Debates of 23 Feb 2022

MR SPEAKER
PRAYERS 12:04 p.m.
Mr Speaker 12:04 p.m.
Hon Members, I have not
received any message from the President, so
we would move on to the item numbered 3 — Formal Communication by Mr Speaker.
Before I read the formal communication,
Hon Members, there is no Parliament that I
know when the Rt Hon Speaker is talking, Hon
Members would also be talking. Hon Speakers
are heard in silence for good reasons, and as I
read this formal statement, you would come to
understand why I have said what I have said.
Parliaments I have travelled to, those I
witnessed, and read about — at least, I think I know a lot that you may not know yet — what is happening in this Parliament is completely
unacceptable, and I am not sure you have an
appreciation of the temperature of the country.
Neither am I sure that you know the arduous
nature of the responsibility that has been placed
on your shoulders. You are all mature adults.
What I am talking about is still happening. The
Marshal's Department should get ready because I would be compelled to get the
Marshal to get people arrested and sent out.
You are saying “eiii”. Parliament is not a place for joking; it is a place for serious national
Business. The Parliament we are in now has
never been in Ghana, not even in the Gold
Coast. This is a different type of Parliament,
and we must be prepared to change to accept
the decisions of the people and work together.
You make me sick!
Mr Speaker 12:04 p.m.
Will you shut up? Are you the
one to rule somebody out of order in the
House?
FORMAL COMMUNICATION 12:04 p.m.
BY MR SPEAKER 12:04 p.m.
Mr Speaker 12:04 p.m.
Hon Members, events
emanating from yesterday's Sitting of the House have occasioned the need to make this
Statement and provide clarity and some
perspective on some of the issues raised on the
Floor yesterday.
An Hon Member — rose —
Mr Speaker 12:24 p.m.
Hon Member, will you
resume your seat?
The Hon Member standing behind Leader-
ship should please get out!
Hon Members, as you may recall, the Hon
Member of Parliament for the Ajumako-
Enyan-Essiam Constituency, the Hon Cassiel
Ato Baah Forson, the Ranking Member of the
Committee on Finance moved a Motion, which
Motion was for the House to constitute a bi-
partisan Committee to look into

the activities of the Government with respect to

the COVID-19 expenditure. I must note that

this Motion was submitted to me, and I

admitted same within the context of Order 79

(4) of the Standing Orders of the House.

When the Hon Ato Forson was on his feet

in an attempt to Table the Motion, the Hon

Deputy Majority Leader, the Hon Alexander

Kwamena Afenyo-Markin, rose to make a

preliminary objection to the tabling of the

Motion. It was at this juncture that I asked him

to suspend his objection, wait for the Motion to

be tabled, and then he may proceed to submit

his objection.

Indeed, as is apparent on the face of the

records of proceedings, he sought clarification

on the extent of my ruling. The clarification I

provided was that, in my view, it was improper

to object to a Motion that had not even been

tabled in the first place. To that extent, he could

only object to the Motion after it had been

Tabled and before it is seconded by another

Hon Member.

Hon Members, it is my considered view that

when the notice of a motion and requirements

under Standing Order 78 and 79 have been

complied with, same must be present on the

face of the Order Paper after the Rt Hon

Speaker has made a determination on the

admissibility of the Motion.

For the avoidance of doubt, if an Hon

Member intends to file a motion, which is not

of an urgent nature and is not subject to the

exceptions under Standing Order 78, the Hon

Member must comply with the requirements of

Standing Order 79.

Out of the abundance of caution, I read

Standing Order 79(1) to (4), and it says:

“(1) All notices shall be given by being handed in at the Table when the House

is sitting, or by being transmitted to the

Office of the Clerk so as to be

receivable within the hours prescribed

for the purpose.

(2) All notices shall be signed by the

Member proposing the motion or

amendment.

(3) When a notice is received by the Clerk

later than forty-eight hours before the

commencement or the end of a

Meeting, the Clerk shall record the

date and hour of its receipt and notify

the Member.

(4) Every notice shall be submitted to Mr

Speaker who shall direct that it be

printed in its original terms or with

such amendments as he shall direct, or

that it be returned to the Member

submitting it as being inadmissible.”

These are the Standing Orders. The effect

of these provisions is that Mr Speaker is the

determinant of the admissibility of Motions

just as is the case with the admissibility of

Questions to Ministers under our Standing

Orders. Having admitted the Motion, the

Motion may now be transmitted to the Order

Paper to form part of the deliberation of the

House for the scheduled date, and this is done

through the Business Committee chaired by the

Hon Majority Leader and Leader of

Government Business.

Hon Members, the decision of the Speaker

may be challenged with respect to the

admissibility of a Motion. Therein lies the bane

of contention that undergulfs this House in

yesterday's proceedings. To provide some guidance on the appropriate procedure and

why I ruled that the Hon Deputy Majority

Leader raises his objection after the tabling of

the Motion and before its secondment, I made

reference to our Standing Orders.

Standing Order 81 is to the effect that no

Motion shall be debated and entered into the

proceedings unless it has been seconded. In

this vein, a Motion tabled and not seconded

would be struck out, and it would not enter the

Votes and Proceedings of the House. Again,

Standing Order 82 highlights the fact that once

a motion is tabled and seconded, an Hon

Member may only withdraw it with the leave

of the House. The careful gleaning of the

provisions as referred to supra would provide

a clear perspective on the effect of seconding

Motions. Once a Motion is tabled and

seconded, it ought to be debated by the House,

and it may not be withdrawn except with the

leave of the House.

Similarly, if an objection is to be levelled

against a motion so admitted by the Speaker, it

would be procedurally deficient to allow such

an objection to be raised after the Motion has

been seconded. The purpose of the objection to

the Motion is to prevent the House from

discussing or considering the Motion. The

objection goes to the root of the matter being

tabled either because it is considered irrelevant,

contentious, or unprofitable or that for any

reason, is not thought to be advisable to debate

the matter.

Therefore, when such an objection is raised

and sustained, the Motion is not captured by

the Votes and Proceedings. When it is

seconded, it must proceed to be debated, and it

would be captured by the Votes and

Proceedings. That is what the Standing Orders

say. That is why after the Motion has been

seconded, the House has a duty to debate it, and

have it entered in the Votes and Proceedings of

the House or have it withdrawn with the leave

of the House as the case may be.

With this understanding, I ruled that it

would not be correct to consider an objection

to a Motion at the point it is being moved or

tabled because, before it has been tabled,

nothing is before the House. It would therefore

also be inappropriate to consider an objection

to a Motion at that point. That was the spirit of

my ruling wherein I asked the Hon Deputy

Majority Leader to suspend his objection, and

raise it after the Motion has been tabled. I was

very clear on this.

When I was handing over to the Hon First

Deputy Speaker, that was the message you saw me transmit to him that I had ruled that the Hon Deputy Majority Leader could raise his objection to the Motion after it has been moved, but not seconded. Since some of you were talking to one another, you did not hear

the ruling, and yesterday, a different thing was said in spite of the fact that the Hon Deputy Majority Leader insisted that that was my ruling. It therefore came to me as a surprise when I learnt that Hon Members of the Minority appeared to suggest to the Hon First Deputy Speaker who was in the Chair at the time that I indicated in my ruling that objection be raised after the Motion had been seconded. The records are there; the voice can be played. That was not my ruling.

Hon Members, we must observe the rulings

of the Speaker, and not attempt to vary them to our advantage as and when it appears convenient. In sum, on this issue, and for the purposes of future deliberations, objections to Motions may be raised when the Motion has been tabled and before is been seconded. At that point, the Speaker shall make a determination as to whether or not to uphold the Motion and make a ruling thereto. This is my ruling.

Another issue that requires addressing is the

decision of the Hon First Deputy Speaker to upend my admission of the Motion, and rule that the Motion should not have been admitted in the first place. Hon Members, it is interesting to note that this is the second time the Hon First Deputy Speaker has taken the Chair, and has made a ruling which in effect was to overrule a position I had earlier on established before the House. In fact, the Hon First Deputy Speaker was in my office, and I told him what I am telling you today before he left for the airport.

The Hon First Deputy Speaker has

contended, and rightfully so, on several occasions that he is not the Speaker. I have

also, on several occasions, alluded to various areas of parliamentary practice where, when the Hon Speaker is in the Chair makes a ruling, another presiding officer may not overturn that ruling.

My former Statement on the matters arising from the Budget Statement and which is captured in paragraph 46 reads as follows, and I quote:

“Hon Members, although our Standing Orders are silent on this, many Standing Orders and Rules from several sister parliaments provide persuasive rules which suggest that when Deputy Speakers or acting Speakers are in the Chair, whatever happens in the House is that officer's responsibility and the Hon Speaker cannot be called upon to overrule it. Similarly, the reverse is also the case that when a Speaker is in the Chair, whatever happens in the House is the Speaker's responsibility and the Deputy Speaker or acting Speaker cannot be called upon to overrule it.”

That was what I read to the House that day.

The penchant of the Hon First Deputy Speaker to overrule my rulings is to say the least unconstitutional, illegal, and offensive. Be that as it may, I shall not be taking any steps to overrule the decision of the Hon First Deputy Speaker to dismiss the Motion as moved by the Hon Ranking Member of the Committee on Finance. The Deputy Speakers and I would deliberate on how to present a more coherent and uniform structure in respect of rulings so that the House is guided at all times during deliberations.

Our Standing Orders provide the procedure

for challenging the rulings of the Chair and

those aggrieved by the rulings may take the

necessary steps. The proposers of the Private

Members' Motion may thus be guided by the Standing Orders of the House to right the

wrong. I hope this is understood. And I repeat:

I hope this Statement provides the much

needed clarity on the matters of dispute that

arose yesterday, and I hope we can forge ahead

for the common good of the people who have

entrusted us with leadership and the mandate to

better their lives. The Standing Orders would

guide those who brought the Motion and the

proper thing would be done for the House to

consider the Motion.

Hon Members, please, it is not only you

Members of Parliament who discuss national

matters with me. Your Ministers, Presidents,

traditional leaders and the rest also do so

together with me, and I can tell you that the

country is not happy with our performance. We

have to up our game.

As the person with ultimate responsibility,

I reiterate that I would do so with the powers

and authority that have been conferred on me

by the 1992 Constitution and the laws of this

country. I mean what I say.

I would want to thank you all for your

attention.

Please, be focused on what we are here to

do; if you are not here and you have not heard,

ask. Do not just jump in, misquote people, and

say anything. The responsibility for admission

of a Motion is that of the Speaker and the

This is enough for today; I will come back

Votes and Proceedings and the

Official Report
Mr Speaker 12:24 p.m.
Hon Members, the item
numbered 4, Correction of Votes and
Proceedings and the Official Report. We start
with the Votes and Proceedings of Tuesday,
22nd February, 2022.
Page 1 — 9
Mr Dan Botwe 12:24 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I asked for
permission to be absent yesterday, and so I do
not expect my name to be on page 8 as absent
without permission. I filled a form and I saw it
signed.
Mr Speaker 12:24 p.m.
Table Office, kindly take
note.
Page 9 —
Dr Stephen Amoah 12:24 p.m.
Mr Speaker, my name
came without the “Dr”. I really cherish it — [Laughter] — In fact, I could not even find my name. I had to struggle —
Mr Speaker 12:24 p.m.
Hon (Dr) Stephen Amoah,
your first point was that your name came
without the “Dr”. Your second point was that you could not even find your name.

Was that what your said?
Dr Stephen Amoah 12:24 p.m.
Mr Speaker, with the
second one, I said that initially, I was not
finding it, and so I had to struggle to find it.
Mr Speaker 12:24 p.m.
But now have you found it?
Dr Stephen Amoah 12:24 p.m.
Mr Speaker, yes, I
have found it but without the “Dr”.
Mr Speaker 12:24 p.m.
What item number is it?
Dr Stephen Amoah 12:24 p.m.
Mr Speaker, number
53 of the item numbered 2 on page 2.
Mr Speaker 12:24 p.m.
Table Office, do not deprive
him of his doctorate. Please, after “Amoah Stephen”, put in brackets “Dr”.
Mr Samuel O. Ablakwa 12:34 p.m.
Mr Speaker,
respectfully, I seek your guidance on the matter
that the Hon Dr Stephen Amoah has raised. I
have gone through the names here as provided
in the Votes and Proceedings and it appears to
me that the practice is not to include titles. He
is not the only one affected. For example, if we
look at the item numbered 122, the Hon Forson
Cassiel Ato Baah, the “Dr” is not there.

I have also checked that of the Hon (Dr)

Zanetor Agyeman-Rawlings. So, I think that

we may have to decide on what should be done

because I also see that for item numbered 81,

where we have “Ayine, Dominic Akuritinga (Dr)”, his title has been provided. So, it appears that some are provided and others are not.

Mr Speaker, could we have some clarity on

what should be the practice for the sake of

consistency?
Mr Speaker 12:34 p.m.
Hon Member, we are in
Africa. There are even some Parliaments where
the title ‘Honourable' is not added. I do not know whether you have ever been to Nigeria
and whether you appreciate the titles of our
chiefs. It is not for nothing that all these are
added to our names; it is because they are
achievements that we treasure.
Hon Members, formerly, the British had
only one name, so you would hear “King John'', and the John is not a surname, or you would hear “Queen Elizabeth.'' It is either the first or second names. Today, you would
pronounce Elizabeth without the ‘a', but when I was born, we used to pronounce it with the
‘a'. Now, they also have surnames. The fact that others do not mind whether the titles Dr or
Prof are added to their names or not does not
make it right. In Ghana, we treasure those titles
and I think the Hon Member is right for
reminding us that he is a Ph.D. holder.
However, as a doctor, I have my eyes on
you and I expect a better rendition from you as
a Ph.D. holder — [Laughter] — Hon Members, you are still Hon Members when
you leave the Floor of this House, so wherever
you are, you have to conduct yourselves
honourably. It is not only our senior citizen, Mr
Kwame Pianim, who would no longer refer to
us as ‘Honourables'. Very soon, I would no longer be referring to some of you with the title
‘Honourable'. When you dishonour yourself, you are no longer ‘honourable'.

Page 10?

