Debates of 3 Mar 2022

MR FIRST DEPUTY SPEAKER
PRAYERS 10:54 a.m.
VOTES AND PROCEEDINGS AND THE OFFICIAL REPORT 10:54 a.m.
Mr First Deputy Speaker 10:54 a.m.
Hon
Members, item numbered 4 — Correction of Votes and Proceedings. We have the Votes and Proceedings of Wednesday, 2nd March, 2022.
  • [No Correction was made to the Votes and Proceedings of Wednesday, 2nd March, 2022]
    • Mr First Deputy Speaker 10:54 a.m.
    Hon
    Members, there is an Official Report of Tuesday, 22nd February, 2022. Any corrections please?
  • [No Correction was made to the Official Report of Tuesday, 22nd February, 2022]
    • Mr First Deputy Speaker 10:54 a.m.
    Hon
    Members, item numbered 5 - Urgent Questions.
    Three Urgent Questions have been
    admitted and the first one is in the name of the Hon Member for Sene West, Mr Twumasi Kwame Ampofo.
    Hon Member, kindly ask your Question.
    The Hon Minister for Sanitation and
    Water Resources, may take the seat.
    URGENT QUESTIONS 10:54 a.m.
    MINISTRY OF SANITATION AND 10:54 a.m.
    WATER RESOURCES 10:54 a.m.
    Mr Ampofo 11:14 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, I thank the
    Hon Minister for the detailed Answer she
    has provided but I would still want to know
    from the Hon Minister that upon all this
    Answer, would the projects to be done in
    the country bring a stop to the water
    rationing situation since water is life and
    we all need water.
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 11:14 a.m.
    Hon
    Member, I want to be clear on your follow
    up question. Is the question to know from
    her whether the water rationing would stop
    when all the projects outlined in her
    Answer are completed? Was that your
    question?
    Mr Ampofo 11:14 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, yes.
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 11:14 a.m.
    Hon
    Minister?
    Ms Dapaah 11:14 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, hopefully,
    yes. We should also have it in mind that the
    human factor that also inhibits the good
    production of water would be looked at.
    Mr Ampofo 11:14 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, I also want
    to know from the Hon Minister if a proper
    rationing schedule has been published or
    announced for the general public to know
    when they are to receive water.
    Ms Dapaah 11:14 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, normally,
    we issue notices especially during the dry
    seasons. Ordinarily, we do not have much
    problem because people store water but
    during the dry season we issue notices to
    alert the public to conserve water and halt
    the washing of cars, watering of lawns and
    other activities that waste water.
    For instance, during the raining
    seasons we do not have problems with the
    intake but during the dry seasons and
    illegal activities, we encounter these
    problems hence we issue the alerts.
    Mr Ampofo 11:14 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, my question
    was to know if a schedule had been
    announced or published. For example, do the
    people of Communities 25 and 26 in Tema
    or Awoshie and other areas have a proper
    rationing schedule to know when and
    where their water would flow?
    Ms Dapaah 11:14 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, we issue
    notices for specific areas when we are
    carrying out maintenance works.
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 11:14 a.m.
    Hon
    Majority Chief Whip?
    Mr Frank Annoh-Dompreh 11:24 a.m.
    Mr
    Speaker, I would commend the Hon
    Minister for a very detailed Answer.
    There is a genuine concern about the
    availability of water because of the index
    of climate change, and I am sure that this is
    not lost on my dear Hon Minister.

    Mr Speaker, would the Hon Minister

    consider a collaborative effort with the

    Minister for Lands and Natural Resources

    who I see here - a collaborative effort, specific to watershed areas and Ramsar

    sites which have a direct impact on raw

    water sources. If she would consider a

    specific programme with the Minister to

    protect these raw water sources generally

    as one of the strategies, moving forward.
    Ms Dapaah 11:24 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, indeed we
    are collaborating. We even have funding to
    make sure 100metres are conserved on
    each side of river sources and our water
    intakes would not be encroached upon.
    Secondly, we have a tree planting exercise
    that is going on as an aspect of the greening
    Ghana and we are definitely well-placed in
    there in the programme.
    Thank you, Mr Speaker.
    Mr Mohammed Adamu Ramadan 11:24 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, I would like to commend the
    Minister for her very lengthy and elaborate
    Answer. At some point, I lost track of some
    of the things that she was saying. If I
    remember very well, there is a portion in
    her Answer that sought to suggest that
    there is going to be expansion works to
    serve the Eastern corridor. I remember
    around 2016 when former President John
    Dramani Mahama pumped in about
    40million barrels of water a day - I am sure Mr Speaker, who is a resident in the
    Adentan Constituency can confirm that we
    used to have water almost every day
    running through our taps. As we speak
    today, in the Adentan Constituency, it went
    down to two days a week. Now, it is once
    a week and in the last three weeks, water
    has not flowed through our taps. I want to
    find out from the Minister when this
    expansion works would be done so that the
    good people of Adentan would start
    experiencing regular water supply.
    Thank you, Mr Speaker.
    Ms Dapaah 11:24 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, as a result
    of the dry season, we have the rationing
    being lengthened. But with the expansion
    and interventions that are being done, more
    water would be provided and Adentan is on
    the priority list.
    Thank you, Mr Speaker.
    Mr Joseph Kwame Kumah 11:24 a.m.
    Mr
    Speaker, mine is a proposal for the
    Minister before any Question. The issue of
    Ghana Water Company and its agencies —
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 11:24 a.m.
    Hon
    Member, we are doing Questions now.
    You can —
    Mr J. K. Kumah 11:24 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, would
    the Minister consider urgently meeting the
    Ghana Water Company and its agencies
    and let them know that they should have
    people reporting treated water that is
    wasting within the various communities to
    them if they can have a line for that. I am
    saying so because around the Adjiringano
    area, East Legon, for more than a year now,
    there is a pipeline that is burst and water
    has been flowing. I personally had a
    number from Ghana Water Company,

    called them and as I speak to you, that

    treated water is still wasting away and I

    know many places in Accra that that is

    happening. So far as we are paying taxes

    for these things to be fixed and we even

    have the time to call their office, would you

    consider —
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 11:24 a.m.
    Hon
    Minister, did you get the Question?
    Ms Dapaah 11:24 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, I would not
    doubt what the Hon Member is putting
    forward but as our President said, we
    should not be spectators but active citizens.
    [Laughter] — Now, wherever we stand, we can take a picture and the location would
    be obtained. We need to do that as well to
    help Ghana Water Company fix some of
    these leakages. It all adds up to non-
    revenue and we do not want that.
    Thank you, Mr Speaker.
    Mr Wisdom Gidisu 11:24 a.m.
    Mr Speaker,
    listening attentively to the Minister, she
    mentioned a number of towns that would
    have water treatment plants including
    Nkwanta, which is also in the Oti Region
    and I am happy to hear that. Would that
    machine be extended to the regional capital
    Dambai or there would be a specific
    machine for Dambai as a regional capital?
    Thank you, Mr Speaker.
    Ms Dapaah 11:24 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, Dambai
    would have its own water supply system
    and it is a government to government
    arrangement with the Hungarian
    government. It is €30 million.
    Thank you, Mr Speaker.
    Mr Eric Opoku 11:24 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, water
    rationing is a serious challenge which
    affects almost everybody in this country. In
    fact, it goes to the very survival of every
    human being in this country. The Minister
    has enumerated a lot of interventions to
    arrest this particular challenge. Can the
    Minister be specific and indicate to the
    House when this challenge would come to
    an end. When are we going to produce
    more water for everybody to get enough to
    survive in this country?
    Ms Dapaah 11:24 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, we are
    indeed, by God's grace, surviving. But, as I said, at the end of this water season, the
    new ones for instance is going to add up
    4.7million people to water supply and that
    is a heavy intervention. So, we all pray that
    as population grows, we get more funding
    to take care of up and coming population.
    Mr Speaker, to add up to that, the
    policy of Government is to make sure that
    every water project covers a period of
    between 20 to 30 years. So, these are all
    interventions that would help us to have a
    An Hon Member 11:24 a.m.
    When?
    Ms Dapaah 11:24 a.m.
    When would depend on
    when each project is finished. For instance,

    if one is familiar with the systems that we

    put up, it takes between 24months to

    36months. So, it is dependent on when we

    start the project.

    Thank you, Mr Speaker.
    Mr Rockson-Nelson Dafeamekpor 11:24 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, I am aware that the Ministry
    is sourcing for funds to expand the Kpeve
    headwaters to supply Ho and its environs.
    However, as part of that project, I do not
    see expansion of the network to my own
    people in South Dayi. Kpeve and Peki are
    covered but Kpalime Dugah, Towu and
    Tongor areas are not on the network.
    Unfortunately, they rather suffered when
    the lake was constructed. We are in the dry
    season and the situation with my people in
    Dugah, Towu, Kayira, Ahor, and Tsanakpe
    is very pathetic. The quality of the lake
    water —
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 11:24 a.m.
    Hon
    Member, ask your question.
    Mr Dafeamekpor 11:24 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, I am
    laying a good foundation for the question.
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 11:24 a.m.
    Ask your
    question.
    Mr Dafeamekpor 11:24 a.m.
    Mr Speaker,
    would the Minister consider directing
    Ghana Water Company to extend the
    network from Todome, which is on the
    Eastern corridor to the communities in
    Tongor and Kpalime areas, a distance of
    about 10kilometres with the communities
    dotted along the line. It would not have to
    be a new project. It is just a network
    expansion.
    Thank you, Mr Speaker.
    Ms Dapaah 11:24 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, I can
    consider and can direct but there should be
    a matching budget which we would have to
    look at. So, if the Hon Member could give
    us specifics, we would look at that on its
    own merits.
    Thank you, Mr Speaker.
    Mr Murtala Muhammed Ibrahim
    — rose —
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 11:24 a.m.
    Yes, Hon
    Member?
    Mr M. M. Ibrahim 11:34 a.m.
    Thank you, Mr
    Speaker. May you live long.
    Mr Speaker, in the response of the
    Minister, she indicated some of the
    measures they are putting in place to ensure
    that certain areas are provided with water
    and she mentioned Tamale.
    I remember last week, I filed a
    Question in which the Hon Minister in her
    responses promised that in the meantime,
    they would provide water tanker services
    for the people of the Tamale Metropolitan
    Assembly, specifically, Tamale Central.

