Debates of 28 Jun 2022

MR SECOND DEPUTY SPEAKER
ANNOUNCEMENTS 11:05 a.m.
ABSENCE OF MR SPEAKER 11:05 a.m.
PRAYERS 11:05 a.m.
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 11:05 a.m.
Hon Members,
shall we turn to the item numbered 4 — Correction
of Votes and Proceedings and the Official Report.
We shall begin with the correction of the Votes
and Proceedings of Friday, 24th June, 2022.
Page 1 - 11
Dr Kingsley Nyarko — rose —
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 11:05 a.m.
Yes, Hon
Member for Kwadaso?
Dr Nyarko 11:05 a.m.
Mr Speaker, on page 11, the item
numbered 9, line 5, the word “deplored” should
be “deployed”.
Thank you.
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 11:05 a.m.
Table Office,
kindly take note.
Mr Mohammed Adamu Ramadan — rose
—
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 11:05 a.m.
Yes, Hon
Member for Adentan?
Mr Ramadan 11:05 a.m.
Mr Speaker, the same item
numbered 9, the spelling of “metres” should be
“meters.” Also, on the last line of the last paragraph
on page 11, “metres” was wrongly spelt again.
Thank you, Mr Speaker.
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 11:05 a.m.
Table Office,
kindly take note of it.
Mr Kofi Iddie Adams — rose —
Hon Member for Buem?
MrAdams 11:05 a.m.
Mr Speaker, at the item numbered
9, the problem was not to do with just the
installation of “meters”, but “prepaid meters”. They
already had meters, but the problem had to do
with the installation of prepaid metres, so we need
to be specific.
Again, the continuation of the statement says:
“Electricity Company of Ghana to install meters in
the vicinity.” The word “vicinity” should be
replaced with “the area” because that would
exclude the areas that have been mentioned. Also,
the sentence shouldend with “communities” instead
of “area”.
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 11:05 a.m.
Table Office,
kindly take note.
Page 12 —
VOTES AND PROCEEDINGS AND THE OFFICIAL REPORT 11:05 a.m.
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 11:05 a.m.
Yes, Hon
Member for South Dayi?
Mr Dafeamekpor 11:05 a.m.
Mr Speaker, page 12, the
item numbered 11(1), the amendment that is
currently being credited in favour of the Hon
Chairman of the Committee and Hon Member for
Akatsi South, Mr Bernard Ahiafor, should truly
reflect the names of the Hon Member for Akatsi
South, Mr Bernard Ahiafor, and the Hon Majority
Leader.
Mr Speaker, what happened was that there was
an originally advertised amendment standing in the
name of the Hon Chairman, but there was a further
amendment proposed to that entire amendment by
the insertion of paragraph (c), which was further
improved by the Hon Majority Leader with the
phrase “where applicable”. So, as is the tradition
in this House, it is those two proponents whose
amendment got carried who should be credited with
this present amendment and not the Hon Chairman
whose original amendment got further improved by
these two Hon Members.
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 11:05 a.m.
Very well. We
would just add the name of the Hon Majority Leader
to it.
Mr Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu — rose —
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 11:05 a.m.
Yes, Hon
Majority Leader?
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 11:15 a.m.
Mr Speaker, yes,
indeed, the Hon Chairman had a different
amendment proposed. However, I must admit that
along the line, he also got converted and joined.
[Laughter.] Therefore, I do not know whether we
can add his name — it does not really matter. So, it
is fair and fine if it includes the names of the Hon
Chairman and me.
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 11:15 a.m.
Very well.
Table Office, let us maintain the name of the Hon
Chairman.
Page 13…18 —
Dr Nyarko 11:15 a.m.
Mr Speaker, I have a minor
correction on page 18. With regard to the item
numbered (xxi), the correct rendition should be,
“Ms Bernice Ofosu, Deputy Director, Policy
Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation”.
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 11:15 a.m.
Table Office,
kindly take note.
Page 19…23.
Mr Bismark T. Nyarko — rose —
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 11:15 a.m.
Yes, Hon
Member?
Mr Nyarko 11:15 a.m.
Mr Speaker, I would like to take
us back to page 8. I was in the House on Friday,
but I was marked absent. I was in a Committee
meeting, so I could not catch your eye when you
got to page 8.
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 11:15 a.m.
Which page?
Mr B. T. Nyarko 11:15 a.m.
Mr Speaker, page 8 —
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 11:15 a.m.
Hon Member,
did you come to the Chamber to sign your name?
Mr B. T. Nyarko 11:15 a.m.
Mr Speaker, I was in the
House but I cannot remember whether I signed or
not. The recordings and video evidence would show
that I was around on Friday.
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 11:15 a.m.
Hon Members,
we emphasised this last week that once you come
VOTES AND PROCEEDINGS AND THE OFFICIAL REPORT 11:15 a.m.
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 11:15 a.m.
Hon available
Leader, do you have any issues with the Official
Report?
Mr Dafeamekpor 11:15 a.m.
Mr Speaker, the indication
of my Hon Members is that they are yet to have
their copies, so if we could defer this to tomorrow.
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 11:15 a.m.
Hon available
Leader, this issue has also been re-emphasised.
The Official Reports are put in our pigeon holes,
so you just have to go and pick them from your
pigeon holes. Nobody would bring the Official
Report to the Chamber.
Mr Dafeamekpor 11:15 a.m.
Mr Speaker, I am guided.
However, all I am saying is that we can defer this
to tomorrow so that Hon Members could have
copies to go through and deal with anyamendments
that would arise therefrom, but I am entirely in your
hands.
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu — rose —
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 11:15 a.m.
Let me hear
from the Hon Majority Leader.
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 11:15 a.m.
Mr Speaker, just
to follow from what you said, these documents are
deposited in our pigeon holes. It is for Hon
Members to access them and if there are any
corrections to be effected, they draw attention to
same on the Floor. But it has been there; at any
given time, an Hon Member who is not even in the
Chamber and notices a mistake or an error can go
to the Table Office and have it cleaned up. So, I
am not too sure that we have to waste much time
on this.
Mr Dafeamekpor 11:15 a.m.
Mr Speaker, I would not
litigate this anymore.
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 11:15 a.m.
Very well. The
Official Report is with us.
  • [No correction was made to the Official Report of Friday, 17th June, 2022.]
    • Mr Second Deputy Speaker 11:25 p.m.
    Hon Members,
    item numbered 5 -- Question time.
    We have 14 questions and — [Pause] —
    Very well.
    Hon Members, we would begin with the Hon
    Minister for Trade and Industry who has five
    questions to answer. As we have been echoing,
    we have only one hour to deal with Questions and
    therefore, if the Question is constituency specific,
    we would limit it to only the Hon Member who
    asked the Question. If it is general, we may admit
    two supplementary questions from the Hon
    Member who asked the Question to manage the
    time in order to make it within the one-hour period.