Yes, Hon Minority Leader?
Mr Haruna Iddrisu 12:34 p.m.
Mr Speaker, thank
you very much. At page 10, reference is made
to the Hon Deputy Majority Leader and for the
record, I thought that he referenced article 187
to raise his objections. So, in the second line,
he raised a preliminary objection citing article
187; that is what he did yesterday. If we want
to place emphasis for the sake of the records;
that is fine.
Mr Speaker, I am saying so because as you
have rightly advised, we would challenge the
ruling of your First Deputy Speaker to which
you have so eloquently addressed this morning.
However, we would want the records to be
succinctly captured, that this was his objection
and it was based on article 187 so that
tomorrow and into the foreseeable future, we
would know what guided the ruling for the
purpose of litigating on it as we intend to do.
Mr Speaker 12:34 p.m.
Hon Minority Leader, I am
guided by Standing Order 34(1), which I read:
“The minutes of the proceedings of Parliament called Votes and Proceedings
shall be a record of the attendance of
Members at each sitting and all decisions
of Parliament and shall be kept by the
Clerk. The Votes and Proceedings shall be
printed and shall be the Journals of the
House.”
Hon Members, that is what it says. Usually,
the Votes and Proceedings capture the
decisions and the Official Report, as much as
possible, captures a verbatim narration of what
took place. So, what you refer to is in the
Official Report which would be part of what
you would use for your debate. Fortunately, I
have got it printed out for me, so even though I
was not on the Floor, I have all that was said.
I think what has been captured is sufficient.
We would use that one during the debate and
we do not need to go to the extent of always
referring to the laws and so on in the Votes and
Proceedings. So, I would not direct the Table
Office to include what you just said.
Page 11?
Yes, Hon (Dr) Zanetor Agyeman-
Rawlings?
Dr Zanetor Agyeman-Rawlings 12:34 p.m.
Mr
Speaker, I am sorry I did not catch your eye
earlier, but this is in regard to page 10.
Mr Speaker, with regard to the same
paragraph of the third line that the Hon
Minority Leader made reference to, the word
used is ‘premature' but the word the Hon Deputy Majority Leader used was
‘impropriety'. That was the basis of his objection and he did not mention ‘premature'.
So, I just want your guidance —
Mr Speaker 12:34 p.m.
Hon Member, was the word
‘impropriety'?
Dr Zanetor Agyeman-Rawlings 12:34 p.m.
Mr
Speaker, yes. He did not use the word

‘premature' as the basis of his objection but ‘impropriety' was the word he used. So, I seek your guidance on whether that should be

captured as opposed to the word ‘premature'.
Mr Speaker 12:34 p.m.
Yes, if the Hon Deputy
Majority Leader actually used the word
‘impropriety', we cannot use the word ‘premature'. However, let me listen to the Leadership of the Majority side.
Mr Habib Iddrisu 12:34 p.m.
Mr Speaker, yesterday,
I think the Hon Deputy Majority Leader
actually used the word ‘premature' even in your presence while you Chaired the House,
and has been vindicated by you that he could
only make such an objection after the Motion
has been moved. So, he actually used the word
‘premature'.
Mr Speaker 12:34 p.m.
Yes, Hon (Dr) Stephen
Amoah?
Dr Stephen Amoah 12:34 p.m.
Mr Speaker, thank
you for your precautionary advice. However, I
would want clarity in order to do as such; I
think the statement was quite -
Mr Speaker 12:34 p.m.
Hon Member, you are out of
order.
Mr Speaker 12:34 p.m.
Hon Member, you may, for
further and better particulars, see me in my
Office.
Dr S. Amoah 12:34 p.m.
Mr Speaker, thank you.
Mr Speaker 12:44 p.m.
Hon Members, at page 4 of 7
of the Official Report, the Hon Deputy
Majority Leader; Mr Alexander Afenyo-
Markin, said:
“… Mr Speaker, if you would be pleased, I shall now proceed with my
preliminary objection to the propriety of
the Motion for you to rule on.”
This is what is captured in the Official
Report and so it is actually “propriety” that he used and not “impropriety”.
Mr Ambrose Dery — rose —
Mr Speaker 12:44 p.m.
Hon Minister for the Interior?
Mr Dery 12:44 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I would humbly
submit that at this juncture, once the Official
Report you have has not been confirmed in one
way or the other and that there is a statement
that “premature” was used, I believe that there is something that needs to be done to this
record to make it a record of which it could be
used to conclude. Mr Speaker, as at now, you
are privileged to have it, but when the Official
Report comes out, I am sure all of us would be
given the chance to make an input?
Mr Speaker, so I would caution that using it
now would actually be a premature usage of
the draft record. Mr Speaker, thank you.
Mr Speaker 12:44 p.m.
I simply referred to the
records available to me. It is just like the Votes
and Proceedings that we have, which we have

just adopted. Yes, the Official Report would be

brought to the Floor for corrections and

approval of the House, definitely, when there

are contentions, the voice recording is

available, and that would be used. I just

referred to what they heard and recorded.

Hon Minister, I take note of what you have

referred to as a caution but the only thing is

whether you have the authority to caution the

Speaker? That is a wrong word and next time

it would be ruled as unparliamentary.
Mr Dery 12:44 p.m.
Mr Speaker, kindly guide me with
a right word. I need your guidance because
sometimes —
Mr Speaker 12:44 p.m.
Hon Minister, you can draw
my attention.
Mr Dery 12:44 p.m.
Mr Speaker, well, may it be
amended so, to read that I am drawing your
attention. Mr Speaker, I know you understand
the change of venue between a court and a - so Mr Speaker, I meant to say to draw your
attention.
Mr Speaker 12:44 p.m.
Very well.
Hon Members, he is my classmate so he
sometimes takes liberty of our old days.
Mr Yao Gomado 12:44 p.m.
Mr Speaker, permit me
to take you back to page 7, item numbered 2
under Hon Members who were absent with
permission —
Mr Speaker 12:44 p.m.
Hon Member, approach the
Table Office for those corrections.
Usually, when we go beyond a page, the
normal practice is that we are not taken back.
In the early days, we allowed Hon Members to
learn but now we have to enforce the rules.
When an Hon Member discovers a correction
later on, the Hon Member should just approach
the Table Office and notify them of same but
not to take us back.
Mr Rockson-Nelson E. K. Dafeamkepkor 12:44 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I seek your guidance in respect of
the matter raised by Dr Zanetor Agyeman-
Rawlings who was trying to draw our attention
to the fact that the word “premature” as captured in line 3 of the Motion was not the
word used by the Hon Deputy Majority Leader.
Mr Speaker, she indicated that she heard
“impropriety” which you have crosschecked and discovered that the word was actually
“propriety”. Mr Speaker, but no direction has been given to the Table Office to effect this
correction.
Mr Speaker, I know that the word
“premature” actually came from you when you described the time the Hon Member was
moving the objection as “premature ejacula- tion”. So, the “premature” did not come from the Hon Member so I seek your guidance on
whether this could be amended before we
proceed? Mr Speaker, thank you.
Mr Speaker 12:44 p.m.
Hon Member, I did that earlier
before the Hon Minister for the Interior drew
my attention to the fact that the document I
referred to has not yet been confirmed and
approved by the House. However, I had
directed earlier that the proper word used — it has not been used at one place but throughout.

The word I see throughout is “propriety” and even my good Hon Friend, Hon Atta Akyea,

referred to it during his contribution. He said

“when a Motion is moved and one has an objection to its propriety …” So, the word runs through but the Hon Minister says we should

wait for the Official Report to be brought

before the House and that is why I held on to

that affirmation of my earlier direction. So, we

would go through it when we get there.

Hon Members, in the absence of any further

corrections, the Votes and Proceedings of

Tuesday, 22nd February 2022, as corrected is

hereby adopted as the true record of

proceedings.

Hon Members, we have the Official Report

of Wednesday, 9th February, 2022. Any

correction?
Mr Ablakwa 12:44 p.m.
Mr Speaker, respectfully, at
the last paragraph of column 40, I have been
wrongly quoted. The figure I put out was 4.6
million and not 4.6 billion. The 2021 arrears to
the Student Loan Trust Fund is 4.6 million and
not billion.
Mr Speaker 12:44 p.m.
Table Office should take note.
Mr Ablakwa 12:44 p.m.
Mr Speaker, also the second
line of the first paragraph at column 41 should
read ‘where many tertiary students in our country for over a year' and not “over years”.
Mr Speaker, beneath that too the “4.6 billion” has been repeated and must be changed to ‘4.6 million'.
Mr Speaker 12:44 p.m.
Hon Member, what is the
paragraph?
Mr Ablakwa 12:54 p.m.
Mr Speaker, that is the fourth
paragraph at column 41 under Dr Adutwum.
Finally, the first paragraph at column 42, the
word “students” should be corrected to ‘student'. The “s” should be deleted.

Thank you, Mr Speaker.
Mr Speaker 12:54 p.m.
Is that under Dr Adutwum?
Mr Ablakwa 12:54 p.m.
Mr Speaker, the first
paragraph, which is just above that — “Where many students are complaining that they are
not receiving their student loans”.
Mr Speaker 12:54 p.m.
Yes, there is a repetition of
that under Dr Adutwum but that one is correct.
Please, Table Office, take note of that.
Hon Members, in the absence of any further
correction, the Official Report of 9th February,
2022 is hereby adopted as the true the record of
proceedings.
We now move to the item numbered 5 — Questions.
The first Question stands in the name of the
Hon Member for South Tongu, Mr Kobena
Mensah Woyome. It is to the Hon Minister for
the Interior so he has rightfully taken his seat.

Hon Member, you may ask your Question now.
ORAL ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS 12:54 p.m.
Mr Woyome 12:54 p.m.
Mr Speaker, the fire tender
that was supposed to be worked on, I can tell the Minister —
Mr Speaker 12:54 p.m.
Hon Member, was it worked
on or supposed to be worked on?
Mr Woyome 12:54 p.m.
Mr Speaker, in fact a bicycle
rider can ride faster than that fire tender. That
is to tell you that it is not effective. It is not
working as I speak to you. Not the way it is
expected so I want to ask who undertook the
repair works? Which fitting or engineering
entity or company worked on this particular
vehicle?
Mr Speaker 12:54 p.m.
So are you saying that it is
alleged to have been worked on?
Mr Woyome 12:54 p.m.
Mr Speaker, it is not robust
enough to undertake what is expected of it —
Mr Speaker 12:54 p.m.
Let us get that clear. The fact
that a vehicle has been worked on and it is not
as robust as before - That is the repairs you are complaining about and you are saying that a
bicycle rider can even go faster than the fire
tender? Really?
Mr Woyome 12:54 p.m.
Yes, Mr Speaker. It is
laughable but it is serious.
Mr Speaker, I have checked a while ago
even before asking this Question. So, probably
they may have to carry out some survey again.
Mr Speaker 12:54 p.m.
It is all right. Let the Hon
Minister respond. We will go there and let
them compete and we will see.
Mr Dery 12:54 p.m.
Mr Speaker, the Question was
duly referred to the Fire Service and this
response was given and this morning, at 11.23
a.m., I asked no less a person than the Chief
Fire Officer and he told me that he is sure and

I did not believe it. So, he called and came

back with the answer.

Mr Speaker, I would suggest that the Hon

Member files the appropriate Question. If it is

about speed, he should file it and I would get

— [Interruptions] — I am prepared to satisfy Hon Members of this House when they ask

Questions and also to be sure that the agencies

that I supervise give me the right answers. But

he was asking of a faulty fire tender. The

position now is that it is repaired and it is

functioning. If he wants specific further

information, I would be glad that he files and

addresses it specifically because what the Hon

Member is now saying that a bicycle is faster

than the fire tender, I am not in a position to

address that now.

Thank you, Mr Speaker.
Mr Woyome 12:54 p.m.
Mr Speaker, can the Hon
Minister tell us which engineering entity
undertakes the repair works and in this
particular case, which entity actually
undertook the repair works because some of us
even contributed in fixing it? So, I just want to
know.
Mr Dery 12:54 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I am not privy to the
information on which specific engineers work
on specific fire tenders at any point in time,
except to say that I hold the leadership of Fire
Service on responsible to ensure that the
equipment are functional. They have the
competence to engage whoever. I am not part
of their procurement. It is part of their system.
I do not have that specific information.
Mr Woyome 12:54 p.m.
Mr Speaker, can the Hon
Minister tell us whether they have a
maintenance regime for these tenders that
probably can be shared with us?
Mr Dery 12:54 p.m.
Mr Speaker, we have engineers
and we have workshops within the Fire Service
and I have seen them work. Beyond that, I
believe they go outside to get experts who
might help them if it is beyond their
competence. But yes, we have workshops
within the Fire Service who do some repairs.
Thank you, Mr Speaker.
Some Hon Members — rose —
Mr Speaker 12:54 p.m.
Hon Members, sorry. This is
constituency-specific so we would go to the
next Question.
The Question stands in the name of the Hon
Member for Ketu South, Ms Abla Dzifa
Gomashie.
Hon Member, you may ask your Question
now.
Police and Immigration Posts and Barriers
on the Accra-Aflao Road
Ms Abla Dzifa Gomashie (NDC - Ketu South) 12:54 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I rise to ask the Hon
Minister for the Interior what has necessitated
the erection of the more than 14 Police and
Immigration posts and barriers on the Accra to
Aflao road.
Mr Dery 1:04 p.m.
Mr Speaker, to the best of my
knowledge the Accra to Aflao International road has four Police barriers at the following locations:
• Sogakope Barrier under the Sogakope
Divisional Police Command.
• Hikpo Barrier under Akatsi District
Police Command.
• Anlo to Afiadenyigba Barrier under
the Keta Divisional Police Command.
• Tokor Barrier under Ketu Divisional
Police Command.
There is also an approved Police barrier at
Tsopoli near Prampram operated by the Tema Regional Headquarters and the Prampram Divisional Police Command.
Mr Speaker, as you may be aware, the
country's international borders were closed on 21 March, 2020 as part of Governments' measures to prevent the spread and importation of COVID-19 into Ghana. As a strategy to ensure that all persons who managed to slip through unapproved border crossing points are intercepted, the Ghana Immigration Service supported by the Ghana Police Service and the border security agencies mounted in-land and snap checkpoints at strategic locations not only on the Accra-Aflao road but on other roads leading to the land borders in the country.
The in-land and snap checkpoints also serve
as a second-layer in view of the threat of terrorism and other transnational organised crimes within the sub-region.
Mr Speaker 1:04 p.m.
Hon Member, any supple-
mentary question?
Ms Gomashie 1:04 p.m.
Yes, Mr Speaker. I would
like to ask the Hon Minister if in effect he
agrees that there are indeed more than four
borders I mentioned earlier, because the
checkpoints also add to security barriers. Is that
the case?
Mr Dery 1:04 p.m.
Mr Speaker, there are barriers and
there are snap checkpoints. Barriers are
permanently fixed points that are established
for regular use, but checkpoints can arise based
on intelligence. For instance, we might get
intelligence that a particular vehicle is carrying
either narcotics, arms or explosives. Those
come up and move on; they are not permanent.
That is why I started by giving the Hon
Member the established barriers. I also alluded
to the practice of checkpoints. Those are a
different category. I cannot tell because as I
stand here now, there can be checkpoints
established based on intelligence. But as far as
barriers are concerned, I have stated what the
permanent barriers are.
Mr Speaker 1:04 p.m.
Hon Member, the figure given
is five, so you should take note of that. The first
four, plus the newly approved. The Hon
Minister said that there is also an approved
Police Barrier at Tsopoli near Prampram. So,
that makes it five. The rest are snap
checkpoints.
Ms Gomashie 1:04 p.m.
Mr Speaker, at these
checkpoints and barriers, one would find that
passengers in commercial and sometimes,

private vehicles, are made to disembark.

