Debates of 7 Dec 2021

MR FIRST DEPUTY SPEAKER
PRAYERS 12:50 p.m.
Mr First Deputy Speaker 12:50 p.m.
Hon
Members, Correction of Votes and
Proceedings. Shall we commence
with the correction of Votes and
Proceedings of the 22nd Sitting of the
Third Meeting held on Wednesday,
3rd December, 2021 — [Pause] —
Hon Members, I do not have my
copy of the Votes and Proceedings of
the 1st December, 2021, so we will
start with that of 2nd December, 2021,
and we will return to the 1st
December, 2021, when I get my copy.
  • [No correction was made to the Votes and Proceedings of Thursday, 2nd December, 2021.]
    • Mr First Deputy Speaker 12:50 p.m.
    Now,
    I have a copy of the Votes and
    Proceedings of Wednesday, 1st
    December, 2021.
    Page 1 - 8
    Votes and Proceedings and the
    Official Report
    Mr Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa 12:50 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I am grateful. At page 8,
    the Votes and Proceedings report that
    all the 275 Members of Parliament
    were present in the House on that
    day, and that cannot be the case
    because I recall that on our Side,
    there was one of our Hon Colleagues
    from Oti, who had asked permission
    to be at his father's funeral. And on the other Side, I remember the Hon
    Henry Quartey and the Hon Matthew
    Opoku Prempeh were not in the
    Chamber. They were not in Accra. So
    Mr Speaker, the Table Office would
    have to take a second look at this
    attendance. We did not have 275
    Members of Parliament all in atten-
    dance on the 1st of December, 2021.
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 12:50 p.m.
    The
    Table Office should verify from their
    records and correct it if their record
    bears that out.
    Mr Murtala Muhammed
    Ibrahim: Mr Speaker, I also know
    that the Minister for Education was
    also not in the House on that day. So
    it cannot be accurate that we had 275
    Members present
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 1 p.m.
    Very
    well. Their record will verify.
    Hon Members, on page 9, I
    noticed that the Votes and Pro-
    ceedings, the item listed as 5 says
    that:
    “The Hon First Deputy Speaker sought to give a ruling which was
    interrupted following an uproar in the
    Chamber.”
    That is not the end of the matter. I
    actually concluded, gave the ruling
    and hit the gavel. I recall bringing it
    to the attention of the Table Office
    and showing to them the evidence to
    correct the Votes and Proceedings.
    So, please take note and make the
    appropriate correction.

    Minority Leader (Mr Haruna

    Iddrisu): Mr Speaker, I want to hear

    you clearly; you are on page 9 and as

    far as we are concerned, what reflects

    on page 9 is a true reflection of what

    transpired in this House, that I moved

    a motion relying on Standing Order

    50 (1) and 50 (2) as was done by my

    Hon Colleague, the Majority Leader,

    a day before.

    Mr Speaker, you seek to correct

    this. Yes, there was an uproar

    because you had to put the Question

    on the Motion that was so ably moved

    by me and seconded by Hon Mahama

    Ayariga. Under the circumstance,

    there was some disorderliness in the

    House, and as far as we are con-

    cerned, you suspended the House and

    the Hon Second Deputy Speaker

    came to adjourn the House.

    Mr Speaker, when I hear you now

    saying that you are giving directives

    to the Table Office, directives to do

    what? This is because you told this

    House that you are not the Speaker,

    but you are the Member of

    Parliament (MP) for Bekwai.

    [Laughter]. Therefore, if you are the

    MP for Bekwai, my application was

    to the Speaker. You said you are not

    the Speaker, so if you say that you

    want to correct it --

    Mr Speaker, I should think that

    the only correction which must

    reflect, and I hope that you direct

    Table Office to do same, is that in

    moving my Motion, I copiously and

    judiciously made references to article

    102 of the 1992 Constitution and

    Standing Order 109 of the Parliament

    of Ghana, which must also reflect.

    This is because on the previous day,

    as Hon Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu

    made reference to the Constitution

    and Standing Orders, his was recog-

    nised in the Votes and Proceedings.

    What is sauce for the goose is sauce

    for the gander.

    Mr Speaker, you are yourself a

    lawyer and authoritatively, parlia-

    mentary debates have become a guide

    to interpretation beyond the British

    ruling in Pepper v Hart, therefore we

    know that reference to the Consti-

    tution and our Standing Orders must

    at all times be respected. So, I have a

    difficulty with the direction that you

    are giving to the Table Office

    because as far as we are concerned, I

    moved a Motion, which was seconded

    by Hon Mahama Ayariga when the

    debate as recorded there, concluded.

    After the conclu-sion of the debate,

    Mr Speaker, yours is simply to put

    the question, nothing more.

    Mr Speaker, importantly, deci-

    sions in Parliament are not about

    somebody's imagined majority out- side this Chamber and outside the

    precincts of Parliament. It is about

    Members present, meaning Members

    available and Members voting.

    Therefore, I have a difficulty with the

    directive you are giving the Table

    Office. Mr Speaker, be reminded that

    I did not invoke any different rule

    other than what was invoked by my

    Hon Colleague the day before. So, let

    me hear your ruling well, and I will

    do what is appropriate within our

    Standing Orders and within the 1992

    Constitution.

    Mr Speaker, I however think that

    it will be wrong for you to direct the

    Table Office to tamper with or alter

    what is reported on page 9. Let me

    add that the Table Office should add

    that I made reference to article 102,

    that the person presiding shall not be

    part of what constitutes quorum and

    the person presiding shall not be part

    of a decision that should be taken. I

    thank you Mr Speaker.
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 1 p.m.
    I
    hope you are not responding to — This is a challenge to my seeking to
    correct the Votes and Proceedings, I
    do not know whether we are
    subjecting that to a debate. Yes,
    Deputy Majority Leader.
    Mr Alexander Afenyo-Markin 1 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I am not responding to
    the Hon Minority Leader's issue at all because that is fully within your
    domain to deal with. I am on the same
    page 9, that a point of order was duly
    raised by the Hon Majority Leader
    which sought to draw the House's attention to a preliminary objection to
    the form of the said application. This
    is not mentioned at all and it is a very
    important matter because the point of
    order sought to arrest the application
    that such an application must come
    unnoticed. An impression is being
    created to the extent that Mr Speaker
    had allowed the Motion to be
    seconded and full debate ensued.
    There can be no other thing than to
    put a Question.

    Mr Speaker, I submit, most

    respectfully, that once there was a

    point of order, the subsequent debate

    on the matter really, does not tie your

    hands. The point of order must reflect

    in the Votes and Proceedings. That is

    all I seek to do on this rising. The

    point of order by the Hon Majority

    Leader must suffice for the records

    and it does not matter. Those practi-

    tioners in our courts will tell you that

    a point of order can arise at any time.

    In fact, the current practice by our

    courts is that if you raise a

    preliminary legal objection, the court

    will allow you to fully debate, write

    your submissions and still make a

    ruling. Once the court determines the

    point of order or the preliminary legal

    objection, it arrests all other matters.

    So, Mr Speaker, this is a matter of — Well, I agree but we are a House of

    due process so, Mr Speaker, that is

    for the records.
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 1 p.m.
    Hon
    Members, the issue here is that we are
    correcting the Votes and
    Proceedings. What is recorded here
    is not correct. Whether the Hon
    Minority Leader thinks that I was not
    entitled to rule, is another matter.
    What I am saying here is that I ruled.
    What is recorded here is that I was
    ruling and it was interrupted, so it
    appears that the ruling did not
    conclude but it did. That is all what I
    want the Votes and Proceedings to
    reflect. That is not about yes or no;
    that is what happened and the record
    is available.
    The Table Office heard the video,
    I played it out to them when I saw it,
    that this is the video of what I did and
    this is how it concluded. So, let the
    Votes and Proceedings reflect what
    happened. As for raising issues with
    them, you are always entitled to raise
    issues with what you think I ought to
    have done or ought not to have done.
    That is a different matter altogether,
    so let the Votes and Proceedings
    reflect that the First Deputy Speaker
    ruled.
    Mr Iddrisu 1 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, so is it
    the ruling which was interrupted for
    which you could not rule or are you
    ruling that there is a new position?
    Let me serve you notice Mr Speaker,
    that under Standing Order 93(5), I
    will file a Motion to question your
    conduct as Speaker or as Member for
    Bekwai, wherever is appropriate.
    This is because this directive you are
    giving does not —
    We will ourselves call for the
    recording for scrutiny and we will
    look at it closely because as far as we
    know, Mr Speaker, you attempted to
    rule and there was an uproar,
    suspension and subsequently, an
    adjournment. That is all we know. So

    Mr Speaker, I intend to invoke

    Standing Order 93(5), that I will

    submit your conduct because you

    cannot operate with these Standing

    Orders at your whims and caprices.

    Thank you, Mr Speaker.
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 1 p.m.
    Very
    well. Let the correction be effected
    while we await the Motion to
    challenge the ruling. Page 10.
    Hon Members, subject to the
    corrections, the Votes and Proceed-
    ings of Wednesday, 1st December,
    2021 is hereby admitted as the true
    record of proceedings.
    Hon Members, I have some
    Official Reports. On Monday, we
    deferred the consideration of some
    Reports. I believe Hon Members
    have their copies today? Yes, Hon
    Deputy Majority Leader?
    Mr Alexander Afenyo-Markin 1:10 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, for some unavoidable
    reasons, we could not take the
    Business Statement. I would want to
    draw your attention to —
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 1:10 p.m.
    We
    are still correcting the Votes and
    Proceedings and the Official Report.
    We will start from the Official
    Report of Monday, the 26th of July,
    2021. Any corrections please?
    Mr Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa 1:10 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, at column 001, you were
    in the Chair that day, and you
    indicated that the House would Sit on
    Monday, 27th July, 2021. I am sure
    you said 26th July, 2021 because
    Monday, was 26th July, 2021, and not
    27th July, 2021. So if that could be
    corrected.
    Mr Speaker, with regard to the
    first paragraph of column 005,
    “Busumuru''was not spelt correctly. It should be “B-u-s-u-m-u-r-u''. So, if the former Secretary General of the
    United Nations' title could be captured accurately.
    Mr Speaker, the second para-
    graph of column 006, which spoke
    about the Rt Hon Speaker indicated
    that he rose to become the Hon
    Majority Leader and the Hon
    Minority Leader respectively, but it
    should be the other way round. He
    became Hon Minority Leader before
    he later became Hon Majority
    Leader, so if the sequence could be
    corrected accordingly.
    Again, in column 012, in the
    President's Address, the line num- bered 7 should be “I am indeed extremely humbled”. It is “indeed”,

    not “ended”. Then in column 013, the first paragraph, “what” should be deleted. At column 016, the third

    paragraph, “Eighth Parliament” should be the correct rendition, so we should

    delete “start” and replace with “Parliament”.
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 1:10 p.m.
    Very
    well. The Hansard Department
    should take note of the corrections.
    Dr Kinglsey Nyarko 1:10 p.m.
    Hon
    Speaker, with regard to the second
    paragraph of column 005, it should
    read: “during the 20th Anniversary of the Foundation, the Gold Coast
    award was conferred on” and not “…conferred to''. Again, with regard to the third paragraph which says
    “Ambassador Ashim Morton is a great grandson of the golden stool,” the “Golden Stool'' is a proper noun it should be capital “G'' and “S''. There should be a comma — then we could cancel the “being” after the “thus'' so it could read “and thus the great grandson'' and not “and thus being the great grandson''.
    Mr Speaker, on column 006, the
    first sentence should be “and guidance throughout”, and not “and guidance through which”. Then the next para- graph, line 5, this year, “by majority and an overwhelming endorsement''. Instead of “acclamation”, it should be “endorsement”. I agree with the Hon
    Member for North Tongu, Mr
    Ablakwa — that “respectively” is not necessary. It could read, “he rose to become the Hon Minority Leader and
    the Hon Majority Leader”.
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 1:10 p.m.
    Very
    well. Anymore corrections please?
    Dr Clement Abas Apaak 1:10 p.m.
    Mr
    Speaker, I would want to refer to
    column 035. The second paragraph
    under item numbered (c) which is the
    “Regravelling of Wiaga Fumbisi- Wiesi Road'' the language does not capture how I presented the issue. It
    said “Mr Speaker, in the Hon Minister's answer that regards the rehabilitation'' but it should read “with regards to the rehabilitation of the Sandema-Doninga-Santijan Road''
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 1:10 p.m.
    Any
    more corrections please?
    In the absence of any more
    corrections the Official Report of
    Monday, 26th July, 2021 is hereby
    adopted as the true record of
    proceedings.
    The Official Report of Tuesday,
    27th July, 2021. Any corrections
    please?
    Mr Ablakwa 1:10 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I rise
    to draw attention to a blank page
    which denies us of column 075 and

    076. I do not know if it is only my

    copy or it is a general situation. So, if

    attention could be paid to it.
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 1:10 p.m.
    Hon
    Member, it might be your copy
    because I have those columns in my
    copy. I would ask them to replace
    your copy for you.
    Dr Apaak 1:10 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, for the
    sake of the records, my earlier com-
    ments about my misrepresentation is
    based on the Official Report of
    Wednesday, 28th July, 2021.
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 1:10 p.m.
    Hon
    Member, we have not gotten there
    yet. We are on the Official Report of
    Wednesday, 27th July, 2021. We
    would come to that when we are done
    with this one.
    Any more corrections please?
    In the absence of any more
    corrections the Official Report of
    Tuesday, 27th July, 2021, as
    corrected, is hereby adopted as the
    true record of proceedings.
    Hon Members, we would take the
    Official Report of Wednesday, 28th
    July, 2021.
    Dr Apaak 1:10 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, as I noted
    early on, under the second paragraph
    of item numbered C in column 035,
    the sentence should read as follows:
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 1:10 p.m.
    Hon
    Member, hold on column 235?
    Dr Apaak 1:10 p.m.
    No, Mr Speaker,
    please, it is column 035 and it should
    read as follows:
    “Mr Speaker, in the Hon Minister's response with regard to …” instead of “Mr Speaker, in the Hon Minister's response that regards the rehabilitation''.
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 1:10 p.m.
    Any
    more corrections?
    Mr Habib Iddrisu 1:10 p.m.
    Mr Speaker,
    the second paragraph of column 172,
    should read “Mr Habib Iddrisu (NPP — Tolon)'' and not “Mr Habib Iddrisu (NDC — Tolon)''
    Mr First Deputy Speaker; Very
    well.
    Mr Ablakwa 1:10 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, there
    is a little correction to the last but one
    line of the last paragraph of column
    164. The article “an'' should be inserted before “alternative'' so that it would read:
    “…I asked whether there could not have been an alternative''
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 1:20 p.m.
    Very
    Dr Kingsley Nyarko 1:20 p.m.
    Mr
    Speaker, this is a minor one. On
    column 008, the first sentence reads,
    “by the end of August 2021”. There should be a comma between
    “August” and “2021”. Then on column 009 —
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 1:20 p.m.
    Sorry, Hon Member, I do not get you
    -- I see a comma after “2021” in “by the end of August 2021,” Are you suggesting that it should be before
    “2021”?
    Dr Kingsley Nyarko 1:20 p.m.
    Mr
    Speaker, it should read, “August,
    2021…”.
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 1:20 p.m.
    Very
    well.
    Dr Kingsley Nyarko 1:20 p.m.
    Then at the
    second paragraph of column 009, we
    have to reconstruct the sentence to
    read:
    “Mr Speaker, the name of the contractor is Honia A. S. Ghana
    Limited: the contract was awarded on
    15th July, 2016.”
    So, we have to cancel, “contract was” and make it “the contract was awarded on 15th July, 2016.”
    Mr Speaker, then, “work commenced in October, 2016 and
    by the end of 2016” - The insertion of “almost” is not necessary.
    Mr Samuel O. Ablakwa — rose
    —
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 1:20 p.m.
    Hon
    Member, hold on. Are you on a point
    of order?
    Mr Ablakwa 1:20 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I am
    grateful. I would just want to draw
    the attention of my respected
    Colleague — I share in his concerns in terms of the grammatical
    arrangement and the rewording of the
    text, but this is an Official Report
    which captures what was said. If he
    says that it should be re-aligned and
    we should not use this or that word, it
    would defeat the purpose of the
    Official Report. This is the Hon
    Minister's response, so we cannot be rearranging his Answer, putting
    words in his mouth or correcting his
    English. That is not what we seek to
    do with the correction of the Official
    Report.
    Mr Speaker, my Hon Colleague is
    a hardworking first timer, but he
    should just pay attention to what

    exactly we are doing. This is for the

    guidance of my Hon Colleague.
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 1:20 p.m.
    Where is the Hon Member who was
    on his feet?
    Dr Kingsley Nyarko — rose —
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 1:20 p.m.
    Ahuh! You left your seat.
    The point made is that this is a
    verbatim report so we cannot
    rearrange. If there is an error in the
    text and mis-typing, we would
    correct them but if that is exactly
    what the Minister said then we cannot
    rearrange them.
    Dr Kingsley Nyarko 1:20 p.m.
    Mr
    Speaker, it was not a rearrangement.
    They are the grammatical errors that
    I found in those statements.
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 1:20 p.m.
    Hon
    Member, so, point out the gram-
    matical errors and the Hansard
    Department would take note.
    Mr Alexander K. Afenyo-
    Markin: Mr Speaker, I am sure my
    Hon Colleague, Member for Kwadaso
    Constituency, has taken a cue from
    me on where we are directed on what
    to do when we want to correct
    mistakes in terms of grammar. I have
    drawn his attention to the headnote of
    the Official Report on page 2.
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 1:20 p.m.
    Very
    well. Hon Members, please, any
    more corrections?
    In the absence of any further
    corrections, the Official Report of
    Wednesday, 28th July, 2021, is
    hereby adopted as the true record of
    proceedings.
    Hon Members, we would now
    take the Business Statement for the
    week ending 10th December, 2021.
    Hon Deputy Majority Leader?
    BUSINESS OF THE HOUSE 1:20 p.m.
    Mr Haruna Iddrisu 1:20 p.m.
    Mr Speaker,
    the Business Statement has been
    presented by the Hon Deputy
    Majority Leader. Yesterday, I heard
    somewhere in the news that the
    Minister for Finance spoke to modifi-
    cations of the 2022 Budget Statement
    and Economic Policy of Govern-
    ment. And in it, the Hon Minister

    submitted that he has formally

    written to the Hon Speaker. Whatever

    has been formally related to you must

    be the property of this House and

    must necessarily be a part and parcel

    of the 2022 Budget Statement and

    Economic Policy of Government. As

    we speak, it still remains unknown to

    us.

    Mr Speaker, if you can, whoever

    has ownership of the modifications or

    to quote his words, “concessions”, let it be laid because it would have

    consequences on us accepting the

    approval of the Business Statement

    because of the matters it is commu-

    nicating to.

    Mr Speaker, I am raising this to

    see the directives you would give,

    then, I can proceed. If I do not have

    what is formally before you, I would

    comment on the press conference

    appropriately.

    I thank you, Mr Speaker.
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 1:20 p.m.
    Hon
    Minority Leader, I am informed by
    the Office of the Clerk that the
    document is being brought to the
    Floor. As soon as I receive that, I
    would have it laid and Hon Leaders
    would be given copies to comment on
    them. [Interruption] - Sorry?
    It has been received at the
    Secretariat. They are bringing it here.

    Yes, any comment on the

    Business Statement for the week?
    Mr Haruna Iddrisu 1:30 p.m.
    Mr Speaker,
    probably that may guide our com-
    ments on the Business Statement. So
    I would wish that you direct that that
    official communication on the modi-
    fications or concessions are accor-
    dingly conveyed to this House and
    laid properly as property of this
    House and we would know where
    that stands; whether the Budget has
    been so modified, revised or granted
    concession. We need to formally
    know what it is before you put the
    Question on the Business Statement
    for the coming week.
    Mr Speaker, thank you. [Hear!
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 1:30 p.m.
    Very
    well.
    I am sure it will reach us soon.
    Mr Kwame Governs Abgodza 1:30 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, thank you for the oppor-
    tunity. I would like to thank the Hon
    Deputy Majority Leader for pre-
    senting the Report. Can the Hon

    Deputy Majority Leader listen to me

    while I comment on the Business

    Statement?

    Mr Speaker, the Report read by

    the Hon Deputy Majority Leader

    suggests that from Wednesday, we

    would be taking Motions on Esti-

    mates that are yet to be discussed. I

    see this Report as an attempt to force

    Committees to do a shoddy work

    because we have not even started

    work on the Estimates and in fact, we

    do not even have some of the

    Reports. On what basis are we going

    to have a Motion on Estimates that

    are yet to be available?