    The Hon Minister for Trade and Industry has

    taken his appropriate seat. We would now invite

    the Hon Member for Bole/Bamboi to start with his

    Question numbered 730.
    ORAL ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS 11:25 p.m.
    MINISTRY OF TRADE AND INDUSTRY 11:25 p.m.
    Mr Yusif Sulemana (NDC —Bole/Bamboi) 11:25 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I beg to ask the Minister for Trade
    and Industry what accounts for the high cement
    prices recently.
    Minister for Trade and Industry (Mr Alan
    Kwadwo Kyerematen): Mr Speaker, the cost of
    the main raw material for the manufacturing of
    cement, which is clinker, an imported product, has
    experienced significant upward adjustment in the
    recent past. Mr Speaker, in addition, as this august
    House may be aware, the cost of freight globally
    has also seen a very significant increase. This has
    largely been occasioned by the disruption in the
    global supply chain initially caused by the COVID-
    19 pandemic, and subsequently by the Russia-
    Ukraine conflict.
    Mr Speaker, furthermore the depreciation of our
    local currency against the United States Dollar and
    the increase in the prices of petroleum products as
    well as the cost of electricity have also contributed
    to the high cost of production of cement.
    Mr Speaker, the supply of that for cement has
    also been disrupted as a result of the conflict. These
    factors account for the increases in the prices of
    cement in the local market.
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 11:25 p.m.
    Hon Member,
    any supplementary question?
    Mr Y. Sulemana 11:25 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, reading from
    the Hon Minister's Answer, I could say that he has
    enumerated internal factors as well external factors
    accounting for the high prices of cement of recent
    times. As the Hon Minister responsible for Trade
    and Industry, what policies or recommendations has
    he made to the Ministry of Finance or the
    Government in order to ensure we are able to
    handle the internal problems?
    Mr Kyerematen 11:25 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, the economic
    management team and cabinet are currently
    considering series of measures that would address
    some of the internal factors that have been alluded
    to by the Hon Member.
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 11:25 p.m.
    Hon Member,
    your last supplementary question - I said two
    supplementary questions for the Hon Member who
    asked the Question.
    Mr Y. Sulemana 11:25 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I am guided.
    Reading from the Hon Minister's Answer
    especially paragraph two, he cited the COVID-19
    pandemic as well as the Russian-Ukraine conflict
    as part of the problems. We live in a global world
    and I have just done some comparative analysis of
    the prices of cement within the sub-region. In
    Nigeria, cement is sold at US$5.1, an equivalent
    of US$5.95 in Zambia and as we speak, it is about
    US$7.2 in Ghana. This tells us that given the reason
    that the Russian-Ukraine conflict and COVID-19
    pandemic are partly the cause of this, something
    could have been done about it. What has his
    Government done about it so that we become
    comparative within the sub-region?
    Mr Kyerematen 11:25 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, regrettably, I
    am not in the position to validate the information
    that has been provided by the Hon Member. Be
    that as it may, I know for a fact that the ex-factory
    price that he has quoted is not consistent with the
    records that we have.

    Oral Answers to Questions
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 11:25 p.m.
    Very well.
    The question numbered 1040 which also stands
    in the name of the same Hon Member for Bole/
    Bamboi. Hon Member, you may ask your second
    substantive question.
    Mr Y. Sulemana 11:25 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I would like to
    say that there are so many coaches around —
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 11:25 p.m.
    Hon Member,
    is that your issue?
    Mr Y. Sulemana 11:25 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, we would see
    whether they would be able to score or not.
    State of the Komenda Sugar Factory
    Mr Y. Sulemana (NDC — Bole/Bamboi) 11:25 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I beg to ask the Minister for Trade
    and Industry the state of the Komenda Sugar
    Factory.
    Mr Keyerematen 11:35 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, the Komenda
    Sugar Factory is currently undergoing major
    retooling and repair works which is about 98 per
    cent complete, with the projection to undertake a
    production test run by the end of July, 2022.
    Mr Speaker, the following works have either
    been completed or at final stages of completion:
    1. Installation of a new pipeline to and
    from the plant to the molasses tank is
    100 per cent complete.
    2. Refractories and lagging work in boiler
    furnaces and chimneys are 100 per
    cent complete.
    3. Vacuum and water testing at boiler
    house has been completed. The boiler
    has started working and steam
    pressure test is ongoing for the turbine
    to generate power of 3MW electricity
    output.
    4. Equipment and machinery at the Mill
    House, Boiling House, Boiler and
    Sections have all been overhauled,
    repaired and components replaced
    where necessary. Raw sugar refining
    unit, maintenance and spare parts
    replacing and refining have been
    completed and enhanced from 8-10
    tons per hour which is the current
    capacity to 16-20 tons per hour.
    5. Electrical and instrumentation work
    with all the motors and the boiler
    section have been maintained and
    repaired.
    6. Construction of a new water reservoir
    of 2 million-litre capacity has been
    completed and this is an enhancement
    from the existing reservoir of
    150,000-ton capacity which was
    inherited.
    7. Sandblasting to remove rust and
    prevent further corrosion of equipment
    to maintain the integrityof all the metal
    surfaces at the factory has been
    completed.
    8. Construction of a new chemical
    storage warehouse, a new canteen,
    and new washrooms for both genders
    is ongoing.
    9. Construction of a new warehouse for
    raw sugar, which would have jumbo
    bag of 1 ton to 5000-ton capacity for
    the storage of sugars is ongoing.