People are checked; sometimes they are asked

for identification of citizenship. People are

made to pull down their pants. Has all these

kind of things come to the attention of the Hon

Minister?
Mr Dery 1:04 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I know that when it
comes to the checking of possible terrorists, the
nationality of the persons are important.
Therefore, we would want to find out if people
are Ghanaians, so they are asked to produce
their identity cards. But the policy is for
everybody to be treated in a decent manner,
with due regard to their rights. So if the
allegation is that people are publicly stripped,
it is something that I would have to take up if
the Hon Member gives me further and specific
information as to which barrier and when it
took place, I would be clear in my mind.
Mr Speaker, of course, some people
sometimes carry contraband on their bodies.
But even then, we expect that there should be
some decency in searching such a person. One
cannot stay among other passengers and want
to strip down. So, if the Hon Member has that
specific complain, it is against policy, it
infringes on the human rights of the persons
concerned, and that I would be prepared to take
it up, especially if the Hon Member gives me
further information.
Ms Gomashie 1:04 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I am grateful
for the opportunity. I just want to thank the
Hon Minister for the Interior. I would provide
the information that I have to him because the
embarrassing situation is sometimes, almost
apartheid in nature on these interrogations
which need to be addressed.
Mr Speaker 1:04 p.m.
Hon Member, may you
continue to ask your next Question numbered
404.
Alleviation of Suffering of Border
Communities
Ms Gomashie 1:04 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I rise to ask the
Hon Minister for the Interior what the Ministry
is doing to alleviate the suffering of border
communities, especially the residents of Aflao,
whose sources of livelihood has not been
accessible to them due to the closure of
Ghana's land borders.
Mr Dery 1:04 p.m.
Mr Speaker, before I answer, may
I also indicate that I come from a border
community and I share in the challenges the
Hon Member has raised?
Mr Speaker, Government is aware of the
impact that the closure of the land borders is
having on the border communities, especially
their businesses. It must however, be noted that
the closure does not affect only border
residents and Aflao in particular but Ghanaian
businesses generally, because it is realised that
there are strict regulations on how goods can
be sent out and brought in.
It is in this regard that Government
introduced the Ghana COVID-19 Alleviation
and Revitalisation of Enterprises Support
(CARES) also known as Obaatan Pa
Programme to alleviate the impact on
businesses and other sectors of the economy. It

is my conviction that Ghanaians in general and

those along our borders including Aflao will

take advantage of the intervention to enhance

the fortunes of their businesses till the borders

are opened.
Mr Speaker 1:04 p.m.
Hon Members, this goes
beyond constituency, so I would allow other
supplementary questions from other Members
in the border communities. It cuts across other
constituencies, not only the Hon Member's constituency.
Hon Member, you may ask your last
supplementary question?
Ms Gomashie 1:14 p.m.
Mr Speaker, the unique
nature of the Aflao Border is well captured in
a lot of literature. This border has a community
that tails straight into the capital town of
another country.
So, in its unique nature it positions itself as
the only access to the economic empowerment
of the community. The intervention that the
Hon Minister just made reference to really cuts
out the ones I am speaking for; the
“agbatetsolawu”, who are called the “kayayes” in Accra. These people in the communities
would not benefit from this intervention. So,
my specific question now is to know the
intervention to address those specific com-
munities that I mentioned. If a person roasts
plantain or sells turkey tails at the border, this
intervention would not assist him or her. So,
what is there for them?
Mr Dery 1:14 p.m.
Mr Speaker, beyond this
programme that is known to all of us, the
Ministry of the Interior does not have any
specific programme targeted at businesses. Just
as the Rt Hon Speaker talked about, some of
the border areas in the north, in their homes,
their halls are in Ghana and their kitchens are
across the border. We have those situations, so,
all that I can say is that beyond this programme
that I know of, I do not have within the limits
of the Ministry of the Interior, any specific
programme that relates to the businesses and
how we can revive them. I would plead that the
Hon Member directs her question appro-
priately to the specific Ministries. Meanwhile,
all that I can say is that we hope that we can
manage the borders in a manner that will
ameliorate the impact.
Ms Gomashie 1:14 p.m.
Mr Speaker —
Mr Speaker 1:14 p.m.
Do you want to add to your
third supplementary question? I think that you
have already asked the third one.
Ms Gomashie 1:14 p.m.
Mr Speaker, this is the third
one.
Mr Speaker 1:14 p.m.
Are you sure?
Ms Gomashie 1:14 p.m.
Yes, Mr Speaker, this is the
third one.
Ms Gomashie 1:14 p.m.
All right, you can go on.
Ms Gomashie 1:14 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I thank you.
Mr Speaker, the Ministry of the Hon
Minister for the Interior is a Cabinet Minister.

So, is it the case that in the decision to close the borders no consideration was made to alleviate the suffering of the people who lived along the borders? Is that the case?
Mr Dery 1:14 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I would want to say
that the situation of border towns was carefully and strictly analysed, just like the situation that the Hon Member explained in Aflao, which I talked to her about. The fact still remains that a certain minimum activity continues; farming on both sides of the borders continues, which is a known fact. I can see that the Hon Member laughed, we know it, however, we do know that the issue of schools is also an existing factor. We take these things into consideration, and we especially directed that the COVID-19 vaccines be directed at those communities because they are the most vulnerable as far as this is concerned. So, these are the ways in which we have tried to deal with the matter.
Mr Speaker, what is now left is that we
ourselves could mobilise our people. For instance, we have closed the border to human movements, but have not closed it to goods. Trucks come in and go out so we check on the trucks to make sure that they do not abuse the rules by bringing in more people when they bring in their goods. Our problem is that most of our people are small-holders, so, if we could organise and see how we can deal with the border authorities as far as these things are concerned, so that they can also pass as goods that can go either way if possible, then we can engage that. So, it is a matter that is considered seriously.
Mr Speaker 1:14 p.m.
Any supplementary question
from any Hon Member?
Mr Rockson-Nelson Etse Kwami
Dafeamekpor: Mr Speaker, I would want to
find this out from the Hon Minister whether the
decision by the Economic Community of West
African States (ECOWAS) Heads of States and
Governments during their 60th Ordinary
Session Meeting held in Abuja in December — As part of the communique released was that
they would open the borders of all member-
countries on the first day of January, 2022. We
are in February 2022, so, I would want to find
out why other countries in the sub-region have
opened their borders pursuant to that
communique, but Ghana has not followed suit?
Mr Dery 1:14 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I would want to be
careful that I do not use a word that might be
un-Parliamentary. Has a decision been taken to
open the borders as at 1st February, 2022? No.
It is not so. However, yes, there was a
publication on the media. I have Chaired
ECOWAS Ministers of the Interior meetings in
Abuja. I have been part of the security heads of
the sub-region meeting held in Accra at the
Labadi Beach Hotel, and I would want to
assure Hon Members that the borders of Togo,
Burkina Faso and La Cote D'Ivoire remain closed as I speak to you. They are not opened,
but we still try to manage the affairs in such a
way that we ameliorate the situation. For
instance, six trucks of cyanide being sent to
Burkina Faso were stopped at Paga. However,
we did not stop them because the borders are
closed; no! We however, are ensuring that even
in that activity, we eliminate extremist
participation to our detriment. So, we insist that
security on both sides should help, but as far as
the closure of borders are concerned, they are
still closed.
Mr Samuel O. Ablakwa 1:24 p.m.
Mr Speaker, with
your permission, I would want to read from the
communique issued by the ECOWAS after its
59th Ordinary Session Meeting on the 19th June,
2021 in Accra, Chaired by the ECOWAS
Chairman and President of Ghana, H. E.
President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo.
Mr Speaker, the following heads of States
were in attendance. H.E. Patrice Talon,
President of the Republic of Benin and H. E.
Roch Marc Christian Kabore, former
President of Burkina Faso. Mr Speaker, for
the sake of time, I would want to move on to
the main issue, which is the gravamen of the
matter. On the item numbered 12, it says and I
quote:
“The Authority charges the President of the Commission to work with member-States
and West African Health Organisations
(WAHO) on the modalities to accelerate the
re-opening of land borders in a safe manner
during the pandemic in line with the agreed
ECOWAS harmonised guidelines for free
movement of people and goods during this
pandemic.”

Mr Speaker, so my question is, what steps is

Ghana taking following this ECOWAS

decision to accelerate the opening of the land

borders as ECOWAS Heads of States agreed at

a meeting chaired by our President? Do they

have timelines as to when our land borders will

be open? The suffering is excruciating; our

people are really suffering.
Mr Dery 1:24 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I am very happy
about the quotation that has come from the Hon
Member. The ECOWAS Commission
President was asked to work with member-
States to achieve a certain result. That is not a
definite decision that by this time, it should be
— [Interruption] — May I finish? I went to Abuja this year to chair a meeting. All these are
done in the context of security. Mr Speaker, the
Hon Member, being a prominent member of
the Committee on Foreign Affairs knows what
has happened since then.
Since then, he knows that northern parts of
Benin, Togo and Ivory Coast have been hit.
What happened in Ivory Coast is eight
kilometres close to Ghana. Those are the things
that come into the consideration. Mr Speaker,
the Hon Member asked what we are doing to
accelerate it. We have put our defence
arrangements together and we are working
together to fortify the security within which we
can then continue to enjoy the free movement
of goods and services as much as possible
which is in our mutual interest because the
impact of COVID-19 on our economies must
be ameliorated.
Mr Speaker, since June 2021, a lot has
happened to make it impossible to achieve
what the Hon Member is asking for as at now.
On Saturday, 26th February, 2022, another
level of security meeting would take place. I
can assure you that concrete measures are
being taken to consolidate and then we can deal
with it. It is within the context of the dictates of
our security that it has not happened so far, but
we are committed to making it happen as soon
as arrangements are in place.

Mr Edwin Nii Lante Vanderpuye — rose —
Mr Speaker 1:24 p.m.
Hon Members, I believe that
is sufficient for - The Hon Member is the representative of Odododiodioo Constituency, and his border is the sea — [Laughter]. Well, nobody asked any question concerning the sea border so, I will permit you then we can now go to the next Question standing in the name of Hon Comfort Doyoe Cudjoe Ghansah. After that, the Hon Second Deputy Speaker would take the Chair because I have to attend to some other commitments.
Mr Edwin Nii Lante Vanderpuye 1:24 p.m.
Mr
Speaker, I ask this question in a bit confused mood. With conditions prevalent right now, is it the fear or threat of insurgence of rebel activity that has kept the borders closed or is it COVID-19? The borders were closed due to COVID-19. If today, the seriousness of COVID-19 has gone down, is it still relevant for the borders to be closed or the fear of what is happening around West Africa is what is keeping our borders closed?
1.30 p.m. —
MR SECOND DEPUTY SPEAKER
Mr Dery 1:24 p.m.
Mr Speaker, historically, the
decision to close the land borders was first dictated by COVID-19, but as the security situation deteriorated and we saw certain movements that we needed to check, security then became part of the reasons.
Mr Speaker, you would recall that I was
earlier invited to this august House on the question of why officers of security agencies
had been moved to the borders. Certainly, if the motivation was merely COVID-19, then, what we needed was medical teams, and not security teams.
Mr Speaker, so security became part of the
reasons, but I would want to emphasise that it is not because of the fear of breach of security. We are not afraid as a collective body in the sub-region, but we are conscious of our obligations to our citizenry to protect them against the activities of a handful of extremists. It has become the case and I believe the Hon Member knows that the Gulf of Guinea itself has its own challenges that we need to work on, and which we are working on. We are not afraid; we are convinced that we would solve these problems as soon as possible.
Deputy Majority Leader (Mr Alexander
Afenyo-Markin): Mr Speaker, from the Hon Minister's Answer, is it the case that all steps are being taken to ensure that citizens living along the borders are not impoverished? The Hon Member was concerned about disruption in commercial and human activities because the borders have been closed. Are you saying that steps are being taken to ensure that citizens are not impoverished as a result of the border closure?
Mr Dery 1:24 p.m.
Mr Speaker, there are two major
things that guides us. The first is the security of the border communities. An enabling or conducive macro-environment for business is security. People must feel safe to go to their farms and move around. Then, there are the activities of the citizenry. Both are very important and we are doing the best we can in the circumstances to make good our obligations to our citizenry in that regard.
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 1:24 p.m.
Hon Member for Ada, Hon Doyoe Comfort Cudjoe, you may ask Question 540.
Measures to Address the Impersonation
of MPs and Ministers of State
Mrs Comfort Doyoe Cudjoe Ghansah
(NDC - Ada): Mr Speaker, I beg to ask the Hon Minister for the Interior measures put in place to address complaints filed at the police stations in relation to cybercrime and/or impersonation of Members of Parliament and/or Ministers of State on social media platforms leading to the defrauding of unsuspecting people.
Mr Dery 1:24 p.m.
Mr Speaker, the Police Admini-
stration, in collaboration with the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) and the support of Government of Ghana, has set up an ultramodern digital forensic laboratory at the Cybercrime Unit of the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) of the Ghana Police Service. The setting up of the forensic laboratory is to enable the Ghana Police Service deal effectively with emerging incidences of cyber fraud using name and identities of high- profiled personalities to defraud unsuspecting victims including the use of mobile money payment system.
Mr Speaker, the Police Administration has
additionally set up a special Cybercrime Investigation Section that handles cyber related offenses. There is also a Cyber Patrol Section which surf through the cyber space to detect and prevent any cybercrime activities.
Mr Speaker, it is pertinent to note that, a lot
of successes have been chalked in the fight
against cybercrime. Over two thousand (2000) Facebook accounts have been taken off over the last three years, and several arrests of suspects perpetrating those crimes have been made and prosecuted while others are at various stages of investigations.
Mr Speaker, I would like to advice the general public and especially high-profile personalities like my Hon Colleagues here to report to the Cybercrime Unit of the CID on any impersonation of their social media handle for immediate action.
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 1:24 p.m.
Hon Cudjoe Ghansah, any supplementary question?
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 1:34 p.m.
Hon Comfort Cudjoe, any supplementary question?
Mrs Comfort D. Cudjoe 1:34 p.m.
Mr Speaker, the Hon Minister has said that we should report any such incident to the Cybercrime Department of the Police. I myself arrested one with the help of my aid. I sent him to the Kotobabi Police Station on the 11th of January, 2020. They started working on it. I went to the Cybercrime Department of the Police Headquarters to inform them. Two years on, they are still investigating. Meanwhile, we arrested them with evidence and I handed over the culprit to the Police at Kotobabi Police Station. When I asked, they told me the Court had given a letter to MTN to provide more information. Apart from the evidence I gave them, I do not know what they are looking for from MTN. From 11th January, 2020 to date, they are still doing investigations.