    As an Hon Member of Parlia-

    ment, the decision of the Business

    Committee is an attempt to cajole

    Committees to do a shoddy work and

    that is why I would urge Hon

    Members to reject this portion of the

    Report. This is because it would not

    give us the opportunity to do a proper

    work.
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 1:30 p.m.
    Yes,
    Hon Member for Sekondi, is that
    right?
    Mr Andrew Egyapa Mercer 1:30 p.m.
    Mr
    Speaker, I am not very old in this
    House; this is my second term. I am
    very clear in my mind that when
    Motions are Tabled by the Business
    Committee, it does not necessarily
    mean that those Motions will be
    carried when the Reports are not
    ready. So it is surprising to me that
    my Hon Colleague, Hon Governs
    Agbodza is making this point. It is
    completely unfounded and we ought
    to make progress. We have come a
    long way and so I would urge him —
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 1:30 p.m.
    Hon
    Member for Bia East.
    Mr Richard Acheampong 1:30 p.m.
    Mr
    Speaker, the Business Statement was
    presented by the Hon Deputy
    Majority Leader. Hon Members must
    contribute to the Statement and he is
    taking copious notes to come and
    answer to those issues but my Hon
    Colleague is trying to usurp his
    powers by way of answering ques-
    tions. Is that his business? [Laughter].
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 1:30 p.m.
    Yes,
    any more comments or ques-tions,
    please?
    Yes, Hon Deputy Minority Whip?
    Mr Ahmed Ibrahim 1:30 p.m.
    Mr
    Speaker, I heard the Hon Deputy
    Majority Leader read the Business
    Statement and it is in connection with
    the Budget Estimates to be con-
    sidered. From yesterday till today, on
    the airwaves, the Hon Minister for
    Finance has been quoted to have said
    that there are modifications to those

    Estimates and precisely so, that there

    are changes to these Estimates. We

    barely have nine days to adjourn and

    so the concerns being raised by Hon

    Colleagues are very germane. My

    worry is that the Hon Minister is said

    to have organised a press conference

    and made it known that he has

    officially written to you, Hon

    Speaker of this House.

    Mr Speaker, we are going to be

    considering Estimates but the changes

    the Hon Minister is talking about are

    not here. On what basis are we going

    to be considering these Estimates?

    This is Government's Financial and Economic Policy for the year 2022.

    We are the keepers of the Purse and

    the Hon Minister is the Minister for

    Finance of the Republic of Ghana.

    The Hon Minister should have

    given us the priority in making sure

    that those Estimates get to the public

    through you. The Hon Minister could

    not do that. Now, we have the

    Business Statement before us and the

    Hon Minority Leader has questioned

    the whereabouts of those changes and

    I would not like to use the word

    ‘modification'. Whether it is ‘modifi- cation' or ‘changes', they are the same thing.

    Mr Speaker, if we go ahead to

    consider these Estimates before we

    get the changes the Hon Minister for

    Finance is introducing, should we

    then have to go back and undo

    whatever has been done? The Hon

    Minister for Finance must take this

    House very serious.
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 1:30 p.m.
    Hon
    Member, the document has just been
    brought to me from the Rt Hon
    Speaker's Office. So after the Business Statement, I would have it
    laid on the Table and then I would
    invite the Hon Leaders to make their
    comments, please.
    Mr Rockson-Nelson Etse
    Dafeamekpor: Mr Speaker, thank
    you for the opportunity. Clearly, the
    records will bear us out that the
    Business Statement we are consi-
    dering was decided on Thursday.
    There have been events that have
    taken place which should engage this
    House this week. So I agree with my
    Hon Leader that the Business State-
    ment we are seeking to consider has
    been overtaken by events. I urge the
    House to reject it so that the Business
    Committee can sit and reconsider
    outstanding matters that are of para-
    mount interest to be considered this
    week. I so submit.
    Mr Murtala Mohammed 1:30 p.m.
    Mr
    Speaker, thank you. The Business
    Statement that has been presented to
    us by the Hon Deputy Majority
    Leader has everything to do with the

    Policy Statement which was pre-

    sented by the Hon Minister for

    Finance to the people of this country

    through this House. The Policy

    Statement indicates the plan expen-

    diture and the expected revenue of

    Government in the year 2022.

    Mr Speaker, if the Hon Minister

    for Finance himself held a press

    conference and indicated modifi-

    cations, the simple reason is that

    when there is a little or a slight

    change, we needed expenditure or

    expected revenue to affect the entire

    composition of the Policy Statement

    as presented.

    So it would be appropriate for us

    to have a clear understanding as to

    what those modifications are before

    we can go ahead to consider the

    Estimates as indicated and forcefully

    pushed by the Hon Deputy Majority

    Leader.
    Ms Oforiwa Alorwu-Tay 1:40 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, thank you. Last week,
    several questions were Tabled in the
    Order Paper for answers to be pro-
    vided by the various Hon Ministers
    but that did not happen and neither
    did the Business Committee consider
    bringing those questions for consi-
    deration this week.
    So my suggestion is that the
    Business Committee should go back
    and do the right thing by re-
    scheduling those questions for this
    week so that we can move these very
    ones to the following week.

    Mr Speaker, this is my worry.

    Thank you.
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 1:40 p.m.
    I
    think the Hon Deputy Leader
    should respond to the issues that
    have been raised before we pro-
    ceed further.
    Mr Afenyo-Markin 1:40 p.m.
    Mr
    Speaker, thank you for the
    opportunity to clarify the issues.
    Mr Speaker, the Business
    Statement was put together and
    discussed by the Business Com-
    mittee, which is made up of Hon
    Members of this House. So, once
    it is brought here, it remains a
    proposal and we are happy that
    Hon Members are making inputs.
    Mr Speaker, my own Hon Friend,
    Mr Kwame Agbodza — [Inter-
    ruption] — Mr Speaker, he says I
    am his former Hon Friend, but I
    still see him as my Hon Friend.

    Mr Speaker, we have heard

    them. The modification that they

    are discussing, I am sure the time

    will come for you to table it, so,

    we have no problem at all.

    Obviously, until we do the Annual

    Estimates, we cannot consider the

    Motion. So, I would want Hon

    Agbodza to know that his conten-

    tions are well-founded so he

    should not be worried at all.

    Mr Speaker, I think the issues

    that came up are centred on one

    thing; which is the communication

    from the Hon Minister. I know

    that the Hon Minority Leader may

    have his copy as I have mine. Mr

    Speaker, when we go to court and

    we need to rely on an authority

    from the adversary, which adversary

    would you give? So I know that

    the Hon Minority Leader has his

    copy. I would have wished he

    gives it to me to plea but that is all

    right because Mr Speaker has his.

    Mr Speaker, so there is no

    problem and I believe Mr Speaker

    can lay his for us to proceed to

    adopt the Report.

    Mr Speaker, thank you.
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 1:40 p.m.
    Yes, Hon Member for North
    Tongu --
    Hon Deputy Majority Leader,
    she asked about Questions that
    were advertised last week but
    have not been advertised for this
    week so kindly respond to that
    also.
    Mr Afenyo-Markin 1:40 p.m.
    Mr
    Speaker, we have taken notice of
    this and we would do the needful
    for her.
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 1:40 p.m.
    Very well.
    Hon Member for North Tongu
    Constituency?
    Mr Samuel O. Ablakwa 1:40 p.m.
    Mr
    Speaker, I am very grateful.
    Mr Speaker, I am wondering if
    it will not be in the interest of this
    House for us to defer approval of
    this Business Statement. This is
    because if we look at the item
    numbered 3 on page (ii) of the
    Business Statement for the Sixth
    Week, “Committee Reports on Estimates of MDAs and other
    Institutions and related Motions”,

    this Business Committee Report

    proceeds on the basis that all is

    well in this House about the 2022

    Budget Statement but he knows

    that all is not well. We are

    contending that the Budget State-

    ment and Economic Policy was

    rejected by this House.

    Mr Speaker, they are also

    contending that they have res-

    cinded that decision. We have

    filed a Motion to rescind their

    decision, which we contend and is

    still hanging. A vote has not been

    taken but this Business Statement

    wants us to proceed to the next

    level to deal with Estimates and

    work towards Appropriation, as if

    all is well. Mr Speaker, all is not

    well and they know that, so we

    should stop the pretence and defer

    this Business Statement and deal

    with the fundamental issues, which

    is to know the state of the 2022

    Budget Statement. What is the

    position of both Sides of this

    House? Now there is even a new

    twist which further muddies the

    waters: “Modification”, which has been sent to the Speaker. Mr

    Speaker, is it a modification to an

    approved Budget Statement, a

    rejected Budget Statement or a

    new Budget Statement? Mr

    Speaker, have they rejected the

    Budget Statement? Have they

    reviewed the Budget Statement?

    What are the implications? So

    we are in very muddy waters. It is

    murky. It is Nyamaa, Basaa

    [Laughter] — to wit, it is very

    confusing. We cannot be pre-

    tending that all is well and so, we

    are proceeding to be working on

    some Estimates. What are the

    Estimates on? Is it Estimates on a

    rejected Budget Statement, an

    approved Budget Statement or a

    modified Budget Statement? — King James Version, New Times

    Version — I mean it is just basaa.

    We should just defer the work.

    Mr Speaker, we know that a

    20-Member Committee, 10 from

    both Sides of the House has been

    set up to negotiate and see how we

    could find the best path forward.

    So let us not put the cart before the

    horse. Let us see how that

    mediation Committee would work.

    Mr Speaker, with all due

    respect, let us defer this Business

    Statement. It should be put aside

    and as a House, agree on exactly

    where we are on the 2022 Budget

    Statement, then we will know

    when we would work on the

    Estimates because this one is

    really putting the cart before the

    horse and it is wasting our time.

    Mr Sayibu S. Suhuyini —

    rose —
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 1:40 p.m.
    Yes, Hon Member for Tamale
    North?
    Mr Sayibu S. Suhuyini 1:40 p.m.
    Mr
    Speaker, thank you.
    I just wish to reiterate the call
    made by my Hon Colleagues
    earlier for the Business Committee
    to reconsider the business pro-
    posed for the House this week.
    Because obviously, it has been
    overtaken by events. Just as it was
    pointed out by my Hon Colleague,
    Mr Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, if
    you look at what we are supposed
    to do per this Business Statement
    today, we are supposed to be
    taking reports on Estimates from
    Committees. This is the Business
    that is in today's Business State- ment and this is what we have to
    do today. Mr Speaker, he is well
    aware that it is impossible so it is
    clear that indeed, this Budget
    Statement that has been submitted
    by the Hon Deputy Majority
    Leader has been overtaken by
    events. And so, there is the need
    for them to go back and look at
    what is possible under the
    circumstances.
    Mr Speaker, perhaps what I see
    as possible under the circum-
    stances and which I would like to
    suggest for them to consider when
    they go back to reconsider the
    Business for the week, is to get the
    Hon Ministers that are available to
    begin to answer the Questions that
    have been advertised and have
    been on the Order Paper since last
    week but have been suspended
    because of Budget Statement
    consideration. If in the absence of
    an agreement to get the Budget
    Statement that was modified or
    revised to be properly laid before
    us, the House must continue to
    work because the Budget State-
    ment is not the only work that we
    are limited to do in this House.
    Mr Speaker, Questions are
    available so if the Hon Ministers
    can be billed to answer those
    Questions in the meantime,
    especially when we know that the
    President has issued an edict that
    none of them should travel out of
    the country, they could be present

    on the Floor to answer these

    Questions while we look at how to

    clean up the Budget Statement and

    then have one version approved

    for Committee considerations.

    Mr Speaker, so I support the

    call for this Business Statement to

    be shelved so that they can go

    back and consider what is more

    realistic and practical.

    I thank you very much.
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 1:40 p.m.
    Hon Member, I do not think that
    anybody is saying anything new.
    We are repeating the same thing.
    Hon Kobina T. Hammond:
    — rose —
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 1:40 p.m.
    Hon K.T Hammond, can we hear
    from the Hon Deputy Majority
    Leader after which I would give
    you the opportunity?
    Hon Deputy Majority Leader?
    Mr Afenyo-Markin 1:50 p.m.
    Mr
    Speaker, I have nothing useful to
    add, except to pray you to adopt
    the Report. Mr Speaker, I believe
    we could adopt the report and
    afterwards, you would lay it. — [Interruption] We should finish
    this one and would then lay it.
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 1:50 p.m.
    Very well.
    Hon Members, the report
    brought to us by the Committee of
    the House determined that certain
    things would be done but it is not
    always that the things contained in
    the Report are able to be done. But
    there is no way we would have a
    Business of the House without
    doing anything. Modifications as
    we go along would become neces-
    sary. So kindly let us adopt the
    Report. There is no way we could
    bring a report if the Committee
    has not finished its work. Last
    week, it was advertised that some
    reports would be laid, but no work
    has been done so no reports were
    laid. However, there are some
    reports that are ready. Some have
    been laid and can be taken. So let
    us proceed with the Business
    Statement while making modify-
    cations as and when necessary and
    the Business Committee would
    advise the House. So the Report of

    the Business Statement is adopted

    for implementation by the House.

    Now, Hon Members, I have

    been given the letter from the

    Ministry of Finance. It was

    received at the Office of the Rt

    Hon Speaker on 6th December,

    2021. The Rt Hon Speaker has

    actually minuted on it for it to be

    brought to the First Deputy

    Speaker to be laid in the House. So

    I would ask the Clerks-at-the-

    Table to lay it on the Table and

    make copies available to the

    Leaders for their comments and

    Very well.
    PAPERS 1:50 p.m.
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 1:50 p.m.
    It
    is duly laid. Kindly make copies
    available to the respective Leaders.
    Yes, Hon Deputy Majority
    Leader?
    Mr Afenyo-Markin 1:50 p.m.
    Mr
    Speaker, I humbly, through you,
    would request Hansard to make
    copies to all Members.
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 1:50 p.m.
    Yes, Hon Minority Leader?
    Mr Haruna Iddrisu 1:50 p.m.
    Mr
    Speaker, even before you direct
    that copies are made available to
    Members, the Clerks-at-the-Table,
    for the record, must read the
    headnote of what is being laid. We
    need it; then copies could be made
    available to us and then probably,
    the Leaders can make comments
    to it. We need to know.
    Thank you, Mr Speaker.
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 1:50 p.m.
    Very well.
    Clerks-at-the-Table: Mr
    Speaker, the headnote;
    ‘Modifications of the Govern- ment's 2022 Budget Statement and Economic Policy'.
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 1:50 p.m.
    Very well. Kindly, make copies
    avail-able to the Leaders.

    Yes, Hon Minority Leader?
    Mr Haruna Iddrisu 1:50 p.m.
    Mr
    Speaker, by our known practice
    and procedures, I have seen
    Communication to the Speaker;
    you directed the Clerk to Parlia-
    ment to lay it. But under normal
    circumstances, Mr Speaker, we
    expected the Hon Minister for
    Finance or a Minister of State or
    any of the Deputies to be doing
    this. What has changed that the
    Clerk to Parliament must lay it? Is
    it because it is an official commu-
    nication to you as Speaker? What
    is appropriate is for the Hon
    Minister for Finance to lay it, then
    we know he is the sponsor of the
    modifications. This has been our
    practice, Mr Speaker. So when
    you say a Clerk; is it that the Hon
    Minister for Finance or any of his
    Deputies is unavailable, or they do
    not want to own these modify-
    cations and consensus? If they so
    do, Mr Speaker --
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 1:50 p.m.
    Yes, Hon Deputy Majority
    Leader?
    Mr Afenyo-Markin 1:50 p.m.
    Mr
    Speaker, the Deputy Ministers are
    here but the letter was addressed
    to you and you have appropriately
    laid it. They signed it and it is still
    a document that emanated from
    them. Mr Speaker, that notwith-
    standing, if it is their pleasure that
    notwithstanding the communi-
    cation to your Office, they must
    still lay it, it would not spoil any-
    thing. We are in a vehicle called
    consensus. So, if it means it has to
    be laid, it would be done.
    -- [Pause] —
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 1:50 p.m.
    Yes, Hon Member for Bawku
    Central?
    Mr Mahama Ayariga 1:50 p.m.
    Thank
    you very much, Mr Speaker.
    Mr Speaker, the Hon Minister
    for Finance brought the Budget
    Statement and the Economic Policy
    of the Government before us and
    moved a Motion for us to vote to
    adopt or reject it. Mr Speaker, we
    debated the Motion based on the
    content, we voted on the Motion
    and whether we rejected or accepted
    it, we ended up voting on the
    Motion. If he is to change the
    Budget Statement and Economic
    Policy, he must come by another
    Motion. He cannot just lay a Paper
    here and that paper would have the

    effect of changing what we have

    already voted on.

    Mr Speaker, the proper

    procedure is for the Hon Minister

    for Finance to come here and

    move a Motion to amend his

    earlier Motion, in which he asked

    us to adopt a certain policy

    document and tell us that that

    policy document has changed to

    the following effects, and this

    House would then consider the

    amendments that he seeks to make

    to a policy that we either have

    voted in favour of or against. So,

    the procedure is irregular.

    Laying the Paper does not have

    the effect of changing a Motion

    that has already been voted on. So,

    please, we do not know what the

    content is. Perhaps, if he accepts

    what we are proposing, we may

    accept it, but let us follow the

    proper procedure so that we do not

    set bad precedence. That is my

    only contention. I do not know the

    content so I am neither for or

    against it but the procedure of this

    House is a subject matter of a

    Motion moved, debated and voted

    on. If he is to come back on that

    matter, he must come by another

    Motion.

    Thank you very much, Mr

    Speaker.
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 1:50 p.m.
    Yes, Hon Minister for the
    Interior?
    Mr Ambrose Dery 1:50 p.m.
    Thank
    you, Mr Speaker.
    Mr Speaker, the Hon Member
    concedes that he does not know
    what is in it but this letter is only
    reducing to writing, comments
    that we made at Plenary and the
    Hon Minority Leader made a
    request that it be laid and it has
    been laid. Let us leave it and take
    it from there. Mr Speaker, thank
    you.
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 2 p.m.
    Hon Members, if you recall
    correctly, and I recalled the Hon
    Minority Leader drew our atten-
    tion that the Hon Minister for
    Finance in moving the Motion
    said, “subject to modifications”. He said so. Hon Majority Leader,
    I hope you remember? So whether
    you call them concessions or
    what, he is proposing modify-
    cations, and those modifications
    are what have been laid before the

    House. It is not anything that

    should surprise us, so I think we

    should proceed. I will let the

    Leaders comment on the docu-

    ment and —

    Several Hon Member — rose

    —
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 2 p.m.
    Hon Members, kindly resume
    your seats, please.
    I will let the Leaders com-
    ment on the document if they so
    wish.
    Hon Minority Leader, I am
    aware that you have seen a copy,
    would you want to comment on it?
    Mr Haruna Iddrisu 2 p.m.
    Mr
    Speaker, thank you very much. At
    least, for our purposes, there are
    modifications to the Govern-
    ment's 2022 Budget Statement and Economic Policy. In the
    introductory paragraph, the Hon
    Minister refers to reactions and
    contributions from the public, the
    Minority Caucus, and employers.
    He has assured us to abandon the
    Agyapa Royalties.
    Mr Speaker, what is signifi-
    cant is that we are a very respon-
    sible Opposition, and therefore we
    engage with Government. We
    appreciate that fiscal console-
    dation is important to save our
    country and the economy from the
    dire paralysis threatening the
    economy, while we call for trans-
    parency from Government in the
    management of our resources and
    in particular, for expenditure cuts.
    Mr Speaker, yes, it is true that
    we are engaged and you were part
    of the engagement. Mr Speaker at
    that engagement, unfortunately,
    on the vexatious matter of the E-
    Levy, we could not have a
    consensus as captured by the Hon
    Minister's own statement in paragraph 7, where he states, and
    I quote:
    “Mr Speaker, on the matter of the E-Levy, having regard to its
    serious fiscal implications, we
    will continue our consultations.”
    Mr Speaker, we believe that the
    E-Levy is punitive and will
    undermine our quest to grow a
    digital economy, and seeks to tax
    transactions. One can just imagine
    if a GH₵1,000.00 remittance was sent to a person's mother; the person sent GH₵800.00 to his sister; GH₵400.00 to a brother;

    and another GH₵400.00 to another brother — all those transactions

    would be taxed.

    Mr Speaker, we are guided by

    the public good, and we think that

    moneys recoverable from the

    Auditor-General's Report can as well compensate for the imposition

    of an E-Levy. So, we on the

    Minority side are unable to support

    Government in its quest to impose

    an E-Levy at 1.75 per cent on

    Mobile Money (MoMo) and

    associated transactions, which

    include remittances and bank

    transactions. Therefore, we stand

    opposed, and at every level that E-

    Levy is introduced, we will stand

    united to oppose it because it will

    inflict hardships on the core poor

    of the Ghanaian people. We stand

    opposed to it as I indicated earlier,

    that a person's capital should not be taxed but income and revenue.

    Mr Speaker, while we see that

    the Hon Minister for Finance has

    made overtures on Agyapa

    Royalties and correctional state-

    ments to AKER Energy, and fees

    and charges which the Hon

    Minister now accepts that he has

    no mandate to charge an automatic

    15 per cent every other year. As I

    indicated, that would amount to a

    usurpation of our mandate.