    As we sit here this morning, there are

    queues; people are struggling to get water.

    Could the Hon Minister tell us when the

    water tanker services would be provided

    for the people of Tamale?
    Ms Dapaah 11:34 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, I have
    already given those directives. I even
    demanded for pictures to send to the Hon
    Member. So, as soon as I get to the office,
    I would look at what has happened, and he
    would have the actual and current situation
    report.
    Mr Muhammed Bawah Braimah 11:34 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, in the Minister's Answer, she mentioned that nine new boreholes would
    be drilled in Ejura-Sekyedumase. I am
    aware that there are existing boreholes
    feeding Ejura-Sekyedumase, that is, the
    Ejura Water Company, are run by electric
    power which they find difficult to buy. As
    a result, we have water rationing in Ejura.
    Mr Speaker, may I know from the Hon
    Minister whether the new boreholes that
    would be drilled would be powered by
    solar or they would rely on the national
    grid?
    Ms Dapaah 11:34 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, currently,
    we have a mix. There are communities
    which mismanage the revenue from the
    sale of the water; they do not pay for
    electricity. So, when they allow
    Community Water to take over, we do
    solar to forestall any difficulties.
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 11:34 a.m.
    Thank you, Hon Minister, for attending upon the House to Answer Questions; you are discharged.
    Hon Members, I would move to the
    Hon Minister for Lands and Natural Resources. The Question numbered 5 (a) stands in the name of the Hon Member for Bongo, Mr Edward Abambire Bawa.
    MINISTRY OF LANDS AND 11:34 a.m.
    NATURAL RESOURCES 11:34 a.m.
    Mr Bawa 11:34 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, the issue of
    the explosion was one that had national
    interest because Ghanaians lost their
    compatriots. This was a public interest
    issue, and the committee's work was announced when it was constituted, and
    people were interested in that. Why does
    the Hon Minister think - in the spirit of transparency - that they do not need to publish the two reports, particularly, the
    Minerals Commission Report and that of
    the committee that the Minister constituted?
    Mr S. A. Jinapor 11:44 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, firstly, the Question posed by the Hon Member, if I may refresh his memory, was specific. It was about what the findings and recommendations of the Appiatse disaster reports are, and whether the reports can be published.

    I have said that, in our considered

    view, the broader work which is being done by Professor Richard Amankwah's Committee, which would certainly include matters to do with the Appiatse incident because the Appiatse incident is the precipitator of the establishment of the Professor Richard Amankwah Committee — I am saying that it is better judgement to publish the report of a committee which is conducting broader investigations.

    Mr Speaker, therefore, the three

    specific questions have been answered. The Hon Member asked of the findings, and they have been made known to the House. He asked of the recommendations, and they have also been made known to the House. Again, he sought to know whether the report could be published, and I said that we would publish a report which is even broader, which would give the country a better perspective of the issues involved. I think that the Question has been answered.
    Mr Bawa 11:44 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, from the Hon Minister's own response, one of the things that came out very clearly was the fact that there were some regulatory breaches, and

    particularly, it was zeroed down on Maxam Ghana Limited. We also do know that when the reports of the incident were given, we were made to understand that Maxam Ghana Limited itself had outsourced the transportation to yet another logistical company. In the opinion of the Hon Minister, this particular vehicle that was transporting this explosive, was it certified as per L.I. 2177? This is because one cannot take any vehicle and start to put explosives in it to transport, particularly, looking at the nature of the substance that was being transported, the ammonium- nitrate fuel oil that was being transported. Was that vehicle certified as per the regulations?
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 11:44 a.m.
    Hon
    Member, let me draw your attention to
    Standing Order 67(1)(e). It says: “A Question shall not solicit the expression of
    an opinion or the solution of an abstract
    legal case or a hypothetical proposition…” Hon Member for Bongo, Mr Bawa you
    asked for the opinion of the Hon Minister,
    but it appears to me that you would want to
    verify a fact whether the outsourced
    company had met the requirements of
    transportation. Is that right?
    Mr Bawa 11:44 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, in the
    response of the Hon Minister, everything
    was zeroed down to regulatory breaches,
    and it was zeroed down on the company
    itself, the Maxam Ghana Limited that they
    were dealing with. I am saying that it is a
    fact that the transportation was not done by
    Maxam Ghana Limited itself; they had
    outsourced that to yet another logistical
    company. Therefore, I am saying that per
    that regulation of L.I. 2177, was that
    vehicle certified?
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 11:44 a.m.
    Actually,
    you are not seeking an opinion, but you
    started by saying that you want his opinion.
    You rather want to verify a fact.
    Hon Minister, did you find that the
    outsourced company was certified?
    Mr Samuel A. Jinapor 11:44 a.m.
    Mr Speaker,
    first of all, the Question that my Hon
    Colleague posed is a very specific
    question, and it is a question that I have
    answered. He asked for the findings of the
    Committee, and I have provided the
    findings.
    Mr Speaker, if the Hon Member took
    a careful look at the findings, he would
    realise that from paragraph one to six, there
    is a clear finding there, where it is stated:
    “…Failure to ensure that the transportation of explosives was carried out by a person
    with a business license to transport
    explosives contrary to Regulations 15
    (1)(b) of L. I. 2177…” Also, with the matter to do with the company he talks
    about in terms of the company that is
    supposed to have transported the
    explosives, that did not form part of his
    question, but be that as it may, Maxam
    Ghana Limited is the company, as I said in
    my Answer, which was responsible for the
    manufacture, storage, and/or transportation

    of explosives, and to that extent, companies

    which are agents of Maxam Ghana Limited

    - on the principle of vicarious liability, Maxam Ghana Limited is held liable for

    any breaches or any occurrences in the

    conduct of their agents. I think that it is a

    principle of law that is established.
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 11:44 a.m.
    The
    Answer that you read is implicit. Whoever
    they used, they did not ensure that they
    complied with the proper regulation as a
    licensed transporter under the law.
    Mr Samuel A. Jinapor 11:44 a.m.
    Mr Speaker,
    that is so, and that is why Maxam Ghana
    Limited was held responsible.
    Mr Bawa 11:44 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, I am so
    surprised that, in all this, the Minerals
    Commission was not seen in any way
    because they supervise these activities. The
    Minerals Commission was not seen in any
    way in terms of whether there were also
    lapses there. However, with that being said
    — [Interruption] —
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 11:44 a.m.
    Hon
    Member, are you addressing me? Kindly
    address me.
    Mr Bawa 11:44 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, I am sorry
    about that; the Hon Majority Leader tried
    to distract me.
    Mr Speaker, the ammonium-nitrate
    fuel oil is a very risky substance to transport.
    Would the Hon Minister consider develop-
    ing a policy backed by law to ensure that
    mining companies manufacture these
    substances at their mining sites?
    Mr Samuel A. Jinapor 11:44 a.m.
    Mr Speaker,
    I am afraid, but I would have to refer my
    Hon Friend back to the Answer that I gave.
    It is not correct that the Minerals
    Commission was not involved in all of this.
    In fact, the Minerals Commission was at
    the centre of all that I did. I would refer the
    Hon Member to page one of the Answer
    that I gave. I said: “…Following the incident, the Minerals Commission, the
    regulator, conducted investigations in
    accordance with the Minerals and Mining
    (Explosives) Regulation, 2012, (L. I. 2177)
    …” So, the centrality of the Minerals Commission can never be downplayed.
    They were very much involved, and
    indeed, the law, which is Act 703 requires
    that when a Minister is taking a decision,
    he must do so on the recommendations of
    the Minerals Commission. Therefore,
    every single decision I took, I did so in
    consultation with the Minerals Commi-
    ssion. So, it is important I set the records
    straight, that the Minerals Commission was
    very involved in all that took place.
    Mr Speaker, on the matter to do with
    ammonium-nitrate fuel oil, it was
    publicised, and so I am surprised that my
    Hon Colleague has not come across it - taken a decision to give a directive that
    ammonium-nitrate and fuel oil cannot be
    transported together again because they
    become highly explosive when they are

    mixed. Therefore, explosive companies,

    companies which are involved in the

    transportation and manufacture of

    explosives, are now required to transport

    these two ingredients separately, and then

    mix them at the mining site. That directive

    has been taken and is actually being

    implemented as we speak now. That is one

    of the directives that I issued.
    Mr Robert Wisdom Cudjoe 11:44 a.m.
    Mr
    Speaker, I would want to know this from
    the Hon Minister. There is this argument
    that there was an escort vehicle that
    accompanied the explosive van. Others are
    also saying that there was no escort
    vehicle. I would want to know from the
    Hon Minister his position or version with
    regard to the escort vehicle.
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 11:44 a.m.
    Hon
    Minister, did you find out that there was an
    escort vehicle or not?
    Mr Samuel A. Jinapor 11:54 a.m.
    Mr Speaker,
    there is one clarification that I think I need
    to make, which is that the remit of the
    investigative body that I constituted was
    within the four corners of L.I. 2177.
    I think it is important that I
    respectfully point out that my mandate
    relates specifically to the regulation of
    mining. The matters to do with the criminal
    aspect of road accidents and traffic
    offences are dealt with by the Ghana Police
    Service. I do know that the Police
    conducted investigations into the matter
    relating to the vehicles and whether there
    was an escort, so there could not have been
    a definitive conclusion by my committee.
    What the committee could do is what they
    did in relation to L.I. 2177, and those are
    the findings that I have provided to this
    House. I have given all the findings that the
    committee arrived at. I am, therefore,
    unable to give a definitive answer on that
    particular question.
    Mr Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah 11:54 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, in the Hon Minister's Answer, he talked about a committee that was set up
    and made up of eminent persons. Mr
    Speaker, this is a direct information I got
    when I visited with the Caucus. While the
    chiefs and other stakeholders expressed
    thanks to Government for all the steps that
    had been taken, they expressed concern
    that there was no community member,
    whether the Chief, Assembly Member or
    District Chief Executive, as part of that
    national committee that was formed. Can
    the Hon Minister explain why no community
    member was part of the committee and
    whether these recommendations have
    addressed those concerns from this
    community?
    Mr S. A. Jinapor 11:54 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, that is
    a legitimate concern that my Hon Senior
    Colleague has raised. In these matters, you
    always have to make a strenuous effort to
    carry the people with you. I respectfully
    submit that we have to segregate the
    various efforts we made. The committee

    we set up to investigate this incident, being

    a committee, which was established in

    pursuance of the Minerals Commission,

    was essentially a technical one. Hence, we

    had a former Chief Executive Officer of the

    Minerals Committee chairing it, the

    Technical Director of Mines at the

    Ministry as a member, and then a lawyer as

    a secretary. With respect, it would have

    been a little difficult to include a

    community member on that committee.