Mr Speaker, I would want to ask the Hon

Minister, how long it will take them to finish

an investigation before prosecution because it

is long overdue. Myself, a woman managed to

arrest somebody who has impersonated me and

then I handed the person over to the Police and

they just make the case a useless one.
Mr Dery 1:34 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I would want to
assure my Hon Colleague that no Court has
said it is a useless case. We are not there yet,
but it is as a matter of concern that she says
since 11th January, 2020 -- First, I would like
you to understand that asking MTN to give
them some information might well be
necessary but it should not be the reason why
there should be such a delay.
As a matter of fact, the new IGP has said that
with cases that have delayed, a special
department has now been set up to deal with
those. So, I would like to know the name of
your suspect and to find out at what stage the
investigation is, but it is certainly not for us to
kill the matter because we are all not safe as far
as that is concerned. So, I would be glad to get
the name of your suspect and to deal with it,
and to draw the IGP's attention to the fact that this must be one of the cases that he set up the
Cold Cases Department to deal with and I am
sure we would make some progress. So, I am
expecting feedback from two Hon Members
with specific information in this regard.
Mrs Comfort D. Cudjoe 1:34 p.m.
Mr Speaker,
apart from the long answers the Hon Minister
gave and the paperwork, these impersonators
are still on social media, day-in and day-out,
especially during recruitment time using our
names and so many means to get money in our
names. And there is a whole set-up but we have
not seen on television or anywhere any day that
they have even moved in to arrest anybody by
themselves.
Mr Speaker, what is he putting in place to
make sure that the Police are up and doing to
make sure they arrest people who are
impersonating us? The poor people in the
villages are suffering in the hands of these
people. They send them messages requesting
GH₵500 for a form and they would send to them because they do not even have network
where they are to follow what is going on.
Mr Speaker, we should see more action from
that Department of the Police working on the
cybercrime. They should leave the offices and
make sure they track those people. We are
pleading.
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 1:34 p.m.
Hon
Member, are you advising or you are
questioning?
Mrs Comfort D. Cudjoe 1:34 p.m.
Mr Speaker, it is
a question. What are they putting in place for
the Police to come out of the office and do the
arrest themselves so that we do not go round
arresting people ourselves?
Mr Dery 1:34 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I understand the
concerns of my Hon Colleague. I am one of
those whose name is used and I sat in my office
and a number of people came and said they
have brought the money and I asked what
money it was. They responded that somebody
told them they should bring some amount of

money for recruitment. We all suffer it and I

share with her. What I take from her

intervention is that she wants to see concrete

evidence of what they are doing and I am

prepared to let them probably publish some of

the things. Those who have been sent to court,

convicted and sentenced. I know a number of

people have done that; we should have that and

I would be happy to cause them to let her know

that. But we should never give up. We should

continue, and I am fully with her on that matter.

All of us suffer it and the victims are our own

unsuspecting constituents who are being

exploited.

Mr Speaker, I can assure you that I

empathise with her but I still would want to

know the name of the suspect as my entry point

in meeting the IGP on this matter.
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 1:34 p.m.
Hon Doyoe,
are you not satisfied? You may take your final
question.
Mrs Comfort D. Cudjoe 1:34 p.m.
Mr Speaker, the
Hon Minister should assure us of the Police
Stations that receive cases and they do not just
take it seriously - They select which ones to take seriously and work on. They should assure
us so we know that the Hon Minister is serious
now or he should let us know the serious
measures put in place to deal with Police
Stations that receive cases and do not work on
them.
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 1:34 p.m.
Hon
Minister, assure us with measures.
Mr Dery 1:44 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I give the assurance
but not just in words. I can assure you that the
IGP is actually taking steps against policemen
and women who delay in these investigations.
I can assure you that that is happening and I
would emphasise that just as I told you that
there was a patrol section of the Cybercrime
Department, it is not to say that we are fully in
control. We are not. Of course, when she gives
me the name of the suspect, I would be able to
tell where it started. She said Kotobabi Police
Station and see how much delay was caused
there. The other thing we would have to
consider is probably to expand the Cybercrime
Department and make sure that they are
operating in more Police Stations because it is
possible several Police Stations do not have
that expertise and therefore when one goes to
report they might just record it as a normal
case.
These are all things that I could take up with
the IGP and I assure you that there would be
action.
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 1:44 p.m.
Hon Member
for Klottey Korle?
Dr Agyeman-Rawlings 1:44 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I
would like to inquire from the Hon Minister,
what has come of the list of names of Hon
Members of Parliament who are on social
media? Their accounts were meant to be
verified and we submitted all our details and
so, what has been done with regard to the
verification of our accounts to make it easier
for the fake accounts to be shutdown?

This is because our details were taken over a year ago and we still have not had any feedback. This would serve as a means of guiding the Police or the Cybercrime Unit on which accounts are fake.
Mr Dery 1:44 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I would want to
follow-up on that. As I stand here, I do not know the state of it but certainly, this is the step that should help in dealing with that. So, I would like to check on that with the IGP.
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 1:44 p.m.
Very well.
Hon Member for Keta?
Mr Kwame Dzudzorli Gakpey 1:44 p.m.
Mr
Speaker, cybercrime is a specialised area where only the Police Headquarters has a specialty in. I would like to find out from the Hon Minister, what plans he has with regard to cybercrime in the regional and divisional commands?
Mr Dery 1:44 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I think what the Hon
Member has raised is spot on. It is an expertise that is not widespread within the Police and that is why in one of my Answers, I said we need to look at it and see — now, with the swearing-in of the Board of the Cybercrime Authority last week, we should work together — that is a pervasive threat to the country and therefore, we would need equipment and also — but why not, I would consult if we can quickly do that. That is the problem we have that, knowledge is only within the Cybercrime Department.
As I stand here, I cannot mention the staff
strength, which is one of the things I need to check; how many people are involved and how well distributed they are?
Mr Speaker, that is a point we have to take very seriously to make all of us safe.
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 1:44 p.m.
Very well.
Hon Members, let us move to the Order
Paper Addendum where we have three Questions for the Hon Minister for the Interior. We would want to deal with that before — [Interruption] — So, let us come back to Question numbered 741.
Mr Kobena Mensah Woyome 1:44 p.m.
— rose —
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 1:44 p.m.
Question
numbered 741.
Hon Woyome, you have already asked your
Question. Is that not right?
Mr Woyome 1:44 p.m.
Mr Speaker, that was for a
different Question?
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 1:44 p.m.
Hon
Member, you may go on.
Measures to Curb the Proliferation of Illegal Arms and Ammunitions
Mr Kobena Mensah Woyome (NDC —
South Tongu): Mr Speaker, I beg to ask the Minister for the Interior, the measures put in place to get rid of the proliferation of illegal arms and ammunition, which are being used to perpetuate heinous crimes across the country.
Mr Dery 1:44 p.m.
Mr Speaker, it is an undeniable
fact that uncontrolled proliferation of small arms and light weapons into the country results in untold human suffering thus undermining development and socioeconomic growth. Crimes such as robberies, murders, rape, armed

violence, conflict, land and chieftaincy disputes are attributable to the easy access to illicit weapons. This serious situation calls for a concerted effort of all well-meaning Ghanaians to avert the social cost of proliferation and the misuse of small arms.

Mr Speaker, to address the situation, the

Police Administration in collaboration with

other security agencies and stakeholders such

as the National Commission on Small Arms

and Light Weapons have developed a strategy

to monitor, control, arrest and prosecute

persons involved in illicit arms transactions in

the country. The following measures have been

put in place to control the influx of illegal arms

into the country:

i) The employment of intelligence-led Police operations to search for and

recover illegal weapons. I can tell you

we are raking in a lot under this

operation.

ii) Stringent measures are in place at the various entry points to check illegal

firearms and detect concealed firearms

in shipment containers.

iii) There are efforts in place to mark all

category of weapons at the magazines of the security agencies in the country using the ECOWAS unique marking codes. This would make it easier for weapons to be identified and traced to a particular security agency in the event that such a weapon is found at any crime scene. This is aimed at improving the physical security and stockpile management of weapons and

prevent the temptation of elements within the security agencies from pilfering weapons belonging to the State.

iv) The laws which frown on manu-

facturing of arms are constantly monitored. Any blacksmith found to be manufacturing guns are not spared. The monitoring exercise has led to the arrest of some blacksmiths in the Eastern Region who were reported to have provided locally manufactured guns to armed robbers.

Mr Speaker, I must also indicate that the

National Commission on Small Arms and Light Weapons has been embarking on public education and sensitisation programmes to educate the citizenry on the dangers associated with the proliferation of weapons.

I take this opportunity to urge the public to

provide information to the Security agencies for swift intervention to arrest smugglers of small arms and light weapons and criminals in general. This will help in reducing the arm- related crimes in the country.
Mr Woyome 1:44 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I am aware of a
few occasions where some individuals claimed to have information on some of these things but I do not know — they would want some monetary inducement before they give out information as vital as this. I mean, some sort of incentive.
So, would the Hon Minster and Government
consider putting in place some incentives to motivate people to give vital information? It should not just be the expression of same

without carrying it out because we have witnessed occasions where people give vital information but have not been given what they have been promised.

Mr Speaker, would the Hon Minister

consider announcing that anyone who can

provide information that would lead to the

arrest of such people, would be rewarded so

and so? Would that not help?
Mr Dery 1:44 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I can confirm that
the IGP has put in place that system and
indeed, that is the approach that has helped
achieve the arrests we have made. Hon
Member, so, if you have anyone with vital
information, appropriately direct them and we
would ensure to connect them to the IGP, and
we would be prepared to motivate them.
Mr Woyome 1:54 p.m.
Mr Speaker, as part of their
measures, he indicated that by law, local
manufacturing of arms is not allowed.

So he identified that blacksmiths are

normally in the business of manufacturing

arms locally. Would it be prudent to initiate a

system where these local manufacturers are

identified, registered and their capacity built so

that they would be able to codify their

products? So that we can have a regime to

know how many of them have been produced

as well as the sale processes and so on, in a

manner that we could take stock of the

quantities, location and who possesses them

and so on, rather than banning them outrightly

because in actual fact they hide and

manufacture them.
Mr Dery 1:54 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I believe that I need
to engage with the National Commission on
Small Arms and Light Weapons on this matter,
but we have an idea of the blacksmiths who
produce some of these weapons. We would
have to engage them firstly before we would be
able to control them.
Mr Speaker, yes, I believe we can do that but
as I stand here, I need to find out from the
National Commission on Small Arms and
Light Weapons the extent to which that system
is working. I do not have the data now, but I
am sure that subsequently, I can get the data
from them.
Mr Woyome 1:54 p.m.
Mr Speaker, the education
aspect where the Hon Minister indicated the
work of the National Commission on Small
Arms and Light Weapons in building capacity
of the citizenry on the harmful effects of this is
very important, but I do not think that the
education is going down well. Probably, they
have not decentralised the education to the
various constituencies and districts where
many of these manufacturing and harmful
effects take place.
Mr Speaker, so how would the Hon Minister
ensure that the education would get to every
part of the country so that people can
appreciate the harmful nature and probably use
the law to regulate the process to achieve good
outcomes?
Mr Dery 1:54 p.m.
Mr Speaker, the National Commission on Small Arms and Light Weapons is decentralising because they are establishing a number of regional offices, so I

think that with this process, they would be able to increase their catchment areas I think they are working towards establishing offices in 11 regions but I would need to find out the progress so far. There is an agenda to do that, however, I cannot agree with the Hon Member more that the education is very important and so we have to do more than we are doing now.
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 1:54 p.m.
Hon Member
for Wa West?
Mr Peter L. Toobu 1:54 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I would
like to ask a follow-up question in relation to the proliferation of Small Arms and Light Weapons with regard to terrorism in the sub- region. Mr Speaker, it is good for us to buy guns manufactured by a white man but when a black man manufactures a gun then that is illegal and the person would be arrested or he would be asked to manufacture other things rather.
Mr Speaker, I would want to know from the
Hon Minister if he would consider making the local metal manufacturing industry a professional one so that weapons could be produced here and certified for use by the local people? Mr Speaker, this is a talent that cannot be killed so I would want to know from the Hon Minister?
Mr Dery 1:54 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I am not aware that
we have created the impression that guns produced by the white man or foreigners are admissible here except by permit. So, the Hon Member knows that even if he wants to buy a gun, he would have to apply to the Ministry of the Interior for us to deal with that.
Mr Speaker, that is why when Hon Woyome
raised the issue about the blacksmiths, I did not
say that they should not produce, but I said that we would need to register them to be able to monitor them and know how we can ensure going forward - Mr Speaker, just like those that are imported; if they are equally efficient then we would rather register them rather than kill the industry. However, let me emphasise that whether it is produced locally or by foreigners, all arms and light weapons are illegal except permit has been granted for the handling of same.
Mr Gakpey 1:54 p.m.
Mr Speaker, day-in and day-
out, a lot of illegal arms enter our country with
some already existent in the country. I would
want to know from the Hon Minister if he
would consider a moratorium of giving a grace
period in terms of controlling small arms in the
country? So, a moratorium should be given for
people to voluntarily register these arms so that
we would be able to track these arms as people
register them. Mr Speaker, rather than going
through a rigorous process, I wish if the Hon
Minister would allow for voluntary registration
for a specific period to serve as an intervention
for controlling these small arms and light
weapons? What is the Hon Minister's take on that?
Mr Dery 1:54 p.m.
Mr Speaker, the National
Commission on Small Arms and Light Weapons has done this before, so we need to let them tell us the outcome of that, then we can analyse and move forward scientifically. Much as I agree with the Hon Member because it is an attractive idea, but we must be careful not to set up a practice by which from time to time we would legitimise illegal importation of arms.
Mr Speaker, however, we have done this
before but I would need to find out what the

impact was before we can know how feasible and effective it would be. Mr Speaker, but what must be known is that if a person comes forward to register a weapon, we would not arrest that person simply because the person owns it. If a person offers to register we would not arrest the person but if the person does not offer to and is caught then that would be illegal possession.
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 1:54 p.m.
I would give
the last opportunity to the Hon Member for Klottey Korle.
Dr Agyeman-Rawlings 1:54 p.m.
Mr Speaker,
perhaps given his submission today, would the Hon Minister consider the local gun manufacturers creating a register of certified blacksmiths who manufacture weapons in the manner that we have the Medical Council and Traditional Medical Practitioners, in order that we can give them a formal means by which they can join a recognised group that may be legally accepted?
Mr Speaker, because a lot of them are in
hiding because of the fear of some action being taken against them. So with the submissions by the Hon Minister today, they are not being hunted — I beg your pardon - but there is nothing against them provided they are certified. So, would there be a register for them provided they fulfil a criteria for them to be recognised as local gun manufacturers?
Mr Dery 1:54 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I have taken note of
this intervention and we would continue to do what is being done under the National Com- mission on Small Arms and Light Weapons, but the timing now would not be right for us to open up as if we want to increase the manufacture of small arms. However, this is certainly an issue that we would need to
discuss with the National Commission on Small Arms and Light Weapons and that would be done at the appropriate time.
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 2:04 p.m.
Hon
Members, let us turn to the Order Paper Addendum. We have three Questions for the same Hon Minister, so he would answer them and we would say goodbye to him.
Let me invite the Hon Member for Tamale
Central, Mr Murtala Muhammed Ibrahim, to ask the Question.
URGENT QUESTIONS 2:04 p.m.
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 2:04 p.m.
Hon
Members, before the Hon Minister responds to the Question, let me indulge you to allow me extend Sitting beyond the normal time.
Hon Minister, you may now answer the
Question.
Minister for the Interior (Mr Ambrose
Dery) (MP): Mr Speaker, On 16" April, 2020 about 1700 hours, upon a complaint of stealing reported by one Bernard Wasa against Shadatu Mohammed Iddrisu of Changli,, No. 40906

D/Sgt. Felix Amuquandoh incharge No. 41440

D/Cpl. Simon Boamah, No. 6553 D/PW/Cpl.