    Mr Speaker, on the vexatious

    issue of E-Levy, we are unable to

    support Government and we would

    continue to oppose it in its entirety

    and in its character now at the

    threshold of GH₵100.00 at 1.75 per cent. We will stand with the

    Ghanaian people just as the people

    of Cameroon have done in raising

    our fundamental objections to it.
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 2 p.m.
    Yes, Hon Deputy Majority
    Leader?
    Mr Afenyo-Markin 2 p.m.
    Mr
    Speaker, I have heard the Minority
    Leader, and the views he
    expressed for and on behalf of his
    group.
    Mr Speaker, the beauty of
    democracy is to agree and dis-
    agree, and for the records, at least,
    he concedes that the Hon Minister
    has listened to all the concerns
    raised by the Minority side and
    has addressed some. Some of the
    issues he has addressed are very
    simple: the issue of tidal waves in
    Ketu South, Keta, and the Anlo
    enclave and the desire of the
    people to have that infrastructure

    done to save lives and property.

    The Minister has, at least, com-

    mitted himself to this, and I think

    it is good news for the people in

    the area.

    However, Mr Speaker, on the

    E-Levy, yes, we respect their

    views, but the Hon Minister has

    indicated two important things

    that we seek to do. I believe that in

    the final analysis, it is how the E-

    Levy is applied that matters. The

    Hon Minister has even assured

    that he would continue with the

    consultations and engagements.

    [Interruption.] We are of the

    view that the whole essence of

    democracy is not to shut the door,

    but to open it up for continuous

    engagement.

    Mr Speaker, having said these,

    I would want to assure our Hon

    Colleagues on the Other side that

    we may be emotional, disagree

    and be at each other's throat at times, but in the final analysis, we

    are ready to work together for the

    sake of Mother Ghana.

    Mr Speaker, I thank you for

    this kind audience.
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 2:10 p.m.
    Hon Members, having regard to
    the state of the Business of the
    House, I direct that the House Sits
    outside the regular Sitting hours.
    Hon Members, on 30th
    November, 2021, I directed that
    the Budget Statement and Eco-
    nomic Policy of Government for
    the year ending 31st December,
    2021, subject to the concessions
    outlined by the Hon Minister for
    Finance in his concluding state-
    ment on the Motion. I would
    direct that the Statement as tabled
    be annexed to the Policy docu-
    ments, so that at all Committee
    level discussions, consideration of
    these documents as have been laid
    on the Table would be taken.
    Yes, Hon Member for
    Ellembelle?

    Mr Emmanuel Armah-Kofi

    Buah: Mr Speaker, I rise to state

    that the Minority Leader stands

    vindicated. On that day of the

    approval, he asked whether we

    would approve based on some-

    thing that was not laid. Today, we

    have a document here. I just want

    to bring this out because that

    decision which was made was

    important. The fact that the

    document was here - And I raised that because I am very concerned

    about the posture and respon-

    siveness of the Hon Minister for

    Finance. Even today, a day as

    important as this, he is not here.

    Today is the 7th December of 2021

    and we would rise in 10 days time

    and the Business of this House

    would end. So, the Majority

    should not blame the Minority

    when at the end of the year this

    Government does not have a

    budget. They should blame them-

    selves and the Hon Minister for

    Finance.

    Mr Speaker, I thank you.
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 2:10 p.m.
    Very well.
    Hon Members, I think that at
    this time, we can move on to the
    next item on the Order Paper; item
    numbered 10, Presentation and
    First Reading of Bills.
    Hon Majority Leader, are there
    any documents to be presented?
    Mr Afenyo-Markin 2:10 p.m.
    Mr
    Speaker, if you would be pleased
    -- 2:10 p.m.
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 2:10 p.m.
    I
    am sorry. I think that I have
    jumped. We would have to first
    deal with Questions and State-
    ments. So, we would move on to
    Questions. We would first take the
    Urgent Questions.
    Mr Afenyo-Markin 2:10 p.m.
    Mr
    Speaker, if you would be pleased,
    we would like to proceed to the
    Question numbered 6(b), by the
    Hon Okudzeto Ablakwa. We
    would want him to have the
    opportunity to ask his Question.
    We would want to prioritise his
    Question.
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 2:10 p.m.
    Very well.
    Therefore, you are in effect
    asking that the Hon Minister for
    Foreign Affairs and Regional
    Integration be given the priority.
    Please, after that I would move on
    to the others. We would take the
    Question numbered 6(b), which
    stands in the name of the Hon
    Member for North Tongu, the Hon
    Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa.
    Meanwhile, the Hon Minister for
    Foreign Affairs and Regional
    Integration would take her seat.

    Yes, Hon Ablakwa, you may

    ask your Question?
    URGENT QUESTIONS 2:10 p.m.
    MINISTRY OF FOREIGN 2:10 p.m.
    AFFAIRS AND REGIONAL 2:10 p.m.
    INTEGRATION 2:10 p.m.
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 2:10 p.m.
    Yes, Hon Member?
    Ms Botchwey 2:20 p.m.
    Mr Speaker,
    forgive me; I had not actually
    finished.
    Secondly, we are extending
    biometric passport application
    services to our Missions abroad.
    As part of the efforts to decen-
    tralise passport application services
    and make it easier for our
    compatriots abroad to acquire
    Ghanaian passports, my Ministry,
    since the year 2020, has com-
    menced a programme to equip all
    Ghanaian Missions abroad to
    enable them receive and process
    biometric passports. I am happy to
    report that as a result of this
    initiative, 36 out of the 66
    Missions are now able to process
    biometric passports. It is important
    to mention that plans are ongoing
    to cover the remaining 30 Missions
    to ensure that Ghanaians abroad
    can apply for passports in any of
    our diplomatic Missions without
    having to travel to Accra to do so
    as was the practice previously.
    Mr Speaker, additionally, my
    Ministry has also designated 11
    Missions as printing hubs. These
    Missions have been resourced to
    print passports for our compatriots
    abroad. Based on this arrange-
    ment, all Missions have been
    grouped and assigned to the
    printing hubs to print passport
    applications.
    Mr Speaker, thirdly, there are
    the outreach consular services. I
    wish to further inform the House
    that our diplomatic Missions also
    embarked on outreach pro-
    grammes to provide consular
    services to Ghanaians who reside
    in remote communities. This
    initiative makes it possible for
    such people to access consular
    services such as the acquisition of
    passports without having to travel
    long distances to our Missions.
    Our Missions engage the
    Ghanaian communities through
    town-hall meetings. Indeed, our
    Mission in London has divided the
    United Kingdom into six zones;
    the southwest, southeast, the
    midlands, the north, Scotland and
    Wales with a schedule to visit at

    least every quarter. With this

    initiative, the Mission is able to

    reach out to every community.

    Apart from the town-hall meetings,

    the consular section periodically

    holds virtual meetings with the

    communities to respond to con-

    cerns of Ghanaians on matters that

    relate to passports, visas, dual-

    citizenship certificates and other

    consular related documents.

    On measures to resolve com-

    plaints, while my Ministry has

    made tremendous efforts to

    improve on the delivery of

    consular services by Missions

    abroad through the measures

    mentioned in my presentation, we

    also acknowledge the need to put

    in place a system which expedi-

    tiously addresses complaints from

    applicants.

    Accordingly, the Client Service

    Unit located at the Ministry in

    Accra has been equipped with the

    relevant software which enables

    the unit to provide real time

    update on passport applications to

    applicants across the globe. The

    unit is also able to respond to basic

    complaints and grievances on

    matters concerning passport appli-

    cations. The contact lines of the

    unit are currently posted on the

    Ministry's website.

    In addition, Missions abroad

    are being supported to engage on

    the services of customer service

    professionals to handle complaints

    about consular services of appli-

    cants. I also wish to mention that

    the outbreak of the COVID-19

    pandemic in March 2020 signi-

    ficantly affected the operations of

    our Missions, particularly, in the

    provision of consular services.

    Missions had to scale down

    consular activities in compliance

    with public health safety measures

    instituted by their respective

    countries of accreditations. Fortu-

    nately, with the easing of

    restrictions globally, full consular

    services have now been restored

    in all our Missions, and in some

    instances, some deliberate measures

    have been taken to clear all

    backlog of applications that were

    recorded during the lockdown

    period.

    Mr Speaker, I also would want

    to take this opportunity to inform

    this august House that effective

    early next year, the Ministry

    would be rolling out E-visa

    stickers, which would improve on

    our visa regime and harmonise it

    with international practices.

    Mr Speaker, in conclusion, I

    wish to emphasise that my Ministry

    remains committed towards its

    prime responsibility of promoting

    and protecting the interest of our

    nationals abroad. In this regard, it

    would not relent on its effort to

    ensure that Missions are adequately

    equipped to discharge efficient

    and reliable consular services to

    meet the welfare needs of our

    compatriots.

    Mr Speaker, permit me also to

    use this opportunity to appeal to

    this august House to support,

    especially the Committee on

    Foreign Affairs, in obtaining the

    required resources particularly

    from the Ministry of Finance to

    help execute our mandate towards

    Ghanaians abroad.

    I thank you, Mr Speaker.
    Mr Ablakwa 2:20 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I
    thank the Hon Minister for her
    elaborate response.
    My first supplementary
    question relates to the impact of
    the agitations that happened to our
    international image in the comity
    of nations — there were all kinds of media reports and videos from
    people who felt poorly served.
    From some WhatsApp videos that
    I saw, they really run us down as a
    country.
    I would want to find out if the
    Ministry would consider some
    early response mechanisms where
    they can forestall some of these
    developments so that we can keep
    the high image of our country
    intact? I have heard the Hon
    Minister on what they are doing
    subsequently, but what lessons
    have we learnt so that we can be
    more proactive to prevent some of
    these bad press that does not
    enhance the image of our country?
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 2:20 p.m.
    Yes, Hon Minister?
    Ms Botchwey 2:20 p.m.
    Mr Speaker,
    indeed some of these complaints
    that go international as a result of
    social media and its spread, in
    some instances, dent the image of
    the Ministry. It is for that very
    reason that we are replicating
    what we have done in London
    which is the customer chat rooms
    in other Missions so that appli-

    cants as well as our compatriots

    can come in and ask questions

    even before they access for the

    services we provide. We also have

    customer service and online

    systems that deals with our com-

    patriots who would want to access

    our services.

    Mr Speaker, one of the issues

    that we find when we investigate

    many of these complaints is that

    about 50 per cent of the time,

    applicants who in some cases have

    not gone through the requirements

    as they should, or those who are

    even filling the online forms

    wrongly are those who usually

    complain. This is what results in

    the frustrations. I have had several

    occasions where I had gone into

    the system to find out what exactly

    happened only to find out that it is

    the fault of the applicant. More

    and more, we should educate our

    people on what to do when they go

    online to fill in these forms

    because most of the time it is the

    online system that they find

    frustrating.

    Mr Speaker, for all of us, we

    find filling forms quite proble-

    matic. However, this is where we

    are now where most things have to

    be done online. Therefore, we

    must all sort of tune our minds to

    ensure that we do what is

    necessary because that is the way

    now. Mr Speaker, we are

    continuously improving on our

    services so that the complaints are

    less.

    Thank you.
    Mr Ablakwa 2:20 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, my
    second question relates to the
    current policy of the Ministry on
    turnaround time. I would want to
    find out from the Hon Minister
    what the current policy on the
    turnaround time is? I ask this
    question because there are
    complaints that sometimes they
    start the process and for two or
    three months, some even claim
    they have been in the queue
    waiting for seven months. Is there
    a policy so that we can educate the
    public on and help them with
    monitoring? What is our turn-
    around time when one begins with
    the passport or visa application
    process at our Ghana Missions
    abroad?
    Ms Botchwey 2:20 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, for
    passports and visas, we have
    standard and expedited
    application services which we
    offer on our website. However,

    many a time, our compatriots do

    not read the steps carefully. For

    instance, they want an expedited

    service, but they do not pay for it;

    they want an overnight postal

    service but they pay for standard

    postal service. I would give an

    example. Just yesterday, I had a

    complaint that somebody's pass- port had been with the Mission for

    almost two weeks only to find out

    that the person had actually

    applied and paid for standard

    service which means that he is

    within the two or three week

    period, and this is not the fault of

    the Mission that his passport is

    still there and he thinks it has

    delayed. In fact, he paid for

    standard instead of expedited

    service.

    Mr Speaker, we have all these

    services and times clearly

    advertised on our website, and I

    would be grateful if we all could

    let our compatriots know. When

    we go round visiting the various

    communities, we advert the minds

    of our compatriots to the fact that

    these are the services we offer,

    and this is the turnaround time for

    each service, and therefore, they

    should please pay attention. Even

    with the postal service, some

    apply for overnight services and

    others would not and this in itself

    delays. If one applies for the

    standard postal service, it could

    take one week before United

    Parcel Service (UPS) or FedEx is

    able to send the passport back to

    the applicant.
    Mr Ablakwa 2:20 p.m.
    Finally, the Hon
    Minister said that so far, 36 out of
    the 66 of our Missions issue
    biometric passports, but she did
    not give us an indication as to
    when the remaining 30 Missions
    would be brought on board. Can
    we have any timelines in that
    regard?
    Thank you.
    Ms Botchwey 2:20 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, we
    are looking at the year 2022 to
    equip the rest of the Missions. I
    am probably one of the people in
    the Ministry who thinks that these
    Missions must be equipped with
    the biometric systems according
    to the estimated number of
    Ghanaians. Otherwise, it does not
    make economic sense to pay for
    biometric machine, and to put it in
    a Mission which probably attends
    to only about 100 or 200 Ghanaians.
    This is what we are looking at. So
    far, we have equipped all the
    Missions with huge populations of

    Ghanaians. We would go through

    the rest, and do it according to the

    number of Ghanaians who will

    access the service.
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 2:20 p.m.
    Very well, since the Hon Minister
    is on the seat, can we proceed to
    other questions to be answered by
    the same Minister? That is what I
    intend to do.
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 2:30 p.m.
    Yes,
    the Question numbered 725 is also in
    the name of the Hon —
    Yes, Leader, do you want to say
    anything?
    Mr Annoh-Dompreh 2:30 p.m.
    Mr
    Speaker, I was only drawing your
    attention to an Order Paper Addendum
    where we have Questions directed to
    the same Minister. So, if we could put
    the cluster together and the Hon
    Minister would deal with those
    Questions.
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 2:30 p.m.
    Those
    are not Urgent Questions so Answers
    provided have been modified. That is
    my understanding.
    Very well, the Question numbered
    725, standing in the name of the Hon
    Member for North Tongu?
    ORAL ANSWERS TO 2:30 p.m.
    QUESTIONS 2:30 p.m.
    MINISTRY OF FOREIGN 2:30 p.m.
    AFFAIRS AND REGIONAL 2:30 p.m.
    INTEGRATION 2:30 p.m.
    Ms Botchwey 2:30 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, the
    foreign policy considerations for
    approving requests from Presidents
    of sister countries to use Ghana's Presidential Jet derives from the
    tenets of Ghana's Foreign Policy, enshrined in articles 40 and 73 of
    1992 Constitution of the Republic of
    Ghana, which include good
    neighborliness, commitment to
    regional integration, African Unity,
    mutual assistance and inter-
    dependence. Those considerations
    respond to Ghana's deepest national interest

    Approvals to the requests were

    based on the exigencies of the

    situation in the West African Region,

    Ghana's leadership of ECOWAS and the necessity for ensuring the

    effective participation of West

    African leaders in meetings that are

    critical for brokering peace in the

    sub-region to enable our citizens live

    in a safe and secure neighbourhood,

    and to achieve our national

    transformation objectives through

    regional economic integration.

    As Chair of the Authority of

    Heads of State and Government of

    ECOWAS, Ghana has had to exert

    extra efforts and resources to provide

    leadership in finding lasting solutions

    to the crisis in our ECOWAS sub-

    region. These crises have

    the potential to worsen the security

    and humanitarian situation in our

    sister countries, resulting in the influx

    of refugees as well as the infiltration

    of terrorists into Ghana; a situation

    that would create insecurity in the

    country.

    The considerations for approving

    requests are also based on the concept

    of reciprocity. States, as part of

    bilateral and multilateral diplomatic

    relations, provide assistance of

    different forms to each other.

    Thus, Ghanaian leaders have in the

    past been transported to different

    parts of the world on the presidential

    planes of other States. Similarly,

    Ghana has found it beneficial to our

    interest, in a peaceful and thriving

    West Africa, to lend national

    equipment for media-tion efforts

    within the sub-region.

    The total number of approvals

    since 2017 to date and the financial

    implications to the Ghanaian tax-

    payer fall within the purview of the

    Ministry of National Security.

    Thank you.
    Mr Ablakwa 2:30 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, my
    first supplementary question is
    grounded in our Constitutional Provi-
    sions on Foreign Policy. Article
    40(1)(a) provides that:
    “In its dealings with other nations, the Government shall
    —
    (a) promote and protect
    the interests of Ghana;”
    Mr Speaker, Article 73 also
    provides that:
    “The Government of Ghana shall conduct its
    international affairs in
    consonance with the
    accepted principles of public
    international law and
    diplomacy in a manner
    consistent with the national
    interest of Ghana.”

    Mr Speaker, the national interest

    is very fundamental in our Foreign

    Policy consideration. I would like to

    find out from the Hon Minister for

    Foreign Affairs and Regional

    Integration if, considering the rate of

    these approvals — I have been doing some tracking for some time now and

    I know that, at least, over the last four

    months not less than ten African

    Presidents have used our Presidential

    Jet, and you are indicating to us that

    we are doing this gratis. Do we have

    any limit? Yes, I understand that it is

    good to look out for good neigh-

    bourliness and all of that but we must

    not do that, as the Constitution

    provides, to the detriment of our

    national interest because this is a

    country that we are told that we are so

    broke that we need the elevy at all

    cost and that times are really hard. So

    national interest as Articles 40 and 73

    provide, do we have any threshold so

    that, maybe, you would approve

    probably one or two a month or is it

    that as many African Presidents who

    apply, we approve to the economic

    detriment of the country? Are we

    protecting our national interest if we

    continue on this path?
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 2:30 p.m.
    Hon
    Member kindly ask the question.
    Mr Ablakwa 2:30 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, the
    Hon Minister understands the
    question.
    Ms Botchwey 2:30 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, the
    supreme national interest of Ghana
    today is to ensure that Ghana is safe,
    secure and not plagued with a kind of
    insecurity of arm conflict and
    terrorist attacks that our neighbours
    — and I give example of our immediate neighbour, Burkina Faso,
    who is plagued with -- and for me that is the supreme national interest
    thus to safeguard our citizens. It is for
    that reason that some of these
    decisions are taken. Yes, financially,
    it may place a burden on us but I think
    that the cost of insecurities spreading
    from the Sahel to Ghana is more than
    the financial cost that we will have to
    deal with.
    Mr Speaker, the Hon Member is
    also asking whether there is any
    threshold. I am not aware of any
    threshold but I believe that what we
    do and the decisions we make are
    taken in a manner that is very
    responsible. The immediate use of
    our Presidential Jet by other Presi-
    dents was as a result of an emergency
    summit that the Chair of authority
    had to call, and he had to immediately
    assemble his colleagues and that
    decision had to be taken in the
    supreme interest of the Economic
    Community of West African States
    (ECOWAS) Region. It was to do with
    the coup d'état in Guinea and also issues to do with Mali and of course,
    the Sahel as well.

    So, Mr Speaker, these decisions

    are taken because they are necessary,

    and cost, I believe, is important, but it

    takes a backstage when the security

    of a nation is in jeopardy. Thank you.
    Mr Ablakwa 2:40 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, my
    second Question relates to how all of
    this is being funded. At the work of
    the Foreign Affairs Committee, I
    know that this is not budgeted for. I
    follow proceedings in this House
    keenly and I do not see it as a line
    item in any of the budgets from the
    various MDAs.

    Does the Hon Minister have any

    indication as to where we are funding

    these, for want of a better word,

    African Support Presidential Charter

    Systems that we are carrying out?