    However, I should point out that the

    committee engaged the community

    extensively.

    The Prof Amankwah Committee is an

    institutional committee, and they would do

    a strict technical work. They would

    examine the health and safety regime of the

    mining sector of our country. There also, it

    becomes a bit difficult to say, for instance,

    the Assembly Member should be part of

    such a committee to interrogate the health

    and safety regime of the mining industry.

    Mr Speaker, when it came to the Appiatse

    Support Fund as well as the Appiatse

    Reconstruction Project Implementation

    Committee, the Divisional Chief of that

    area, Nana Atta Kwadwo Bremebi II, was

    made a member of these committees and he

    participates fully. I believe he is doing an

    extraordinary work on that committee. On

    that particular account, we have included a

    member of the community, but for the

    technical committees, as you would agree

    with me, it becomes difficult to include

    members of the community.
    Mr Peter Lanchene Toobu 11:54 a.m.
    Mr
    Speaker, I would want to thank the Hon
    Minister for an elaborate Answer. I thought
    that it was even overly elaborate because
    many of us are quite aware of what
    happened at Appiatse, and I felt it was not
    even necessary —
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 11:54 a.m.
    Hon
    Member, can you ask your question?
    Mr Toobu 11:54 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, the Appiatse
    disaster is of public interest. The Hon
    Minister had a committee to look into it,
    and he has the Prof. Amankwah Committee
    looking at some generic issues that have to
    deal with the health and safety regime of
    the whole mining sector. Does the Hon
    Minister not think it is fair that he publishes
    the first committee report, and let
    Ghanaians see what happened and what he
    has done regarding the recommendations
    before we begin to look at this broader
    picture that the Prof. Amankwah
    Committee is investigating?
    Mr S. A. Jinapor 11:54 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, to
    begin with, the information I provided to
    this House forms the gravamen of the
    report of that investigative committee. As a
    matter of fact, the findings as well as the
    recommendations of a committee of
    inquiry form the fulcrum of the report.
    However, the position of the Ministry,
    which I believe is well considered, is the
    fact that the Prof. Amankwah Committee is
    doing a broader work. I would be very
    surprised if the Prof. Amankwah
    Committee were not to take the Appiatse

    incident as their case study because it is

    what occasioned the establishment of the

    Committee. When the report of the Prof.

    Amankwah Committee is out, we will

    publish it. That is the commitment I am

    making to the House. We will publish the

    Prof Amankwah Committee report, and

    that would give us a global view of the

    health and safety regime of the mining

    sector of our country.
    Mr Kwame Governs Agbodza 11:54 a.m.
    Mr
    Speaker, when this unfortunate incident
    took place, there were preliminary reports
    by the media that suggested that a tricycle
    rider crossed the vehicle carrying the
    explosives. Indeed, the Ghana News
    Agency published a report on 23rd January,
    2022, suggesting that a police preliminary
    investigation suggested that a tricycle
    crossed the vehicle. From what the Hon
    Minister has seen so far, is that the case?
    Other media sources also suggested that
    the tricycle rider said he was rather hit from
    behind, and that he never crossed anybody.
    What has the Hon Minister found out so
    far?
    Mr S. A. Jinapor 11:54 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, I am
    afraid I have to repeat myself. The matters
    of tricycle crossing the vehicle on roads is
    not within the remit of the Minister for
    Lands and Natural Resources, but the
    Motor Traffic and Transport Department
    (MTTD) of the Ghana Police Service. I
    have no mandate to investigate those
    matters, let alone to make findings. I am
    afraid I have to give this answer. I am
    sorry.
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 11:54 a.m.
    Hon
    Minister, in your investigations, did the
    report mention anything about —
    Mr S. A. Jinapor 11:54 a.m.
    It was not
    considered at all; it never came up. It could
    not have.
    Mr Frank Annoh-Dompreh 11:54 a.m.
    Mr
    Speaker, I conferred with the available
    Leader, and came to an agreement that
    following the number of Questions we
    have for the day, going forward, we should
    limit the follow-up questions. Mr Speaker,
    we would be at your discretion.
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 11:54 a.m.
    That is an
    advice to the Speaker. How I would deal
    with that is still limited here.
    We would move on to the next Urgent
    Question by the Hon Member for Abura
    Asebu-Kwamankese, Mr Elvis Morris
    Donkoh.
    Measures to Protect Public Safety
    in Transportation of Explosives
    Mr Elvis Morris Donkoh (NPP — Abura Asebu Kwamankese) 11:54 a.m.
    Mr
    Speaker, I beg to ask the Hon Minister for
    Lands and Natural Resources whether new
    or additional measures have been instituted
    to protect public safety in the transporta-
    tion of explosives following the recent
    explosion in Appiatse.
    Mr S. A. Jinapor 12:04 p.m.
    Mr. Speaker, as I
    have just indicated, following the Appiatse
    incident, a Health and Safety Committee of
    Inquiry has been established, to review the
    entire health and safety regime of the
    mining sector.
    Mr Speaker, in the interim, and based
    on the Report of the Minerals Commission
    after the incident and the 3-member
    Committee I established, we have put in
    place some new measures to prevent a
    recurrence of the tragic Appiatse incident.
    The new measures are as follows:
    1. Explosives shall only be trans- ported on a public road from the
    operational site of a company, after
    the company has given the Chief
    Inspector of Mines or the Regional
    Mines Inspector, at least, forty-
    eight (48) hours' prior notice, to enable the requisite inspection and
    certification to be carried out,
    before the transportation of the
    explosives to a mine or quarry site.
    2. A Mine/Explosives Inspector shall be present, inspect, verify and
    record in the designated explosives
    log book for transportation, that all
    the requisite safety requirements,
    rules and protocols have been met
    before explosives are transported
    from the operational site of a
    company to a mine or quarry site.
    3. An Inspector of Mines/Explosives shall physically inspect the
    explosives truck (road vehicle) to
    ensure that the explosives truck is
    in good working condition in
    accordance with the truck
    examination list and that the truck
    driver has Professional Driving
    Licence to drive the vehicle before
    the loading of the explosives into
    the truck.
    4. Explosives trucks must have:
    a. A red flashing light clearly visible at least hundred metres (100m)
    away;
    b. A klaxon or siren, hooter or automatically operated bell;
    c. Automatic fire suppression system alongside the fire extinguishers;
    d. Tracking system to monitor the speed and movement of the explosives truck;
    e. Integrated monitoring system to check driver fatigue;
    f. Megaphone to warn people or bystanders in case of danger;
    g. Drive cameras to monitor the explosives truck drivers.
    5. Before the explosives truck takes
    off from the operational site of a

    company, the waybill for the transportation shall be endorsed by an Inspector of Mines/Explosives who shall be satisfied that the explosives are under the direct control of a person who has a certi- ficate of competency in accordance with Regulation 15 (2) of the Minerals and Mining (Explosives) Regulations, 2012 (L.I. 2177).

    6. The Escort Vehicle shall be

    inspected and all the details recorded in the Inspectors Field Book by an Inspector of Mines/ Explosives on the day the explosives are to be transported.

    7. Escort vehicles must have:

    a. A red flashing light clearly visible at least fifty metres (50m) away; and

    b. A klaxon or siren or hooter or automatically operated bell.

    8. The transportation of explosives on public roads shall have two (2) Escorts: one (1) leading the explosives truck and maintaining a distance of, at least, fifty metres (50m) and, at most, sixty metres (60m), from the vehicle carrying the explosives, with a Uniformed and Armed Police Officer, and the other behind the explosives truck and maintaining a distance of, at least, twenty metres (20m) and, at most, thirty metres (30m), with an Unarmed but Uniformed Police Officer.

    9. Competent persons accompanying explosives trucks shall notify the

    Regional Inspector of Mines in the

    Region upon arriving at their

    destinations and indicate the arrival

    times in a designated log book for

    that purpose.

    10. Competent persons accompanying Explosives shall be trained in the

    Code of Safe Working Practice

    for the transportation of Explosives

    along Public Roads, developed by

    the Explosives Manager and

    approved by an Inspector of

    Miners, and the Code shall be

    carried by the competent person

    accompanying each transportation.

    11. The transportation of Ammonium- Nitrate Fuel Oil (ANFO) on a

    public road to a mine or quarry

    site has been prohibited, unless

    expressly authorised in writing by

    the Chief Inspector of Mines/

    Explosives.

    Mr Speaker, all the relevant stake-

    holders have been engaged on these new

    measures, and the Minerals Commission

    has been directed to ensure strict compliance

    of same.

    Mr Speaker, upon receipt of the

    Report of the Health and Safety Committee

    of Inquiry, and if it becomes necessary, we

    will institute additional measures, to ensure

    that the transportation of explosives poses

    no risk to life and property.