Rita Aboagyewaa and No. 54895 D/Const.

Samuel Agyapong on board Service Vehicle

No. NR. 9997-19 driven by same Detective

Sergeant Felix Amuquandoh together with

complainant went to the house of suspect

Shadatu Mohammed Iddrisu to affect her

arrest. The suspect was met in her house and

was arrested and handcuffed. A young man

believed to be the son of the suspect emerged

at the scene and mobilised other residents of

Changli numbering about five hundred (500).

They attacked the Police and tried to free the

suspect from lawful custody. The rampaging

youth then pounced on the Police officers and

beat them to pulp, resulting in D/PW/Rita

Aboagyewaa falling unconscious and pushed

into a gutter. The youth then escaped with the

suspect under handcuffs.

3. A distress call was made to the Control

Room and reinforcement team

dispatched to the scene. They managed

to rescue the Police victims and took

to Tamale Teaching Hospital for

treatment where she was admitted for

72 hours and issued with Police

Medical form.

4. No. 40906 D/Sgt. Felix Amuquandoh,

who sustained several injuries were also

treated at the Tamale Teaching Hospital

and discharged. Afterwards Police

Medical Report Forms were issued to

them and same were endorsed by the

medical officers at the hospital.

5. On 17th April, 2020, at about 1000 hours,

the Assemblyman of Changli Electoral

Area, Hon. Ibrahim brought in suspect

Shadatu Mohammed Iddrisu who had

been rescued by the mob with the

handcuffs to the Tamale Central Police

Station. She was rearrested, cautioned

with the offence of Assault on Public

Officer and Resisting arrest and she was

detained to assist with investigations.

Suspect was put before the District

Court and the case is still on-going.

6. On 18th April, 2020, at 0300 hours, the

Police conducted a swoop at Changli

where the four Police officers were

attacked. Four persons namely Black

Jesus, Choolo, More Money and Palaia

were identified as the ring leaders who

instigated the attack on the Police

officers. The four suspects were put

before the court awaiting the full

recovery of the policewoman who was

injured during the incident to testify as

a prosecuting witness.

7. Same day, information received by the

Police Command indicated that the

residents of Changli Community were

attacking Police officers and other

tribes who were not indigenes. Based on

this information, Police dispatched men

to the area to restore peace. Upon seeing

the arrival of Police, the residents pelted

the Police officers with stones and other

offensive implements. The Police who

were surrounded by the crowd fired

warning shots to disperse the noxious

mob.

8. On 20th April, 2020, one Mohammed

Kamil Baba a journalist reporting for

TV Africa in Tamale later came to the

Police Station and reported that he was

at the scene covering the incident when

he was hit by an object believed to be a

pellet. He was issued with Police

Medical Form to attend hospital and

return same endorsed by a medical

officer; the case is still under

investigation.

9. The case docket has been forwarded to

the Attorney General's Department for

advice.
Mr M. M. Ibrahim 2:04 p.m.
Mr Speaker, when I
was listening to the Hon Minister, I was
wondering whether the report was actually
written on a different planet? As a matter of
fact, the gentleman who was paralysed as a
result of the brutalisation of the Police in
Changli is not even an indigene. So, for a report
to state that there was evidence that the
residence in Changli were attacking non-
indigenes, I think it is absolutely bizarre and
unacceptable. The gentleman who is paralysed
and whose only crime was that he was living in
Changli at the time —
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 2:04 p.m.
Hon
Member, frame your question.
Mr M. M. Ibrahim 2:04 p.m.
Mr Speaker, the Hon
Minister gave the background and I am also
giving the background.
Mr Speaker, my question is simple 2:04 p.m.
if someone was suspected to have manhandled police officers, the Police has the capacity to arrest the person, conduct their investigations, and gather their intelligence to arrest the person. In the Hon Minister's response, he has indicated that the Assemblyman brought the suspect to the Police. Clearly, it tells that the residents in that area are reasonable beings and the brutalisation did not happen at just one area. Changli is a residence of thousands of people. Several homes were entered into. A school bus was vandalised by men in uniform —
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 2:04 p.m.
Hon Murtala Ibrahim, the Hon Minister is here to answer your questions, but it seems you are running a commentary. Just ask the question for the Hon Minister to answer. So, frame all that you are saying in a question so he answers.
Mr M. M. Ibrahim 2:04 p.m.
Mr Speaker, if the Hon Minister in his response had said that investigation was ongoing — but the Hon Minister gave us a background, then it is appropriate that for me to ask the question, I need to give the background.
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 2:04 p.m.
So, come out with the question.
Mr M. M. Ibrahim 2:04 p.m.
Mr Speaker, my question is: what was the crime of even the school bus which was vandalised by men in uniform? Was he told, as the Hon Minister for the Interior, that the Police entered into people's rooms? Some of the people were molested in their bedrooms. Was the Hon Minister informed?
Mr Dery 2:14 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I would want to state
it clearly that at no point in my Answer did I
refer to any people as being unreasonable; I did
not. What I said was that the docket has been
forwarded to the Hon Attorney-General and
Minister for Justice for advice. That is where it
is now. So, no charges have come out yet as to
who has done what.
Mr Speaker, in my Answer, I told the Hon
Member that a journalist of TV Africa came
out and also made an allegation. The matter has
been referred to the Hon Attorney-General and
Minister for Justice for advice. I would entreat
the Hon Member to wait for the outcome of the
advice, which will then tell us who did what.
So far, this statement does not convict anybody
of any wrongdoing.
Mr M. M. Ibrahim 2:14 p.m.
Mr Speaker, it has
been almost two years. As the representative of
the people, I know a gentleman who - by the way is not an indigene - who is paralysed as a result of those who have sworn an oath to
protect lives and property; those people whose
comfort and safety are ensured by the taxes of
the residents of Changli. That gentleman has
been paralysed for almost two years and the
response we get is that it is being investigated.
Mr Speaker, when will the investigation be
completed?
Mr Dery 2:14 p.m.
Mr Speaker, the Hon Member has
got it wrong. The investigation has ended and
the docket has been sent to the Attorney-
General's Department.
Mr Speaker, I can understand the concerns
and feelings of the Hon Member, but his
residents should be told that, now, the matter is
at the Attorney-General's Department. The investigations have been completed, so there is
progress.
Mr Speaker 2:14 p.m.
Hon Member, your last
supplementary question?
Mr M. M. Ibrahim 2:14 p.m.
Mr Speaker, the
residents who are watching us would want to
know what happens to those victims
occasioned by the action of the police officers.
In the Hon Minister's response, he told us that those people were arrested for allegedly
manhandling the police officers. What has
been the state of the officers who brutalised the
victims?
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 2:14 p.m.
Hon
Minister, are you minded to answer the
question?
Mr Dery 2:14 p.m.
Mr Speaker, the matter is at the
Office of the Attorney-General and Minister of
Justice of Ghana. I cannot make any comment
on it. There is no outcome of the advice.
Whether people have been injured or not, all
that could be contained in the advice.
Mr Speaker, I think that the work of the Hon
Minister for the Interior is suspended until after
the advice of the Attorney-General and
Minister for Justice. However, I can assure the
Hon Member that the Police have taken steps
to deal with any officer who has gone against
the law, and the Hon Member will see in some
of the Answers that I will give to him. The

matter is has not been determined and

everybody is presumed innocent until

convicted. When convicted, all those who have

been adversely affected by the actions,

appropriate decisions will be taken by a court

of competent jurisdiction.
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 2:14 p.m.
Hon Murtala
Ibrahim, there is another Question which
stands in your name on the Order Paper
Addendum. Question numbered (ii) —
Some Hon Members — rose —
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 2:14 p.m.
Hon Members, this is constituency-specific
Question. The Question is on Tamale Central - it does not matter. Hon Bawa, I will not give
you the opportunity.
Hon Murtala Ibrahim, you may ask your
second Question.
Mr M. M. Ibrahim 2:14 p.m.
Mr Speaker, we would
still want to know the brutalisation of the
people by the Police.
State of Investigation in the Alleged
Molestation of Residents of Nakpanzoo
Mr M. M. Ibrahim 2:14 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I beg to
ask the Minister for the Interior the state of the
investigation in the alleged molestation of
residents of Nakpanzoo in the Tamale
Metropolitan Assembly in the year 2021.
By the way, it was captured on national
television and social media.
Mr Dery 2:14 p.m.
Mr Speaker, just on the lighter side, I would want my Brother to know that what comes on television and social media belongs to the Hon Minister for Information, but I would give him the Answer so that he sees what we have done.
On 21st September, 2021, at about 0900hrs,
the Northern Regional Police Command intercepted three separate video recordings circulating on social media which showed some Police Officers from the Regional Police Command molesting suspects arrested for illegally connecting electricity to their houses in some parts of Tamale. The Regional Command therefore, commenced investigation into the issue.
The videos were carefully examined by the
Command and four police personnel of the Regional Counter Terrorism Unit (RCTU) Tamale were identified. On 21st September, 2021, four officers identified on the video assaulting the suspects (victims) were interdicted and currently facing Police administrative disciplinary procedure.
On 21st September, 2021 at about 2130hrs,
the Regional Police Commander, visited the victims and extended to them an unconditional apologies on behalf of the Inspector-General of Police (IGP) and the Police Administration. A team of clinical Psychologists dispatched by the IGP from Police Headquarters, Accra also offered counseling services to the victims and their families.
FINDINGS:
i. The duty was lawful. A complaint was
filed by VRA/NedCo officials including Samuel Marvelous Kumi

(Loss Control Supervisor for VRA/NedCo) and Emmanuel Ofori (Security Officer, VRA/NedCo) at the RCID (see RCID station diary entry serial number 15 of 20 September, 2021) and the officers were detailed to effect the arrest of the suspects identified.

ii. Eight Police Officers comprising two detectives and six RCTU Officers were

detailed to assist the NedCo officials

trace and arrest the suspects identified.

iii. During the arrest of the suspects, four RCTU Officers subjected the suspects

under arrest to whipping with wire

embedded in rubber cables.

iv. The apparatus (wire embedded in rubber cables) used by the officers to

whip the suspects is not Police

accoutrement as such its use was

unlawful.

v. Seven victims suffered the abuses of the officers but one of them decided not to

cooperate with investigations leaving

six persons on record to have suffered

at the hands of the Police.

vi. From the medical reports of victims, it is evident that all the six victims

suffered various degrees of bodily harm

as a result of assault meted out to them

by the officers. However, only three

victims are directly linked to the scene.

vii. Four RCTU men have been identified

responsible for the assault on the

victims. They include 45895 G/Cpl. Foster Mensah, No.55909 G/Constable Mohammed Abass, No.56510 G/Constable James Magyida Zulikeful, and No. 56515 G/Constable Isaac Amoabeng Bimpong.

viii. The actions of the officers during the arrest of the suspects amount to miscon- duct and they have therefore been interdicted to enable disciplinary action to be taken.

Mr Speaker, I thank you.
Mr M. M. Ibrahim 2:24 p.m.
Mr Speaker, it is interesting that with the second incident, they only saw the need to go and provide psychological attention to the victims, yet with the Changli one, even though some are paralysed, the Police did not see the need to do so. Mr Speaker, what steps is the Ministry taking to ensure that occurrences such as this are not repeated?
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 2:24 p.m.
Hon Minister, hold on.
Hon Member, is this in respect of the previous Question or this particular Question?
Mr M. M. Ibrahim 2:24 p.m.
Mr Speaker, no, it is in respect of this particular Question.
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 2:24 p.m.
Very well.
I overheard you re-visiting the - Very well. Hon Minister, let us hear you.
Mr Dery 2:24 p.m.
Mr Speaker, as has been stated in
the response, the Police administration itself
found the behaviour of the officers unaccep-
table. It was clearly a misconduct. They are
going through disciplinary action, and at the
end of it, I am sure that if appropriate and
further action is needed, it would accordingly
be dealt with.
Mr Speaker, however, I would want to
emphasise that the Ministry is very clear in its
mind that the police officers are supposed to
protect the citizenry and respect their human
rights. Therefore, when they clearly do
something that is out of order, it is dealt with.
We do not need any promptings from anybody
to deal with that, and I can assure the Hon
Member that whatever needs to be done would
be done. Again, I would want the Hon Member
to know that nobody would overlook the plight
of his constituents who were unfairly treated by
security officers of this country. They would be
dealt with according to law.
Mr M. M. Ibrahim 2:24 p.m.
Mr Speaker, the people
of Changli have been overlooked. I would want
to know from the Hon Minister when he would
come and tell this House about the conclusion
of the investigation in the matter?
[Interruption] - The Hon Minister indicated that the investigation is on-going, and that
there have been some police officers identified
to have occasioned the inhuman treatment that
was given to those people in my constituency.
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 2:24 p.m.
Hon
Member, go on. Just put out your question.
Mr M. M. Ibrahim 2:24 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I would
want to know when that investigation would be
concluded, and as to whether the people of
Nkpanzoo would be informed? This incident
attracted the attention of everybody in Tamale.
It is therefore appropriate that we inform the
people when the investigations would be
completed, and as to what actions would be
taken against those officers.
Mr Dery 2:24 p.m.
Mr Speaker, this is action being
taken by the Police, and I believe that they are
on the right path. The said officers are facing
disciplinary action now. The Police has found
out that the accoutrement they used were
unlawful. They have found out that what they
did was wrong, so they have interdicted them,
and action is being taken. This is within the
remit of IGP. The Executive would not
interfere in this matter, except to ensure that the
right thing is done. So, currently, disciplinary
action is being taken and when it ends, I believe
the important thing would be to let the
constituents of the Hon Member know the facts
as he has raised the issues, so that they can see
the outcome quickly. I believe it would help all
of us if it happens that way; however, I cannot
usurp the functions of the IGP to give deadlines
here, except to say that we would insist that
they do it expeditiously, and the result would
be made known. Beyond that, I cannot give any
further details.
Mr M. M. Ibrahim 2:24 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I do not
know whether the Hon Minister actually
listened to me? I can understand that he may be
a bit tired, but I never said or suggested that he
should interfere in the investigation that is on-
going. This is something that affected the

whole community. People are extremely angry

and they would want to know when the

investigation would be completed. As part of

our transparent and accountable governance,

they ought to be informed. At the stage that the

Hon Minister is, if —
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 2:24 p.m.
Hon
Member, you have just asked this question.
Mr M. M. Ibrahim 2:24 p.m.
Mr Speaker, his
response is eliciting this question.
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 2:24 p.m.
So, this
would be your last supplementary question.
Mr M. M. Ibrahim 2:24 p.m.
Mr Speaker, that
would be fine.
Mr Speaker, I am saying that the people
want to know the outcome. So, my question is
simple: with the stage and the outcome of the
investigation that is being done, as the Hon
Minister for the Interior, can he not ask the
Police to give him information for and on
behalf of the people of Nakpanzoo? That is my
question.
Mr Dery 2:24 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I take exception to
the insinuation by my Hon Colleague that he
thinks there is something wrong with me.
There is nothing wrong with me, and I
seriously take exception to that. The Hon
Member should listen carefully and report it as
such. I have not said that they are still
investigating. I said that the people are facing
disciplinary action. The Hon Member needs to
check his knowledge about the procedures
before he says anything. They are not
investigating. They have investigated and have
found out that there was a misconduct;
therefore, the officers are facing disciplinary
action.
Mr Speaker, I would want the Hon Member
to know that it is a constitutional provision for
the IGP to be in charge of operational matters,
and I respect the 1992 Constitution. I cannot
therefore come now and expose deadlines and
the content of that investigation. The Hon
Member should please know that a disciplinary
action is on-going, and when it is finished, the
IGP would let us know of the outcome. I
respect the 1992 Constitution, so I would not
do anything beyond that.
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 2:24 p.m.
Hon Murtala,
Hon Member for Tamale Central, you may turn
to the Question numbered (iii) on the Order

Mr Suhuyini A. Sayibu — rose —
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 2:24 p.m.
I said this is
a constituency-specific Question.
Mr Sayibu 2:24 p.m.
Mr Speaker, respectfully, I did
not rise on the first one because it was a Tamale
Central Question. However, the second
Question is a Tamale Metropolitan Area
Question.
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 2:24 p.m.
All right,
Hon Member, you may go on.
Mr Sayibu 2:24 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I thank you very
much.