    Does she have any indication as to

    where the funds are or which vote is

    responsible for financing these

    arrangements?
    Ms Botchwey 2:40 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, the
    presidential jet and how it is operated
    actually falls under the purview of the
    Ghana Air force which is under the
    Minister for Defence. I am sure that
    he may be able to give figures. I do
    not have any figures at this moment
    and it is not part of the Ministry of
    Foreign Affairs' budget, whether budgeted for or outside the budget.
    Thank you.
    Mr Ablakwa 2:40 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, my
    third supplementary question relates
    to the last paragraph of the Hon
    Minister's response. I must indicate that I am quite disappointed at that
    response. The Hon Minister said that
    “The total number of approvals since 2017 to date, and the financial imply-
    cations to the Ghanaian taxpayer,
    falls within the purview of the Ministry
    of National Security”.
    Mr Speaker, I would want to find
    out from the Hon Minister why she
    did not follow her own precedent
    which she set here the last time and
    for which I hailed her publicly. I
    really commended her. It was on a
    question I filed on evacuations and
    she went out of her way to get the
    Minister for National Security to
    provide answers to her before she
    came to the House. And she provided
    a comprehensive response to my
    question.
    Mr Speaker, I would want to find
    out why the Hon Minister did not do
    that this time round. It was a very
    beautiful thing she did and we all
    commended her. This time however,
    she did not contact her colleague on
    Cabinet and is redirecting me to the
    Minister for National Security when
    she could have been kinder to me as
    she did the last time. So, I would want

    to find out from the Hon Minister

    why she did not follow her own

    beautiful precedence?
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 2:40 p.m.
    Yes,
    Hon Minister, do you want to answer
    that?
    Ms Botchwey 2:40 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, let
    me apologise to the Hon Member for
    not following precedence. He did not
    give me enough time to go digging at
    the Ministry of National Security
    where I have no locus. So, it is the
    Minister for National Security who
    would be able to give the number of
    approvals that have been granted to
    date.
    Thank you.
    Mr Patrick Y. Boamah 2:40 p.m.
    Mr
    Speaker, I refer to a publication dated
    October 2010, where the Govern-
    ment of Ghana has donated US$3
    million to the Haitian Government.
    To buttress my question, Hon Samuel
    Okudzeto Ablakwa, the then Deputy
    Minister for Information told the
    Ghanaian Times newspaper in Accra
    that the donation was in fulfilment of
    President John Evans Atta Mills' pledge.
    Mr Speaker, my Hon Colleague
    referred to Article 40 of the 1992
    Constitution and the side note is on
    International Relations. I would want
    to find out from the Hon Minister
    whether it was in the same spirit of
    international relations that our
    Colleagues from the West Coast were
    supported in that regard? [Hear!
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 2:40 p.m.
    Hon
    Minister, were you the Minister then?
    Hon Member, which year were
    you referring to?
    Mr Boamah 2:40 p.m.
    Hon Ablakwa, in
    the year 2010.
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 2:40 p.m.
    But
    the questions are not directed at him.
    The Hon Minister was not the
    Minister then, was she?
    Mr Boamah 2:40 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I am
    asking the Hon Minister whether it
    was in the same light of international
    relations.
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 2:40 p.m.
    Hon
    Minister, were you the Minister in
    2010? She was not.
    Mr Boamah 2:40 p.m.
    Mr Speaker,
    maybe, you did not understand my
    question.
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 2:40 p.m.
    Kindly clarify it for me.
    Mr Boamah 2:40 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I laid a
    foundation based on Article 40 of the
    1992 Constitution which my Hon

    Colleague referred to and referenced

    it to a donation of US$3 million that

    we donated to the good people of

    Haiti when they were saddled with

    that disaster. I am asking the Hon

    Minister whether it is in the same

    spirit of international relations that

    the presidential jet goes round to

    support our colleagues from West

    Africa.
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 2:40 p.m.
    Hon
    Minister, hold on. Yes, Hon Deputy
    Minority Leader?
    Mr James K. Avedzi 2:40 p.m.
    Mr
    Speaker, I think that the spirit the
    Hon Member is referring to are two
    separate spirits. The spirit that he is
    referring to was a 2010 spirit, yet we
    are referring to a 2021 spirit. So, he
    should file a question to the 2010
    spirit.
    Thank you.
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 2:40 p.m.
    Hon
    Minister, do you want to answer the
    question about spirits, whether it is
    2010 or 2015.
    Yes, Hon Majority Chief Whip?
    Mr Avedzi 2:40 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, this can
    never be a supplementary question.
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 2:40 p.m.
    Hon
    Deputy Minority Leader, kindly let
    me take that decision.
    Mr Avedzi 2:40 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I am
    drawing your attention that this
    cannot be a supplementary question
    but if you want to admit it, you can
    do so, then we would know that you
    have admitted a question that is not
    related at all.
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 2:40 p.m.
    Thank you. If the Hon Minister wants
    to answer it, I would permit her.
    There are many questions I allowed
    her to answer because it may calm
    down tensions in the House. Yes,
    Hon Minister?
    Ms Botchwey 2:40 p.m.
    Mr Speaker it is in
    that same spirit -- [Laughter] -- the spirit of being a good member of the
    committee of nations. It is that same
    spirit, although we are here
    physically.
    Thank you.
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 2:40 p.m.
    Yes,
    Hon Member for Odododiodioo?
    Mr Edwin N. L. Vanderpuye 2:40 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, in the answer to the
    second supplementary question asked
    by the Hon Samuel Okudzeto
    Ablakwa, the Hon Minister made it
    clear that even though this places a
    “financial burden” on us in the spirit of our international co-operation,
    these things are not looked at. The
    financial burden is not looked at.

    Mr Speaker, I would want to ask

    the Hon Minister, does it lie within

    her bosom to decide whether a

    financial burden overweighs inter-

    national interest or whether inter-

    national interest overweighs a financial

    burden? The people of Ghana deserve

    to know how much it costs the

    taxpayer of this country for us to

    discharge this diplomatic respon-

    sibility of ours to fellow African

    countries. It is important and the

    Ghanaian taxpayer must know. So, I

    would want her to look at the

    Question once again and see whether

    she can provide for us how much it

    costs us as a country to do these

    things for our neighbours?
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 2:40 p.m.
    Hon
    Minister hold on, the Hon Majority
    Chief Whip is on his feet.
    Mr Annoh-Dompreh 2:40 p.m.
    Mr
    Speaker, I would want to implore my
    Hon Colleague to revert his mind to
    Order 67(1)(c) of our Standing
    Orders. With your permission, I beg
    to quote:
    67.1. “Questions must comply with the following conditions --
    (c) no Question shall be
    asked which raises an issue
    already decided, or which has
    been answered substantially,
    during the current Session”.
    Mr Speaker, clearly that question
    has been answered substantially by
    the Hon Minister, unless my Hon
    Colleague was not listening. So, the
    answer has been provided. My Hon
    Colleague is completely out of order
    and if he has another question, he
    should rather come with it. This
    particular question has been answered.
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 2:40 p.m.
    Yes;
    in fact, the Hon Minister answered
    that question from the questioner
    himself and she said that the cost is
    not part of her Ministry's budget and that it is by the Ghana Air Force
    which is under the Ministry of
    Defence.
    Yes, Hon Member for Afadjato
    South?
    Mrs Angela O. Alorwu-Tay 2:50 p.m.
    Mr
    Speaker, may I know from the Hon
    Minister if the requests for these
    services were channelled through her
    Ministry, given the fact that the
    requests came from foreign heads of
    states, and if she could give us a fair
    idea as to the number of trips that
    have been embarked on so far.
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 2:50 p.m.
    Hon
    Minister, you could only answer
    whether it passes through your
    Ministry because the other part has
    been answered already.
    Ms Botchwey 2:50 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, yes,
    some of the requests could pass
    through my Ministry. I could give an
    example of the last meeting where
    three heads of states had to be picked
    up from their respective countries to
    Ghana for an emergency meeting.
    The time was very short and they had
    to be part of a meeting because these
    are countries that border the Republic
    of Guinea and those heads of states
    had to be here. They made their
    difficulties known and we had to
    work on it. Apart from that, I do not
    have readily any other trips which
    were routed through my Ministry.
    Because this recent one had to do
    with an emergency summit, I knew of
    the difficulties and had to relay the
    messages to the appropriate quarters,
    which is the Office of the Chief of
    Staff and also the Hon Minister for
    National Security, as well as the Hon
    Minister for Defence, who has the
    operations of the presidential jet as
    part of his responsibilities.
    Mr Rockson-Nelson E. K.
    Dafeamekpor: Mr Speaker, on the
    18th September, 2021, the record
    indicates that while our President had
    travel commitment to the UN, the
    national carrier was in use by the
    President of Liberia. My question is,
    what is our national policy when a
    travel request from a sisterState
    coincides with a travel commitment
    of the sitting President, as it happened
    on the 18th of September, 2021. I
    want to know the policy in that
    regard, because in this case our
    President had to charter.
    Ms Botchwey 2:50 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, if a
    request which does not happen often
    at all clashes with the President's travel, of course, the jet is for the use
    of the President, therefore he would
    use it and decline the request that has
    been made. I am not aware of this
    particular situation which occurred
    on the 18th September, 2021. I am
    sorry, Mr Speaker, it did not pass
    through my Ministry so I am not
    aware of it.
    Mr Avedzi 2:50 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I would
    want to find out from the Hon
    Minister whether these foreign
    presidents who use the presidential
    jet have on any occasion complained
    to her that the jet does not have the
    adequate facilities that could make
    them comfortable when the travel
    with it.
    Ms Botchwey 2:50 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I do
    not have direct contacts all the time
    with heads of states for them to
    engage me on such matters.
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 2:50 p.m.
    Very
    well. We could take one more
    Question which stands in the name of
    the Hon Member for South Tongu for
    the Hon Minister for Foreign Affairs
    and Regional Integration.

    Ghanaian Passports in the

    hands of foreign citizens
    Mr Kobena M. Woyome (NDC -- South Tongu) 2:50 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I beg to
    ask the Hon Minister for Foreign
    Affairs and Regional Integration
    whether the Ministry is aware that
    Ghanaian passports are in the hands
    of foreign citizens, especially brothers
    and sisters from Nigeria in the United
    Arab Emirates, and the steps the
    Ministry is taking to probe and
    immediately correct the situation, as
    it is creating problems for Ghanaian
    citizens in the United Arab Emirates
    (UAE).
    Ms Botchwey 2:50 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, the
    issue concerning foreigners acquiring
    Ghanaian passports has been a long
    standing problem for the country.
    The problem has been largely attri-
    buted to the ease with which one can
    acquire the Ghanaian birth certificate
    which serves as the key requirement
    for acquiring a passport.
    Mr Speaker, as part of the efforts
    to tackle this menace, my Ministry
    migrated to the Biometric Passport
    regime in the year 2010. The new
    system which involves taking finger-
    prints of applicants has largely
    minimised the acquisition of Ghanaian
    passports by foreigners. Indeed, the
    current process for acquiring Ghanaian
    passports entails very rigorous vetting
    process by a team of security personnel
    from the Ghana Immigration Service
    (GIS), National Security Council
    Secretariat, National Investigation
    Bureau (NIB), Criminal Investigation
    Department (CID), and Research
    Department.
    With this arrangement, the
    Ministry is able to detect and weed
    out cases of foreigners attempting to
    acquire our passports. Indeed, the
    vetting process has led to the arrests
    and prosecution of a number of
    culprits engaged in this criminal
    conduct. I wish to use this oppor-
    tunity to thank the Ghana Immi-
    gration Service (GIS) and other
    security services for assisting my
    Ministry in this regard.
    Mr Speaker, on the specific
    allegation of foreign nationals in the
    United Arab Emirates holding
    Ghanaian passports, I wish to assure
    the House that our diplomatic
    mission accredited to that country has
    been directed to liaise with the host
    authorities to investigate and submit
    a report on the matter for appropriate
    action. This is the only action we can
    take in the first instance as the
    relevant institutions in the host
    country are mandated to investigate
    the allegations. Any necessary
    corrective action would follow as
    required.
    Mr Speaker, the Ministry remains
    committed towards safeguarding the

    security and integrity of our passport

    and every necessary measure will be

    taken to adhere to that. It is against

    this background that the Ministry is

    currently taking steps to introduce the

    chip embedded passports by the

    second quarter of the year 2022. It is

    part of the efforts to enhance the

    security of the passports in line with

    the standards prescribed by the

    International Civil Aviation Organi-

    sation (ICAO).

    Let me also inform the House that

    the Ministry is working closely with

    the National Identification Authority

    (NIA) to integrate the Ghana Card

    into the Passport acqui-sition system.

    The move will enhance verification

    of passport application and hence,

    enable the Ministry to effectively

    address the issue of foreigners trying

    to acquire our passports.
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 2:50 p.m.
    Yes,
    Hon Member for South Tongu?
    Mr Woyome 2:50 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, in the
    first paragraph of the Hon Minister's Answer, she acknowledged the fact
    that the -- may I quote her words: “The problem has been largely
    attributed to the ease with which one
    can acquire the Ghanaian birth
    certificate which serves as the key
    requirement to acquiring a passport.”
    Mr Speaker, I want to find out
    from the Hon Minister whether there
    is any ministerial or inter-agency
    collaboration to assist the Birth and
    Death Registry to enable them to
    render services and also check some
    of these from happening in the first
    place since that seems to be one of the
    major causes as identified per the
    Answer given.
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 3 p.m.
    Hon
    Member, wait. Cut the commen-
    taries. She would answer it.
    Yes, Hon Minister?
    Ms Botchwey 3 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, yes,
    there is collaboration and even more
    so, as a result of the National
    Identification Card, it is now easy for
    us to verify a birth certificate which
    is now in a biometric form as well.
    That, in itself, has weeded out a lot of
    these foreign nationals who ordinarily
    could acquire a birth certificate.
    Today, I believe that because of the
    close collaboration that exists and
    also the fact that many Ghanaians
    now have the National Identification
    Card, it is a lot better in terms of the
    numbers that we see.
    Mr Woyome 3 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, again,
    the paragraph 2 of the Answer
    supports the rigorous check that these
    institutions undertake to help
    apprehend culprits, and with your
    permission, if I may quote a portion

    of this paragraph as the Hon Minister

    has outlined there:

    “Indeed, the current process for acquiring Ghanaian Passport entails

    very rigorous vetting process by a

    team of security personnel.”

    From the time of application to

    when one is expected to get their

    passport, would the Hon Minister

    consider that to be enough to do a

    thorough work to ensure that nothing

    slips — Considering the kind of work these institutions do; are they able to

    really find out the fraud that is so key

    and dear to all of us? Are they well

    supported in terms of capacity even

    though she has outlined some successes

    in terms of arrests? Looking at the

    time we put in application and when

    we expect to get our passports, do

    they have the required capacity to do

    all those checks and apprehend such

    people?

    3.02 p.m. — [MR SECOND
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 3 p.m.
    Yes, Hon Minister?
    Ms Botchwey 3 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I
    must say that vetting takes place in
    two forms; the first vetting takes
    place when an online application is
    deposited. A lot takes place then
    because the background checks are
    done without having the applicant
    before the officers. Then, the second
    vetting is done when the applicant
    has an appointment to appear to take
    their fingerprints and also go through
    the different processes and face-to-
    face interactions. In many of the
    cases, we have detected false appli-
    cations either through our back-
    ground checks or in the face-to-face
    interactions between the officers
    from the various MDAs and the
    applicants. So, this is done in two
    folds: behind the scenes and face-to-
    face and it has worked and continues
    to work.
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 3 p.m.
    Hon Woyome, any supplementary
    question?
    Mr Woyome 3 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I
    would want to know again the effort
    to introduce the chip-embedded
    passport as one of the ways to solve
    this problem.
    Will the Hon Minister walk us
    through how effective this would be
    when this is introduced next year per
    her Answer? We heard from her
    predecessor in 2016 that Government
    intended to introduce this and we
    have not really seen that happening.
    It is good that in 2022 it would be
    done.
    Could she walk us through how
    effective it would help prevent fraud

    from occurring when finally

    introduced?
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 3 p.m.
    Hon Woyome, is what you are asking
    the Hon Minister to walk you through
    a supplementary question?
    Hon Minister, are you minded to
    answer the question?
    Mr Woyome 3 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, if I
    may add a little to just clarify what I
    requested of her. I would want her to
    give us further and better clarification
    on how effective this chip-embedded
    passport would be in solving the
    problem since that has been acknow-
    ledged as one of the solutions.
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 3 p.m.
    Very well, Hon Minister?
    Ms Botchwey 3 p.m.
    Mr Speaker,
    unfortunately, I am not technically
    able to take you through the process
    but I can assure him as I have been
    assured. Currently, some countries in
    West Africa are using chip-embedded
    passports and it has reduced lots of
    fraudulent appli-cations because their
    details are embedded in the chip and
    it is easily accessible. The processes,
    together with that of the National
    Identifi-cation Card, would ensure
    the integrity of our passports.
    Mr Speaker, however, if the Hon
    Member is minded to ask that
    specific question as a substantive
    one, I would come to the House with
    the necessary details.
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 3 p.m.
    Very well. Yes, Hon Member for
    Adaklu?
    Mr Kwame G. Agbodza 3 p.m.
    Mr
    Speaker, we thank the Hon Minister
    for providing Answers to this
    Question and I commend her for the
    steps we are taking to make the
    Ghanaian passport more secure.
    Mr Speaker, in her Answer, she
    suggested that fake applicants have
    been detected and taken out of the
    system. In her opinion, is the problem
    one-sided, that is, only applicants, or
    does she also notice that some
    officials could also condone the act?
    In the past, we know that when one
    gets fake passports, fake driving
    licence, etc., it is not merely the
    applicants doing that but they need a
    collaboration from other people.
    Does she detect that there would be
    work to be done on her side as well to
    make sure the passports are more
    secure than they are currently?
    Ms Botchwey 3 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, in
    every human endeavour, we would
    find people who go against the grain
    to do what they are not supposed to
    do but I insist that the officers over
    there do their best. I cannot fully
    vouch for them but I know for sure

    that they give off their best. What I

    have done is to move them around

    every six months so that officers do

    not stay for too long and get familiar

    with the system.

    Mr Speaker, I must draw attention to

    the activities of those we call goro

    boys, to wit, the middlemen. We have

    found that, in many of the cases, they

    are the ones who aid and abet such

    applicants who really should not even

    come anywhere close to any of our

    national documents, whether it is

    birth certificate, passport, or any

    others. But we continue to improve

    on the system to make sure that the

    people there have enough integrity to

    do their work.
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 3 p.m.
    Yes, let me come to the Hon Member
    for Builsa South.
    Dr Clement A. Apaak 3 p.m.
    Mr
    Speaker, the Hon Minister has made
    several references to people who try
    to obtain Ghanaian passports with
    fake or fictitious documents.
    I would want to know from the
    Hon Minister if there are any
    prescribed sanctions for such persons
    as and when discovered.
    Ms Botchwey 3:10 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, we
    put them before the courts and they
    are sentenced, and there are many of
    them in Ghanaian jails.
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 3:10 p.m.
    Hon Member for Keta, would you
    want to ask any question? This is the
    last question I am admitting.
    Mr Kwame D. Gakpey 3:10 p.m.
    Mr
    Speaker, thank you very much for
    giving me the opportunity. I would
    like to find out from the Hon Minister,
    in her Answer, she mentioned that there
    is a chip that contains data of various
    people, which is a way of being
    effective. I would like to find out how
    protected is the data, especially
    looking at it in the light of the Data
    Protection Act. How secure is the
    data?
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 3:10 p.m.
    Hon Member, can you repeat the
    question, please?
    Mr Gakpey 3:10 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, the
    Hon Minister said that they are
    collecting data of individuals in a
    chip which is embedded in the
    passport. I would like to find out from
    her how protective or secure that data
    is vis-a -vis the Data Protection Act.
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 3:10 p.m.
    Hon Minister, I do not know whether
    you got the question. He wants to
    know how protective the chip is.
    Ms Botchwey 3:10 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I do
    not believe this is a question for me
    because, first of all, we have not
    started the chip-embedded regime.
    Second, I believe that matters to do
    with data protection are under the
    purview of the Ministry of Commu-
    nications. So the Hon Minister
    responsible for that Ministry may be
    able to answer that substantive
    question put to her better than I can.
    Of course, as and when we start, I
    probably would be able to shed more
    light on this question, but for now, we
    have not started — we do not run the chip-embedded regime yet. Therefore, I
    cannot speak to issues with regard to
    data protection.
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 3:10 p.m.
    Hon Minister, on behalf of the House,
    I thank you very much for attending
    upon the House to answer Questions.
    We are so grateful, and you are
    hereby discharged.
    Let me now invite the Hon
    Minister for Transport to answer
    Questions from Hon Members. The
    Hon Minister is anxious to answer the
    Question. Anyway, let me invite Dr
    Kwabena Donkor, Hon Member of
    Parliament for Pru East, to ask his
    Urgent Question.
    URGENT QUESTIONS 3:10 p.m.
    MINISTRY OF TRANSPORT 3:10 p.m.
    Dr Kwabena Donkor (NDC -- Pru East) 3:10 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I beg to ask
    the Hon Minister for Transport when
    new and reliable ferries would be
    supplied to Kete Krachi, Yeji,
    Dambai and Donkorkrom.
    Minister for Transport (Mr
    Kwaku O. Asiamah): Mr Speaker,
    the Volta Lake Transport Company
    Limited is operating ferries that
    transport passengers and goods at five
    ferry crossings, namely: Yejimakango,
    Kete Krachi Kojokrom, Dambai
    Dodokope, Agordeke Donkorkrom,
    Kpando Torkor and Adorso, Ekye
    Amanfrom. Areas around Donkorkrom
    benefit from ferries that operate from
    Adorso to Ekye Amanfrom and
    Agordeke to Kpando Torkor.
    Mr Speaker, as a major step to
    ensure the availability of reliable
    means of transport on the Volta Lake,
    Government is in the process of
    negotiating a loan agreement with
    Korean EXIM Bank for a retooling of
    the VLTCL to deliver safe and
    reliable ferries for transportation on
    the Lake. The project, among other

    infrastructural facilities, will provide

    five new and large vessels to improve

    access to ferry services on the Lake.