    Oral Answers to Questions

    10. New Bagasse carrier platform

    construction work has been

    completed.

    11. The turbine for electricity production

    has been overhauled and is currently

    under production test.

    Mr Speaker, with respect to civil works, the

    whole factory building and warehouse have been

    re-roofed to stop leakages and corrosion. A raw

    material warehouse as well as the fencing of the

    entire factory premises is currently under

    construction.

    Mr Speaker, four acres of nursery land has been

    prepared for the cultivation of sugarcane to support

    sugarcane development in the catchment area. There

    are further plans to expand it to 500 acres after the

    commencement of operations. In addition to the

    above, the Board of the company is finalising

    negotiations with traditional authorities to secure

    about 20,000 acres land required for the plantation

    development in the Sekyere Obuasi and Sekyere

    Hemeng areas in the Wassa East District.

    Thank you, Mr Speaker.
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 11:35 a.m.
    Hon Member,
    I think it is an elaborate Answer.
    Mr Y. Sulemana 11:35 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, the Hon
    Minister introduced a strategic investor a couple of
    months ago to the people of Komenda, and he told
    us that they went through a rigorous process in
    selecting that strategic investor. What it means is
    that some money would have been spent through
    the procurement process and even travelling to
    introduce that investor to the people of Komenda
    Sugar Factory. Today, nothing is said about that
    strategic investor. Would the Hon Minister agree
    with me that if the investor is no longer the one to
    take on this project, then some money would have
    been lost and that would amount to causingfinancial
    loss to the State?
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 11:35 a.m.
    Hon Minister,
    are you minded to respond to this question?

    No. I am asking whether he is misnded because

    the supplementary question deviated a bit from the

    main Question. That is why I asked if the Hon

    Minister was minded to answer the question. Other

    than that, I will — Yes, the Hon Minister is minded

    to respond to the Hon Member. So, let us allow

    him.
    Mr Kyerematen 11:35 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, I have difficulty
    in appreciating the import of the Hon Member's
    question. The process of engaging a strategic
    investor is managed by a transaction advisor, and
    that is a standard process for competitive bidding
    of any project. I am not sure I understand what the
    issue with respect to financial loss to the state is
    coming from.
    At any rate, when the previous Government
    failed to successfully commission the factory, they
    had gone through another process of engaging a
    transaction advisor to attract a strategic investor
    for the project. Unfortunately, that process was
    aborted because the strategic investor who went
    through the process failed to fulfil the commitments
    that he had made. Would that also amount to a
    case of financial loss for going through the normal
    process of attracting a strategic investor? I leave
    that to the judgment of the Hon Member.
    Mr Y. Sulemana 11:35 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, I am very
    certain that I am the one to ask the Hon Minister
    questions. I am the Hon Member of Parliament
    representing the people of Bole/Bamboi, and it is

    Oral Answers to Questions

    my responsibility to question people in the

    Executive. Therefore, if I have asked the Hon

    Minister a question, it is for him to answer and not

    to ask questions and I expect that Mr Speaker

    would intervene.
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 11:35 a.m.
    Hon Member,
    that is why I said that you deviated in the manner in
    which you ended your question. So, Hon Member,
    you may ask your second supplementary question.
    Mr Y. Sulemana 11:35 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, I was just
    saying that it was not for the Hon Minister to ask
    me questions, I am the one to ask him questions. I
    would like that to be on record before I move on
    to my second supplementary question.
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 11:35 a.m.
    Hon Member,
    I said you should ask your second supplementary
    question.
    Mr Y. Sulemana 11:35 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, the Hon
    Minister, in paragraph 1 of his response, said that
    the companyis undergoing some retooling. I would
    like to find out from him, the role of West Africa
    Agro-Tech Company Ghana Ltd in this whole
    business and how much it is costing the State in all
    the activities that they are undertaking.
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 11:35 a.m.
    Hon Member,
    I hope I would not be demanding so much from
    you if I asked you to file a separate Question. This
    is because to ask the Hon Minister how much it
    costs the State, he needs to sit down to do some
    calculations.
    Mr Y. Sulemana 11:35 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, it is just like
    telling me to go and organise a press conference.
    The Hon Minister is here and I have asked him
    questions. If he is unable to speak, he would tell
    me. How much is it costing to renovate the
    Komenda Sugar Factory? Is that a crime?
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 11:35 a.m.
    Hon Member,
    you know verywell that the supplementaryquestion
    must not deviate from the substantive Question.
    So, if you are eliciting something from the Hon
    Minister, for which he has not prepared, —
    Mr Sulemana 11:35 a.m.
    Then the Hon Minister should
    tell me.
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 11:35 a.m.
    No. I do not
    need to wait for the Hon Minister to complain. If
    the supplementaryquestion is far deviated from the
    main one, then obviously, it is my duty to guide the
    process. So, I am saying —
    Mr Sulemana 11:35 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, I am guided.
    Kindly let me rephrase my question.
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 11:35 a.m.
    Very well.
    Mr Sulemana 11:35 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, in paragraph 1 of
    his response, the Hon Minister said, that the
    company was going through some retooling, and
    that work was about 98 per cent complete. I would
    like to find out the role of West Africa Agro-Tech
    Company Ghana Ltd in this retooling process.
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 11:35 a.m.
    Very well.
    Hon Minister?
    Mr Kyerematen 11:45 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, when I last
    appeared before this august House, I gave an
    indication of the state of negotiations between the
    transaction advisor and the strategic investor who
    had been approved by Cabinet, and I indicated —
    this is a House of records, and the record is
    available for verification — that we had given the
    transaction advisor and the strategic investor up till
    the end of August to complete the negotiations.
    They were unable to do so, and so the Ministry
    asked the Board of Directors of the company to
    take over the management and operation of the
    company and engage a management contractor to
    undertake the revival and revamping of the
    operations of the company.