    I thank you, Mr Speaker.
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 12:04 p.m.
    Yes, Hon
    Member, you are done; are you satisfied with the Answer? Very well.
    Yes, Hon Member for Pru East?
    Dr Kwabena Donkor 12:04 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I
    just heard the Hon Minister saying that the Minerals Commission has been ‘directed'. I would like to find out from the Hon Minister whether he has the power to direct Minerals Commission per the Minerals Commission Law, except in the area of policy. I think this falls within operations, and not policy.
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 12:04 p.m.
    Hon
    Member, is that a question or a policy advice? Then, formulate a question properly.
    Dr Donkor 12:04 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I heard the
    Hon Minister saying that the Minerals Commission has been directed in an area that is within the ambit of operations and not policy. So, I would like to find out from the Minister which law empowers him to direct the Minerals Commission or any other regulatory body, for that matter, in an area of operations.
    Mr S. A. Jinapor 12:04 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, the
    specific law which mandates the Minister to direct the Minerals Commission to put in place the needed and requisite safety measures to protect life and property is section 100(1) of the Minerals and Mining Act, 2006, (Act 703).
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 12:04 p.m.
    Very well. Hon Minister, we will move to Ordinary Questions - Question numbered 413 which stands in the name of the Hon Member for Builsa South, Dr Clement A. Apaak.
    Hon Member, you may ask Question numbered 413.
    ORAL ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS 12:04 p.m.
    MINISTRY OF LANDS AND 12:04 p.m.
    NATURAL RESOURCES 12:04 p.m.
    Dr Clement A. Apaak (NDC — Builsa South) 12:04 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I rise to ask the Hon Minister for Lands and Natural Resources if any person and/or company has been arrested and prosecuted for engaging in the harvesting, transportation, and export of rosewood from January, 2017 to 7th January, 2021, and if any equipment and/or vehicle/truck used were impounded in the light of the ban on harvesting, transport-tation, and export of rosewood.
    Mr S. A. Jinapor 12:04 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, the issue of rosewood is very important to the Government of President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo. Soon after taking office, and realising the unsustainable nature of the industry, coupled with the need to preserve our forest cover, the Ministry

    of Lands and Natural Resources imposed a ban on the harvesting and exporting of Rosewood in February 2017.

    Mr Speaker, from January 7, 2017, to

    January 7, 2021, a total of 15 people were arrested and prosecuted for engaging in illegal harvesting of rosewood. The number is made up of eight people arrested in Lawra in the Upper West Region; two people arrested in Navrongo in the Upper East Region; two people arrested in Bole and Buipe in the Savannah Region; two people arrested in Nkwanta and Jasikan in the Oti Region, and one person arrested in Tamale in the Northern Region. All 15 people were prosecuted, and those convicted were meted out with various punishments, ranging from fines to terms of imprisonment.

    Mr Speaker, between that same

    period, a total of 576 vehicles carrying Rosewood were impounded. Most of these vehicles were transporting the Rosewood to Accra for possible shipment out of the country. The owners of these trucks never show up when the vehicles are impounded. The vehicles are usually detained for over four months, and if no owner shows up, the drivers are made to pay fines ranging from two thousand Ghana Cedis (GH₵2,000) to five thousand Ghana Cedis (GH₵5,000), depending on the volume of wood on the truck. The wood is then confiscated to the State, sold at public auctions, and the vehicles released to the drivers.

    Let me, however, add, Mr Speaker,

    that since we realised that the cartels who owned these woods found ways of

    participating in the auction to buy and export them, we have ceased auctioning confiscated Rosewood. All Rosewood confiscated will be donated to the National Cathedral Project.

    In addition to these measures, to serve

    as further deterrent to drivers and vehicle owners who allow their vehicles to be used for the illegal business, we have commenced discussions with the Office of the Attorney-General for the possible prosecution of drivers and vehicle owners, and the confiscation of the vehicles to the State.

    Mr Speaker, may I point out that under

    Section 17(2) of the Timber Resources Act, 1997 (ACT 547): “A person who operates a vehicle to transport illegally harvested timber commits an offence.” However, the idea over the years was to use the drivers to get the main culprits behind the business. This is why the vehicles are impounded while investigations are done to find the main culprits. Mr Speaker, but as I have said, since this approach is not yielding results, we are engaging the Office of the Attorney-General for the possible prosecution of drivers going forward.

    Mr Speaker, let me reiterate, if I have

    not repeatedly done it enough, that our Government will continue to manage the natural resources of our country, particularly, as it relates to rosewood, in a manner that is in accord with the highest standards of transparency, integrity, and candour.

    I thank you, Mr Speaker.
    Dr Apaak 12:14 p.m.
    Thank you, Mr Speaker. I
    appreciate the detailed response that the Hon Minister has given.
    My follow-up question to the Hon
    Minister is this; what is the state of the five containers of rosewood impounded on 17th June, 2021 and their owners?
    Mr S. A. Jinapor 12:14 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I
    recall that this same question was asked and I actually appeared before the House to answer it, but let me reiterate what I said. Those five containers which were impounded, as I said when I appeared before this House, have been donated to the National Cathedral Project, so they are in the custody of the National Cathedral Project.
    Dr Apaak 12:14 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, perhaps, my
    question was not clear enough. My interest is in what has happened to the owners of that illegally acquired rosewood which has been confiscated and given to the National Cathedral Project.
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 12:14 p.m.
    Do you
    mean the owners of the rosewood the rosewood was unlawfully harvested from —
    Dr Apaak 12:14 p.m.
    Ghana is the owner but
    those who harvested it did so illegally, and so they ought to be punished. What has happened to them?
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 12:14 p.m.
    Hon
    Minister, are you aware of what has happened to those who have been caught harvesting the rosewood?
    Mr S. A. Jinapor 12:14 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, again, I answered this same question on rosewood the last time I was here. The matter has been referred to the National Security for investigation which is still ongoing. Let me point out that the people involved in these matters are cartels, so it takes quite an effort to be able to get at them and National Security is making all the efforts to arrest them. I gave this answer the last time and that is what I have repeated.
    Thank you.
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 12:14 p.m.
    Hon Member, you have one more opportunity.
    Dr Apaak 12:14 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, this is more of a suggestion to the Hon Minister.
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 12:14 p.m.
    As for suggestions, you can find him at his office. Let us move on with the questions. You have just said that he is your good friend, so find him.
    Dr Apaak 12:14 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, he is my good friend.
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 12:14 p.m.
    So, give it to him out of here. Let others who have questions — [Interruption] — Is Hon John Jinapor supporting him?
    Dr Apaak 12:14 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I stand down.
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 12:14 p.m.
    Very well.
    He says he will listen to you over lunch.
    Mr Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah 12:14 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, the Hon Minister in his
    Answer said that the rosewood has been
    given to the National Cathedral Project. He
    also said in the answer to the follow-up
    question that the investigation is ongoing.
    How does the Hon Minister reconcile the
    fact that normally, until these
    investigations are concluded, the items
    which are supposed to be evidence cannot
    be disposed of? Can the Hon Minister
    explain on what basis the rosewood was
    given to the National Cathedral Project
    when the investigation is still ongoing?
    This is evidence.
    Mr S. A. Jinapor 12:14 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, if I am
    permitted, let me respectfully disagree with
    my Hon Colleague, that the assembling of
    evidence would not be restricted to the
    rosewood which has been confiscated in
    the manner that they are. Respectfully, if
    you were conducting a prosecution, you
    would not carry the rosewood into the
    courtroom. You would take documentary
    evidence of the wood species and that
    becomes the exhibit and inventory you
    would place before the Court and National
    Security is doing just that. So, nothing
    stops us from giving this rosewood to the
    National Cathedral Committee.
    Dr Zanetor Agyeman-Rawlings 12:14 p.m.
    Mr
    Speaker, would the Hon Minister be
    willing to attend a joint briefing with the
    Hon Minister for National Security at the
    Committee level to brief the Defence and
    Interior Committee as we are now being
    told that National Security is handling this
    investigation?
    Mr S. A. Jinapor 12:14 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I am a
    dutiful servant of this House and if the
    House or its Committee so wishes, why
    not. I would be very happy to appear before
    the House and I would provide all the
    information available to me in a very
    transparent manner.
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 12:14 p.m.
    I would
    proceed to the next Question which is in
    the name of the Hon Member for Upper
    Denkyira West, Mr Daniel Ohene Darko.
    Effort to Ensure the Operationalisation
    of the Community Mining Programme
    Mr Daniel Ohene Darko (NDC - Upper Denkyira West) 12:14 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I
    beg to ask the Hon Minister for Lands and
    Natural Resources what efforts the
    Ministry was making to ensure the
    operationalisation of the Community
    Mining Programme.
    Mr S. A. Jinapor 12:24 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, the
    Community Mining Scheme was rolled out by the Government of President Akufo- Addo in 2019, as a substitute for illegal small-scale mining. Its aim is to provide members of the community the opportunity to engage in responsible, viable, sustainable and environmentally-sound mining for the benefit of the community. In 2020, 20 Community Mining Schemes were

    commissioned in 14 mining Districts across the country. Lack of vigilance, however, led to an abuse of the Scheme by some operators.

    In 2021, we revamped the Community

    Mining Scheme, and we have, since, reformed and clarified the legal and policy framework of the Scheme, to provide a clear pathway for responsible and sustainable small-scale mining with community ownership. We have, therefore, working with the Minerals Commission, developed an Operational Manual, setting standards and guidelines which all Community Mining Schemes must meet, and/or comply. The overall objective of the Operational Manual is to ensure that Community Mining Schemes, operate in a safe and healthy environment, and that their operations, are sustainable and environmentally-sound.

    Among its requirements, all Community

    Mining Schemes must have a general office, a mini-clinic or first aid post, washrooms, changing rooms, storage facilities for hazardous materials, potable water storage facility, and ore processing area, with a mercury-free ore processing equipment.

    The Ministry, through the Minerals

    Commission, is investing in the mercury- free ore processing equipment, known as “the Gold Katcha.” Already, we have procured 100 of these equipments, which we are giving to Community Mining Schemes across the country.