    Thank you very much, Mr

    Speaker.
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 3:10 p.m.
    Yes, Hon Member, any further
    questions?
    Dr Donkor 3:10 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, the Hon
    Minister, in his Answer, states that
    the Government is in the process of
    negotiating a loan. In the process of
    negotiating, would the Hon Minister
    inform the good people of the
    Voltaian areas when this negotiation
    would come to fruition?
    Mr K. O. Asiamah 3:10 p.m.
    Mr Speaker,
    the arrangement between the Govern-
    ment of Ghana and Korean EXIM
    Bank started in the year 2019. We
    needed to go through a lot of
    processes; the feasibility studies had
    to be done for us to determine the
    level of infrastructure and the
    equipment -- that one is done. The Ministry has been there on two
    occasions and we are now at the tail
    end of the programme. It means that
    they have submitted a form to the
    Ministry of Finance which is leading
    the loan agreement arrangement, and
    I am sure that by the first quarter of
    next year, the loan facility would
    come to this House. I urge all the Hon
    Members to support the arrangement
    so that we can secure the facility and
    get the ferries for the people on
    whose behalf the Hon Member is
    asking the Question.
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 3:10 p.m.
    Very well.
    Yes, Hon Member, any further
    questions?
    Dr Donkor 3:10 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, yes. In
    his Answer, the Hon Minister
    mentioned the VLTCL as operating a
    number of ferries. Would the Hon
    Minister agree that as the supervising
    Minister for VLTCL,the company's operation leaves much to be desired?
    That the company is under-
    capitalised and the potential of the
    Volta Lake as an inland transport has
    totally being underutilised?
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 3:10 p.m.
    Yes, Hon Minister?
    Mr K. O. Asiamah 3:10 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I
    am not aware of the problem the Hon
    Member is talking about. The
    arrangement is that the VLTCL is
    under the supervision of the Ministry
    of Energy, that is, under the Volta
    River Authority (VRA), but they
    operate the transportation system
    which is under it. I do not know their
    financial position and because I am
    not directly supervising their
    operations, it would be difficult for

    me to indicate whether they are

    having financial challenges or not.
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 3:10 p.m.
    Yes, Hon Member, this is your last
    supplementary question.
    Dr Donkor 3:10 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I
    appreciate the difficulty of the Hon
    Minister as not being in the position
    to know the financial position of the
    VLTCL but as the Minister respon-
    sible for inland water transport of
    which the VLTCL is probably the
    biggest player, would the Hon
    Minister tell this House whether he is
    satisfied with the level of operation
    on the VLTCL and whether, as a
    country, we are properly utilising the
    resources available to us as a
    transportation hub on the Volta
    Lake?
    Mr K. O. Asiamah 3:20 p.m.
    Mr Speaker,
    the Volta Lake is a major trans-
    portation artery in this county. We
    have what we call the north south
    operation and support ferry services.
    So, just like any other system or any
    improvement, there is always the
    need for us to improve the systems
    that we are operating.
    Mr Speaker, so far as I am
    concerned, we may have challenges,
    but as a people, what we have to do is
    to improve upon the services as far as
    the Volta Lake is concerned and this
    is exactly what we are trying to do.
    Mr Speaker, thank you.
    Mrs Della A. Sowah 3:20 p.m.
    Mr
    Speaker, the Hon Minister mentioned
    from Torkor to Yeji and some other
    towns, but I want to find out from him
    if he would consider for the ferry to
    stop at Kpando as was the case
    before.
    Mr K. O. Asiamah 3:20 p.m.
    Mr Speaker,
    we are running the service for the
    people, so if the request is that they
    also need it, then I would commu-
    nicate this so that we would see the
    possibility of rendering this service.
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 3:20 p.m.
    Hon Agbodza, let me invite the Hon
    Member for Sene East.
    Mr Dominic Napare 3:20 p.m.
    Mr
    Speaker, the Hon Minister, in his
    response, mentioned the ferry plying
    Kete Krachi and Kojokrom, which
    are in my Constituency. Mr Speaker,
    considering water transport as a
    public good and a social service,
    because of its peculiarity as compared
    to land transport, would the Hon
    Minister ask the ferry that is plying
    Kete Krachi and Kojokrom to operate
    twice? Currently, they do a one-way
    trip and this is not allowing
    passengers who travel to Kojokrom
    the opportunity to cross to Kete

    Krachi. Yet, Kete Krachi has the

    biggest hospital in the area and this

    inconveniences people who are sick.

    Mr Speaker, they also prevent --
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 3:20 p.m.
    Hon Member, please ask your
    Question.
    Mr Napare 3:20 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, would
    the Hon Minister advise or authorise
    the operators of the ferry to do a two-
    way trip from Kete Krachi to
    Kojokrom?
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 3:20 p.m.
    Hon Minister, do you understand his
    Question?
    Mr K. O. Asiamah 3:20 p.m.
    Mr Speaker,
    my understanding of the Question is
    that he wants them to increase the
    number of services they render. Mr
    Speaker, I would communicate this
    information to them to see if it is
    possible. I would impress upon them
    since the Hon Member wants his
    people to have these good services.
    Mr Agbodza 3:20 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I
    know this is a policy issue because
    the Volta River Authority (VRA) and
    the other agencies, including the
    Ministry all belonged to the State. So,
    would the Hon Minister consider
    making a policy recommendation at
    Cabinet for us to transfer the
    transportation on the Volta Lake to
    his Ministry, so that the limitations he
    has now which he cannot fully take
    control of, to address the concern of
    our Hon Colleagues can be done?
    Would he consider making a
    recommendation to Parliament so
    that the House can support him to
    take out the transportation operations
    on the Volta Lake under his Ministry
    entirely?
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 3:20 p.m.
    Hon Member, your question cannot
    be admitted. I do not think the Hon
    Minister would have that mandate to
    take that particular role that you are
    asking him to do. Probably, further
    negotiations would have to be done,
    so the question is turned down.
    Mr Annoh-Dompreh 3:20 p.m.
    Mr
    Speaker, I seek your leave to make an
    application. With the greatest of
    respect, following the Business of the
    day, I would want to plead that we
    limit the number of Hon Members
    who ask follow-up questions on
    Constituency-specific Questions as
    much as possible. I am only
    appealing so that we can speed up
    Business of the day.
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 3:20 p.m.
    Hon Majority Chief Whip, I am fully
    aware of this. This particular
    Question cuts across some Consti-
    tuencies. That is why I am admitting
    the follow-up questions.

    I would take the last question from

    the Hon Member for Salaga South

    Constituency.

    Ms Zuwera Ibrahimah

    Mohammed: Mr Speaker, thank

    you.

    In the Hon Minister's response, he said that they are making arrange-

    ments to acquire new ferries for the

    communities on the Lake. I want to

    know from him whether these ferries

    are going to be brand-new or home-

    used ones, as we commonly say.

    Also, I would want to know whether

    he finds the landing ports, especially

    those at Yeji, Mankango, and Dambai

    appropriate for brand-new ferries to

    operate from, and if not, what is the

    Government doing to make those

    landing ports stand to accommodate

    new ferries?

    Thank you, Mr Speaker.
    Mr K. O. Asiamah 3:20 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, in
    my initial response, I did say that the
    arrangement between the Govern-
    ment of Ghana and the Korean EXIM
    Bank is one arrange-ment that seeks
    to complete or improve the services
    as far as the Volta Lake is concerned.
    So, the arrangement consists of
    building new landing sites, reception
    areas, sleeping areas, and purchasing
    of new ferries and a smaller ship yard
    to enable the repairs of this ferry. So,
    let me assure the Hon Member that,
    yes, we would acquire new ferries
    and not second-hand ones. When we
    are done, we would also construct
    and improve the landing site to
    accommodate the new ferries that we
    are bringing because the existing
    landing site cannot accommodate
    them.
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 3:20 p.m.
    Very well.
    Hon Members, we would move to
    Question numbered 351 which stands
    in the name of the Hon Member for
    Keta, Mr Kwame Gakpey.
    ORAL ANSWERS TO 3:20 p.m.
    QUESTIONS 3:20 p.m.
    MINISTRY OF TRANSPORT 3:20 p.m.
    Mr K. O. Asiamah 3:20 p.m.
    Mr Speaker,
    the Port of Keta Project is progress-
    sing steadily. The Feasibility Study
    and other important Investment
    Strategy Reports have been
    completed and are going through
    Stakeholder consultations. A Market
    Sounding Forum was held on the 11th
    of November, 2021, to sensitise and

    attract potential investors to the

    Project.

    A Project and Information office

    has been developed at the site to

    enhance public/community engage-

    ment and information services as

    well as project site visits by potential

    investors.

    Mr Speaker, the feasibility was

    necessary to determine the viability

    of the project. Thankfully, the result

    of the study has proven that the

    Project is viable.

    Mr Speaker, having determined

    the viability of the Project, the next

    stage is to go through the necessary

    processes to engage a Concessionaire

    for the Phase 1 of the Project. This

    would be done alongside the

    Environmental Impact Assessment

    (EIA) Studies for the project. It is our

    expectation that by the 3rd quarter of

    next year, these processes would

    have been completed.
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 3:20 p.m.
    Hon Gakpey, any supplementary
    question?
    Mr Gakpey 3:30 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, the
    Hon Minister said in the Answer that
    a Project and Information Office has
    been developed at the site, so I would
    like to find out if staff have been
    recruited to man the office. Mr
    Speaker, as I speak, there is nobody
    in that office. I would like to find out
    from the Hon Minister.
    Mr K. A. Asiamah 3:30 p.m.
    Mr Speaker,
    we have provided that office to
    enable investors come around and
    find out what they are doing. So far
    as I am concerned, the information is
    that members of staff are there. It
    may happen that he would go there at
    times that he may not meet anybody.
    That does not mean that members of
    staff are not supposed to be there;
    they are supposed to be there. If they
    are not manning the place effectively,
    he should let me know, and I would
    go back to GPH and let them
    understand the concerns of the Hon
    Member.
    Thank you, Mr Speaker.
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 3:30 p.m.
    Very well. Yes, any supplementary
    questions?
    Mr Gakpey 3:30 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I just
    want to re-echo this question that I
    would like to inform the Hon
    Minister that since the 40-footer
    containers were there as office, no
    staff has been there. That is the
    information I wanted to give to the
    Minister.
    Mr Speaker, my second follow up
    question is -- I would like to find out

    from the Minister how long it takes

    for the feasibility studies to be

    completed?
    Mr K. A. Asiamah 3:30 p.m.
    Mr Speaker,
    let me answer the first. If he has given
    me information, it is well taken. I
    would crosscheck.
    Mr Speaker, the feasibility studies
    may not have a fixed time so far as
    the project is concerned. It deter-
    mines what kind of project we want
    to do and what kind of assessment we
    want to do. So for me to give him a
    specific time that this particular
    project — if he is asking in relation to the Keta Port Project, then the
    feasibility studies took us at least a
    year and two and half months. We
    delayed for about three months
    because of the COVID-19 situation.
    So that is what I can say to his
    question. But if he is asking for
    feasibility studies in general, I would
    not be able to speak to it. This is
    because it determines the kind of
    projects undertaken.
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 3:30 p.m.
    Very well. So, we move to Question
    —
    Mr Edward A. Bawa -- rose —
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 3:30 p.m.
    No, Hon Member, this is a
    constituency-specific Question.
    Mr Edward A. Bawa 3:30 p.m.
    Mr
    Speaker, this is a port, which is a

    We cannot say that by virtue of the

    fact that --
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 3:30 p.m.
    Hon Edward Bawa, I am not
    admitting your supplementary question.
    Please, bear with me. So we move to
    question number --
    Mr Avedzi 3:30 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, the Keta
    Port would not be used by the people
    of Keta alone. It is going to be used
    by the whole of Ghana -- in fact, it is a national asset. So, please, admit one
    or two follow ups from other Hon
    Members.
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 3:30 p.m.
    Hon Deputy Minority Leader, please,
    indulge me to go on with my ruling.
    We admitted so many supplementary
    questions from other Hon Members
    but this is Keta. Let us move on,
    please.
    Mr Avedzi 3:30 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, my
    Constituency would also benefit from
    the Keta Port --
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 3:30 p.m.
    He
    Mr Avedzi 3:30 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, Tema
    Port is not for only the Constituencies
    in Tema. It is for all of us. So, please,
    Hon Members have concerns. Let us

    clear them out and that would settle

    the matter.
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 3:30 p.m.
    Hon Deputy Minority Leader, I am
    all right. Are you asking a question
    yourself?
    Mr Avedzi 3:30 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I have
    deferred my question to the Hon
    Member.
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 3:30 p.m.
    Hon Bawa, let me hear you.
    Mr Bawa 3:30 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I would
    want to ask the Hon Minister - from all indications, currently, they are
    engaged in feasibility studies or they
    are almost done or done - meanwhile, they appointed a Chief Executive
    Officer (CEO). What was the job
    description of this CEO to be drawing
    salary from state coffers?
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 3:30 p.m.
    Hon Minister, are you minded to
    answer this question?
    Mr K. A. Asiamah 3:30 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, in
    building a port, it is not an event; it is
    a process. We need to go through the
    process step by step. So, the fact that
    we have appointed somebody to be
    the director of the project does not
    mean that this process is not part of
    the construction of the port. If Hon
    Members are seeking to see the brick
    and mortar as the construction of the
    port, then I am sorry. That is not only
    the construction of the port. The
    construction of the port starts from
    the day the area is declared as a port
    zone; continuing from the feasibility
    studies to determine --
    This is because as Hon Avedzi
    said, a port is an important project.
    We must go through the regiments
    and processes to determine the level
    of infrastructure that is needed and all
    those are an integral part of the
    construction of the port. So, if the
    Hon Member is only looking for
    putting up of the brick and mortar, it
    cannot be possible without going
    through the process. So that is my
    answer to him.
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 3:30 p.m.
    Very well. Hon Bawa, I think he has
    given a very -- So we move to Question numbered 393 which stands
    in the name of the Hon Member for
    Sissala West, Hon Adam Mohammed
    Sukparu.
    Status of Construction of Air
    Navigation Services Centre --
    KIA 3:30 p.m.
    Mr K. A. Asiamah 3:30 p.m.
    Mr Speaker,
    the construction of the Air Navigation
    Services (ANS) Centre, commenced
    in January, 2017 and was expected to
    be completed by December, 2020.
    However due to the COVID-19
    pandemic which has significantly
    affected the finances of the Ghana
    Civil Aviation Authority, the project
    has stalled. Currently, the project is
    about 92 per cent complete.
    Mr Speaker, the Authority has,
    however, started negotiations with its
    bankers to finance the rest of the
    Project. Hopefully, if the negotiations
    goes as planned and the funding
    secured, we should be able to
    complete the project by the middle of
    next year.
    Thank you very much, Mr
    Speaker.
    Mr Sukparu 3:30 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, may I
    refer the Minister to the Budget
    Statement and Economic Policy of
    the 2021 Financial Year on page 165,
    paragraph 910? There was a provi-
    sion for this particular project and
    with your permission I read:
    “Construction is progressing steadily on the construction of an Air
    Navi-gation Service Centre at KIA to
    provide state of the art equipment for
    air navigation services and offices for
    air traffic controllers and engineers.
    The project as at the end of
    December, 2020 was 85 per cent
    complete and is expected to be
    completed in 2021 and put to use.”
    Mr Speaker, the Hon Minister is
    saying that because of COVID-19,
    they could not complete the project. I
    want to find out from the Hon
    Minister whether the Budget Allocation
    that was made for this project -- whether the Ministry of Finance did
    not release the said amount that was
    allocated for the completion of the
    project.
    Mr K. A. Asiamah 3:30 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, if
    I heard the Hon Member right, he
    said that at the time the Minister came
    here, the project was 85 per cent
    complete. I am telling him today that
    the project is 92 per cent complete.
    So it means that we are working on it.
    Mr Sukparu 3:30 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, the
    Minister, in his answer admitted that
    the authority has however started
    negotiations with his bankers to
    finance the rest of the project. I would
    want to find out - the rest of the project from 85 per cent meaning the
    15 per cent that was left was budgeted
    for in the 2021 Budget and same was
    approved. What happened to the said
    amount and they are now going
    outside negotiating with their bankers
    to secure new loan to complete this
    project? Thank you Mr Speaker.
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 3:40 p.m.
    Hon Minister, did you get the
    question?
    Mr Kwaku A. Asiamah 3:40 p.m.
    Mr
    Speaker, the Hon Member should be
    aware that the Ghana Civil Aviation
    Authority (GCAA) is an Authority
    that pays itself and finances its own
    projects. When this project started,
    we did not have any funding from the
    Government of Ghana. It was when
    we had difficulties in raising funds
    during the COVID-19 pandemic that
    Government decided to intervene.
    Government provided some money
    for us, but unfortunately, that money
    could not complete the project. This
    is why we are now engaging our
    bankers to finance the rest of the
    project.
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 3:40 p.m.
    That is the last question.
    Mr Sukparu 3:40 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, noted.
    I would want to find out from the Hon
    Minister what the guarantee is, such
    that in the middle of 2022, he would
    not come to the House to tell us the
    same story?
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 3:40 p.m.
    Hon Minister, the Hon Member
    wants a guarantee.
    Mr Kwaku A. Asiamah 3:40 p.m.
    Mr
    Speaker, I am not telling stories. I am
    telling the Hon Member the reality on
    the ground; we have gone far with our
    bankers and they have assured us -- because the situation is now improving,
    we then can pay for the money. So,
    the Hon Member should be rest
    assured. Next time when I come to
    the House, either the first quarter or
    in the middle of next year, I would
    give the Hon Member good news.
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 3:40 p.m.
    Very well.
    Mr Alhassan Suhuyini Sayibu 3:40 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, in the Minister's answer, he spoke about the fact that the
    project is about 92 per cent complete.
    Without an ANS, I know the airport
    can still be functional. Hon Minister,
    apart from the fact that this project is
    92 per cent complete, what other
    reasons are given for the under-
    utilisation of the airport?
    Mr Kwaku A. Asiamah 3:40 p.m.
    Mr
    Speaker, the distinction must be
    drawn that there is difference between
    Ghana Civil Aviation Authority
    which is responsible for security and
    safety, and the Ghana Airport
    Company which manages the assets.
    So, the ANS is a requirement from
    the International Civil Aviation
    Organisation (ICAO) which is that
    we cannot operate and at the same
    time supervise. So, the requirement is
    that the operator should be different
    from the person who regulates the

    service that was why this House

    agreed to the separation based on the

    ICAO's requirement and the second leg of the airport being underused.

    Mr Speaker, this is the reality on

    the ground. Whether we like it or not,

    COVID-19 pandemic has done a big

    blow to the aviation industry. In

    2018, we had engaged a private

    company to acquire the Terminal 2,

    to convert it into a business activity

    area. Unfortunately, because of the

    COVID-19 pandemic, the number of

    passengers dropped, and the people

    thought that the project would not be

    viable. Let us pray that when the

    Pandemic comes down, the number

    of passengers will increase and I am

    sure we can engage them again.
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 3:40 p.m.
    Hon Members, we move to question
    numbered, 672 that stands in the
    name of the Hon Member for
    Nsawam-Adoagyiri.
    Hon Member, the Minister is here
    to answer your Question.
    Findings of Feasibility Studies
    on New Airports in Central and
    Western Regions
    Mr Frank Annoh-Dompreh 3:40 p.m.
    Mr
    Speaker, I rise to ask the Minister for
    Transport what findings have been
    made in the feasibility studies for a
    new airport in either the Central,
    Western or in-between both regions,
    which would complement the agenda
    to transform Ghana into the trans-
    portation hub of West Africa.
    Mr Kwaku A. Asiamah 3:40 p.m.
    Mr
    Speaker, a feasibility study is currently
    on-going to determine a suitable
    location for the development of an
    airport in Cape Coast in the Central
    Region, Takoradi in the Western
    Region or build one in between the
    two (2) regions which can serve the
    same purpose.
    Mr Speaker, the consultant has
    presented the Inception Report, and it
    has been submitted to the Ministry.
    The final feasibility report will
    outline the findings of the study
    which is expected to be completed by
    the end of the year. The feasibility
    studies would then determine the
    level of infrastructure and the real
    location where this airport is going to
    be. So, as I speak, the feasibility
    studies' report is not complete.
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 3:40 p.m.
    Yes, Hon Annoh-Dompreh, any
    further questions?
    Mr Annoh-Dompreh 3:40 p.m.
    Mr
    Speaker, rightly so. I wish to find out
    from my good friend, the Minister,
    whether Government has demonstrated
    abundant commitment to this project,
    and whether there is evidence to
    prove that especially in the 2022

    Budget Statement? Can the Hon

    Minister speak to it and show us

    evidence?
    Mr Kwaku A. Asiamah 3:40 p.m.
    Mr
    Speaker, I think Government has
    shown enough commitment to this
    important project, which would open
    up the Western enclave to the outside
    world. Before the Minister of Finance
    presented the Budget Statement, he
    had made commitment to the consul-
    tant as the project was ongoing.
    Indeed on page 54 of the 2022
    Budget Statement and the Financial
    Policy of the Government, the
    Minister has made some allocations
    to complement the project. I think
    that with these two things, you can
    see that the Government has shown
    real commitment not just by mouth. I
    thank the Minister for Finance for
    making some allocations to the
    consultant even before the Budget
    was read.
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 3:40 p.m.
    Very well, do you still have a
    question?
    Mr Annoh-Dompreh 3:40 p.m.
    Mr
    Speaker, this is supposed to be my
    second follow-up question with your
    indulgence. The Hon Minister would
    agree with me that in recent times, the
    media is awashed with statements
    made by nay sayers to the effect that
    the New Patriotic Party (NPP)
    Government has failed to take
    concrete steps in ensuring that the
    people of the Western and the Central
    Regions have an airport facility. With
    this answer, what would be the reply
    of the Hon Minister to all the nay
    sayers and all the negativity put out
    there that the Government has failed
    the people of the Western and the
    Central Regions?
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 3:40 p.m.
    Hon Member, put the question again;
    put it differently.
    Mr Annoh-Dompreh 3:40 p.m.
    Mr
    Speaker, can the Hon Minister
    confirm that indeed this Government
    is committed to this project, and has
    not failed the people of the Central
    and the Western Regions?
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 3:40 p.m.
    Hon Minister, are you minded to
    answer the question?
    Mr Kwaku A. Asiamah 3:50 p.m.
    Mr
    Speaker, I can confidently tell you
    that the Government of Nana Addo
    Dankwa Akufo-Addo is not in the
    business of deceiving anybody.
    Indeed, this particular project, like
    l said about the port at Keta, is a
    process, and we need to go through
    the processes. So, if people are
    looking for the actual construction to
    start, yes, it will start but not without
    the report. Without the feasibility
    studies to determine the level of

    infrastructure and the location, it

    cannot be possible. There will not be

    any evidence to what we are doing.