    Oral Answers to Questions

    Therefore, the matter is clear. As a responsible

    Government, if it is impossible, for reasons which

    would hopefully be unveiled in the near future, to

    attract a strategic investor to revive the factory to

    support the economic development of the area, we

    still have to make an effort.

    So, we have asked the board and management

    to attract the services of a technical contractor to

    undertake the work of revamping the operations,

    and that is what has been done by the board and

    management of the company.

    Mr Y. Sulemana — rose —
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 11:45 a.m.
    Hon Member,
    you have exhausted your supplementary questions.
    Mr Y. Sulemana 11:45 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, my
    supplementary question has not been answered. I
    just asked the role the West Africa Agro-Tech
    Company Ghana Limited (WAATCO) is playing in
    this business. That is not what I heard.
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 11:45 a.m.
    Very well, Hon
    Minister, he said he did not hear the answer to his
    question.
    Mr Kyerematen 11:45 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, the
    management contractor that I was referring to is
    the same companythat the Hon Member is referring
    to.
    Mr James Klutse Avedzi — rose —
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 11:45 a.m.
    Hon Deputy
    Minority Leader, I would allow the Hon Member
    for Sawla-Tuna-Kalba to speak first.
    Mr Andrew Dari Chiwitey 11:45 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, in
    the last paragraph of theAnswer of the Hon Minister,
    he indicated:
    “…four (4) acres or nursery land have been
    prepared for the cultivation of sugarcane
    to support sugarcane development in the
    catchment area.”
    Mr Speaker, would the Hon Minister be kind
    enough to tell us when exactly the cultivation of the
    sugarcane would begin? We want timelines.
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 11:45 a.m.
    Hon Minister,
    the Hon Member wants to know the timelines for
    the planting of the sugarcane.
    Mr Kyerematen 11:45 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, the practice in
    the industry is for the nursery to be developed and
    the plants transplanted into the plantation so, we
    have a production plan that would move the nursery
    into the main plantation. I cannot provide all the
    exact details of the timing for the plantation
    development, but it is a process, and we have all
    the information available on the road map for the
    plantation development of the factory.
    Mr Patrick Yaw Boamah 11:45 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, I beg
    to ask the Hon Minister that sometime in 2016, a
    bag of sugar was displayed on national television
    to the good people of this country as having been
    produced from the factory. I would like to know
    what happened afterwards; I would like to know
    what happened to that bag of sugar.
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 11:45 a.m.
    Hon Member
    for Okaikwei Central, I think that I would not be
    wrong if I ask you to file your question as a
    substantive Question.
    Mr James Klutse Avedzi 11:45 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, I
    would like to find out from the Hon Minister whether
    the management contractor that has been engaged
    by the board for the Komenda Sugar Factory is a
    foreign or Ghanaian company. If it is a foreign
    company, I would like to know whether it has been
    brought to Parliament for approval.

    Oral Answers to Questions
    Mr Kyerematen 11:45 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, I would like
    to inform the Hon Deputy Minority Leader that the
    companythat is under reference is a limited liability
    company, and that any transactions in respect of
    what is done to revive the company is not a matter
    of subject for parliamentary enquiry.
    Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 11:45 a.m.
    Mr Speaker,
    undoubtedly, the Komenda Sugar Factory is a very
    important strategic factory not only for the people
    of Komenda, but also for Ghana —
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 11:45 a.m.
    Hon Members,
    please, let us listen. It is very important.
    Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 11:45 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, I was
    saying that the Komenda Sugar Factory is a very
    strategic and important factory not only for the
    people of Komenda, but also for Ghana. Mr
    Speaker, sugarcane cultivation really relies on large
    tracts of lands. However, we do know that about
    20 per cent of the land in Komenda that was meant
    for sugarcane cultivation has been taken over for
    other developments. Indeed, the out-grower farms
    have all been converted to other uses: oil palm —
    [Interruption] — Mr Speaker, may I tell my Hon
    Mr Y. Sulemana 11:45 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, is the Hon
    Majority Leader asking a question or lecturing us?
    I asked the Question —
    Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu: Mr Speaker, we are
    not in a market place; would the Hon Member
    respect order in the House?--
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 11:45 a.m.
    Hon Member,
    kindly allow me to manage the House.
    Hon Member for Ellembele, you just walked
    in; you do not even know what is going on. Kindly
    allow me to manage the House.
    Hon Majority Leader, let me hear you.
    Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 11:45 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, I
    would like to remind my Hon Colleagues that the
    admissibility of a question lies in the bosom of the
    Speaker and not them. --[Laughter]--
    Mr Speaker, I was just saying that out-grower
    farms have also been converted to oil palm
    production, and we also do know that electricity is
    a vital cog in the production of sugar.
    Mr Speaker, again, raw water that was used
    for irrigation taken from Beposo is now so polluted
    and contaminated. There is nowhere in the world
    where raw water for irrigation is treated.
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 11:45 a.m.
    Hon Members,
    please —
    Hon Majority Leader, please ask your question.
    Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 11:45 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, given
    all these factors and the toxicity of the raw water
    itself, I would like to ask the Hon Minister how
    feasible the factory is at this stage of our national
    development, in spite of its very strategic nature
    for the people of Komenda and Ghana.
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 11:45 a.m.
    Hon Minister,
    kindly respond to the Hon Majority Leader.
    Mr Kyerematen 11:55 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, the factors that
    have been enumerated by the Hon Majority Leader
    do in fact constrain the technical and commercial
    viability of the factory.
    This is a matter that has been known right from
    the beginning when this factory was constructed.
    Additionally, from the initial findings of our
    forensic audit report, we are aware that the factory
    has been valued at an amount of US$16.9 million
    as against a book value of over US$36 million that

    Oral Answers to Questions

    was inherited, and that has been a major problem

    in finding a strategic investor to run and manage

    this factory.