Mr Speaker, I wish to find this out from the Hon Minister, even as I do not wish to speak to the constituency-specific Question, whether he notices a pattern of such molestations in Tamale? The third question would bear this observation out. I would want to know if the Hon Minister notices a pattern of such molestations, and if such molestations, in his view, perhaps, can be reduced? I would want to know if the Northern Regional Area could have a Police Training School? I do not want to be specific about the people who, in the Hon Minister's Answers, are responsible for some of these molestations; the police officers especially. Could it be a problem of cultural misfits or lack of appreciation of the dynamics and culture of the area that results in some of these clashes, and if it is possible, the setting up of a Police Training School that would enable —
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 2:24 p.m.
Hon
Member, please give out your question.
Mr Sayibu 2:24 p.m.
Mr Speaker, the question is to
ask the Hon Minister if he thinks it is reasonable - I would want to ask if he has noticed a pattern of these molestations, and if that pattern can be checked with, for example, the introduction of a Police Training School that would allow for people from all walks of life, who want to be police officers to be trained in that Region and perhaps, understand better how to relate with the people in that area?
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 2:34 p.m.
Mr Speaker, may
I draw attention to Standing Order 67(1)(e) which reads:
“(1) Questions must comply with the following conditions —
(e) A Question shall not solicit the
expression of an opinion or the solution of an
abstract legal case or a hypothetical
proposition”.
Mr Speaker, clearly, the Hon Member is
soliciting the personal opinion relating to an
abstract matter.
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 2:34 p.m.
It is well
noted. Hon Minister, are you minded to answer
the question?
Mr Dery 2:34 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I am not about to, as
it were, label any area with a problem or
solution. Tamale is a city, and it is the capital
of the Region I come from and therefore,
should be respected as any other city. In this
matter, it is clear that the police have done
something wrong, and it is clearly being taken
care of. The outcome can be what can cause a
comment in one way or the other if it does not
turn out to be what is expected for people who
make mistakes. That is a different matter.
On the point of a police training school in
Tamale, if the Hon Member has land and wants
one to be open, he may as well make that
proposition. For instance, we have a police
training school 100 miles north at Pwalugu. Mr
Speaker, if you read this particular report, it is
not exactly the case that the offending police
officers are from one side. There are two names
there that sound quite familiar. I would want to
make it clear that every security personnel
must live up to expectation no matter who they

are, and every Ghanaian is entitled to the

protection of his or her human rights no matter

who he or she is. There should be no

discrimination; there must be equality before

the law. I can assure the Hon Member that he

would find justice in this matter.
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 2:34 p.m.
Hon Murtala
Ibrahim, you may ask your last Question - Question (iii) on the Order Paper Addendum.
Mr M. M. Ibrahim 2:34 p.m.
Mr Speaker, if my
senior Hon Colleague feels unhappy about the
fact that I said he was tired, I am sorry. It is just
that I noticed the tiredness in him and his
response.
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 2:34 p.m.
Hon Murtala
Ibrahim, just go on to ask your Question.
State of Investigation into the Lamashegu
Shooting
Mr Murtala Muhammed Ibrahim (NDC
- Tamale Central): Mr Speaker, I beg to ask the Minister for the Interior the state of the
investigation on a matter of the police shooting
at the residents of Lamashegu on 13th February,
2022.
On 13th February, 2022, there was a shooting incident at the Lamashegu Chief's Palace between 12:30 and 1:00pm involving No. 46497 G/CPL Sampson Kwaku, leader, of the Police Patrol Team in which one Abdul
Rahman Abdul Jabir was shot in the waist. As a result of that incident, the youth of Lamashegu attacked the Lamashegu Divisional Police Headquarters amidst throwing of stones and other offensive objects.
A police reinforcement team was called to the
Lamashegu Divisional Police Headquarters where warning shots were fired to disperse the crowd. Abdul Hakim Yakubu was hit by a stray bullet and later died at the Tamale Teaching Hospital. Six others who sustained bullet wounds were also rushed to the Tamale
Teaching Hospital. Three of the victims namely; Abdul Rahman Abdul Jabir, Amin Mohammed Tawfik and Alhassan Yussif are still on admission responding to treatment, whilst Ibrahim Alhassan, Abdulai Wahab and Abdul Rashid Karim were treated and
discharged.
2. On 14th February 2022, a Team of Investigators comprising Crime Scene
Management and Ballistic Experts from the CID Headquarters led by Deputy Director-General/CID, DCOP, Mr. Frederick Kwadwo Agyei arrived in Tamale for investigations.
3. On 15th February, 2022 post mortem examination was performed on the body of the deceased Abdul Hakim Yakubu by the Pathologist, Professor
Edmund Muonir of Tamale Teaching Hospital. The body has since been released to the bereaved family for burial.
On same day, a Team from the Police Professional Standards Bureau arrived in Tamale to investigate the professional conduct of the police personnel.
4. No. 46497 G/CPL Sampson Kwaku

Darfour was put before the Tamale Circuit Court where he was remanded into Custody to re-appear on Thursday, 24th February 2022. On same day, G/L/CPL Richard Memonu alias Manney Koranteng who used abusive words on the Chief and people of Lamashegu on his Facebook account was also put before the Circuit Court. He was granted bail in the sum of GH¢5000.00 with two sureties for him to re-appear on Monday, 28th February 2022. Meanwhile, disciplinary action is being taken against the two (2) Policemen for misconduct in addition to the on-going criminal prosecution.

5. The case is still under investigation.
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 2:34 p.m.
Hon Murtala Ibrahim, do you want to ask a supplementary question?
Mr M. M. Ibrahim 2:34 p.m.
I would want my uncle to sit first; I do not want him to get tired — [Interruption.] The Speaker has not given you the Floor.
Mr Dery 2:34 p.m.
I insist that you withdraw it.
Mr M. M. Ibrahim 2:34 p.m.
Respect the Speaker.
Mr Dery 2:34 p.m.
I take exception to those allegations of suggesting that I am tired. It is unprofessional and unparliamentary. What attitude is that?
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 2:34 p.m.
Hon Murtala Ibrahim, I asked you to ask your supple- mentary question. Go straight to the question.
Mr M. M. Ibrahim 2:34 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I
withdraw and apologise. I did not mean any
harm. He is my uncle.
Mr Speaker, it looks as if there is a pattern.
In all these incidents, live bullets were used. Is
it appropriate for police officers to use live
bullets which occasioned the loss of the life of
a young man, Abdul Hakim, who, by now,
would have been checking his Basic Education
Certificate Education (BECE) results? It is not
just in Lamashegu; we have seen a pattern of
such incidents happening where live bullets are
used.
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 2:34 p.m.
Hon
Minister, the question is on the pattern that the
police have been using live bullets.
Mr Dery 2:44 a.m.
Mr Speaker, pattern of using live
bullets? I have not seen that pattern of the
police using live bullets. I have seen in this
case the use of live bullets which is
inappropriate. For that one, I accept, but if he
says it is a pattern - if the police use live bullets, there are standard operating procedures
they must apply. Let us not get into this matter.
Where was the person hit? All that would be
taken into consideration and action would be
taken. In this case, we have taken them in two
fronts: criminal prosecution and professional
one and we would ensure that is done. Are the
Police equipped to deal with situations without
live bullets? Yes! We have rubber bullets that
we can use and other non-violent equipment
that we can use. This has been an unfortunate

incident and we are dealing with it as seriously

as we can on the two fronts. But I cannot say

that there is a pattern of reckless use of live

bullets. No!
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 2:44 a.m.
Hon
Member, this is the last opportunity I am giving
to you.
Mr M. M. Ibrahim 2:44 a.m.
Mr Speaker, I thought
my reference to a pattern —
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 2:44 a.m.
I am saying
this is your last question.
Mr M. M. Ibrahim 2:44 a.m.
Mr Speaker, I agree.
Techiman South, Ablekuma, Odododiodio and
Changli are classical examples. So, if these
cannot be qualified to be a pattern, then what
else can? Ejura is a classical example. So, Mr
Speaker, there is a pattern and in all these
incidences, people demonstrated and the Police
ought to understand that they swear an oath to
protect lives and properties. This trigger-happy
Police force does not help us and the Police.
Mr Speaker, my last question is that the
people of Lamashegu and Tamale Metro would
want to know when this investigation would be
completed? The reason they want to know is
because of the example in Changli and
Nankpanzoo. When would this investigation
end so that appropriate sanctions or actions
would be taken by the Police force under the
supervision of the Minister for the Interior?
Mr Dery 2:44 a.m.
Mr Speaker, the Ghana Police
Service now has got the best record in the history of this country, in managing demonstrations. [Interruption] — Yes, we
have given permission to all to demonstrate and we have ensured that the Police protect those demonstrating. We started under the former IGP with the “Fix The Country Demonstration” until date. The Ghana Police Service has a good record of protecting protestors and making sure that the right things have been done.
Mr Speaker, the Hon Member and I have different concepts of investigation. He chooses to use investigation when a docket is with the Attorney-General; I do not. He chooses to use investigation when people are before court; I do not. We have different views.
Now, Mr Speaker, I am answering this Question and he should not be importing extraneous material into it.
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 2:44 a.m.
Hon Minister, on behalf of the House, I would like to thank you for attending upon the House to answer eight separate Questions. You are hereby discharged.
Hon Members, let us now invite the Hon Minister for Sanitation and Water Resources to also answer questions from Hon Members.
The first Question stands in the name of the Member for Upper Manya Krobo, Hon Bismark Tetteh Nyarko.
These Questions are also not going to attract any supplementary questions from other Members aside from the owners of the Questions.
Hon Member, let us hear you.
MINISTRY OF SANITATION AND 2:44 a.m.
WATER RESOURCES 2:44 a.m.
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 2:44 a.m.
Hon
Member, any follow up question?
Mr Bismark Nyarko 2:44 a.m.
Mr Speaker, yes, my
question is to seek government plans on nearby
communities and Asesewa. The Minister has
given us that of government plans for the other
communities but nothing on Asesewa. I would
want to draw the Hon Minister's attention if she has any government plans to extend water
to Asesewa as well?
Ms Dapaah 2:44 a.m.
Mr Speaker, definitely. I added
all these communities as an additional water
supply.
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 2:44 a.m.
Hon Teye,
the owner of the Question is even up and you
are still —
Yes, Hon Member, let me hear you on your
last follow up question.
Mr Bismark Nyarko 2:44 a.m.
Mr Speaker, I have
two supplementary questions.
Mr Speaker, when you look at the Official
Report of Parliament on Thursday, 1st June,
2006, column 464, paragraph 1, it indicates
that communities between the Volta Lake and
where the treatment plant is situated would
have to be connected to water. As I speak with
you now, none of these communities have been
connected.
I would want to ask the Minister whether
those communities would be added to the
extension project that Ghana Water Company
has embarked on?
Ms Dapaah 2:44 a.m.
Mr Speaker, I have taken the
information and definitely, since we are
implementing the Project in phases, we would
look at that.
Mr Bismark Nyarko 2:44 a.m.
Mr Speaker, the very
last one.
Mr Speaker, the laying of pipelines as stated
by the Minister started in 2015 and completed
in 2016. That is what we are told that it is phase
I. Since then, nothing has been done on that
Project.
I would want to ask the Minister the
timelines if any on the phase II or the
continuation of phase I which involves the
laying of pipelines from Otrokper to
Asaasehene?
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 2:44 a.m.
Hon
Minister, any timelines?
Ms Dapaah 2:44 a.m.
Mr Speaker, we are having the
phase I now. Definitely, the phase II will come
on board but I cannot, as I stand here, give the
timelines yet.
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 2:44 a.m.
Very well.
Hon Terlabi? This is constituency specific.
Anyway, let me give you the opportunity.
Mr Ebenezer Okletey Terlabi 2:54 p.m.
Mr
Speaker, this issue borders Upper Manya,
Lower Manya and Yilo. The Bukunor Dam is
situated within this enclave.
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 2:54 p.m.
Hon Member that is why I have given you the opportunity.
Mr Terlabi 2:54 p.m.
Mr Speaker, thank you very much.
Insofar as I know, the first phase was supposed to include extension of water to Obokua where we have the new Senior High School (SHS). The pipes were procured and have been lying there for almost five years now. The last time I checked, the Dade Mantses in the communities told me that some workers from the Ghana Water and Sewerage Corporation have been coming for pipes and it is gradually getting finished.
Mr Speaker, may I know from the Hon Minister, if that project would still be considered under what she has just told us?
Ms Dapaah 2:54 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I would crave your indulgence and find out the current situation. I did say that 16.6kms of pipelines have been laid and so, I would look at it to find out if these ones were part of the pipelines used and then replace for the continuation of the project.
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 2:54 p.m.
Hon Members, let us move to Question numbered 296 which stands in the name of Hon Member for Bunkpurugu Constituency; Mr Abed-Nego Bandim.
Hon Member, you may ask your Question.
Mr Abed-Nego Bandim Azumah 2:54 p.m.
Mr Speaker, the constituency is B-u-n-k-p-u-r-u- g-u.
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 2:54 p.m.
Very well.
Mr Bandim Azumah 2:54 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I know
you have always had difficulty in pronouncing
it.
Connection to Bunkpurugu Water
System
Mr Abed-Nego Bandim Azumah (NDC - Bunkpurugu) Mr Speaker, I beg to ask the
Hon Minister for Sanitation and Water
Resources when the rest of the Bunkpurugu
Township and its environs will be connected to
the Bunkpurugu Community Water System.
Ms Dapaah 2:54 p.m.
Mr Speaker, the Bunkpurugu
Township is provided with a Small Town
Water System constructed under the Northern
Region Small Towns Water and Sanitation
(NORST) Project in 2014. The System is
currently being managed by the community,
with technical support from the Bunkpurugu-
Nakpanduri District Assembly.
Mr Speaker, it is worth mentioning that the
Community Water and Sanitation Agency
(CWSA), under its Policy Reforms, agreed
with the Community and the District Assembly
to take over the responsibility of the Water
System in 2018 to rehabilitate the six boreholes
serving the water system and expand supply to
improve water delivery service to the
Community. After the CWSA had carried out
the rehabilitation works, there were agitations
from the community, resulting in the
community taking over the management of the
facility again. Mr Speaker, by the close of
2020, the Water System in Bunkpurugu was in
severe crises due to poor management,
frequent pipe bursts, inability to pay electricity
bills and long down-times. Consequently, the
chiefs, elders and other stakeholders appealed
to the CWSA again for support. The Agency
subsequently carried out an assessment and
found out that an estimated amount of
GH₵3,500,000.00 was required to repair the damage and extend the pipe networks to
unserved areas in the community.
Mr Speaker, the Ministry of Sanitation and
Water Resources through the Community
Water and Sanitation Agency has made
provisions in the 2022 budget to enable the
CWSA repair the damage and extend the pipe
network to unserved areas in the community.
Mr Speaker, it must be emphasised that the
Community Water and Sanitation Agency will
go through the necessary transition arrange-
ments and take over the management of the
Water System to sustain it.
Mr Bandim Azumah 2:54 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I am
very grateful for the provision of historic
information and the plans that she intends to
embark upon.
However, my question was, what the
timelines are, in ensuring that other com-
munities get connected?
Ms Dapaah 2:54 p.m.
Mr Speaker, as soon as the
transition arrangements of takeovers are
carried out. This is because without that I
cannot promise any timelines.
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 2:54 p.m.
Very well.