    Mr Speaker, since revamping the

    Scheme in 2021, nine Community Mining

    Schemes, with a total of 33 concessions,

    have been commissioned in Mmaapehia,

    Kwabre-Nuba and Tarkwa in the Western

    Region; Adukrom, Jacobu, Tepa, Tokwae

    and Kunsu in the Ashanti Region and

    Akyim Abaam in the Eastern Region.

    These nine Schemes, are expected to create

    about 46,300 direct and indirect jobs. Our

    commitment, is to commission 50 well-

    managed community mining schemes by

    the end of the year. We will, however,

    insist that all Schemes meet the minimum

    requirements set out in the Operational

    Manual before commissioning.

    As part of measures to effectively

    manage these Schemes, we have, in

    accordance with section 92 of the Minerals

    and Mining Act, 2006 (Act 703), begun

    inaugurating Small Scale Mining Commi-

    ttees in the various mining Districts, to

    assist the Minerals Commission in the

    monitoring, promotion and development of

    responsible and sustainable small-scale

    mining operations.

    Mr Speaker, the instruction of the

    President of the Republic, H.E. Nana Addo

    Dankwa Akufo-Addo, is for us to ensure

    that the Community Mining Scheme

    becomes the model of small-scale mining,

    not only in our country, but also across the

    continent, and we are doing just that.

    I thank you, Mr Speaker.
    Mr Darko 12:24 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, it has been
    “inaugurating and inaugurating” throughout so, I would want to ask the Hon Minister
    what is the Government' input to this project.
    Mr S. A. Jinapor 12:24 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, the
    Community Mining Schemes are private
    sector driven. The Government's involve- ment is at the level of facilitation. So, for
    example, the provision of concessions and
    mercury-free Gold Katcha which would
    ensure that the gold is extracted from the
    ore in an environmentally sound way and
    generally, creating the conducive
    environment for private individuals and the
    community to be involved in these
    Community Mining Schemes; for them to
    be viable and thrive; and at the same time;
    most importantly, for them to be
    sustainable and environmentally sound.
    Mr Darko 12:24 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, the programme
    was launched about three years ago in 2019
    and I know some persons were trained for
    two years at the University of Mines and
    Technology (UMAT) and they are still at
    home doing nothing. Could the Hon
    Minister tell this honourable House what
    has been the impact of those who were
    trained on the programme as a whole
    because as I speak, they are all at home
    doing nothing after a lot of money has been
    spent on training them.
    Mr S. A. Jinapor 12:24 p.m.
    Mr Speaker,
    respectfully, I have to point out to my Hon
    Colleague that it is not correct that all the
    people who were trained are at home. A
    good number of them have been roped into
    the Community Mining Schemes and they
    are involved in it. Some of them have
    found employment in other mining
    schemes which are not necessarily
    Community Mining Schemes. Indeed,
    some of them even have their own mining
    operations.
    As the House would appreciate when
    it comes to these matters, it is work-in-
    progress and as I have indicated to the
    House, a lot of work has been done already
    over the years and a lot more would be
    done this year in terms of the Community
    Mining Schemes. We would also continue
    to train more people in the best practices of
    mining and I would assure this House that
    under the distinguished leadership of
    President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-
    Addo, we would come to grips with the
    issues of mining in our country.
    Mr Darko 12:24 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, in the Hon
    Minister's Answer, he said that the Scheme is expected to create about 46,000 direct
    and indirect jobs. So, I would want to know
    in terms of figures how many people have
    been employed directly so far since it was
    inaugurated three years ago.
    Mr S. A. Jinapor 12:24 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, the
    46,000 direct and indirect jobs I talked
    about is in relation to the nine Community
    Mining Schemes. If my Hon Colleague
    wants the information in relation to the
    number of jobs which have been created
    for the past three years, he should file a
    substantive Question and I would be more

    than happy to come and provide the House

    with the information.
    Mr Eric Afful 12:24 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, the Hon
    Minister said that the sector has created
    46,000 direct and indirect jobs, so I would
    want him to differentiate between the
    “direct” and “indirect” jobs so that it could be on record.
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 12:24 p.m.
    Hon
    Member, you could ask your own
    Question.
    Mr Anthony M. Sumah 12:24 p.m.
    Mr Speaker,
    I would want to commend the Hon
    Minister for the development of the
    operational manual. However, I want to
    find out from him whether they have had
    any opportunity to orient applicants or the
    community miners on the requirements of
    the Manuel since its launch in 2019. This is
    because once there is an opportunity to
    create jobs, we should do that so that
    people could put in competent applica-
    tions. I want to know if there is a scheme
    to respond to applicants with regard to
    applications that have been put in about the
    outcome and the reasons thereof.
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 12:24 p.m.
    Hon
    Minister, was the training intended to
    directly employ people?
    Mr S. A. Jinapor 12:34 p.m.
    Mr Speaker,
    maybe, I should take a second to explain how the Community Mining Scheme works. As I said in my Answer, it is community owned. Probably, the Commi-
    ttee on Mines and Energy may have to find an opportunity to visit some of these Community Mining Schemes and Opera- tions. The investment, operations and everything about it is owned by the community.
    The experts agree with me that
    Community Mining Scheme is the panacea and the best weapon we could use to sanitise small-scale mining in our country. The problem we have had in the past is where community mining schemes become some conduit or pseudo galamsey operations and so it could be launched as the Community Mining Scheme but the practices that take place in that operation actually, by all intents and purposes, is galamsey. That is what we have sought to avoid and that is why we published this Manual. I could furnish my Hon Colleague a copy. It sets up clearly what the basic requirements of the Community Mining Scheme should have.

    Mr Speaker, under the very able

    leadership of my Hon Deputy Minister, Mr George Mireku Duker, who is responsible for mining in the Ministry, a lot of monitoring and evaluation have happened and I could assure this House that we are reasonably satisfied as to how the Community Mining Schemes are established and operated. There is a lot more room for improvement and we are happy to take proposals from the House as to how we can better the Community Mining Scheme.
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 12:34 p.m.
    Very well.
    Hon Members, we would proceed to
    Question numbered 416 which stands in
    the name of the Hon Member for
    Domeabra/Obom; Ms Sophia Karen Edem
    Ackuaku.
    Steps to Investigate Dome Fuase Land
    Dispute between Ga South and
    Apedwa Akyem People
    Ms Sophia Karen Edem Ackuaku
    (NDC — Domeabra/Obom): Mr Speaker, I beg to ask the Hon Minister for Lands and
    Natural Resources what steps the Ministry
    is taking to investigate the Dome Fuase
    Land Dispute between the people of Ga
    South and Apedwa Akyem.
    Mr S. A. Jinapor 12:34 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, the
    Greater Accra Regional Lands Commi-
    ssion learnt of some disturbances over the
    ownership of land at Dome Fuase through
    the print media. This said disturbance was
    attributed to claims of ownership by the
    Mponuahene of Akyem Apedwa, in the
    Eastern Region over the said lands which
    the people of Domeabra/Obom also
    claimed to be Ga lands within their area of
    ownership. The conflicting claims led to
    some clashes which resulted in injury to
    some persons.
    Mr Speaker, as the Supreme Court has consistently held in cases like Matekole & Azago Kwesitsu I v Electoral Commission and Attorney-General (NO. 2)

    1

    SCGLR 244, Obroni v Attorney-General [2015-2016] 1 SCGLR 364 and Akuse Amedeka Citizens

    Association v Attorney-General and

    Electoral Commission [2015-2016] 1 SCGLR 372, the issue of whether a town or a parcel of land falls within one region or another, is not just a question of land dispute, but involves the question of the constitutional relations between chiefs, and, therefore, a cause or matter affecting chieftaincy. To quote the words of the renowned Atuguba JSC (as he then was), in the Matekole Case (supra):

    “It is therefore crystal clear that the

    Mr Speaker, likewise, it is the

    considered view of the Ministry that, whether the disputed land in Dome Fuase forms part of Akyem Apedwa lands in the Eastern Region, or Domeabra/Obom lands in the Greater Accra Region, will require a determination of the extent of area of the Akyem State or the Ga State, which in the words of Atuguba JSC, “evinces a cause or matter affecting chieftaincy.”

    Mr Speaker, Article 273 of our national

    Constitution vests exclusive jurisdiction to determine any cause or matter affecting

    chieftaincy that straddle between two Regions in the National House of Chiefs, with a right of appeal subject to leave to the Supreme Court.

    Be that as it may, although the rival

    claims have not been officially brought to

    the attention of the Lands Commission or

    the Ministry, we are collaborating with the

    Eastern and Greater Accra Regional

    Security Councils to find a lasting solution

    to this impasse.
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 12:34 p.m.
    Yes, Hon
    Member, any follow-up question, please?
    Ms Ackuaku 12:34 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, at the last
    paragraph of the Hon Minister's Answer, he stated that; “the Ministry is collaborating with the Greater Accra and
    Eastern Regional Security Councils to find
    a lasting solution to these disputes”.
    Mr Speaker, can the Hon Minister tell
    this House, the kind of collaboration he is
    talking about and how would this bring
    lasting solution to the dispute?
    Mr S. A. Jinapor 12:34 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, firstly, anything that borders on the breach of the peace and security of our country, is within the jurisdiction of the various Regional Security Councils. So, if there is an issue relating to land and disputation over ownership, and which threatens to breach the peace of the country, the various Regional Security Councils would have to come in. Even while I have established the position of the law, I think that it is prudent
    and responsible that the two Regional Security Councils find other alternative dispute resolution mechanisms to make an attempt at resolving this issue.
    However, I would conclude by reiterating and re-affirming the substantive position I articulated before this House that based on the case law, a matter like this, if not resolved at the level of the Regional Security Councils, would have to be escalated to the National House of Chiefs and perhaps, eventually, to the Supreme Court.
    Ms Ackuaku 12:34 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, in the Hon Minister's estimation, can he tell the good people of Domeabra/Obom Constituency, how soon the collaboration would produce the desired results of lasting peace to the people of the area.
    Mr S. A. Jinapor 12:34 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, with the greatest of respect, I am afraid, I cannot give those timelines. I believe that we can put in our best endeavours and hope that we get some results and perhaps, the Hon Member could also play her part as a key influencer of that area. We can all keep our fingers crossed and work hard at it and hope that it would be resolved, but I am very sorry I cannot give timelines.
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 12:34 p.m.
    Hon Member, do you have any more?
    Ms Ackuaku 12:34 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, can the Hon Minister indicate to us, the extent to which the dispute has affected land use in