    The matter is before the Economic and

    Organised Crime Office (EOCO), and they are

    undertaking further investigations, It would probably

    help us understand the difficulties that we have had

    both in the eras of the previous and current

    Governments in finding a strategic investor to take

    over the factory at the cost of the book value of the

    factory as it is now.

    Be that as it may, in spite of all the challenges

    that the Hon Majority Leader has alluded to, and

    the fact that we have this difference in evaluation,

    as a responsible Government, we have no choice

    but to do what we can to ensure that the people of

    Komenda and the adjourning communities have the

    benefit of the revival of the factory, and that is what

    the Government is now currently attempting to do.

    Mr speaker, I thank you.

    Mr Kobena Mensah Woyome — rose —
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 11:55 a.m.
    Hon Member
    for South Tongu, Mr Wisdom Kobena Mensah
    Woyome, I think that you have had enough —
    Mr Woyome 11:55 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, I thank you.
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 11:55 a.m.
    I have not
    called you.
    Mr Woyome 11:55 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, coming from the
    —
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 11:55 a.m.
    Please, allow
    me to move on because you have had enough on
    this particular issue.
    We would now move on to Question numbered
    1041, and it stands in the name of the same Hon
    Member.
    Hon Member, you mayask your third substantive
    Question.
    The State of the Ghana Trade Fair Centre
    Mr Yusuf Sulemana (NDC — Bole/
    Bamboi): Mr Speaker, I beg to ask the Minister
    for Trade and Industry the state of the Ghana Trade
    Fair Centre.
    Mr Kyerematen 11:55 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, the Trade Fair
    site is undergoing a major redevelopment exercise,
    and at the core of this transformation is the
    development of a state-of-the-art world class
    exhibition and convention centre, and a mixed use
    commercial facility which would include hotels,
    corporate offices and retail and leisure centre.
    Mr Speaker, the following activities have been
    completed in respect of the redevelopment exercise:
    project concept and masterplan design has been
    finalised; landtitle, which wasinhibitingtheattraction
    of investors to this project, has been secured; and
    the site cleared in readiness for construction works
    to commence.
    Mr Speaker, the Ghana Trade Fair Company is
    currently engaged with private sector investors to
    come to financial close for the syndication of
    financing for the project.
    Mr Speaker, I thank you.
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 11:55 a.m.
    Hon Member,
    any supplementary question?
    Mr Y. Sulemana 11:55 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, the Hon
    Minister in paragraph 2, listed some activities that
    have alreadybeen completed. What it means is that
    some architects or contractors have been procured
    to do these. I would like to find out who these
    contractors are; whether the Ministry went through
    the procurement process to select those persons,
    and how much has already been paid to these
    persons or companies.

    Oral Answers to Questions
    Mr Kyerematen 11:55 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, I did not
    indicate in my response that a contractor has been
    engaged; I did not talk about a contractor. Now, if
    it is the issue of an architect that has been engaged
    in the preparation of the project concept and master
    plan, I would respectfully like to inform the Hon
    Member that as it is the case of the Komenda Sugar
    Factory, the Ghana Trade Fair Companyis a limited
    liability company, and it is private. The Ministrydoes
    not control the transactions that the private company
    is engaged in.
    The Ministry of Trade and Industry has policy
    oversight over the company, but does not direct its
    operational transactions.
    Mr Y. Sulemana 11:55 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, this is very
    revealing that it is a limited liability company, and
    whether government assets are given to it, they do
    not account to Government. It is on record.
    My supplementary question has to do with the
    legal firm that is involved in this whole transactions.
    Which legal firm is involved in the transactions? Did
    the Ministry go through the procurement process
    to select the firm, and how much has already been
    paid to them?
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 11:55 a.m.
    Hon Member,
    kindly repeat the question; I did not get it.
    Mr Y. Sulemana 11:55 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, he did not get
    the question because he was speaking with his
    coach. You see, coach! He is not listening. Let him
    finish before I would ask the question.
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 11:55 a.m.
    Hon Member
    for Bole/Bamboi, you may ask your question.
    Mr Y. Sulemana 11:55 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, the coach is
    done I can ask the question.
    MrAvedzi 11:55 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, kindly advise the Hon
    Majority Leader to leave the Hon Minister alone
    so that he can listen to the question as it is being
    asked. The Hon Majority Leader is turning the
    attention of the Hon Minister from the question —
    — and that delays the work of the House.
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 11:55 a.m.
    Hon Member
    for Bole/Bamboi, you may repeat the question.
    Mr Y. Sulemana 11:55 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, my question is
    that the Ghana Trade Fair Company is in court with
    some individuals, and there is a legal firm that is
    representing Government and for that matter the
    Trade Fair Centre. I would like to find out how
    that legal firm was recruited and whether some
    moneys have already been paid to them by
    Government.
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 11:55 a.m.
    Hon Member,
    you always end your question with a lot of
    controversies. That is my own observations any
    way.
    Hon Minister, you may respond.
    Mr Kyerematen 11:55 a.m.
    Mr Speaker, I am not aware
    of the transaction that the Hon Member referred
    to, but be that as it may, my understanding is that it
    does not lie within the authority of the Ministry to
    interrogate that matter. If the company is a limited
    liability but owned 100 per cent bythe Government,
    there is the Committee on Employment, Social
    Welfare and State Enterprises that has the
    responsibility for interrogating such issues.
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 11:55 a.m.
    Let me come

    .An Hon Member: He is left with a

    supplementary question Are you sure? All right, let

    me give you your last slot.