Hon Member, your last supplementary

question.
Mr Bandim Azumah 2:54 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I
thought I had two more follow-up questions.
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 2:54 p.m.
Hon
Member, you have already asked two
supplementary questions. So this is your last
one.
Mr Azumah 2:54 p.m.
Mr Speaker, this is my first
and so, I have two questions.
May I know from the Hon Minister, the
nature of the problem because they require
about GH₵3.5million to be able to repair and connect to other communities. I know that as at
the day before yesterday, they pumped water - it is only yesterday and today that water did not
flow and so, if water is flowing, what is the
nature of the problem that they require that
amount of money to work on?
Ms Dapaah 2:54 p.m.
Mr Speaker, the works involve
laying of pipelines as well, hence the amount
of GH₵3,500,000.00.
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 2:54 p.m.
Hon
Member, would you move to Question
numbered 297 which again stands in your
name?
Addressing the Water Supply Problem
of the Bunkpurugu-Nakpanduri District
Mr Abed-Nego Bandim Azumah
(Bunkpurugu): Mr Speaker, I beg to ask the
Hon Minister for Sanitation and Water
Resources what plans the Ministry has in place
to address the water supply problem of the
Bunkpurugu-Nakpanduri District, especially
the remote communities within the district.
Ms Dapaah 2:54 p.m.
Mr Speaker, Bunkpurugu and
Binde are communities within the
Bunkpurugu-Nakpanduri District which are
supplied with safe water from Small Town
Water Systems. Five other communities within
the District are served with potable water from
Limited Mechanised Water Systems. Further-
more, majority of the remaining communities
have access to hand pump boreholes.
Mr Speaker, in view of population growth,
the water facilities cannot meet the current
water demand. Consequently, the Community
Water and Sanitation Agency (CWSA) in
collaboration with the Bunkpurugu-
Nakpanduri District Assembly have earmarked
the communities without access to safe water
as first priority for future water supply project
in the District.
Mr Speaker, moreover, the Ministry of
Sanitation and Water Resources through the
Community Water and Sanitation Agency has
made provision in the 2022 budget to enable
the Community Water and Sanitation Agency
provide new water facilities for Communities
without access to safe water supply.
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 2:54 p.m.
Hon Bandim,
any supplementary question?
Mr Bandim Azumah 2:54 p.m.
Mr Speaker, yes.
Again, the Hon Minister has indicated that certain communities have been earmarked to be considered for future water supply. May I

find out from the Hon Minister, the timelines once more because she stated; ‘future water supply project in the District'. When she says; ‘future', what is the specific timeframe?
Ms Dapaah 2:54 p.m.
Mr Speaker, since we have provision within the Budget Statement, I dare say, it would not take too long. So, I can provide the timelines to the Hon Member when we get them ready.
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 2:54 p.m.
Hon Bandim, any further supplementary questions?
Mr Bandim Azumah 3:04 p.m.
Mr Speaker, the Hon Minister mentioned that some communities would be considered or earmarked to benefit from the project. May I know these communities since I am their representative?
Ms Dapaah 3:04 p.m.
Mr Speaker, we have mandated the Community Water and Sanitation Agency (CWSA) to work with the assemblies so when the list is ready it would be provided.
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 3:04 p.m.
Hon Members, Question numbered 302 standing in the name of the Hon Member for Yilo Krobo, Mr Albert Tetteh Nyakotey.
Completion of the Water Extension Project
(Yilo Krobo Constituency)
Mr Albert Tetteh Nyakotey (NDC - Yilo Krobo) 3:04 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I beg to ask the Minister for Sanitation and Water Resources when the
water extension project from Huhunya to Boti - Agogo - Opesika - Sutapon - Akpo - Akpamu and surrounding communities in the Yilo Krobo Constituency, which has stalled since December 2016, would be completed.
Ms Dapaah 3:04 p.m.
Mr Speaker, Huhunya, Boti, Agogo, Opesika, Sutapon, Akpo and Akpamu are all communities in the Yilo Krobo District and the project to supply water to these communities and its environs is on course.
Currently, Huhunya, Boti, Agogo, Opesika, Akpo and Akpamu have boreholes as well as hand dug wells fitted with handpumps, which provide their water supply needs. Mr Speaker, to ensure continuous water supply to these areas, the Ghana Water Company Limited (GWCL) is in the process of procuring Pressure Reducing Valves (PRVs) to be fitted to regulate the pressures within the network of these communities. This should be completed in the third quarter of this year, 2022.
Mr Nyakotey 3:04 p.m.
Mr Speaker, the Bukunor Water Treatment Plant is located in these communities in the Yilo Krobo District where we want the extension of water supplies. The pipeline from the Bukunor Plant to Koforidua did not consider the communities surrounding these areas and does not provide any water for them. Mr Speaker, so I want to know from the Hon Minister when this would be done?
Ms Dapaah 3:04 p.m.
Mr Speaker, the policy now is to supply water to all villages, towns and hamlets on the route. This policy was not part of the project when it was being executed so the GWCL is now going through the process to ensure that all these towns are supplied with water.
Mr Nyakotey 3:04 p.m.
Mr Speaker, access to water
is a human right and the demand for water is
essential not only for health issues, but for
poverty reduction, food security, peace and
education. Mr Speaker, the boreholes that have
been mentioned are either dried from day one
or do not even exist. The people of Yilo Krobo
would want to know when the water supply
would be extended from the point it reached in
2016 before it was truncated.
Ms Dapaah 3:04 p.m.
Mr Speaker, we cannot
underestimate the importance of water because
we say that water is life and I qualify it by
saying that good water is life because when a
person does not drink potable water, he or she
can fall sick.
Secondly, and rightly so, all Ghanaians
should have access to water supply and it is the
vision of the President to do so. Mr Speaker,
may I suggest that we would send a team to
these places to ascertain the current situation?
It is a truth that is acknowledged universally
that during dry seasons even rivers dry up so I
would not dispute this fact, but we would go
there and access the situation to see what we
could do.
Mr Nyakotey 3:04 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I thank the Hon
Minister for her response and we would look
forward to having water by the end of this year,
as she said, but I want to remind her that the
current project ended a few kilometres from the
main pipeline. So, the rest of Agogo, Sutapon,
Opesika and Akpo Akpamu are over 15
kilometres from the current —
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 3:04 p.m.
Hon
Member, it is well noted.
We would now take Question numbered 422
standing in the name of the Hon Member for
Ho Central, Mr Benjamin K. Kpodo.
Work on Ho Water Expansion Project
Mr Benjamin Komla Kpodo (NDC - Ho
Central): I beg to ask the Minister for
Sanitation and Water Resources when the Ho
Water Expansion Project would be carried out
so as to enhance water supply to Ho and its
environs.
Ms Dapaah 3:04 p.m.
Mr Speaker, the Kpeve Water
Treatment Plant (WTP) serves the Ho
Municipal Area and its environs. The
production capacity of the Kpeve Water
Supply Systems is 9,000 m3 /day (equivalent
to 2 MGD). Mr Speaker, to improve upon the
water supply situation in the communities
within the Ho Municipal area, the Ghana Water
Company Limited (GWCL) has negotiated a
Commercial Contract for the construction of a
new 41, 000m3 /day water treatment plant at
Kpeve coupled with adequate transmission and
distribution network to increase access to
improved water supply. Mr Speaker, the
project is one of the high priority projects
Government intends to implement and the
Kpeve Water Treatment Project will be
brought to the august House for consideration
as soon as all the necessary works and other
approvals are obtained.
Mr Kpodo 3:04 p.m.
Mr Speaker, my understanding
of the Hon Minister's Answer is that it is not a rehabilitation of the existing plant, rather, it is
a construction of a new plant. If so, what is the
coverage area that is anticipated under the new
arrangement?
Ms Dapaah 3:04 p.m.
Mr Speaker, this coverage and
the scope of works can be provided when we
are ready with the final assessment because as
the population grows, we would need a bigger
water treatment system to serve the people. Mr
Speaker, so we can provide that later but the
funding that we negotiated for is US$149
million.
Mr Kpodo 3:14 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I am impressed
that the Project is one of the high priority
projects but the Answer says that they are now
doing certain things including consideration as
soon as all the necessary works and other
approvals are obtained. If it is on the high
priority, can the Hon Minister explain to us
what stages we have accomplished and which
ones are next?
Ms Dapaah 3:14 p.m.
Mr Speaker, like we did for the Keta Water System where the contractor is on site; the five town water supply led by the Adaklu township - Normally, we look for funding and then they come in and discuss the scope of works. We do a feasibility and then we go to Cabinet for approval. Then we come to this august House for approval as well and then the processes with finance also goes on. So, it is quite a long process.
Thank you, Mr Speaker.
Mr Kpodo — rose —
Mr Speaker 3:14 p.m.
Mr Kpodo, that is your last question, please. We have a lot to do today. You have already asked two supplementary questions. [Interruption] - You have the last question so ask.
Mr Kpodo 3:14 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I am interested in finding out the time frame within which these processes would be completed. Can the Minister give us any assurance about that? This is because she has mentioned the stages but would it be six months, four months or is it going to be another year?
Ms Dapaah 3:14 p.m.
Mr Speaker, if I got the Hon Member's question correctly, the whole process depends on the funding. As I said, at times, the funding might even fall through but let us keep our fingers cross that indeed, this funding would be sought for and obtained and then we can give correct answers.
Thank you, Mr Speaker.
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 3:14 p.m.
We move to Question numbered 423.
Mr Murtala Muhammed Ibrahim — rose
—
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 3:14 p.m.
Hon Murtala Muhammed Ibrahim, are you here again?
Anyway, it is straightforward here so you may ask your Question.
Ms Lydia Seyram Alhassan 3:14 p.m.
Mr Speaker,
our Hon Colleague has exhausted his
allocation for Questions per Sitting. Order
65(2) is very clear on that and I quote:
“Not more than three Questions for oral answers shall be asked by a Member at
any one Sitting.”
This is his third, Mr Speaker. All the Urgent
Questions here came from him. We have a lot
to do today. Let us continue —
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 3:14 p.m.
Hon Majority
Leader, may I seek your clarification on this:
An Hon Member asking Questions to different
Ministers - is he restricted to a number of Questions? This is coming under Order 65.
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 3:14 p.m.
Mr Speaker,
Order 65(2) provides:
“Not more than three Questions for oral answers shall be asked by a Member at
any one Sitting.”
Mr Speaker, my Hon Colleague is right. If
the Hon Member has asked three substantive
Questions already, then certainly, he cannot be
allowed to ask further questions. However,
because the Minister is here and has been
waiting for so long a time, I may want to plead
that you relax the rule to enable Hon Murtala
Muhammed Ibrahim ask his Question but
technically he has no feet to stand on to ask
further questions.
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 3:14 p.m.
Hon Majority
Leader, I want this explanation: is this Order
coming on the fore in a matter representing
different Ministers or just restricted to one
Minister?
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 3:14 p.m.
Mr Speaker,
whether it is directed to one Minister or several
Ministers, the Member cannot ask more than
three substantive questions.
Mr Speaker, you would remember that when
Hon Members ask Questions, they would
indicate to you that they are entitled to three
supplementary questions. They are not. In fact,
this Order refers to substantive Questions. So,
if the Speaker may permit a Member to ask a
supplementary question, whether one or two,
that is the sole prerogative of the Speaker. But
the three questions do not refer to supple-
mentary questions; they refer to substantive
Questions. So the Deputy Majority Whip, Ms
Lydia Seyram Alhassan should be hailed as
mastering the rules of the House. But as I said
I would plead with you —
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 3:14 p.m.
Yes, I would
allow him. I am also asking the Table Office to
also take note of that. Do not file different
Questions for one Hon Member.
Hon Murtala Muhammed Ibrahim, let us
hear you?
Addressing Acute Water Problem in the
Tamale Metropolis
Mr Murtala Muhammed Ibrahim (NDC
- Tamale Central): Mr Speaker, I rise to ask the Minister for Sanitation and Water
Resources the steps being taken to address the

acute water problem in the Tamale Metropolis

and its environs.
Ms Dapaah 3:24 p.m.
Mr Speaker, the Dalun Water
Treatment Plant (WTP) serves the Tamale
Metropolis and its environs. The installed and
average production capacities of the Dalun
Water Treatment Plant are 45,000m3/day
(equivalent to 10 MGD) and 30,000m3/day
(equivalent to 6.7 MGD) respectively. The
shortfall in production is as a result of
unreliable power supply.
Mr Speaker, in the face of the prevailing
production shortfall and the water supply-
demand gap, Ghana Water Company Limited
(GWCL), as a short-term measure, has
instituted a Water Management Programme
(i.e. water rationing) to supply water to all the
areas at least once a week.
Mr Speaker, as a long-term measure to
tackle the water supply situation in the
Metropolis, the GWCL has signed a
Commercial Contract to construct a new
135,000m3/day Water Treatment Plant
(equivalent to 30MGD) at Yapei and this
comes with adequate transmission and
distribution network to increase access to water
supply.
Mr Speaker, the project, has received all the
necessary regulatory approvals including the
signing of the loan agreement, which makes
the contract effective. Physical works are
expected to commence by the end of the first
quarter of 2022, following the full mobilisation
of the contractor and consultant to the site. The
project is expected to be completed in 36
months after commencement.