    the area because storey buildings and other developments on the land are always destroyed by the other parties.
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 12:34 p.m.
    Hon
    Member that is not an eligible follow-up
    question. The Hon Minister does not have
    that information. You may ask another
    question if you have any.
    Hon Member, are you done?
    Hon Members, Question numbered
    536 which stands in the name of the Hon
    Member for Nsawam/Adoagyiri, Mr Frank
    Annoh-Dompreh.
    Number of Seedlings Procured and
    Planted by Ministry to Support Forest
    Reserve
    Mr Frank Annoh-Dompreh (NPP - Nsawam-Adoagyiri) 12:34 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, may I
    seek your leave to make corrections to the
    Question which I have relayed to the Hon
    Minister and the Table Office?
    Mr Speaker, I beg to ask the Hon
    Minister for Lands and Natural Resources
    how many seedlings the Ministry procured
    and planted in supporting our forest
    reserve.
    Mr S. A. Jinapor 12:44 p.m.
    Mr Speaker,
    forests, referred to as “the Lungs of the Earth” continue to be one of our most important natural resources, contributing
    both to the national economy and the
    global fight against climate change.
    Unfortunately, their exploitation has been
    very unsustainable, leading to gradual loss
    of the forest cover of our country. From
    1900 till date, we have lost over
    8,000,000ha of our forest cover.

    Regrettably, over the years, our efforts

    at restoring the lost forest cover have not

    been aggressive enough. Between 1963

    and 1987, for instance, only 19,300 ha of

    forest was cultivated and, from 2002 to

    2016, an area of 138,000 ha of forest was

    cultivated, making a total of 157,300 ha of

    forest cultivated between 1963 and 2016, a

    whopping period of 53 years.

    Mr Speaker, since 2017, the Government

    of President of Akufo-Addo, has committed

    to an aggressive afforestation and

    reforestation programme, to restore our

    lost forest cover. As a result, between 2017

    and the end of the third quarter of 2021, a

    total of 477,485.5ha of forest have been

    cultivated, under the Ghana Forest

    Plantation Strategy, through various

    programmes undertaken by Government,

    the private sector and Civil Society

    Organisations.

    Now, Mr Speaker, to the substantive

    question.

    Between 2017 and the third quarter of

    2021, a total of 67,376,384 seedlings were procured by the Forestry Commission for planting within degraded forests. The seedlings were planted under two major

    government programmes - Modified Taungya System and the Youth in Afforestation/ Reforestation Programme. The annual breakdown of seedlings procured is as follows:

    YEAR NO. OF SEEDLINGS
    PROCURED 12:44 p.m.
    Mr Annoh-Dompreh 12:44 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I
    commend the Hon Minister, and the second
    paragraph of his Answer gives a detailed
    story of the losses over the years. I wish to
    find out if the Hon Minister has some
    sustainable programmes that would reverse
    this negative trend that has been recorded
    over the years, in terms of forest losses.
    Mr S. A. Jinapor 12:44 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, we
    have presented a very comprehensive and
    robust medium to long term programme to
    the Cabinet of President Akufo-Addo and
    it is intended to restore the lost forest cover
    of our country. Thankfully, after a rigorous
    scrutiny of that programme, it was
    modified in part and approved by the
    Cabinet, and it is the programme we are
    implementing. Mr Speaker, the programme
    aims at rolling out aggressive afforestation
    and reforestation.
    Indeed, the specific answer of how we
    intend to restore the forest cover of our
    country - which I have indicated that from

    1900 to date, about 8,000,000ha of

    Ghana's forest cover is lost and the experts tell us that if something drastic is not done

    and with the level at which we are

    exploiting our forest cover, then they

    would become totally unsustainable. Mr

    Speaker, so this programme is anchored on

    two pillars and the first pillar is an

    aggressive afforestation and reforestation

    programme and the second pillar is the

    necessary measures required to protect the

    existing forest cover of our country.

    Mr Speaker, on the aggressive

    afforestation and reforestation programme,

    a lot of interventions are being made

    including the Green Ghana, planting of

    trees in farms and the issue of getting

    multinational companies to come for

    carbon credit to engage in forest

    plantations. Also, I am sure that the House

    is very familiar with the range of drastic

    measures we have put in place to protect

    the forest cover of our country including

    the ban on rosewood, fight against illegal

    mining, the ban on recognisance

    prospecting and exploration in forest

    reserves of our country, and a plethora of

    other measures that have been put in place

    to protect the existing forest cover of our

    country.

    Mr Speaker, let me assure the House

    that President Akufo-Addo is fully

    determined to restore the lost forest cover

    of our country and a good deal of work is

    being done in that respect.
    Mr Annoh-Dompreh 12:44 p.m.
    Mr Speaker,
    the Hon Minister touched on carbon credit
    trade, which in my view, is a critical matter
    and also a technical concern. Mr Speaker,
    has the Hon Minister adverted his mind to
    the technicalities involved if we are to
    exploit carbon trade to its maximum effects
    and to rake in the necessary funding, and
    what is he doing to build the capacity of the
    players for us to buy in to this carbon trade
    concept?
    Mr S. A. Jinapor 12:44 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, again,
    we have appeared before Cabinet and
    presented a very elaborate programme on
    how Ghana can leverage on the emerging
    market of carbon trade. Mr Speaker, the
    Hon Majority Chief Whip is very right that
    the concept of carbon trading has become
    the contemporary tool of unleashing
    aggressive afforestation, and as I said,
    myself and the Hon Minister for
    Environment, Science, Technology and
    Innovation have presented a joint
    memorandum to Cabinet and that has been
    approved.
    As I speak, a technical committee is in
    place to supervise and shepherd this effort.
    Mr Speaker, I do not know if the House
    took notice that, for example, the Forestry
    Commission has signed a Memorandum of
    Understanding with Tullow Oil to get to a
    net zero situation. Therefore, Tullow Oil
    has agreed with the Forestry Commission
    to provide funding for those forest
    plantations to be used to offset their carbon
    emissions.

    Mr Speaker, you would also recall that

    in Glasgow, I had the rare privilege of

    signing a letter of intent with the Leaf

    Coalition which has a billion United States

    dollars. It is an intervention by the United

    States and the UK Governments to raise

    that amount of money for aggressive

    afforestation across the world and Ghana

    was among only five countries to have

    been selected to sign the letter of intent.

    Again, there is a technical committee that

    is pursuing this effort to enable us leverage

    the Leaf Coalition Fund so that we can

    engage in aggressive afforestation.

    Mr Speaker, carbon trading is a major

    issue and the Government is taking it very

    seriously. We have put in place the

    requisite framework to be able to tap into

    the concept of carbon trading so that we

    can have more afforestation schemes in our

    country. Mr Speaker, the House should

    rest assured that the Government is

    working day and night on this matter and

    God willing, we would restore the lost

    forest cover to the glory of our country.
    Mr Annoh-Dompreh 12:54 p.m.
    Mr Speaker,
    my last follow up question. I take cognisance of the fact that the Minister has mentioned in relation to carbon trade concept, the formation of a technical committee. I am aware of the support from the United Nations - the establishment of the Climate Change Centre at the University of Ghana and I know my good friend knows about it. Would he consider
    an extension of a hand to this school at the University of Ghana for us to broaden this technical committee membership so that we can reach out more? This is because the carbon trade concept in Africa is becoming almost like an illusion and it has been difficult. I am sure that if we are able to do this and get the University of Ghana Climate Change Department involved, notable names like Dr Manteaw and others who are playing a good example could be roped in this concept to broaden the horizon if that is considered as a plausible option.
    Mr S. A. Jinapor 12:54 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, we would be very happy and willing to collaborate with this outfit and would get in touch with my Leader and almost immediately, we would establish contact and work with them.
    Thank you, Mr Speaker.
    Dr Kwabena Donkor 12:54 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, the Minister, in his Answer said:
    “In addition to the above, the Forestry Commission procured 4,897,247 seedlings…”
    Mr Speaker, I want to ask the Minister if procurement of seedlings automatically translate into trees planted and growing.
    Thank you, Mr Speaker.
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 12:54 p.m.
    Yes, Hon Minister? What did you do with the seedlings procured?
    Mr S. A. Jinapor 12:54 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, the
    seedlings procured, as I indicated, were
    seedlings procured for the 2021 edition of
    Green Ghana Project.
    Mr Speaker, I suspect that my Hon
    Senior Colleague planted a tree. Those
    were the trees we all planted. So they were
    planted, Mr Speaker.
    Alhaji Muntaka 12:54 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, just
    following up on what Dr Kwabena Donkor
    just asked. The Minister, in his Answer
    stated that last year, about 4.8 million
    seedlings out of the about 7.1 million
    seedlings were planted during the Green
    Ghana project. Have we taken audit of
    these seedlings that we planted last year to
    ensure their existence as we plan to plant
    20,000 more. This is because as the
    Minister may know, planting seedlings is
    different from trying to sustain it for it to
    provide the results for which they were
    planted. So, I would want to know whether
    they have taken any stock of these 4.8
    million seedlings that were planted.
    Mr S. A. Jinapor 12:54 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, that is
    a very important question asked by the Hon
    Minority Chief Whip and I appreciate his
    intervention.
    Mr Speaker, the report I have from the
    Forestry Commission is that the seedlings
    planted are doing very well. Indeed, the last
    report I got was that some 80 per cent of
    the seedlings planted during Green Ghana
    Day are doing very well and are surviving.
    Mr Speaker, in addition to that, they
    have reports and I am happy to furnish the
    House with the report. They have provided
    the full report with the various areas where
    the trees were planted and how the trees are
    evolving.
    Mr Speaker, in addition to that, I set up
    a monitoring and evaluation committee for
    the 2021 Green Ghana planting headed by
    the able Deputy Minister responsible for
    Lands and Forestry, Mr Benito Owusu-Bio
    and he has been working day and night to
    ensure that the monitoring is done
    effectively.
    Mr Speaker, I have to add that last
    year, we learnt one lesson, which was that
    a considerable number of the seedlings
    were planted by individuals at places we
    cannot reasonably be expected to know
    where they planted. For instance, seedlings
    were taken to the Accra Mall and people
    just came and picked the seedlings and
    went away and supposedly planted them. If
    they did plant them, we would not be able
    to tell where they planted them so we can
    monitor. In worst case scenario, they may
    not even have been planted at all.
    So, Mr Speaker, I want to concede that
    it is a lesson we have learnt, so this year,
    the operational strategy we are putting
    together is such that an overwhelming
    number of the seedlings would have to be
    planted in designated areas so that we can
    monitor them and monitor them
    effectively. But I want to conclude by
    thanking the Chief Whip that indeed,

    planting the trees is not enough. In fact, if

    we plant the trees and we do not look after

    them to maturity, we are better off not

    planting at all. I want to assure the House

    that this year, with the support of the

    House, we would endeavour to perfect the

    Green Ghana Day.