    Oral Answers to Questions
    Mr Y. Sulemana 12:05 p.m.
    My last supplementary
    question is that when the Trade Fair Centre was
    demolished, we had some people who were fully
    engaged there. I would like to find out whether the
    government has compensated them or whether they
    have been given some jobs so that they can survive?
    Thank you.
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 12:05 p.m.
    Hon Minister,
    you may answer the question.
    Mr Kyerematen 12:05 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I am aware
    that the matter of compensation is currently the
    subject of discussion between the board and
    management of the Ghana Trade Fair Company
    Limited and those that have been affected. I am
    aware that they are currently having discussions in
    respect of compensation, if any. I do not want to
    stand before this august House and make
    declarations on matters relating to transactions
    between the Ghana Trade Fair Company Limited,
    a private company, and tenants who mayhave issues
    with the Ghana Trade Fair Company Limited.
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 12:05 p.m.
    Yes, Hon
    Ranking Member? You may want to ask your
    question.
    Mr Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah 12:05 p.m.
    Mr
    Speaker, I think my question was partially
    addressed, but —
    As the Hon Minister is aware, as part of the
    redevelopment, there was a lot of demolition of
    assets of individuals and it has taken almost four
    years. In hindsight, does the Hon Minister think that
    a lot of steps should have been taken to protect
    assets of individuals that really have not had any
    compensation and quite frankly, are impoverished
    because of those actions?
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 12:05 p.m.
    Yes, Hon
    Minister?
    Mr Alexander Afenyo-Markin — rose —
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 12:05 p.m.
    Hon Deputy
    Majority Leader, let us hear you.
    Mr Afenyo-Markin 12:05 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, the Hon
    Member is asking a supplementary question, and
    the supplementaryquestion must abide bythe rules.
    If you read Standing Order 67(1)(e) - I am happy
    my Hon Colleagues from the other Side agree with
    me although they are not speaking into the
    microphone. But they agree with me that I am on
    the right path. For the avoidance of doubt, I may
    want to read this provision aloud. Standing Order
    67(1)(e) says:
    “A Question shall not solicit the expression
    of an opinion or the solution of an abstract
    legal case or a hypothetical proposition;”
    Mr Speaker, I contend that the nature, form,
    and substance of the question so asked falls squarely
    within this particular provision which is against the
    rules governing supplementary questions. I do not
    want my Hon Colleague to undulydebate this matter
    because it would take him nowhere. The question
    is completely out of order, and I submit that Mr
    Speaker would favourably consider the position I
    have taken and guided as such, rule him out of order.
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 12:05 p.m.
    Very well.
    Mr James Klutse Avedzi 12:05 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, before
    you make a ruling on this, I just want to draw your
    attention to the earlier position where the Hon
    Majority Leader was completely against the rules
    of this House. You kept quiet and approved that
    the Hon Majority Leader's question should be
    answered. I would want to draw your attention so
    that you would use the same measure to allow him.
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 12:05 p.m.
    Very well.

    Oral Answers to Questions

    My ruling is that if the Hon Minister is minded

    to respond to the question, he may do so. If the

    Hon Minister has an information to respond to the

    question, let him do so.
    Mr Avedzi 12:05 p.m.
    Mr Speaker —
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 12:05 p.m.
    I have heeded
    to your request.
    Mr Avedzi 12:05 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I thought that you
    would rule on the matter as to whether the Hon
    Minster should answer the question or not. But
    pushing it to the Hon Minister to decide would not
    be fair to the Hon Member who asked the question.
    If you say that the Hon Minister should not answer
    the question, we would know that Mr Speaker
    directed that the Hon Minister should not answer
    the question.
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 12:05 p.m.
    Hon Deputy
    Minority Leader, as we all say, this House is a
    House of records. So if the Hon Minister has not
    prepared to respond to a particular question, I
    would not force him if it is outside the main
    substantive question. So that is why I am using the
    discretion that “if he may”. If he is minded to
    respond; probably, the Hon Minister has an
    information for the whole nation. That is why I am
    saying if he is minded, he may respond; other than
    that if he is not prepared for it, I would ask the
    questioner to come with a substantive question. So,
    Hon Minister, you may.
    Mr Kyerematen 12:05 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, my
    understanding is that the hon Member is seeking
    my opinion on this matter, and ordinarily, I would
    not have been minded to respond to it. However,
    following your guidance that for the sake of the
    elucidation on the matter, I can contribute what I
    think is the case.
    Hon Member, you are aware that the relationship
    between the tenants and this private company was
    regulated by tenancy agreement. And that has been
    the basis for the negotiations and the discussions in
    respect of whether there were any wrongful acts in
    ejecting tenants at the Ghana Trade Fair site. So
    these are matters that have to be considered within
    the context of the agreement, and I do not think
    that as an Hon Minister, I should make a judgement
    on this matter between two independent parties that
    are regulated by a tenancy agreement.
    Some Hon Members — rose —
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 12:05 p.m.
    I would give
    the last slot to the Hon Member for Buem.
    Mr Kofi Iddie Adams 12:05 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I want to
    ask the Hon Minister whether consideringthe critical
    role that the Ghana Trade Fair Company Limited
    plays in the working of the Ministry of Trade and
    Industry, he has been following the operations and
    activities of this company in relation to this current
    development to be sure that they do not do
    anything untoward.
    Mr Kyerematen 12:05 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, in actual fact,
    Cabinet established an Inter-Ministerial Committee
    to have an oversight responsibility for this
    redevelopment exercise of the Ghana Trade Fair
    Company Limited. Iam a member and I am actually
    the Chairman of this Inter-Ministerial Committee.
    Yes, so we provide strategic direction and we have
    oversight for the redevelopment exercise, but this
    does not require us to get into decisions in respect
    of the transactions that are undertaken in respect
    of the redevelopment. So we are involved; we have
    not abandoned it. There is an Inter-Ministerial
    Committee of which I am a member.
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 12:05 p.m.
    Very well.
    We move to the Question numbered 1103, and
    the Question stands in the name of the Hon Member
    for Wa Central, Dr Hassan Rashid Pelpuo. Yes?
    Mr Lanchebe Peter Toobu — rose —

    Oral Answers to Questions
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 12:05 p.m.
    Are you the
    Hon Member for Wa Central? I thought you are
    the Hon Member for Wa West.
    Mr Toobu 12:05 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, because of the
    unavoidable absence of Dr Rashid Pelpuo, he
    called that I ask the Question on his behalf.
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 12:15 p.m.
    Okay. Let us
    hear you.

