
Mr Adams Mohammed Sukparu (NDC -- Sissala West) 5:21 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I beg to ask the Minister for Lands and Natural Resources the total number of seedlings procured and distributed by the State on Green Ghana Day, and at what cost.
Mr S. A. Jinapor 5:21 p.m.
Mr Speaker, the Green Ghana Project, is one of the measures we have taken to restore the lost forest cover of our dear country. On June 11, 2021, the Green Ghana Day, which marked the beginning of this long-term project, Ghanaians, as well as foreign nationals
living in Ghana, joined His Excellency the President, and other dignitaries including Mr Speaker, to plant over five million trees across the country.
Mr Speaker, prior to this day, the Forestry Commission produced a total of 1,010,000 seedlings from the Nurseries of the Forest Services Division, and 600,000 seedlings were received in the form of donations. Since the target was to plant a minimum of five million trees, the Commission had to purchase additional seedlings to ensure the availability of seedlings for planting. A total of 5,408,534 seedlings were procured at a cost of GH¢12,796,615.00. Mr Speaker the breakdown is as follows in the Tables that follow:
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 5:21 p.m.
Hon Member, do you have any further questions? This is an elaborate Answer.
Mr Sukparu 5:21 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I have a few questions.
Mr Speaker, may I ask the Hon Minister what procurement process was used to obtain these seedlings?
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 5:21 p.m.
Hon Member, I would disallow this Question and you should appreciate it. The Minister was brought here to answer questions about the seedlings. Procurement is another thing. If you want to ask the Minister to answer that question, file a separate question and the Minister would be obliged to come here and answer.
Any other question?
Mr Sukparu 5:21 p.m.
Yes, Mr Speaker, I have a few other questions.
Mr Speaker, I would want to ask the Minister what measures have been put in place to ensure that the seedlings planted flourished and did not wither and die off.
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 5:21 p.m.
The Minister has already asked Hon Members to keep nurturing them.
Hon Minister, please come and answer.
Mr S. A. Jinapor 5:21 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I have said it on countless occasions that we have a very comprehensive strategy so we do have a monitoring and evaluation committee headed by Hon Benito Owusu-Bio and indeed, the Committee has been working day after day and in due course, I believe some time on the 11th of August or so, they are scheduled to hold a press conference to update the country on the measures we have put in place; how far we have come - Mr Speaker, I should add that from the outset, I stated that the planting of the trees is just one part of the equation. If we fail to nurture the trees, we probably should not have planted them in the first place.
Now, the Hon Member has a big responsibility himself as a Member of Parliament which is why I have always craved the indulgence of this House to support us. We all have constituencies so let us be involved and mobilise our constituents to nurture the trees so that the trees would grow well.
Thank you, Mr Speaker.
Mr Avedzi 5:21 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I want to find out from the Hon Minister if they have been able to plant all the 7,018,534 seedlings.
Mr S. A. Jinapor 5:21 p.m.
Mr Speaker, all the seedlings procured were distributed across the country and they were planted and indeed, arising out of the enthusiasm and the euphoria of Ghanaians, Members of Parliament -- Leadership helped in mobilising constituents and Ghanaians embraced this concept so well. A lot of people planted trees which have not even been accounted for. Therefore I would submit even though without scientific basis for it, that we most definitely exceeded the seven million. We planted more than that.
Mr Speaker, the Majority Leader and Minister for Parliamentary Affairs has just told me that perhaps the Green Ghana Day should be a quarterly affair and not a yearly affair. So where we find ourselves is for all of us to work together and to be committed so that the objectives we set for ourselves that the seven million trees are nurtured to maturity would be achieved.
Thank you, Mr Speaker.
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 5:31 p.m.
Hon Leader, you can pass on the information when we close - No, you have exhausted your time.
Hon Majority Leader, may I give him one?
Dr Agyeman-Rawlings 5:31 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I would like to inquire from the Minister whether the seven million trees were Jill-tagged in order for us to follow-up over the years on the exact location of these trees? Jill- tagging is a method of using technology to ensure that GPS location -- [Interruption] -- not post office Global Positioning System (GPS) of the trees, so that we can follow-up on the locations of the various trees that have been planted as part of the accountability and transparency.
Mr S. A. Jinapor 5:31 p.m.
Mr Speaker, this is our first attempt at making this intervention. Therefore, the technology and the intervention that the Hon Member has proposed is a good one. We are familiar with it and we know about the positive impact it can make. But at this stage, we do not have the required funding to enable us do that. We have not been able to piece the thoughts and proposals together to be able to take that step. I agree with her. In future we will look at that.