    Thank you, Mr Speaker.
    Alhaji Muntaka 12:54 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, also,
    the issue of funding as my Hon Colleague,
    the Majority Chief Whip asked - I know this is more driven by the private sector
    donations and other programmes that they
    carry. Would the Hon Minister be mindful
    to update this House on the donors and the
    contributions they made? This is because
    as we jeer towards 20 million seedlings, it
    may even require more resources so that at
    least acknowledgement is made of private
    sector participants who willingly
    contributed to the Green Ghana project.
    Would the Minister be willing to update the
    House with this information?
    Mr S. A. Jinapor 1:04 p.m.
    Mr Speaker,
    maybe the Minority Chief Whip may have
    to consider having additional responsibility
    as a consultant for the 2022 edition of
    Green Ghana because that would help. The
    strategy really, as much as possible, we
    want this tree planting exercise to be
    owned by the population and so in the best
    of worlds, we should not take a penny from
    the public exchequer. That is the idea.
    Now, Mr Speaker, the point the Chief
    Whip made is a very important point so
    what we are trying to do this year is that
    corporate Ghana, for example, can take up
    compartments so that they can say that in
    the Ahafo Region, there are about two or
    three degraded compartments. I would not
    mention any corporate Ghana's name but a company says they are taking these three
    compartments and they are going to go
    about planting but the Forestry Commi-
    ssion would provide the technical support
    and the rest but they would procure the
    seedlings, plant them, ensure that the
    seedlings mature and it would go into their
    corporate books as their corporate social
    responsibility towards the safeguarding of
    the environment of our country. As I said
    at the launch of the 2022 Green Ghana
    edition, we are even going to consider the
    concept of carbon credit in this 2022 Green
    Ghana so that if a company's operation inevitably would have them flare out a lot
    of carbon dioxide, they would liaise with
    the Forestry Commission; take up 2022
    Green Ghana and plant as much seedlings
    which would offset the flaring up of their
    carbon to balance it. The concept of net
    zero effect has become a very fashionable
    concept today in the climate change world.
    So, we are looking at all of those options
    but as much as possible, we want to take up
    the mobilisation in such a way that we do
    not burden the public exchequer. In the
    coming days and weeks, the House would
    find that I would be meeting the
    telecommunication companies; oil
    companies; mining companies; religious
    leaders, Leadership of Parliament; security
    agencies and several other stakeholders
    who we believe if they cooperated with us,

    we can mobilise Ghanaians to come out

    there and make the 2022 Green Ghana

    edition a success.

    Mr Speaker, in conclusion, today, in

    Appiatse, we are raising the money to build

    the community by ourselves. Today, I can

    comfortably and confidently say that we

    are almost at a point where we would be

    able to raise sufficient funding to build the

    community from scratch.

    I believe that is an example where in

    the Green Ghana Project we should also be

    able to raise our resource to complete

    Green Ghana, beginning with the contribution

    of the Hon Minority Chief Whip, Alhaji

    Mohammed-Mubarak Muntaka.
    Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 1:04 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, the account given by the Minister without doubt, appears very impressive; that is 53 years covering 157,000 hectares. That indeed translates to, in terms of reclamation and re-afforestation on the average, reclaiming 2,900 hectares per year; that is over the span of 53 years as the Minister said, up to 2016. Now, beginning 2017, they have re-afforested 477,485.5 hectares; that translates to doing 95,497 hectares per year on the average. That is really commendable as compared to 2,900 hectares.
    Mr Speaker, we must commend the Minister. However, he admits in the first paragraph of his Answer that between 1900
    till date, we have lost over 8 million hectares of our forest cover. At the beginning of that century, the forest cover was 8.5 million hectares - [Laughter] - now, we have lost 8 million, and the Minister by his efforts is reclaiming 95,497 hectares per year. That would translate in terms of reclamation, 80 years assuming it is even 100,000 hectares. Would the Minister consider the effort that he is putting in, this year, 20 million trees? Would he consider doubling the effort by doing so twice a year? So that on the average, if we are able to do this, it would take us half the time from 80 years to 40 years. If we have lost so much, will he consider doing that at least twice a year? Otherwise, it would take us - even by his own escalated performance - not less than 80 years to cover the 8 million that is lost.
    Mr First Deputy Speaker 1:04 p.m.
    Will the Minister consider that? Meanwhile, the Second Deputy Speaker will take the Chair.
    1.08 p.m. —
    MR SECOND DEPUTY SPEAKER
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 1:04 p.m.
    Yes, Hon Minister, let us hear you.
    Mr S. A. Jinapor 1:04 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, the Hon Majority Leader is right. The data are very revealing, and as I indicated in my Answer, from 1963 to 1987, we cultivated 19,300 hectares of forest. Significantly, in the course of the Fourth Republic, from

    Mr Speaker, when you look at the

    situation from 2017 to the third quarter of 2021, we have been successful at cultivating 477,485.5 hectares of forest. So, if we do a cursory analysis of the data, it would be seen that whereas in 53 years, from 1963 to 2016, and 2002 to 2016, we cultivate 157,300 hectares, and from 2017 to date, we have cultivated 477,485.5, it means that we have done more than 100 per cent within a spate of just five years compared to a period of 53 years. So, we can only be encouraged to do a lot more. I would want to thank the Hon Majority Leader for his words of encouragement that we would need to move forward.

    Mr Speaker, again, the Majority

    Leader is right in saying that this is not sufficient and it will not take us to the desired destination, and have us achieve our objectives. This is because at this rate as he rightly pointed, it would take us some 80 years to restore the forest cover of our country.

    Mr Speaker, the lessons the Ministry

    and the Government learnt from the 2021 Green Ghana Day experience suggest that if we put our hands together and mobilise, we would be able to do it ourselves. We will do it across political lines and sectorial lines.

    We would mobilise ourselves to restore the forest cover of our country, because after all, we would be doing so for the survival of our country.

    Mr Speaker, I would take the Hon

    Majority Leader's proposal in good faith. We would look at it, except to say that the eight million hectares because of land use, we may not be able recover or restore the entire eight million hectares because a lot of buildings and developments have taken place. But we are determined to work for this country, and we will continue to do so.
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 1:04 p.m.
    Hon
    Members, once the question came from the Hon Majority Leader it means we have closed that particular Question. We would move to Question numbered 537, which stands in the name of the Hon Member for Nsawam/Adoagyiri.
    Systems and Measures to facilitate
    Acquisition of Land for Tema- Akosombo Railway Development
    Project
    Mr Frank Annoh-Dompreh (NPP
    — Nsawam/Adoagyiri): Mr Speaker, I rise to ask the Minister for Lands and Natural Resources the systems and measures the Ministry has put in place to facilitate the acquisition of land for the Tema - Akosombo Railway Development Project.
    Mr S. A. Jinapor 1:04 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, the
    site for the Tema - Akosombo Railway Development Project has already been
    compulsorily acquired by the Government,

    under the State Lands - Afienya - New Akrade Greater Accra and Eastern Regions

    (Site for Single Standard Gauge Railway

    Line - Ghana Railway Development Authority Limited) Instrument, 2018 (E.I.

    10).

    Compensation has been paid to over

    500 affected property owners since 2019.

    There, however, remain some affected

    persons, especially, those with undeveloped

    lands who are yet to be paid compensation.

    This compensation is outstanding because

    of conflicting claims to the lands in issue.

    The affected persons have been duly

    notified and are being assisted by the Lands

    Commission to resolve the conflicts to

    enable compensations to be paid.

    There are also a few claims that are

    outstanding as a result of inaccurate site

    plans. Again, the Lands Commission is

    assisting such people to prepare accurate

    site plans to facilitate the process for the

    payment of compensation.