    Number of Districts in the Upper West

    Region that have Benefited from the One

    District One Factory Programme with

    Functioning Factories

    Mr Lanchebe Peter Toobu on behalf of Dr

    Hasan Rashid Peopuo (NDC — Wa Central):

    Mr Speaker, I beg to ask the Minister for Trade

    and Industryhow many Districts in the Upper West

    Region have benefited from the One District One

    Factory Programme with functioning factories.
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 12:15 p.m.
    Yes, Hon
    Minister?
    Mr Kyeremanten 12:15 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, there are
    eight projects in four districts in the Upper West
    Region under the One District One Factory (1D1F)
    Programme. Four out of these eight 1D1F projects
    are currently in operation.
    Mr Speaker, the projects under the 1D1F
    programme in Upper West are as follows:

    Oral Answers to Questions

    Mr Speaker, three out of the eight projects

    received direct seed capital funding under the Enable

    Youth Component of the 1D1F Programme funded

    by the AfDB and IFAD (International Fund for

    Agricultural Development) for the construction of

    their factory buildings, as well as the purchase and

    installation of their processing equipment and

    machinery. Two of the companies who have applied

    for loan facilities are undergoing approval processes

    at PFIs. The remaining one company has applied

    to this august House for tax exemption on duties

    and levies on imported plant and machinery, which

    includes Wheat Milling Plant, Multi-Seed Planter,

    Harvester, Storage Silos, Pre-Fabric Steel

    Warehouse.

    Unfortunately, Mr Speaker, the company's

    application is among the applications which have

    been pending in this august House for approval

    since June 2021.
    Mr Toobu 12:15 p.m.
    Thank you verymuch, Mr Speaker,
    for the opportunity for me to ask supplementary
    questions.
    Hon Minister, in your answer on item numbered
    5, Prestige Integrated Agro Company Limited in
    the Wa Municipality — we are talking about
    processing wheat; we do not produce wheat in the
    Upper West Region. Wheat is not a staple food in
    the Upper West Region. How sustainable is this
    project? Thank you.
    Mr Kyeremanten 12:15 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, regrettably,
    this is a typographical error and we would correct

    It is a combination of maize and millet; it is not

    wheat.
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 12:15 p.m.
    Very well.
    Mr Toobu 12:15 p.m.
    This would be my last one. I take it
    that, it is not wheat but rather a combination of millet
    and sorghum. Is that right Hon Minister?

    Millet andmaize?All right. The One District One

    Factory (1D1F) policy —
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 12:15 p.m.
    So it means
    you appreciate the fact that there was a —
    Mr Toobu 12:15 p.m.
    No, I am not. The Hon Minister
    was talking about wheat —
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 12:15 p.m.
    Let us hear
    your last question.
    Mr Toobu 12:15 p.m.
    Hon Minister, the 1D1F is one of
    the flagship programmes of the President, H.E.
    Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo. I think he is
    very conscious about decentralising the
    manufacturing industry. The Government is
    supposed to provide some conducive environment;
    what is Government's effort in providing that
    conducive environment for the 11 districts in the
    Upper West Region for the 1D1F to fly?
    Mr Kyeremanten 12:15 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, when we talk
    about environment, itmayhave several components.
    We could talk about incentives which could be
    considered as part of the enabling environment that
    should attract investments into these factories.
    However, beyond that, working with the
    Municipalities and the District Assemblies, we also
    support the potential companies with access to
    industrial lands. We also work with the Ministry of
    Energy in specific cases to assist in procuring
    transformers and providing access to water through
    the Ghana Water Company for these companies.
    So, there are incentives and also infrastructural
    facilities support that is facilitated by Government.

    Oral Answers to Questions
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 12:15 p.m.
    We turn to
    Question numbered 1195 and it stands in the name
    of the Hon Member for Wenchi, Mr Haruna Seidu,
    please let us hear you.
    The Development and revival of One
    District One Factory Programme in the
    Wenchi Municipality
    Mr Haruna Seidu (NDC — Wenchi) 12:15 p.m.
    Mr
    Speaker, I beg to ask the Minister for Trade and
    Industry when the people of Wenchi are going to
    have their share of the 1D1F program since the
    area is endowed with cashew nuts and an
    abandoned tomatoes factory which are potential
    factors of consideration under the policy.
    Mr Kyeremanten 12:15 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, it is important
    to note that the One District One Factory (1D1F)
    programme is demand driven, but facilitated and
    actively supported by the Government to assist the
    private sector to establish manufacturing enterprises
    in the 260 Districts in the country.
    Mr Speaker, to date, two private sector
    Promoters have confirmed their interest in
    establishing 1D1F projects in the Wenchi
    Municipality. These are the FABS Enterprise which
    is into maize processing and the Owareba Company
    Limited who are interested in the manufacturing of
    portland cement. Both applications are going
    through the review and approval processes
    established by the Ministry.
    Mr Speaker, in addition to the above, the
    Ministry is seeking for funding to assist the private
    sector promoters to revive the abandoned tomato
    and cashew processing factories in the Wenchi
    district.
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 12:15 p.m.
    Thank you very
    much. Hon Member, any supplementary question?
    Mr Seidu 12:15 p.m.
    Thank you, Mr Speaker. In the
    second paragraph of the Hon Minister's answer,
    he said they are in the process of approving the
    facility for FABS Enterprise and Owareba
    Company Ghana Limited. I would like to find out
    from the Hon Minister, how long is this process
    going to take place to grant access to these two
    companies to get the facility. Thank you.
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 12:15 p.m.
    Hon Minister,
    did you hear the question? Did you get it? Should
    he repeat it?
    Hon Member, please be concise.
    Mr Seidu 12:15 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, the Hon Minister said
    they are in the review and approval process for
    these two companies to get access to the facility. I
    wouldliketofind out from him howlongthis process
    is going to take place to grant them access to the
    facility.
    Mr Kyeremanten 12:25 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, there are
    specific requirements that applicants have to
    respond to and it depends on the documentation
    that is provided by the applicant.