    So, I can assure this House and the

    people of this country that by the end

    of this year when the feasibility study

    is completed, next year, we would

    start with the procurement process,

    and by the third quarter we would see

    the construction of the airport.

    Thank you very much.

    Several Hon Members — rose

    —
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 3:50 p.m.
    Yes, Hon Member, your last
    supplementary question?
    Mr Annoh-Dompreh 3:50 p.m.
    Mr
    Speaker, clearly, this Question has
    generated — I saw the speed with which my good friend, the Hon
    Dafeamekpor got up, but unfor-
    tunately, he could not catch the
    attention of the Hon Speaker.
    Mr Speaker, I have exhausted my
    questions, except to thank the Hon
    Minister for Transport and the
    Government on behalf of the people
    of the Central and the Western
    Regions for the abundant display of
    commitment towards this Project.
    God bless them.
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 3:50 p.m.
    Very well.
    Hon Members, I would call on the
    Hon Member for Buem.
    Mr Kofi Iddie Adams 3:50 p.m.
    Mr
    Speaker, in the earlier Answer of the
    Minister for Transport, as he himself
    alluded to, he talked about the
    importance of the Project for which
    reason they had to appoint a Chief
    Executive Officer (CEO) even before
    the construction commenced. I would
    want to find out from the Hon
    Minister why he has not appointed a
    CEO for the construction of the
    airports for the people of the Central
    and the Western Regions. Is it
    because the construction of their
    airports is not so important?
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 3:50 p.m.
    Hon Member, I would not admit this
    question. I would move on to the Hon
    Member for South Dayi.
    Mr Dafeamekpor 3:50 p.m.
    Mr Speaker,
    this Project is of sentimental value to
    me. I heard my Hon brother say that
    the director in question is the director
    in charge of the project, but I was part
    of a team —
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 3:50 p.m.
    Which director are you talking about?
    Mr Dafeamekpor 3:50 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I
    am talking about the director of the
    Keta Sea Port.
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 3:50 p.m.
    Hon Member, you are by far late.
    Mr Agbodza 3:50 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, we
    thank our Hon Transport Minister for
    the answers. He spoke vividly about
    the fact that he has appointed a
    consultant who would finish work
    today. It means that he knows how
    much the feasibility study and
    everything would cost. I would want
    the Hon Minister to tell us how much
    the feasibility study of the airport
    between the Central and the Western
    Regions would cost?
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 3:50 p.m.
    Hon Minister, hold on. Are you sure
    of the figures? If you are not sure,
    then I would want you to know that
    here is a House of records.
    Mr K. A. Asiamah 3:50 p.m.
    Mr Speaker,
    the cost —
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 3:50 p.m.
    I
    know why I asked the question. He is
    my Hon friend, and I do not want him
    to —
    Mr K. A. Asiamah 3:50 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, it
    is my responsibility to let the House
    know.
    Mr Speaker, the cost of the
    feasibility studies is an amount of
    US$2 million, which is about GH₵12 million.
    Mr Speaker, I thank you very
    much.
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 3:50 p.m.
    Very well.
    I would move on to the Hon
    Deputy Minority Leader.
    Mr Avedzi 3:50 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, the
    question from the Hon Majority
    Chief Whip is about the new airports
    in either the Central Region, the
    Western Region or in-between the
    two regions. My question to my Hon
    friend, the Hon Minister, is to know
    whether the Ministry has not briefed
    the President about this promise of
    building an airport in the Central
    Region? This is because the President
    went on air that his Government has
    never promised the people of the
    Central Region an airport.
    Mr K. A. Asiamah 3:50 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I
    do not think that the President said
    that he has not promised the people of
    the Central Region an airport — No! He was talking about a harbour and
    the fishing landing site. The President
    never said anywhere that he has not
    promised the people of the Central
    Region an airport, and the records are
    there for them to crosscheck.

    Mr Speaker, I thank you very

    much.
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 3:50 p.m.
    Very well.
    Hon Minister for Transport, on
    behalf of the House, I would like to
    thank you for attending upon the
    House to answer Questions. We are
    so grateful; you are hereby discharged.
    Hon Members, I would now invite
    the Hon Minister for Youth and
    Sports — or Leadership?
    Mr Annoh-Dompreh 3:50 p.m.
    Mr
    Speaker, we would like to seek your
    leave to hold on with the Questions
    because there are some motions to be
    taken which relates to the Finance
    Committee. After that, we would
    come back to the Questions.
    Mr Avedzi 3:50 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, the Hon
    Majority Chief Whip should be clear.
    He said that there are issues that
    concern the Ministry of Finance. Are
    they motions? If he would want to
    amend the Standing Orders, then he
    should come under Standing Order
    53. Therefore, he should come
    properly.
    Mr Annoh-Dompreh 3:50 p.m.
    Mr
    Speaker, as my Hon good friend, the
    respected Hon Deputy Minority
    Leader has said, yes, we seek to come
    under Standing Order 53 and amend
    the order of Business to take the item
    numbered 15, which is on page 9.
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 3:50 p.m.
    Very well.
    So, Hon Chairman of the Finance
    Committee, you may take the item
    numbered 15, which is on page 9 — Motion.
    Mr Kwaku A. Kwarteng 3:50 p.m.
    I beg
    to move motions numbered 15 and 17
    together since they are covered by the
    same Report.
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 3:50 p.m.
    Very well.
    Hon Chairman of the Finance
    Committee, you may move the items
    numbered 15 and 17 on pages 9 and
    10 of the Order Paper
    MOTIONS 3:50 p.m.
    TERMS CESCE 3:50 p.m.
    COMMERCIAL 3:50 p.m.
    FACILITY 3:50 p.m.
    EURIBOR 3:50 p.m.
    ITEM DESCRIPTION TOTAL PRICE 3:50 p.m.
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 4 p.m.
    Very well.

    Mr Benjamin Komla Kpodo

    (NDC — Ho Central): Mr Speaker,

    I beg to second the Motion ably

    moved by the Hon Chairman of the

    Finance Committee. Mr Speaker, we

    know that the total amount borrowed

    is €165 million for the project, and we have looked at all the cost for the

    two loans and the CEFCE facility is

    3.3 per cent all in cost. However, the

    other one which is the commercial

    facility type, is 6.32 per cent which is

    considered high, but that is the option

    we had.

    The project itself is €150 million, but the cost of the premium, which

    we have to pay for borrowing €120 million amounts to €15,137,000 but we have been asked to go in for €165 million. We know that the Committee

    on Roads and Transport has

    considered the commercial

    agreement which I think has either

    been tabled or would be tabled at the

    appropriate time. We were concerned

    with the financial commitment

    towards the project, and we

    recommend that this be approved for

    the works to be carried out.

    Mr Patrick Yaw Boamah (NPP

    — Okaikwei Central): Mr Speaker, this is a very important project, and it

    has taken a long time for both

    Administrations to carry it through. I

    know that during the era of former

    President Kufuor, it was done up to

    Mamfe. Most Hon Members in the

    Chamber ply this route, and we have

    all identified the risk associated with

    that road so we must give this project

    all the support that it requires. I

    therefore ask that the House approves

    the facility for this Project.
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 4 p.m.
    I
    will invite the Hon Member for
    Asuogyaman.
    Mr Thomas Ampem Nyarko
    (NDC — Asuogyaman): Mr Speaker, as the Hon Members who spoke
    earlier said, this road is very
    important, and I am particularly
    happy about it because it links my
    regional capital to the national
    capital. Some people who travel to
    Kumasi would normally use the busy
    Accra-Kumasi road, and some would
    want to use a by-pass through Aburi
    to Koforidua and join Bunso.
    Therefore, if this road is constructed,
    it would help a lot.
    Mr Speaker, as said earlier, the
    Report shows clearly that there was
    an assurance that value for money
    audit would be completed, and that it
    would be done before any draw down
    of this facility is done, so that gave us
    a lot of comfort. However, if you look
    at the terms and conditions as Hon
    Kpodo mentioned earlier, on page 5
    of the Report, the amount actually
    needed for the project is €150 million, but because of the premium
    required, we had to borrow in excess
    of about €15 million.
    Mr Speaker, this is because we
    have not improved on our risk profile,
    therefore we have to borrow so much
    to finance such a project. It is
    important that the Ministry of
    Finance works seriously to improve
    on our risk profile so that the cost of
    borrowing to this nation is minimised.
    With these few words, I support
    the Motion that we approve this
    facility.
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 4 p.m.
    So
    at the conclusion of the debate —
    Mr Edward Abambire Bawa — rose —
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 4 p.m.
    Hon Bawa, what is it?
    Mr Edward Abambire Bawa
    (NDC — Bongo): Mr Speaker, you are about to put a Question on a
    Motion, a very important decision to
    be made about some facility for a
    project, but as we speak now, per
    Standing Order 109(1) and article
    104(1) of the Constitution, we are not

    up to 138 Members to take a decision.

    Therefore, the House is not in a

    position to do that. I just want to draw
    Mr Boamah 4 p.m.
    The debate and the
    resolutions by the Speaker have not
    yet been taken. At the conclusion of a
    debate, the Question has not been put,
    the Resolution — [Interruption]. Mr Speaker, the Resolution has not been
    taken so the application of the Hon
    Member is a bit premature. Hon
    Bawa should read the rules of the
    House well.
    Mr Avedzi 4 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, the Hon
    Member quoted Standing Order
    109(1) which says:
    “No Question for decision in the House shall be proposed for deter-
    mination unless there are present in
    the House not less than one-half of all
    Members of the House and, except
    otherwise provided in the Consti-
    tution, the Question proposed shall be
    determined by the majority of the
    votes of the Members present and
    voting.
    Mr Speaker, you were about to put
    the Question, and the Hon Member
    drew your attention to Standing
    Order 109(1) that we do not have the
    number to take the decision. I saw
    you counting Hon Members yourself.
    Mr Speaker, we do not have the
    numbers; you can direct that we are
    counted.
    Mr Annoh-Dompreh 4 p.m.
    Mr
    Speaker, we do not intend to litigate
    this matter; we are in total agreement.
    So we would move on to the item
    numbered 19 —
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 4 p.m.
    Hon Member, hold on. Do not jump.
    Hon Members, the House should
    be aware that the items numbered 15
    and 17 have been moved, seconded
    and debated. The only thing left is the
    decision to be taken, so, we would go
    to that at the appropriate time.
    Mr Annoh-Dompreh 4 p.m.
    Mr
    Speaker, with your indulgence, we
    can now move on to the item
    numbered 19 on page 12 of today's Order Paper.
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 4 p.m.
    Very well, we would move on to the
    item numbered 19. Motion — Chairman of the Finance Committee.
    MOTIONS 4 p.m.
  • [as Original Lender, Arranger, ECA Agent, Coordinator, and Social Loan Coordinator], BNP Paribas Fortis SA/NV (as Original Lender, Arranger, and Social Loan Coordinator), and ING Bank N.V. (as Agent) for an amount of One Hundred and Seventy-Six Million, Five Hundred and Thirty-Six Thousand, Nine Hundred and Fifty- Two Euros (€176,536,952.00 [including Swiss Export Risk Insurance Agency (SERV) Insurance Premium]) for the Construction of Nine (9) State-of- the-Art Technical and Vocational Training Institutes in Ghana — Phase I. Mr Speaker, in so doing, I present your Committee's Report. Introduction The Amended and Restated Swiss Export Risk Insurance Agency covered and Down Payment Export Credit Facility Agreement amongst the Government of the Republic of Ghana (represented by the Ministry of Finance as Borrower) and ING Bank (a Branch of ING- DIBA AG), [as Original Lender, Arranger, ECA Agent, Coordinator and Social Loan Coordinator], BNP Paribas Fortis SA/NV (as Original Lender, Arranger and Social Loan Coordinator), and ING Bank N.V. (as Agent) for an amount of one hundred and seventy-six million, five hundred and thirty-six thousand, nine hundred and fifty- two Euros (€176,536, 952.00) [including Swiss Export Risk Insurance Agency (SERV)
    • Mr Second Deputy Speaker 4:10 p.m.
    Very well.
    Question proposed.
    Let me invite the Hon Member for
    Afadjato South to make the first
    contribution.
    Ms Angela Alorwu-Tay (NDC
    — Afadjato South): Mr Speaker, when I turn left and turn right, I do
    not think we have 138 Members here
    to do this — [Laughter] —
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 4:10 p.m.
    Yes, Hon Member for Asuogyaman?
    Mr Thomas Nyarko Ampem
    (NDC — Asuogyaman): Mr Speaker, actually, this loan facility is not new
    in the sense that there was an earlier
    loan that was considered by this
    House in 2019 for the same project,
    but because our partners could not
    meet their end of the deal, we had to
    look for other lenders for the same
    project. And Mr Speaker, if this
    country actually wants to solve
    unemployment, particularly youth
    unemployment, then we must
    encourage investments like this in
    our TVET institutions because we
    have a lot of our youth who will be
    equipped with skills that they will
    need to survive in the job market.
    And so, that is why we have to really
    support this because it will reduce
    unemployment in this country.
    But Mr Speaker, as I said in the
    earlier loan, if you look at the terms
    and conditions in this particular one
    too, you will realise that we have to
    borrow extra €17.6 million in order to

    meet the risk premium for this

    facility. And so, it still brings us to

    the point that we need to do a lot of

    work to improve on our risk profile

    so that anytime there is the need for

    us to borrow, we borrow at a lower

    rate. With these few words, Mr

    Speaker, I would want to support the

    Motion and call all of us to vote in

    favour of it.

    Thank you, Mr Speaker.
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 4:10 p.m.
    Let
    me come to the Hon Member for
    Nhyiaeso.
    Mr Stephen Amoah (NPP — Nhyiaeso) 4:10 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, thank you
    for this opportunity. I will not cry. Mr
    Speaker, my support for this is quite
    simple and credible. We all know that
    the main goal of every country in the
    world is the attainment of economic
    growth and stability. And the two key
    functions are productivity and labour
    force, and to attain this, in terms of
    size of labour and skill component,
    we need to make sure that the
    technical and vocational skills of our
    country is enriched.
    Mr Speaker, because of COVID-
    19, as we all know, in terms of
    industry and market activities, we
    realised decline in our productivity
    as a country and it even affected our
    labour size and skill component —
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 4:10 p.m.
    Hon Member for Obuasi West, why
    are you looking at your Member like
    that?
    Mr Amoah 4:20 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, there
    was a delay and other differentials in
    the Chinese Sinosure and because of
    that we decided not to — because it is extremely an important area that
    we all have to — I am sure it would not only benefit Nhyiaeso but my
    brother Jinapor and his brother's places too.
    Mr Speaker, I would not like to
    say much but for any country to do
    well, especially a developing economy
    where we talk about industrialisation,
    skill acquisition is very paramount
    and because of that, I think all of us
    must come together and support this
    good cause in spite of the fact that
    time value FOR money and other
    changes have actually caused a slight
    increase in terms of cost. It is still
    important that we accept this. If you
    compare the pros and cons and even
    value for money, it is important that
    this has to be supported and because
    of that, I fully support it.

    Thank you very much.
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 4:20 p.m.
    Thank you very much. Hon Member
    for Madina?
    Mr Francis-Xavier Kojo Sosu
    (NDC -- Madina): Thank you very much, Mr Speaker, for the oppor-
    tunity to contribute to the Motion.
    Indeed, Technical and Vocational
    Education and Training (TVET) is
    very important for our nation if we,
    indeed, want to create jobs, parti-
    cularly for the young people of this
    country. Mr Speaker would take
    parliamentary notice of the fact that
    the 2022 Budget Statement and
    Economic Policy is so focused on
    entrepreneurship and creating jobs
    and opportunities for the people.
    While I support this Motion, my only
    concern has to do with the main focus
    of the 2022 Budget Statement and
    Economic Policy which is the E-
    Levy which we have been told, would
    rake in sufficient money to support
    entrepreneurship.
    We are, however, still laying
    before this Parliament loan agree-
    ments to the tune of over €176 million. So, it leaves me with an
    internal conflict which I am trying to
    resolve. Why would we lay loan
    agreements to this tune while we say
    that the only reason we are pushing
    for this E-Levy is to rake in sufficient
    money for the purpose of supporting
    entrepreneurship which, in my view,
    TVET is definitely key as far as that
    is concerned?
    Mr Speaker, I believe that ɛyɛ asɛm sɛbɛ, to wit, it is something we just need to think about. With these
    few words, I so support the Motion.
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 4:20 p.m.
    Let
    me invite the Hon Deputy Minister
    for Education. Hon Deputy Minister,
    are you in charge of the technical
    sector?
    Deputy Minister for Education
    (Ms Gifty Twum-Ampofo) [MP]:
    Yes, Mr Speaker.
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 4:20 p.m.
    Very well.
    Tell us something.
    Ms Twum-Ampofo 4:20 p.m.
    Thank you
    very much, Mr Speaker. I am very
    grateful to Parliament and especially
    to the Finance Committee.
    Mr Speaker, we are going to give
    out 32 state-of-the-art TVET centres.
    We have three phases; Phase I, II and

    III. The Phase I would have been

    completed by now, but for the

    pandemic that hit the whole world.

    But we have been able to secure the

    loan. I would like the Hon Member

    for Madina to know that this loan is

    not part of the Budget.

    Mr Speaker, we have these state-

    of-the-art TVET centres which is are

    very paramount projects that

    everybody should embrace. We are in

    a country where we pass Bills to

    ensure that when foreign companies

    are established, there is a local

    component factor. In a number of our

    industries like the oil fields, we have

    the 25 per cent local content. We

    however, do not have the skilled

    personnel who can take advantage of

    this.

    Mr Speaker, with all the

    industrialisation taking place in the

    country, it is paramount that all of us

    agree to this very loan to ensure that

    we equip Ghanaians, especially our

    youth, with global competitiveness in

    the area of TVET. As we do that, we

    would become very competitive here

    in Ghana and even those who want to

    travel elsewhere for greener pastures,

    would not go there raw as they

    sometimes do and are molested as a

    result. They would rather go there as

    a well skilled personnel from Ghana.

    Mr Speaker, our six new regions

    which do not have TVET centres

    would benefit from the Phase I. For

    this reason, I appeal to everybody to

    support this Motion. Thank you, Mr

    Speaker.
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 4:20 p.m.
    Thank you very much.
    Hon Member, before I come to
    you, let me also invite the Hon
    Deputy Ranking Member for the
    Committee on Education.
    Dr Clement Abas Apaak (NDC — Builsa South) 4:20 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, thank
    you.
    I speak in support of the Motion
    and do so because we are all
    intimately aware that if we are to
    make progress as a nation, where we
    can produce what we consume and
    use, one of the surest avenues is
    through technical and vocational
    education and training. As we are at
    it, it is important that as a nation, we
    make a conscious effort to promote
    TVET education.
    We have tended to posit the
    argument, as though those who are
    gifted in the use of their hands are
    creative and are less intelligent as

    compared to those of us who have

    mastered literacy. In fact, it is this

    stigma that has made it difficult over

    the years for us to get more young

    people to take up the challenge of

    going through technical and voca-

    tional education.

    Mr Speaker, most of the products

    we cherish, respect and admire, be

    they from South Korea or Germany

    are as a result of the fact that those

    two nations have invested heavily in

    TVET education. That is why when

    the NDC was in power, we made the

    conscious effort to transform what

    was then known as Polytechnics to

    Technical Universities, so that those

    who take up TVET will have avenues

    to get degrees and be at par with the

    rest of those who access traditional

    education.