Mr Speaker, I humbly wish to state that this

is the biggest water project implemented by the

Government of Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-

Addo.
Mr M. M. Ibrahim 3:24 p.m.
Mr Speaker, in the
meantime, what measures are put in place to
ensure that the residents, particularly women,
who are suffering as a result of lack of water in
Tamale Central are taken care of?
Mr Speaker, as I talk to you, women are
queued around boreholes provided by some
Member of Parliament and some NGOs, but
these boreholes are not adequate. So, what
measures are the Hon Minister putting in place
to ensure that by the time this project is
completed, at least they would not suffer to get
water for domestic use?
Ms Dapaah 3:24 p.m.
Mr Speaker, we are aware of
this acute situation, especially in the dry
season. There was also sand winning by
individuals which have been stopped, so that
GWCL can do the sand winning and give it to
the community. As a result of all this, currently
the acute season and time on GWCL is directed
to provide tanker services to supply water. So,
this will be an interim measure to ensure that
the people get potable water within the week to
cook and for use in their homes.
Mr Speaker, the Hon Member commented
on the workload and the suffering of women. It

is not only women, but also girls who should

be in school. So, we are aware of this and

whatever we would do to alleviate their

suffering would be done.
Mr M. M. Ibrahim 3:24 p.m.
Mr Speaker, will the
water which would be provided by the tanker
services within these communities in the
Tamale Metropolis be free? If it would not be
free, at what rate will the people pay for the
water and when would it commence?
Ms Dapaah 3:24 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I would provide
the details as we get them ready.
Mr Haruna Iddrisu — rose —
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 3:24 p.m.
Yes,
Minority Leader?
Minority Leader (Mr Haruna Iddrisu) 3:24 p.m.
Mr Speaker, it is a shared problem. I would
thank Hon Murtala Ibrahim for bringing this
matter to the fore. I would urge the Hon
Minister to take urgent steps for the realisation
of the expansion of the Tamale Water Project.
Mr Speaker, I would want to share one — I
wish I could even read the text I received this morning. The water shortage in Tamale is so acute that on Monday, I visited the Bavim Naa, who had lost his most senior wife, at his Palace. Mr Speaker, I have the text here. Even for the funeral, I had to send water as a Member of Parliament this evening to facilitate the performance of Bavim Naa's wife's funeral. I would like the Hon Minister to know how dire the situation of the acute water shortage is. I would read the text from my chairman who cannot even write. It reads: “Boss, add Bavim
palace water for the funeral. It is supposed to go today.” And he sent this message at 9.00 a.m.
When one goes to communities such as
Changmen, Taget, and Vitin, the residents just cannot cope. Whether it is Lamashegu or Datoyli. I understand, the Hon Minister was here when we gave the approval to expand distribution of water in Tamale. Let us see it happen in the coming days.
Mr Speaker, mine is not a question, but I
would like to let the Hon Minister appreciate whether it is Moshie Zongo or Sakasaka, we are in a deep crisis in Tamale as far as the availability of quality potable water is concerned. We would take her word.
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 3:24 p.m.
Hon
Minister, it does not demand a response.
Ms Dapaah 3:24 p.m.
Mr Speaker, with your kind
permission, I would just want to make a correction. The water project will not be an expansion project; it is an entirely new project with a different source of raw water.
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 3:24 p.m.
Very well.
Hon Members, we would move to Question
numbered 424 — Hon Member for Akatsi North?
Plans to provide Sustainable Water
Supply Systems for District Capitals
Mr Peter Nortsu-Kotoe (NDC - Akatsi
North): Mr Speaker, I beg to ask the Minister for Sanitation and Water Resources if the Ministry has any plan to provide district capitals with sustainable water supply systems

and if so, what is the programme for Ave Dakpa, the capital of the Akatsi North District.
Ms Dapaah 3:24 p.m.
Yes, indeed, Mr Speaker, the
Government through the Ministry of Sanitation
and Water Resources has a lot of plans to
provide all Ghanaians with potable water.
Mr Speaker, Ave Dakpa, the capital of
Akatsi North District is served with safe water
provided by the Government of Ghana in 2008,
through funding from the Danish International
Development Agency (DANIDA).
Mr Speaker, water is supplied from two
boreholes into an elevated concrete storage
tank of 50m3 volume. The Water Supply
System has 10 standpipes and 61 household
connections. In consonance with the prevailing
policy at the time, the Community through the
District Assembly, took over the management
of the Water System.
Mr Speaker, as a result of an alleged
mismanagement by the Water and Sanitation
Management Team (WSMT) within the
community, the District Assembly has since
been in charge of the day-to-day operation and
management of the Water System. We hope
things would have improved.
Mr Speaker, the Ministry recognises the
need to improve water supply in Ave Dakpa.
To achieve this, Government through the
Community Water and Sanitation Agency is
preparing to take over the Water Supply
System to rehabilitate, expand and manage it,
in order to meet the water demand for the
people of Ave Dakpa.
Mr Nortsu-Kotoe 3:24 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I would want to thank the Hon Minister for her response. But I would want to inform her that between March and December of last year, the water system broke down.
Additionally, because of COVID-19, the
water was used and no payment was made to anybody. The Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) cut power supply to the water system. In January, 2022, I had to pay GHȻ13,832.00 for power to be restored before the water system could run. Even that, the system has developed faults and individuals in the community had to contribute sums of money for its rehabilitation.
Mr Speaker, what I would want to find out
from the Minister is whether there is any opportunity for the system to be expanded, because the community has grown large now as a district capital? Is there any immediate plan to expand the water system, so that the community can get water regularly than it is happening now?
Ms Dapaah 3:24 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I indicated that
the CWSA is preparing to take over the water supply system to rehabilitate, expand and manage it.
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 3:24 p.m.
Hon
Members, we would move to Question numbered - I thought you had finished?
3. 34 p. m.
Mr Nortsu-Kotoe 3:24 p.m.
Mr Speaker, in the Hon Minister's Answer, paragraph 4, she indicated that there was an alleged mismanagement by the water and sanitation management team in

the community and the Assembly took over. I wish to inform the Hon Minister that the Assembly taking over the water system was worse than what the community even managed. I would therefore want to find out from the Hon Minister if she would be willing to ask the Water and Sanitation Agency to investigate why the Assembly performed poorly in the management of the water system in Ave Dakpa?
Ms Dapaah 3:24 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I am aware that
indeed some of these communities failed to
even pay for the electricity that they useed to
pump the water for the people. So, I am aware
of some of these malpractices, and between the
Assembly and the community, we have
problems, hence the reforms for CWSA to
directly take over and be responsible for these
water systems so that the good people would
be served with good potable water.
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 3:24 p.m.
Very well.
Hon Members, we would move on to the
Question numbered 426 by the Hon Member
for Domeabra/Obom, the Hon Sophia Karen
Edem Ackuaku.
Status of Doblo to Kwame Anum Water
Project and Plans to Provide Potable
Water for Remainding 735 Communities in
Domeabra/Obom Constituency
Ms Sophia Karen Edem Ackuaku (NDC -Domeabra/Obom) 3:24 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I beg to ask
the Minister for Sanitation and Water
Resources the status of the water project that passes through Doblo to Kwame Anum and the
plans the Ministry has to provide potable water
for the remainder of the 735 communities in
the Domeabra Obom Con-stituency.
Ms Dapaah 3:24 p.m.
Mr Speaker, the Domeabra-
Obom Constituency is served by two different
water systems. The Nsawam Water Treatment
Plant (WTP) serves Amasaman, Obeyeyie,
Doblo, Ashalaja and Kwame Anum and the
Weija Water Treatment Plant currently serving
Obom, Domeabra, Amuzukope and Denkyira.
Mr Speaker, in the interim, the GWCL
awarded a contract for the construction of
20kms length of distribution pipelines in
Doblo, Ashalaja and their environs under the
ongoing Waterworks Project. I am pleased to
announce that the construction of the
distribution pipelines which began in
September 2021 is now completed.
Mr Speaker, furthermore, the GWCL will, in
a progressive manner, use internally generated
funds to extend water supply to areas in the
constituency which are currently not being
served.
Ms Ackuaku 3:24 p.m.
Mr Speaker, the Hon
Minister stated in her Answer that the Weija
Water Treatment Plant is currently serving
Domeabra, Amuzukope and Denkyira. I would
like to find out if the Hon Minister is aware that
for six years and currently, Domeabra and
Denkyira have not been receiving water from
the Weija Treatment Plant?
Ms Dapaah 3:24 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I am not aware. It
is the Ghana Water Company Limited that
gave this statement currently. So, I would
confer with them and come back to the Hon
Member.
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 3:24 p.m.
Very well,
we would now move on to the last Question.
[Interruption] — I signalled the Hon Member and she said it was all right.
Anyway, Hon Member, you may ask your
last question.
Ms Ackuaku 3:24 p.m.
Mr Speaker, can the Hon
Minister explain to this august House what she
means by: “…In a progressive manner, use internally generated funds to extend water
supply to areas in the constituency which are
currently not being served…?”
Ms Dapaah 3:24 p.m.
Mr Speaker, it simply means
that as and when we gather our Internally
Generated Fund (IGF), we would work on
those areas that do not have water.
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 3:24 p.m.
Thank you,
Hon Minister.
Finally, we would move on to the Question
numbered 813.
Ms Ackuaku — rose —
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 3:24 p.m.
Hon
Member, let us hear you.
Ms Ackuaku 3:24 p.m.
Mr Speaker, in the Hon
Minister's estimation, using the IGF as
mentioned in her answer, how long will it take
the Ghana Water Company Limited to extend
water supply to communities in
Domeabra/Obom, which are currently not
being served?
Ms Dapaah 3:24 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I did indicate that
the current situation that the Hon Member is
talking about would be verified, and then we
would come back to her. It should not even be
part of the new IGF areas.
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 3:24 p.m.
Hon
Member, I hope you are now satisfied?
I would now take the Question by the Hon
Kwadjo Asante, the Hon Member for Suhum.
Hon Member, you may put your Question
across to the Hon Minister.
Resumption of Works on Ghana First
Toilet Project in the Suhum Constituency
Mr Kwadjo Asante (NPP - Suhum) 3:24 p.m.
Mr
Speaker, I beg to ask the Minister for
Sanitation and Water Resources when the
Ministry would resume works on the Ghana
First Toilet Project in the Suhum Constituency.
Ms Dapaah 3:24 p.m.
Mr Speaker, with your kind
indulgence, I would give a brief preamble to
the answer.
In 2019, I invited the Chief Executive
Officer (CEO) of the Ghana First Company
Limited (GFCL) to a meeting to discuss the
initiative by the company to construct public
toilet facilities across the country which I

considered to be a laudable idea since it would

help in eradicating open defecation. Mr

Speaker, the CEO honoured the invitation with

the Board Members and other officers of the

company and explained that the company was

in a private arrangement with contractors to

execute the project within the Metropolitan,

Municipal and District Assemblies across the

country. The company had also entered into a

Public Private Partnership Agreement with the

Metropolitan, Municipal and District

Assemblies (MMDAs) as project partners to

construct public toilet facilities across the

country.

Mr Speaker, this assertion has been

evidently made clear by the Ghana First

Company Limited with a publication in the

Daily Guide newspaper, indicating that it is a

private entity for which reason Government

should not interfere in their activities.

Mr Speaker, this publication was on the 6th

of August 2019 in the Daily Guide (page14)

where the company released a press statement

stating among others which I beg to quote:

“Contractors should take notice that the relationship between GFCL and

themselves is purely a private business

arrangement and therefore should NOT

expect payment from or by government.

The government is therefore advised

not to succumb to any pressure from

any quarters and allow the company to

deal with contractors claiming to have

done any work for the company. If

government should pay any contractor

of GFCL with the taxpayers' money,

the company will resort to legal

action(s) against it. Therefore, the

government is hereby advised not to

succumb to pressures from any quarters

and allow the company to deal with

contractors claiming to have done any

work for GFCL''.

Mr Speaker, respectfully, I wish to state that

the Ministry of Sanitation and Water

Resources is not responsible for the execution

of this project. In this regard, the Hon Member

of Parliament for Suhum should contact the

Suhum Municipal Assembly for any further

information on the project.
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 3:44 p.m.
Hon
Member, it looks like the problem that you
want the Hon Minister to address cuts across
the entire country. Let us hear you if you have
any further question.
Mr Asante 3:44 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I do not have any
supplementary question. Thank you.
Mr Haruna Iddrisu 3:44 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I do not
know whether I am permitted because this is
not a question. The Hon Minister says this is a
purely private arrangement, and it has
Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assem-
blies (MMDAs) that are Government entities.
Could the Hon Minister assure this House that
she would investigate this matter and report
back to us because a private entity cannot stand
alone? Though it is private, we see our
MMDAs, which are public engaged in it. There
are contractors going round the country saying

they have worked for such and such an entity,

but have not been paid for years. Would the

Hon Minister want to investigate this matter

further and apprise this House so that we know

the status of this project and its implications for

our District Assemblies' Common Fund

(DACF)?
Ms Dapaah 3:44 p.m.
Mr Speaker, the point is well
made. The MMDAs are all under the Ministry
of Local Government, Decentralisation and
Rural Development so, I would liaise with my
colleague, the Hon Minister for that sector, and
work on this.
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 3:44 p.m.
Hon
Minister, on behalf of the House, I would like
to thank you for attending upon the House to
answer nine separate Questions. You are
hereby discharged.
Hon Leader, any indication as to what to do
next?
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 3:44 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I
believe we can do the presentation of some of
the Papers, and then move to Committee of the
Whole. We can take the Papers numbered as
item 7(a) and (b) on page 5 of the original
Order Paper.
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 3:44 p.m.
Hon
Members, let us turn to page 5 and take the
item numbered 7. At the Commencement of
Public Business - Presentation of Papers.
Item numbered 7(a) — Minister for Transport.
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 3:44 p.m.
Mr Speaker, if I
may seek your indulgence and that of my Hon
Colleagues to present the Paper on behalf of
the Minister for Transport?
PAPERS 3:44 p.m.
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 3:44 p.m.
Item
numbered 7(b).
By the Minister for Parliamentary Affairs
(Mr Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu) (on behalf of
the Minister for Finance) —
Request for parliamentary ratification
of the Charter Establishing the Eastern
and Southern African Trade and
Development Bank (TBD Charter).
Referred to the Finance Committee.
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 3:44 p.m.
Hon
Members, the House will therefore be
suspended to meet as a Committee of the
Whole to receive officials of the National
Identification Authority (NIA).
Mr Haruna Iddrisu 3:44 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I know
the Hon Majority Leader has already instructed

that the bell be rung. There are two important

issues we need to discuss at Committee of the

Whole apart from engaging the officials of

NIA and the Minister responsible for the

NHIA. There is a matter which affects us as

MPs so all Hon Members, even if they are in

their offices, should endeavour to be here so

that the Hon Majority Leader can speak to it.

We have some announcements from the

Parliamentary Service Board that is meant for

Hon Members.

Mr Speaker, we can recline to Committee of

the Whole as you directed.

3.52 p.m. — Sitting suspended.

7.09 p.m. — Call on Members

Sitting resumed — 7. 41 p.m.
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 3:44 p.m.
Hon
Members, thank you for the cooperation. I
proceed to adjourn the House.
ADJOURNMENT 3:44 p.m.