    Mr Speaker, thank you.
    Mr Annoh-Dompreh 1:04 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, with reference to the Minister's Answer, on the second paragraph, the delay in dealing with conflicts related to payments of compensation, I have picked up reports that it is dragging on. What would the Minister do to expedite action on this to ensure a speedy payment of these compensations involved?
    Mr S. A. Jinapor 1:14 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, the
    broader issue of land administration is the main cause for a good number of these disputations which inhibit the efforts of Government to pay compensation. Since I had the privilege of being made the Hon Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, the biggest issue when it comes to compensation has to do with the rightful recipients or claimants of these compensations. Many at times the need for the payment of compensation is settled, but who to pay the compensation to, becomes a subject matter of litigation, and I have dozens of such files on my desk as I speak to you today, where Government is willing and ready to pay compensations, but we have rival claims and litigation which inhibits the effort of Government to pay these compensations.
    Mr Speaker, therefore, respectfully,
    what I can say to my Hon Colleague is that we would employ all best endeavours to ensure that these disputes and rivalry claims are resolved to enable Government pay these compensations.
    In conclusion, as the House would
    take note, the programme and vision of our outstanding President, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, to build a robust railway system in this country to facilitate industrialisation and development in our country is primordial and overarching. Therefore, for us to be able to make progress, these compensations ought to be paid. I assure the Hon Member and the House that we would employ all best

    endeavours to ensure that we resolve this particular matter.
    Mr Annoh-Dompreh 1:14 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I
    have exhausted all outstanding supple-
    mentary questions for now.
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 1:14 p.m.
    So, are
    you all right?
    Mr Annoh-Dompreh 1:14 p.m.
    Yes, I am.
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 1:14 p.m.
    Very
    well.
    Yes, Hon Member for South Dayi?
    Mr Rockson-Nelson E. K. Dafeamekpor 1:14 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, the Hon Minister in
    responding to this Question did say that
    some of the claimants are still not paid
    because of some factors. Would the Hon
    Minister be kind enough to tell this House
    how much has been paid to those who were
    identified and verified?
    Mr S. A. Jinapor 1:14 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I am
    afraid, but this may have to elicit a
    substantive Question, and when that is
    done, we would provide the House with the
    necessary Answers.
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 1:14 p.m.
    Hon
    Minority Leader, I would now come to
    you.
    Minority Leader (Mr Haruna Iddrisu) 1:14 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, the Hon Minister in his Answer — and as followed up by the Hon
    Majority Chief Whip, Mr Speaker, with respect, I would refer the Hon Minister to Article 20 of the 1992 Constitution, which is on the subject of compulsory acquisition. Also, to re-echo what Hon Annoh- Dompreh asked, I would want to know this from the Hon Minister. One of the pre- conditions for compulsory acquisition is the prompt payment of fair and adequate compensation. As condition precedent, the Ministry is not to acquire the land before they pay compensation. In the Consti- tution, article 20 (2) says, and I read:
    “Compulsory acquisition of property by the State shall only be made under a law which makes provision for —
    a) The prompt payment of fair and adequate compensation.”
    Mr Speaker, I do not know whether the Hon Minister is aware of this, but information available to us is the delays at the Lands Commission in reviewing matters relating to this compensation. So, the red tape of bureaucracy associated with this, we also need him to resolve it. The law says compulsory acquisition of property by the State shall only be made under a law which makes provision for “fair” and adequate compensation.” Would that be paid to the persons to whom they have so acquired these lands from? This is because the Hon Minister indicated further that he has difficulty knowing who to pay the compensations to. Did he have difficulty knowing where to get the land from? If he did not, then he should respond appropriately.
    Mr S. A. Jinapor 1:14 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I
    would want to first of all agree with the
    Hon Minority Leader in his reliance on
    article 20 of the Constitution and the
    requirement for compensation to be
    prompt, fair and adequate. That is a cardinal
    condition precedent and prerequisite when it
    comes to matters of compensation. The
    Supreme Court has had multiple occasions
    to make pronounce-ments on the exact
    contours of article 20. It is not lost on me
    at all. I also want to believe that the Hon
    Minority Leader in asking his question is
    actually referring to the general issue of the
    payment of compensation, and the need for
    such payments to be prompt, fair and
    adequate.
    Mr Speaker, however, I would also
    respectfully have the Hon Minority Leader
    indulge the need for public officers to act
    responsibly and act in a manner which is in
    the public's interest. So, the general issue of compensation as I intimated in my
    earlier answer, the biggest issue when it
    comes to payment of compensation in our
    country remains rival claims. That is a real
    issue that we would have to be very frontal
    about, where the need for compensation
    has been determined, the quantum has been
    determined and the money has been made
    available, but at the point of payment, we
    have rival owners and claimants, therefore,
    as a Minister who has to act responsibly
    and who should not act capriciously and act
    arbitrary and say that regardless of the
    disputation, I would pay to this person or
    that person, the Minister is required to
    ensure that those matters are sorted out
    before compensation is paid. I have been
    speaking to this matter passionately
    because that is the biggest headache that I
    have had since becoming Minister where
    we are willing to pay prompt, fair and
    adequate compensation, but we have three
    or four gates or royals popping up and
    litigating amongst themselves, sometimes
    in a law court, as to who should receive the
    compensation. I think that in such
    circumstances, as it is in this particular
    matter that we are discussing, the Minster
    has to act responsibly and not act in a
    manner which would not be in the interest
    of the public.
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 1:14 p.m.
    So,
    Hon Minister, in a matter of making sure
    that the multiple claimants are sorted out
    before you pay, if it happens that the
    delayance has become too long, would you
    review the volume or the quantum of
    money? This is because it may take some
    time before sorting out becomes a reality.
    Bearing in mind the constitutional
    condition that compensation should be
    adequate?
    Mr S. A. Jinapor 1:14 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I
    thank you very much for that question.
    Truly, I am excited about the question you
    have asked because it is an issue that is of
    great public interest. Fortunately for us, the
    new Land Act, 2020, Act 103 (6) has
    provided that where compensation has
    been established and there are issues of
    litigation as to those who are the rightful
    recipients, those compensations ought to
    be escrowed. Therefore, it does not

    occasion additional financial burden on the

    State. They are escrowed in a responsible

    prudent financial manner so that interest

    can accrue on them. There is also the other

    matter of the work we are doing to reform

    the Land Commission by digitising it so

    that the question as to who is the rightful

    recipient of compensation can easily be

    settled at the level of the Lands

    Commission. For the time being, Act 1036

    seems to have resolved this matter.
    Mr Suhuyini Alhassan Sayibu 1:24 p.m.
    Mr
    Speaker, thank you very much for the
    opportunity to follow up on a question the
    Hon Minister answered in relation to
    compensation requiring it to be adequate,
    prompt and fair.
    Mr Speaker, I would want to find out
    from the Hon Minister, based on this observation, what processes are used to determine which claimant gets paid first before the other. Mr Speaker, I am sure the Hon Minister would understand that in interactions with the Ministry, it does appear that when the Ministry prepares claims and submits to the Ministry of Finance for payment, it is usually out of the hands of the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources and the Ministry of Finance makes the payments and puts it on the budget of the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources. There have been examples where some claims are paid before others even though they were submitted earlier by the Ministry. I just
    want to find out if there is a structure that is communicated from the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources to the Ministry of Finance to determine how claimants get paid their compensations and whether there is a first come, first served basis.
    Mr S. A. Jinapor 1:24 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, the
    import of the question is the criteria of determining that Mr A's compensation is paid first and Mr B's second. First of all, there is an elaborate process by law which one has to go through in order for his or her compensation to be paid. I cannot set all the processes out here, but on top of my head, I know there must have been some compromise of one's interest in the land either through compulsory acquisition or road construction and then, you become entitled to compensation. The Land Valua- tion Division of the Lands Commission would go through that before a report is brought to the Minister, and he would have to go to Cabinet for approval. It is after Cabinet has given approval that the Minister would forward the compen-sation to the Ministry of Finance for payment.
    Mr Speaker, the process is objective,
    transparent and above board, and every Ghanaian who believes is entitled to compensation just has to go through this process, and when it is done, the payment is done. With the greatest of respect, the Minister does not sit in his office to say that Mr A should be paid or not. One would have to go through the process, and if his application is meritorious and it passes the scrutiny, he gets paid.
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 1:24 p.m.
    We
    now move to Question numbered 539
    which stands in the name of the Hon
    Member for Adaklu.
    Mr Agbodza 1:24 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I crave
    your indulgence to step down this
    particular Question relying on Standing
    Order 67(1)(c) which reads:
    “no Question shall be asked which raises an issue already decided, or
    which has been answered substantially, during the current Session”
    Mr Speaker, the import of my
    Question is to request the Hon Minister to
    provide specific details of land transactions
    that took place between 2017 and today in
    Accra. However, in the transmission of the
    Question to the Table Office, it appears the
    rendition remained what it used to be
    which the Hon Minister previously
    answered. Hence, with your indulgence, I
    would want to step down this Question.
    The substantive Question has since been
    filed, and when it gets to the Hon Minister,
    I hope he would be able to come and
    respond to that.
  • [Question stood down by the leave of the House.]
    • Mr Second Deputy Speaker 1:24 p.m.
    On that
    note, Hon Minister, on behalf of the House, I would like to thank you for attending upon the House to answer Questions. You are hereby discharged.
    Mr Annoh-Dompreh 1:24 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I guess we can adjourn to tomorrow - [Pause] Mr Speaker, if you may indulge me, the Hon Minister for Lands and Natural Resources is here, and we can take the item numbered 9(b) on page 6 of today's Order Paper.
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 1:24 p.m.
    Hon
    Members, at the Commencement of Public Business, let us turn to page 6, and take the item numbered 9(b) - Presentation and First Reading of Bills.
    BILLS — FIRST READING
    Wildlife Resources Management
    Bill, 2022
    AN ACT to consolidate and revise the
    laws relating to wildlife and protected areas, provide for the implementation of international conventions on wildlife to which Ghana is a signatory and for related matters.
    Presented by the Minister for Lands
    and Natural Resources (Mr Samuel Abdulai Jinapor) (MP). Read the First time; referred to the Committee on Lands and Forestry.
    Mr Annoh-Dompreh 1:24 p.m.
    Mr Speaker,
    we can now adjourn.
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 1:24 p.m.
    It is not
    yet 2 o'clock so you may move the Motion for adjournment.
    Mr Annoh-Dompreh 1:24 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I
    beg to move that the House adjourn till tomorrow at 10.00 a.m.
    Alhaji Muntaka 1:24 p.m.
    Mr Speaker,
    adjournment is good news and so I am
    happy to second to the Motion of the Hon
    Majority Chief Whip since he has no
    Business for us. Knowing very well that
    yesterday, we overstretched ourselves, I
    fully second the Motion for adjournment.
    ADJOURNMENT 1:24 p.m.