    Mr Speaker, with these few

    words, I support the Motion.
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 4:20 p.m.
    Yes, Hon Deputy Minority Leader,
    you had wanted to speak or are you
    all right now?
    Mr Avedzi 4:20 p.m.
    Thank you, Mr
    Speaker. I just want to draw the
    attention of the Chairman, Hon
    Kwarteng to paragraph 5.0 on page 5
    of the Report, under the Terms and
    Conditions of the loan. You would
    realise that the line 3 says that the
    agreement will therefore be financed
    with an export credit facility with
    ING Bank and Swiss Export Risk
    Insurance Agency (SERV) as an
    insurer. The total facility amount is
    €167.5 million. This is made up of a SERV covered facility of €152.7 million and a tied commercial facility
    of €23.8 million.
    Mr Speaker, if we put the two
    together, it is more than the €167 million, but he explained the difference
    because of the change from the
    Sinosure to the Swiss insurance
    which gives an additional cost of €8.9 million. I, however, think that on this
    page, where he quoted the €167 million, he should have quoted the
    €176 million, so that if we put the two together, it will tally. Thank you.
    Mr Kwarteng 4:20 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, he is
    absolutely right and that correction is
    hereby effected.
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 4:30 p.m.
    Very well.
    So, Deputy Majority Leader, will
    you conclude the debate?

    Mr Alexander Afenyo-Markin

    (NPP -- Effutu): Mr Speaker, let me first commend the Finance Com-

    mittee for their industry in ensuring

    that this Report is put together.

    Indeed, with the introduction of the

    Free Senior High School and its

    effects on our youth and the fact that

    some other unfortunate ones would

    have to go the path of technical and

    vocational training, there were

    several concerns as to Government's policy towards that direction but

    there is an answer in this Report that

    the Government would solicit

    funding to address this major

    important matter for our young men

    and women who would want to

    acquire skills.

    Mr Speaker, my hope is that as a

    House, we would build consensus on

    how to internally generate revenue

    for nation building so that in the

    future, we would not go for loans for

    important projects like these. The all-

    important matter before us is very

    critical so if we build consensus on

    this levy which would come up, we

    would be able to internally tap into

    what we generate to even finance a

    project like this without incurring

    extra cost.

    Mr Speaker, thank you for the

    opportunity and perhaps, if it pleases

    you, you could put the Question.
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 4:30 p.m.
    Hon Members, from the decision we
    took in respect of Motions numbered
    15 and 17, I would want to also
    remind you that Motion numbered 19
    has been moved, seconded and
    debated well but I would not put the
    Question -- or should I put the Question?
    Mr Annoh-Dompreh 4:30 p.m.
    Mr
    Speaker, you were spot on by your
    introductory remarks. Flowing from
    the earlier approach on items
    numbered 15 and 17, we would go by
    the same means so that we could
    suspend and take the decision
    tomorrow.
    Mr Speaker, with your indul-
    gence, we could take item numbered
    21.
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 4:30 p.m.
    Hon Members, item numbered 21 - Motion, by the Hon Chairman of the
    Finance Committee
    MOTIONS 4:30 p.m.
    II 4:30 p.m.
  • [Refer to APPENDIX on column 281]
    • Mr Benjamin Kpodo (NDC -- Ho Central) 4:40 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I beg to
    second the Motion.
    Mr Speaker, this is not new and
    the exemptions are quite a lot for
    almost all the projects. Those who
    negotiated this project on our behalf
    inserted such binding clauses in the
    commercial agreement so we have

    no alternative than to grant the

    exemption. When the exemption

    list is brought, we would all

    consider it and then make rules

    which could benefit the country

    because these are means we could

    rather get money but we have given

    them out for free. When the

    exemption list is broug

    ht to the House, we should pay

    very serious attention to it because

    some very funny items have been

    listed which include spanners, tools

    and small items which in a number

    of cases, the exemption is just about

    US$8 and US$10.

    Mr Speaker, we should limit the

    items on which exemptions would

    be granted so that we could earn

    money from it. Those who

    negotiate these contracts on our

    behalf should also insist that many

    items that could be obtained in the

    country should not be exempted so

    that we can get business through the

    procurement of those items locally.

    Mr Speaker, none-theless, since we

    are compelled by the commercial

    agreement to grant the exemptions,

    I second the Motion to do so.

    Mr Speaker, I thank you.

    Mr John Abdulai Jinapor

    (NDC -- Yapei/Kusawgu): Mr Speaker, I initially did not want to

    comment but there has been a

    discussion about tax waivers. It is

    true that we have to look at this tax

    waiver regime.

    If the Hon Chairman would

    recall, I made the submission at

    Committee level that we have two

    options: either one does the tax

    waiver or not. However, that

    amount is passed on as part of the

    cost of the project, especially for

    strictly Government projects.

    When we are dealing with tax

    waiver,so we should distinguish

    between what goes to the ordinary

    private sector. When they take

    advantage of the tax waiver regime

    and abuse the system, it affects

    strictly Government financed projects.

    Now, we are talking of a tax

    waiver of about €34 million. These are moneys that if the Ministry does

    not waive would eventually become

    part of the cost. This means that the

    contractor will pay the tax but when

    it comes to value for money, all

    these amounts have to be added to

    the sum of the contract which

    would then increase the value of the

    contract. Sometimes when one

    looks at the transmission

    mechanism between telling the

    person to pay the tax, and then

    turning around to use that money to

    pay the contractor again in terms of

    the cost of the project, Government

    may even be losing out.

    So, inasmuch as we are working

    on this tax regime, we should be

    careful not to move into an

    overdrive, where we just think that

    every single tax waiver that we give

    is a disadvantage to Government. If

    one does the proper computation

    and looks at the transmission

    mechanism and the cost involved in

    the value chain, one may be better

    off giving a tax waiver than

    deciding not to give it.
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 4:40 p.m.
    Thank you very much.
    Hon Members, nobody from this
    side. -- [Interruption] -- All right, let me give the last slot to the Hon
    Member for Adaklu.
    Mr Kwame G. Agbodza (NDC
    — Adaklu): Mr Speaker, I thank you very much for the opportunity.
    I also agree that this is not the first
    time we are doing this in this
    House. It has become a ritual,
    especially when we are doing
    turnkey projects.
    Mr Speaker, I go to paragraph
    5.4, Value for Money (VfM) audit
    report. I would like to commend the
    Sponsors for at least bringing this to
    the House with VfM audit report.
    So those who keep saying that it is
    not possible or we usually do not
    come to the House with VfM audit
    report should know as well as
    everybody that indeed, entities can
    come to the Committee of the
    House with VfM audit report
    already done.
    Mr Speaker, if one reads the
    Report, as a result of VfM audit
    done, Crown Agents Ghana saved
    Ghana €6.4 million. It obviously shows that anytime we bring an
    Agreement here, for which VfM
    audit report has not been done, we
    actually do not know how much we
    pay for the work. The Committee
    was not happy that the Ministry
    unilaterally decided that they were
    reapplying the savings made to
    enhance the scope of the project.
    That cannot be their sole
    responsibility. That has to go back
    through the mill again, including
    the Ministry of Finance.
    Mr Speaker, this idea that
    entities can just claim to have made
    savings and reapply it on their own
    is wrong. I agree that we must take
    a second look at this. We, as a

    House, have done tax waivers here

    before. If we see the long list of items

    added -- During a rural electrification project, we saw an

    item worth US$600,000 for a

    quarrying machine but there is no

    way one would do a rural

    electrification and the machine that

    actually crashes stones, not drilling

    — So I am encouraging the Finance Committee, in the course of the

    project, to go and check whether

    these things have actually been

    procured otherwise people would

    basically load these items to justify

    the cost of the project and Ghana

    becomes the loser. I would follow

    up on the US$600,000 stone crasher

    to find out whether that is actually

    being used for the Rural

    Electrification Project.

    Mr Speaker, I also saw in this

    Report a consultancy fee of €4.7 million. Is there a template or a

    standard by which Government

    determines how much consultancy

    fee we pay on turnkey projects? I

    ask this because one day, it is €2.5 million, and another day it is about

    €3.0 million. We know Ghana Education Trust Fund (GETFund)

    charges about six per cent. Could

    we not have a standard? Is it the

    prerogative of the entity to

    determine how much consultancy

    they pay?

    Mr Speaker, we are an oversight

    arm of Government and we should

    do a better work than we are doing.

    This is because when we pass this,

    it would be difficult for us to ever

    hear about this project apart from

    the day the President is

    commissioning it, and that is not

    enough oversight on behalf of the

    people of this country.

    Mr Speaker that said, I think this

    is a good Agreement. We have to

    work together as a House to tighten

    this and make more savings for the

    Government.

    I thank you very much for the

    opportunity.
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 4:40 p.m.
    Yes, I would give the very final
    opportunity to the Hon Member for
    Abuakwa North.
    Mrs Gifty Twum-Ampofo
    (NPP -- Abuakwa North): I thank you, Mr Speaker. Again, I would
    thank the Committee for the good
    work done and the rate at which
    they put the team together to go
    through this. I would also express
    my gratitude to the Chairman of the
    Committee who insisted that some
    items which could be purchased in
    the country should be taken off. It

    means he is really doing the work

    well for all of us to benefit.

    It is also appreciated that we

    were able to provide the Value for

    Money (VfM) audit report. Yes, it

    is a feather in our cap, however, we

    started this project earlier but it

    came to a halt because of some

    issues that we had internationally.

    That was why it was possible for us

    to get VfM audit report. It does not

    mean that when we have financing

    and the VfM audit report is not

    ready, it does not mean that the loan

    for the project has not started. This

    one in particular was because of the

    lapse that we had during the era of

    the COVID-19 pandemic.

    Therefore, we were able to work

    around it to get the VfM audit report

    and all other values.

    Mr Speaker, Hon Agbodza said

    that we should do better work. I

    would like to say that the Finance

    Committee did a yeoman's job. They debated the items one after the

    other and, afterwards, also

    deliberated on the tax waivers. All

    these put together, I would like to

    say that the Finance Committee

    really tackled the issues one after

    the other.

    Mr Speaker, concerning the

    state-of-the-art TVET centres, I am

    glad that everyone who contributed

    to the Motion stated that we need

    the state-of-the-art centres to

    facilitate our developments, reduce

    poverty and eliminate youth

    employment. The solution is for the

    establishment of the state-of-the-art

    TVET centres, Phase I, which are

    nine centres and the Phase II, which

    are 12. With these, we could be

    faster in our developments than

    ever.

    Mr Speaker, with these few words,

    I thank you for the opportunity.
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 4:40 p.m.
    Hon Members, for emphasis,
    Motion listed 21 has been moved,
    seconded, and debated. We are,
    however, deferring the Question.
    Yes, Hon Leader?
    Ms Lydia Seyram Alhassan 4:40 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, we would take Motion
    listed 23 on page 16 of the Order
    Paper.
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 4:40 p.m.
    Very well.
    Hon Members, let us turn to
    page 16, item numbered 23,
    Motion, Chairman of the
    Committee on Finance?

    Request for Tax Waiver on

    Import Duty, Import VAT et

    cetera,

    for the Wenchi Water Supply

    Project

    Chairman of the Committee

    (Mr Kwaku Agyeman

    Kwarteng): Mr Speaker, I beg to

    move, that this honourable House

    adopts the Report of the Finance

    Committee on the request for

    waiver on Import Duty, Import

    VAT, NHIL,GETFund Levy,

    EXIM Levy, COVID-19 Recovery

    Levy, Special Import Levy and

    Domestic VAT amounting to the

    Ghana cedi equivalent of

    €7,330,621.56 [made up of €6,868,562.00 on import and €462,059.56 on local purchases]) on materials and equipment

    required for the Wenchi Water

    Supply Project by Messrs. ASPAC

    International SPRL Company

    Limited Belgium.

    In the process, I lay your

    Committee's Report --
    rose
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 4:40 p.m.
    Hon Chairman, hold on.
    Hon Sosu, why?
    Mr Sosu 4:50 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, this is the
    third Motion that we are taking on
    which we may not be able to take a
    decision because the House is not
    properly constituted for decision-
    making purposes. My worry is that
    we are deliberating on these
    Motions, and to take a decision at a
    time that majority of the Members
    who were not here to listen to the
    deliberation would join in the
    decision-making.
    Mr Speaker, I believe it would
    not be appropriate to continue
    taking Motions that we cannot take
    deci-sions on, only for a later date
    before we take a decision on that
    and I need to draw your attention to
    that.
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 4:50 p.m.
    Hon Chairman, you may go on with
    the Motion.
    Mr Kwarteng 4:50 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, in
    so doing, I beg to present your
    Committee's Report.
    The request for waiver of Import
    Duty, Import VAT, Import NHIL,
    Import GETFund Levy, EXIM
    Levy, COVID-19 Recovery Levy,
    Special Import Levy and Domestic
    VAT amounting to the Ghana Cedi equivalent of seven million,

    three hundred and thirty thousand,

    six hundred and twenty-one Euros

    and fifty-six Cents (€7,330,621.56 [made up of €6,868,562.00 on imports and €462,059.56 on local purchases]) on materials and

    equipment required for the Wenchi

    Water Supply Project by Messrs.

    ASPAC International SPRL

    Company Limited, Belgium was

    presented to the House on Thursday

    11 November 2021 by the Hon.

    Minister responsible for Youth and

    Sports, Mr. Mustapha Ussif on

    behalf of the Minister responsible

    for Finance.

    Pursuant to Order 169 of the

    Standing Orders of the House, the

    request was referred to the

    Finance Committee for

    consideration and report.

    The Committee subsequently

    met and considered the request

    with a Deputy Minister for

    Finance, Hon. John Kumah and a

    team of officials from the Ghana

    Water Company Limited

    (GWCL), Ministry of Finance

    (MoF) and Ministry of Sanitation

    and Water Resources (MSWR).

    The Committee hereby

    presents this report to the House

    pursuant to order 161(1) of the

    Standing Orders of the House.

    References

    The Committee referred to and

    was guided by the following

    documents inter alia during its

    deliberations on the Agreements:

    The 1992 Constitution

    of the Republic of

    Ghana

    The Standing Orders

    of the Parliament of

    Ghana

    The Public Financial

    Management Act,

    2016 (Act 921)

    Revenue

    Administration Act,

    2016 (Act 915)

    Background

    The Wenchi Water Supply

    System was constructed in 2002

    with funding from the

    Government of Ghana and the

    European Union as part of the

    Small-Town Water Supply

    Schemes commenced by the

    Government of Ghana in the early

    1990s.

    The water supply system is

    based on ground water obtained

    from mechanized boreholes and

    supplies water to the Wenchi

    Municipality.

    The existing Wenchi Water

    System is made up of four main

    components:

    Eight (8) mechanized

    boreholes with only three

    (3) operational.

    Water transmission and

    distribution pipes of

    various sizes.

    An 870m3 ground level

    reservoir.

    64No. public standpipes.

    As a result of population and

    economic growth in the Wenchi

    Municipality over the past years, it

    has become necessary to

    rehabilitate and expand the existing

    water supply system to meet the

    water demand of Wenchi and some

    identified beneficiary towns.

    Furthermore, majority of the

    inhabitants are compelled to resort

    to private water tankers and other

    water vendors for their water needs

    due to the current water situation.

    These alternative water sources are

    expensive and may have negative

    health effects.

    Additionally, an assessment

    carried out by Messrs. AS PAC

    International of Belgium indicated

    the poor state of the existing water

    supply system and recommended

    major rehabilitation and expansion

    works to ensure continuity of water

    supply to meet increasing demand.

    It is therefore proposed to

    construct a new water treatment

    facility with a capacity of

    11,100m3/day to meet the current

    and future water requirements of

    the people of Wenchi and its

    environs up to the year 2040.

    Project Objective

    The object of the project is to

    undertake the design, construction

    and commissioning of a new

    potable water infrastructure for

    Wenchi in the Bono Region of the

    Republic of Ghana.

    Total Waiver Requested

    The total amount of taxes and

    duties for which waiver was

    originally being sought is the

    Ghana Cedi Equivalent of seven

    million, six hundred and eighty-

    nine thousand, five hundred and

    forty-one Euros and fifty-six

    Cents (€7,689,541.56 [made up of €7,227,482.00 on imports and €462,059.56 on local purchases]).

    However, the Committee's

    scrutiny revealed that some of the

    items included in the master list

    were not core to the project and

    therefore agreed with the Ministry

    of Finance to exclude those items

    from the waver.

    The total amount which is

    recommended by the Committee

    for waiver therefore stands at

    seven million, three hundred

    and thirty thousand, six hundred

    and twenty-one Euros and fifty-

    six Cents (€7,330,621.56 [made up of C6,868,562.00 on imports

    and €462,059.56 on local purchases])

    ATTACHMENT:

    Please find attached as

    APPENDIX the details of

    the taxes and duties as

    assessed by the Ghana

    Revenue Authority (GRA).
  • [Refer to APPENDIX on column 481]
    • Mr Second Deputy Speaker 4:50 p.m.
    Yes, Hon Richard Acheampong?
    Mr Richard Acheampong (NDC - - Bia East) 4:50 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I beg to second the Motion and to read some
    concerns that Hon Members raised at
    the Committee level.

    I heard my Hon Colleague, Mr

    Jinapor talk about tax exemptions

    and so on. I am glad that the Bill has

    been submitted to the House for

    consideration and that the Hon

    Chairman has programmed it so that

    Hon Members would look at it and

    the necessary modifications or

    amendments would be done for the

    Bill to be presented to the Plenary for

    discussion.

    Mr Speaker, however, these are

    some of the issues our Hon Colleagues

    from the other Side campaigned

    against because they said that in the

    year 2016, we were giving out

    unnecessary tax exemptions. So one

    would have expected that five years

    of assuming power, things might

    have changed but it has taken them

    more than five years to present the

    Exemption Bill to this House.

    Some Government contracts like

    what Hon Jinapor said, are condition

    precedent and so having signed that

    contract, we are obliged to waive all

    those taxes. What about those

    contracts that people will come under

    One District One Factory (1D1F) and

    other proposals which would be

    considered to be giving them these

    tax exemptions? These are the issues

    we are talking about. We have issues

    with the 2022 Budget.

    Mr Speaker, why are we talking

    about the loopholes in the system? It

    is because Government is not

    generating enough revenue. So we

    are talking about a system where we

    would grant tax credit to organi-

    sations. Even if we have the tax credit

    for two to three years, after executing

    the project and paying back to the

    contractor, they might have used the

    money to also generate other

    revenue, create employment so that it

    will not become a burden on anyone.

    In speaking to the same Report — because these are issues we have

    been talking about and they cannot

    give tax exemptions as a wholesale

    arrangement such that any tax

    exemptions must be granted.

    Mr Speaker, we have a lot of

    1D1F programmes under -- I would not like to mention names, and there

    is no value for money, and when we

    asked for value-for-money audit -- I heard the Hon Minister say that they

    have done the value-for-money audit.

    Where is a copy of it? It has not even

    been attached to the Report. The

    indication would be given that they

    have done value-for-money audit and

    then the Report would be ready and

    so, we should go ahead and grant

    approval. After granting the approval,

    the House would not be given the

    opportunity to get a copy of the

    value-for-money audit so we can

    peruse it.

    Another issue is that upon reading

    the Report, they are saying that they

    made some savings out of the value-

    for-money audit of €2.7 million, and they are going to expand the scope of

    work. Who gave them that

    authorisation to do that? Accor-ding

    to bullet numbered 7.1, some savings

    were made which were not part of the

    original agreement granted by this

    House.

    Mr Speaker, we visited the

    Kumasi and Takoradi Market Projects

    and the stories are the same; they are

    telling us that they made some

    savings after the value-for-money

    audit Report was conducted and they

    are using the excess fund to expand

    the scope of work. How can Hon

    Members be in the known of what

    they are to use the money for?

    So it is all right to grant tax

    exemptions but let us be careful

    because on the one hand, Govern-

    ment is crying for enough resources

    to do other things and on the other

    hand, Government is granting some

    ‘unnecessary exemptions' to other companies which would not inure to

    the benefit of the good people of this

    country.

    Mr Speaker, so in principle, I

    support the Committee's Report because I am an Hon Member of the

    Committee but the time has come for

    us to do what is right for the good

    people of this country.

    Thank you very much for the

    opportunity.
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 4:50 p.m.
    Very well.
    Let me give the opportunity to the
    Hon Member for Takoradi.
    Mr Kwabena Okyere Darko-
    Mensah (NPP -- Takoradi): Mr Speaker, I believe that this water
    project for Wenchi is apt and
    necessary as has been captured by the
    Committee's Report that it will improve economic activities in the
    area, make sure that water being
    supplied by private water tankers is
    reduced to a minimum and it would
    also ensure that jobs are created both
    directly and indirectly.
    Mr Speaker, I understand that
    when the issue of waiver comes up, it
    creates a lot of problems or heightens
    expectations especially in this House.

    However, I am of the firm belief that

    if somebody is to undertake a project

    in this country and we tax that person,

    naturally, that person will add the

    taxes to the cost of project and the

    project would not be competitive.