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 5:31 p.m.
Mr Speaker, the Minister related to something that he may want to do. I believe that he may have to commit to doing that, because as his deputy is aware, over a period of 100 years, we have destroyed over 8 million hectares of our forest cover, which means that we have destroyed over 800 million trees. This attempt to re- green Ghana by planting seven million trees a year, if we go by that, it would take us about 110 years to get to the status quo. So, if the Minister could have a policy for us as a nation to do that on quarterly basis - At least, if we are able to plant seven million per day, and do so four times in a year, at least we would plant 28 million trees. If we are able to sustain them and assure ourselves that a minimum of about 20 million will do well, then we will be making some progress. Otherwise, I find this too cosmetic. With respect to the Minister, even though it is a good initiative.
Mr Speaker, so would he commit that we do not space out as we are doing, and that we do it every quarter?
Mr S. A. Jinapor 5:31 p.m.
Mr Speaker, it is important that I crave your indulgence to make a point on this.
Hon Majority Leader and Minister for Parliamentary Affairs is absolutely
right in his analysis. That is the way we should go. The Hon Majority Leader, who is a very senior and distinguished Member of the Cabinet is also fully aware that under the instructions of President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, a plan and a report are being prepared to be presented about the measures required to put our country on the path of aggressive afforestation.
Mr Speaker, the statistics and the information relating to our forest cover have not been told fully. It is alarming. In the northern part of our country for instance, it is almost degraded completely. Shea trees which are seasonal industry for the women of northern Ghana -- I saw my grandmother and my mother being involved in the Shea industry. The Hon Member for Bole will attest to it that this year, the shea industry is collapsed. There are just a few shea trees left for them to get enough shea nuts to engage in the basic rudimentary shea industry. It is a very huge problem. I agree with the Minister, and we hope that out of the deliberations of the Cabinet, we can, as he has indicated, come up with a workable policy beyond the Green Ghana, which will get us to restore the forest cover of this nation.
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 5:31 p.m.
Thank you Hon Minister for Lands
and Natural Resources. You have been here to answer seven separate Questions. You are hereby discharged.
Yes, Hon Majority Leader?
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 5:31 p.m.
Mr Speaker, my attention has been drawn to page 5 of the Order Paper - Presentation and First Reading of Bills. [Pause]
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 5:31 p.m.
Hon Members, Presentation and First Reading of Bills. Page 5, item numbered 9 (b).
Yes, Hon Member for Akim Swedru?
Mr Frank Annoh-Dompreh 5:31 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I would seek your leave since the Hon Member is not available and do it on his behalf.
BILLS -- FIRST READING 5:31 p.m.
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 5:41 p.m.
Yes, Hon Majority Leader?
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 5:41 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I think that we have done quite well today. So, I guess we could take a well-earned adjournment. [Pause]
Mr Speaker, as I was saying, I believe we could take a well- deserved adjournment for today to reconvene tomorrow at 10.00 a. m. and conclude the deliberations on the mid-year review. Afterwards, if there are any other matters, then we could attend to them. Also, we may take a suspension for about an hour and reconvene at 2.00 p.m. to receive the
President of Angola, who would address the House tomorrow. So, we would entreat all of us, including those of us who are not here to be here on time tomorrow to receive the President, who would address this House tomorrow.
Mr Speaker, it is approaching 6.00 p. m. in the evening, long past our usual time for adjournment. So, we may not need any motion for adjournment.
Mr Haruna Iddrisu 5:41 p.m.
Mr Speaker, this is just to concur with the Hon Majority Leader, and to urge Hon Colleagues to be punctual and to be on time. Probably, we should all dress as Parliamentarians, so that we would accord the President the needed respect, since it is a reciprocal gesture that he accorded our President. Also, myself and the Hon Majority Leader would bring conclusion to the debate on the Mid- Year Review of the Budget Statement.
Mr Speaker, I thank you.
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 5:41 p.m.
Very well, Hon Members, we are called upon to be punctual. From tomorrow up to Friday, we have a lot to do, so, we should try to be punctual so that we would be able to do the rest of the Business that confronts us. So, on that note, this House stands
adjourned till tomorrow, Tuesday, 3rd August, 2021 at 10.00 a. m. in the forenoon. The House stands adjourned.
ADJOURNMENT 5:41 p.m.
  • The House was adjourned at 5.47 p.m. till Tuesday, 3rd August, 2021 at 10.00 a. m.