    This is because most of the items that

    are going to be used for the project

    most of the time, do not come from

    this country. Therefore, I believe that

    going forward, while people are

    looking at tax credit, I believe that we

    should look at the alternative of

    import substitution. If they are part

    of the components that can be

    produced in this country, we should

    be able to make sure that instead of

    giving them a tax waiver, they rather

    use those components that can be

    produced in the country for the

    project. In so doing, the economic

    activities in this country will

    naturally go up and the profits will

    also remain in the country.

    In this House, we have approved

    some projects like the Self Help

    Projects where local electrical material

    producing companies in Ghana were

    allowed to supply a lot of the

    components and they were being

    sponsored at that time by Cal Bank

    and then the Ministry at the time was

    the Ministry of Energy.

    Mr Speaker, one area I have

    always complained about is that

    when people come up with such

    projects like EPC or sole-sourced

    projects, I believe that in the area of

    value for money, it is high time we

    got different companies to do the

    value-for-money audit so that we can

    compare the benefits. This is because

    this business of Crown Agents,

    Institution of Surveyors alone doing

    the value-for-money audit, is not competitive enough since it is the

    only company. We, therefore, need

    other companies to check so that the

    clients can make a choice. Or we can

    even use the ideas that will be coming

    from the various assessments to

    negotiate better than what we are

    currently doing.

    This is because if the cost of that

    consultancy is done well, it would

    naturally make us succeed in saving

    more cost than just paying for that

    little consultancy that we are given.

    Mr Speaker, with these few

    words, I believe that this is a project

    that is very important to the people of

    Wenchi and we should not waste any

    more time in approving it for it to

    start.
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 4:50 p.m.
    Let
    me invite Hon Member for Buem
    Constituency?
    Mr Kofi Iddie Adams 5 p.m.
    Mr
    Speaker, I rise to contribute to the
    Motion requesting for the waiver of
    taxes for this very important project
    to the Motion requesting for a waiver
    of taxes for this very important
    project.
    Mr Speaker, they say ‘water is life' and so anytime I see a project that is to provide potable water to the
    people of this country, I rise in joy.
    However, my worry is that we have
    done some of these beautiful projects
    where we have put the system in
    place and the raw water is collected
    and treated yet the distribution net-
    work to take the water to beneficiary
    communities ends up being delayed
    so much that sometimes we have
    some of these projects though
    completed, the pipes are not laid to
    the communities to benefit from the
    treated water. I hope that the 30
    month period given by the company
    to complete these projects would
    include the laying of pipes to
    beneficiary communities, not just the
    processing facility which would be
    the institute that collects the water but
    do not transmit it to the beneficiary
    communities.
    I agree with my Hon Colleague
    from Takoradi who indicated that
    there is the need to begin to have
    local content and I am happy that the
    company that did the value-for-
    money audit is a local company. That
    it is a Ghanaian company and through
    their audit, we have been saved some
    money which has been added to
    increase the capacity of the project.
    Mr Speaker, Wenchi is a growing
    municipality, therefore they need this
    project and since Govern-ment is
    responsible for paying taxes
    according to the contract agreement,
    I am not opposed to the request for
    the waiver of taxes.
    Thank you.
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 5 p.m.
    Is
    the Hon Member of Parliament for
    Wenchi in the House? Hon Member,
    if you are here, I would give you the
    opportunity to contribute.
    Mr Haruna Seidu (NDC -- Wenchi) 5 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, thank you
    very much.
    The water challenges in Wenchi
    have been a headache for the people

    who live there, therefore I must say

    that this project is dear to the heart of

    the people of Wenchi. I visited the

    project —

    Mr Murtala M. Ibrahim -- rose
    -- 5 p.m.
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 5 p.m.
    Hon Member for Tamale Central,
    please you will get your time so allow
    the Hon Member.
    Mr Murtala M. Ibrahim 5 p.m.
    Mr
    Speaker, I am on my feet on the basis
    of Standing Order 48(1) and (2). We
    do not have a quorum to do business
    in this House and I demand that we
    do a headcount to see whether we are
    up to 92 Hon Members in this
    Chamber. If we continue, we continue
    with something which is an affront to
    the Standing Orders of the House. We
    do not have the quorum to do
    business and I demand that there
    should be a headcount to ascertain
    whether we are up to 92 Hon
    Members —
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 5 p.m.
    Hon Member, you have drawn my
    attention to it so give me 10 minutes
    to look at it.
    Mr M.M. Ibrahim 5 p.m.
    No, I have
    just drawn your attention. We are
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 5 p.m.
    Hon Member, finish with your
    contribution.
    Mr Haruna Seidu 5 p.m.
    Mr Speaker,
    the project in question started
    somewhere at the end of 2019. It was
    very dear to the heart of the people of
    Wenchi and I quite remember that
    during the last elections this project
    was used as a tool to canvas votes for
    my competitor. Mr Speaker, I visited
    the project site and to my surprise the
    project was right beside the river. I
    would caution the engineers to cross-
    check before positioning the project
    beside that river. The river beside
    which this project is sited runs
    through the Tain community and it
    dries up completely during the dry
    seasons. So I was surprised that this
    project was sited beside that river.
    Mr Speaker, according to the
    Report, this project was supposed to
    be completed in 30 months from its
    date of commencement but we are
    almost getting to the stated period in
    question. It is a very good project and
    it is very dear to the people of Wenchi
    therefore, we support the request for
    waiver for the equipment needed for
    the completion of this project. The

    materials that would come should be

    put to right use so that this project

    would be completed for the people of

    Wenchi.

    Thank you, Mr Speaker. [Hear!
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 5 p.m.
    Hon Deputy Majority Leader, let me
    hear you.
    Mr Afenyo-Markin 5 p.m.
    Mr Speaker,
    Hon Murtala Ibrahim and I are very
    good friends and he knows that. I do
    not know whether on this occasion he
    is no more my Hon Friend. Mr
    Speaker, we would have to discuss
    his application. This morning we
    started well and he knows it. The Hon
    Minister for Works and Housing has
    been here since morning and the Hon
    Minister for Youth and Sports is also

    Mr Speaker, we have quorum. We

    have it now.

    Mr Speaker, the rules do not say

    that while we are considering

    quorum, we should stay proceedings

    so I am only saying that we proceed

    with the Hon Minister for Youth and

    Sports to take the Questions. Mr

    Speaker, it is because Hon Members

    have had Questions pending so

    kindly proceed with the next item.
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 5:10 p.m.
    Hon Members, before we move on,
    let me again draw your attention to
    the Motion numbered 23 that we just
    debated. We should put it on record
    that we have moved it, we have
    seconded it, we have debated it. We
    are just deferring putting the Question
    so we have added to the number of
    Motions that has been deferred. So,
    Hon Murtala Mohammed Ibrahim, the
    records given to me is more than 92.
    We are 97.
    Mr M. M. Ibrahim 5:10 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I
    am challenging that record and I
    demand for a headcount. And as to
    whether he and I are still friends, yes;
    but the law regulating our conduct in
    this House has got nothing to do with
    my relationship with him. It has to do
    with us adhering to the rules and
    regulations that regulate our conduct.
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 5:10 p.m.
    Hon Murtala Ibrahim, listen! Listen
    to me. You raised the fundamental
    issues, I asked the Clerks-at-the-
    Table to count. The figure they gave
    me was 97 which was more than a

    third of the number of Hon Members

    in the House. That is the figure that I

    have been given so we just move on.
    Mr M. M. Ibrahim 5:10 p.m.
    I have the
    right under the Standing Orders to
    challenge the figure they have
    provided and I am saying that -- [Pause] --
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 5:10 p.m.
    Hon Members, let us turn to page
    two, the Question numbered 6(c)
    which is an Urgent Question that
    stands in the name of the Hon
    Member for Anlo, Mr Richard
    Kwami Sefe.
    Hon Member, if you are around,
    the Hon Minister is here to answer
    your Question.
    Hon Member for Anlo?
    Mr Richard Acheampong 5:10 p.m.
    -- rose --
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 5:10 p.m.
    Yes, Hon Richard Acheampong?
    Mr Richard Acheampong 5:10 p.m.
    Mr
    Speaker, thank you very much.
    Mr Speaker, a fundamental issue
    was raised by Hon Murtala Ibrahim
    and he referred the House to Order
    48. You then informed the House
    that you have taken notice of the issue
    that he raised. The Standing Orders is
    very clear. Mr Speaker, ideally, by
    intervals of 10 minutes, either there is
    a headcount or the bell is rang for us
    to know the exact number of
    Members of Parliament in the
    Chamber but you have given the
    indication that you have done a
    headcount or the Clerks-at-the-Table
    have given some information which
    has been challenged by Hon Murtala
    Ibrahim.
    So Mr Speaker, respectfully, I
    know what to do if I want to
    challenge your ruling. I would have
    to come by a substantive Motion but
    the issue is still pending.
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 5:10 p.m.
    Hon Member, you do not expect me
    to do the counting myself. When it
    comes to counting, obviously, the
    Clerks-at-the-Table would have to do
    that and I trust them to do that. They
    gave me the figure which was
    obviously more than a third of the
    Members of the House. That is why I
    am saying we can go ahead with the
    decision, unless the Clerks-at-the-
    Table are not telling me the truth.
    What they told me was 97 and that is
    what I am running with
    Mr Avedzi 5:10 p.m.
    Thank you, Mr
    Speaker.
    The number given to you is what
    you are acting on but the Hon
    Member who raised the issue is
    challenging that number that in the
    House, we are not up to the 92 which
    is the quorum needed for transacting
    business. So, Mr Speaker, I think that
    in this situation, you can ask the
    Clerks-at-the-Table to do the counting
    again to confirm. They can count
    again.
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 5:10 p.m.
    Where is the Hon Member for Anlo?
    Hon Member, do you not want to ask
    your Question? I have given you the
    platform; if you decline that is the end
    of the Question. You may go ahead
    with the Question.
    URGENT QUESTIONS 5:10 p.m.
    MINISTRY OF WORKS AND 5:10 p.m.
    HOUSING 5:10 p.m.
    Mr Richard K. Sefe (NDC -- Anlo) 5:10 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I beg to ask the
    Minister for Works and Housing
    what the Ministry is doing to protect
    Fuveme and its adjoining commu-
    nities like Atiteti, Anyanui and Dzita,
    from tidal waves/sea erosion.
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 5:10 p.m.
    Yes, Hon Minister?
    Minister for Works and
    Housing (Mr Francis Asenso-
    Boakye) (MP): Mr Speaker, the
    Ministry of Works and Housing
    wishes to indicate that there is the
    need for the implementation of a
    sea defence project to protect the
    coastal stretch containing
    Fuveme and adjoining
    communities from the ravages of
    beach erosion and tidal floods.
    Mr Speaker, this coastal
    stretch is characterized by sandy
    beaches which have been eroding
    at an alarming. Also, the
    communities along this coastal
    stretch experience frequent
    flooding. Also, communities
    along this coastal stretch are
    areas of major fishing activities
    and farming, which are the main
    livelihoods of the inhabitants.
    The beach erosion and flooding
    of communities therefore
    threaten greatly the fishing and
    farming activities, as well as
    lives and propert

    Mr Speaker, the Ministry of

    Works and Housing had earlier

    tasked the Hydrological Services

    Department to undertake

    appropriate studies towards the

    implementation of an appropriate

    sea defense project to protect the

    communities along this coastal

    stretch. Following the recent tidal

    flooding of the communities, the

    Hydrological Services

    Department has been directed to

    undertake further studies towards

    the provision of a lasting solution

    to tackling the beach erosion and

    tidal flooding of communities

    along this coastal stretch.

    Mr Speaker, following the

    completion of the studies by the

    Hydrological Servicers

    Department and submission of

    the report, the Ministry of Works

    and Housing will engage the

    Ministry of Finance to source for

    funds to implement the

    appropriate sea defense project.

    Mr Speaker, I wish to indicate

    to this august House that the

    Ministry of Works and Housing

    will work towards the

    implementation of an appropriate

    sea defense project to protect the

    inhabitants of Fuveme and the

    adjoining communities.

    Mr Speaker, our Ministry will

    update this august House as we

    make further progress.

    Thank you.
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 5:10 p.m.
    Thank you, Hon Minister.
    Yes, Hon Member for Anlo, any
    supplementary question?
    Mr Sefe 5:10 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I would
    like to ask the Hon Minister whether
    he is aware that the silting of the
    mouth of the River Volta is contri-
    buting to this havoc that is being
    wrecked on these few communities
    that were mentioned here. If he is
    aware, what is the Ministry doing for
    the Volta River Authority to come
    back to site to continue the dredging
    of the mouth of the river.
    Thank you.
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 5:10 p.m.
    Yes, Hon Minister?
    Mr Asenso-Boakye 5:20 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I
    did indicate that the Hydrological
    Services Department has been com-
    missioned to undertake studies to
    understand the problem in the area
    after which the Service would then
    present their report to the Ministry,
    which would help us determine how
    we should structure the sea defence
    project to address the flooding and
    tidal wave issues in the area.
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 5:20 p.m.
    Hon Member, any further question?
    Mr Sefe 5:20 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I would
    like to know whether Fuveme and its
    adjoining communities are also part
    of the feasibility studies and the
    engineering works that are supposed
    to be done has been modified in the
    Budget.
    Mr Asenso-Boakye 5:20 p.m.
    Mr Speaker,
    Fuveme and its adjourning commu-
    nities are part of the areas the Hydro-
    logical Services Department would
    undertake the feasibility studies. I
    would like to assure the Hon Member
    of that.
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 5:20 p.m.
    I
    hope you are alright. [Interruption] I
    think this is a constituency-specific
    Question. I will give you the oppor-
    tunity since you share a common
    boundary.
    Mr Kobena M. Woyome 5:20 p.m.
    Thank
    you, Mr Speaker. In fact, for the
    purposes of information, we share
    boundaries, and the affected areas
    include parts of South Tongu.
    The Hon Member was talking
    about the estuary, where the river and
    the sea meet. Currently, the situation
    is not good and it is compounding the
    problems of the areas mentioned.
    May I ask whether the scope of work
    of the feasibility studies of the
    Hydrological Services Department
    would take into consideration the
    routine dredging? The other day, the
    Hon Minister gave an answer to a
    Question and he mentioned a one-
    time project but the purpose of siting
    a dredger at the Volta River
    Authority (VRA) office at Ada Foah
    all these years was to manage the
    situation so that it does not get to this
    level. However, as we speak, they
    have not been working for the past six
    years.
    In terms of collaboration, scope
    and work in solving this problem
    once and for all, may I ask whether
    the scope in determining the works
    that must be undertaken include the
    routine dredging that must be done at

    this estuary so that we do not go back

    to this same problem?
    Mr Asenso-Boakye 5:20 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I
    mentioned that I have commis-sioned
    studies to be undertaken. It is only
    after we get the report of the studies
    that we can know the nature of the
    problem, which would inform us on
    the strategy to take. So if the report is
    ready and dredging of the area is
    important towards addressing the
    problem, then it would be part of the
    strategy.
    Mr Christian C. Otuteye -- rose
    -- 5:20 p.m.
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 5:20 p.m.
    Hon Christian Corletey Otuteye?
    Mr Christian C. Otuteye 5:20 p.m.
    Mr
    Speaker, thank you for the opportunity.
    I would want to add one or two
    words to this tidal wave issue. It is a
    very serious issue which is affecting
    most communities along the coast.
    Sege, for instance, has been affected,
    only that it did not happen to the
    extent of how it occurred at Keta.
    Nonetheless, I would not sit down for
    it happen to that extent before -- I
    have filed a Question though, and the
    Minister happened to visit my area
    while I was absent. As they are
    making provisions for this tidal wave
    from Keta, may I know whether that
    of Ada Sege is also being considered?
    I have a Question pending but since
    the Minister is here and the issue is
    important, kindly permit me to find
    out if the Minister is aware of the
    Sege area and whether something is
    being done about it.
    Thank you.
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 5:20 p.m.
    Yes, Hon Minister?
    Mr Asenso-Boakye 5:20 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I
    have had the opportunity to visit
    coastal areas in Ada West and Ada
    East and I witnessed at first-hand
    how the tidal wave is threatening the
    lives of the people in those coastal
    areas. Let me take this opportunity to
    say this: at the last Questions time, I
    had the opportunity to mention the
    fact that the entire coastal line
    stretches to about 550 kilometres.
    Two-thirds of that, which is 360
    kilometres, need some sort of
    protection against tidal waves, which
    Government is committed to.
    Yesterday, the Minister of
    Finance made a commitment that he

    would make money available to

    conduct feasibility studies to guide us

    as to how to tackle it. As we speak,

    Government is implementing about

    nine different coastal protection

    projects across the coastline. We are

    working seriously with the Ministry

    of Finance and after feasibility

    studies have been done, we would

    continue with the implementation of

    other sea defence projects in these

    affected areas, as and when money

    becomes available.

    Thank you very much.
    rose
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 5:20 p.m.
    Yes, Hon Member, you want to have
    a bite? I am allowing you.
    Dr Hamza Adam 5:20 p.m.
    Thank you
    very much, Mr Speaker, for the
    opportunity.
    I think what has happened there is
    a disaster which requires an urgent
    intervention. In every emergency
    situation, there is normally the need
    to have an immediate action in wait
    of major interventions. So I would
    want to know from the Hon Minister
    what they intend to do immediately
    while they go through the processes
    of trying to undertake a major
    intervention?
    Mr Asenso-Boakye 5:20 p.m.
    Mr Speaker,
    the immediate intervention that
    would be required is to provide the
    sea defence walls to serve as a buffer
    between the tidal waves, lives and
    properties and that is the reason I say
    that we are working actively with the
    Ministry of Finance to raise the
    necessary funding. But some relief
    items have been provided by the
    National Disaster Management
    Organisation (NADMO) to give
    some immediate relief for the
    affected people.
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 5:20 p.m.
    Hon Minister, I thank you for
    attending upon the House to answer
    Questions. You are hereby discharged.
    Yes, Leadership?
    Mr Annoh-Dompreh 5:20 p.m.
    Mr
    Speaker, concerning the schedule, the
    Minister for Youth and Sports is
    supposed to answer Questions but he
    is unavailable at the moment. We also
    agreed to take Statements; I think one
    on either Side -- The Hon First Deputy Speaker had admitted State-
    ments. I think there were three
    Statements but if it pleases you, we
    can take two: one from each Side,

    after which we can draw down the

    curtain for the day.
    Mr Avedzi 5:20 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, the
    Majority Chief Whip says that they
    have agreed but I do not know who
    they agreed with. We have not agreed
    on anything. In fact, I told him that
    Hon Members are tired. We have
    been sitting here -- In fact, Mr Speaker, I can feel that you are
    equally tired. We will not be doing
    ourselves any good if we take
    Statements at this time. Our health is
    important. I have been sitting here for
    only God knows how many hours
    since morning. This is all I ate. So
    please let us adjourn and continue
    tomorrow.
    Mr Annoh-Dompreh 5:30 p.m.
    Mr
    Speaker, let me just say that we do
    not have a problem acceding to your
    request but I would want to put it on
    record and to put it to you because
    you were not there. I am happy that
    the Hon Minority Chief Whip is
    walking in. He was there and the Hon
    Minority Leader was also there when
    we met the Hon First Deputy
    Speaker, and we had agreed that three
    Statements had been admitted by the
    Rt Hon Speaker and hence we would
    take those Statements. If it is the case
    that under the circumstance we would
    want to adjourn and take them
    tomorrow, I have no issues with that
    but I would want you to agree and
    accept that the Hon Minority Chief
    Whip, my good friend, was there
    when we agreed earlier. So, the Hon
    Member should not ask me where
    and when we agreed. He was not
    there; he did not come for the
    meeting. So, next time he should
    come for Leadership meeting.
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 5:30 p.m.
    Hon Deputy Majority Leader, I do
    not think this banter is --
    Mr Avedzi 5:30 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I take
    objection to the attitude and the way
    the Hon Majority Chief Whip
    behaved. What I said was the fact but
    he did not agree with me. So, if I said
    he did not agree with me that is not
    wrong. If he agrees with somebody
    he should just say it and that ends it
    but he should not say that. Please, I
    take an objection. He should kindly
    withdraw that statement and apologise
    to me.
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 5:30 p.m.
    Hon Members, the time is 5.30 p.m.
    and if it is your pleasure then I will go
    ahead to adjourn the House
    Mr Annoh-Dompreh 5:30 p.m.
    Mr
    Speaker, we support our Hon
    Colleagues. Clearly, the sense of the
    House is that we should adjourn. So,
    Mr Speaker, you may do so.
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 5:30 p.m.
    Very well, Hon Members, we should
    be reminded that we have a lot to do
    before we adjourn sine die for
    Christmas. Therefore, let us make it a
    point that from tomorrow we are
    coming to do Business; let us all
    make time for Parliamentary duties.
    On that note, the House is
    adjourned to tomorrow the 8th of
    December, 2021, at 10.00 a. m. in the

    Hon Members, the House stands

    adjourned.
    ADJOURMENT 5:30 p.m.
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