    If all the documentation that is required is

    provided, the review process should not take more

    than 3-4 months. But I must clarify that even if an

    applicant goes through the review process in the

    Ministry, we still have to make a reference to one

    of the participatingbanks for them also to go through

    their own credit appraisal process.

    So, while I can guarantee the length of time that

    it would take for us to complete our internal process,

    regrettably, I am not in the position to determine

    how long the participating banks that would

    consider their approval for credit facilitywould take.

    Mr Speaker, thank you.

    Oral Answers to Questions
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 12:25 p.m.
    Hon Member,
    your last supplementary question.
    Mr Haruna Seidu 12:25 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, thank you.
    In the last paragraph of the Hon Minister's
    response, he said the Ministry is seeking funds to
    revamp or revive the tomato and the abandoned
    cashew factory. It is a good news for the people of
    Wenchi, and we pray for the best for this to come
    to light. The area is endowed with cashew and
    mango production. If the Ministry is seeking for
    funds to revive these two factories, it is a good news
    for us and I wish the Ministry all the best for this to
    come light.
    Mr Speaker, thank you very much.
    Some Hon Members — rose —
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 12:25 p.m.
    Hon Member,
    thank you. This is a constituencyspecific Question;
    I would onlyallow the Hon Minority Leader to have
    a bite.
    Hon Member, this is a constituency specific
    Mr Haruna Iddrisu 12:25 p.m.
    Mr Speaker —
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 12:25 p.m.
    Alright, Hon
    Minority Leader, let me allow him —
    Yes, Hon Member?
    Mr Williams Okofo-Dateh 12:25 p.m.
    Mr Speaker,
    thank you verymuch. In fact, the Question bothering
    on 1D1F, I think it is something that is pertaining to
    every district in the country. In the Hon Minister's
    Answer, he said that the whole project of 1D1F is
    demand-driven. I would want to find out from the
    Hon Minister; how does the Ministry or the
    Government advertise for opportunities in various
    districts for investors to know about the
    opportunities there?
    Mr Speaker, thank you.
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 12:25 p.m.
    Hon Minister,
    do you mind to respond to it?
    Mr Kyerematen 12:25 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I have had the
    privilege to appear before this House on several
    occasions and Ihave explained in considerable detail
    the programme framework for the ID1F and my
    understanding is that, it is generallyunderstood that
    the programme is demand-driven. Demand-driven
    means that there has to be a demand from a business
    promoter for Government to escalate the process
    of supporting that particular promoter. So, it has
    been clear right from the beginning that the 1D1F
    programme is not intended for government to set-
    up State enterprises; it is intended for Government
    to facilitate and support the private sector to
    establish enterprises in various districts. So,
    basically, that is the principle underpinning the
    programme.
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 12:25 p.m.
    Very well. Yes,
    Hon Minority Leader, let me give you the last slot.
    Mr Haruna Iddrisu 12:25 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I would
    want to find out from the Hon Minister for Trade
    and Industry whether he is truly in charge of 1D1F
    or it is the Secretariat at the Presidency which is in
    charge? Mr Speaker, to find out — this one the
    Hon Minister is not aspiring to be his running mate
    — [Laughter]— I would want to find out if the
    Hon Minister is truly in charge. I know he is
    campaigning to be in charge —[Laughter] — but
    I would want to find out if at present, he is in charge
    of the programme or those at the Secretariat —
    [Laughter] —
    Mr Speaker, on a more serious note, Wenchi
    Municipal Assembly, it has been five years since
    the inception of the IDIF programme, is it a question
    that there is no 1D1F as promised the people of
    Wenchi under the programme?

    Oral Answers to Questions

    Mr Speaker, thank you.
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 12:25 p.m.
    Hon Minister,
    just avoid the earlier comments and respond to the
    last —
    Mr Kyerematen 12:25 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I thought I had
    just explained that the programme has to be
    activated by the request from a business promoter
    and as I have indicated in my official response,
    indeed, there has been promoters in the Wenchi
    Municipality that have already submitted their
    interest and that is going through the review process.
    So, I believe that once they go through the process,
    we would support them to be able to access funding
    from the various financial institutions.
    Mr Speaker, thank you.
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 12:25 p.m.
    Hon Minister
    for Trade and Industry, on behalf of the House, let
    me thank you very much for attending upon the
    House to answer five separate Questions.
    Hon M inister, you are hereby discharged.[Hear!

    Let me invite the Hon Minister for Local

    Government, Decentralisation and Rural

    Development.

    Yes, the first Question to the Hon Minister stands

    in the name of the Hon Member for South Dayi

    Constituency, Mr Rockson-Nelson Etse Kwami

    Dafeamekpor.

    Hon Member, let us hear you.

    Mr Patrick Y. Boamah — rose —
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 12:25 p.m.
    Hon Member,
    hold on. I do not know what the Hon Member for
    Okaikwei Central wants the House to hear.
    Mr Patrick Y. Boamah 12:25 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, may I
    refer you to Standing Order 86(1) and it reads: “A
    Member desiring to speak shall rise in his place,
    and address the Chair only after catching Mr.
    Speaker's eye”.
    I would want to find out from the Hon Member
    for South Dayi, who happened to be my classmate,
    whether he is the Hon Member for Banda
    Constituencyand whether what he is doing sits with
    the rule of the House.
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 12:25 p.m.
    Very well. Hon
    Member — Hon First Deputy Minority Whip, you
    do not need to respond. Previously, he was an
    available Leader but now the Leaders are here so
    Hon Member, kindly go to your seat.
    Mr Dafeamekpor 12:25 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I am very
    happy you recognise the fact that until recently, I
    was the Available Leader of this Side and I served
    in that capacity. Indeed, when my Leaders returned,
    they asked me to continue; to carry on —
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 12:25 p.m.
    Hon Member
    for South Dayi, Mr Nelson, please go to your seat.
    Mr Dafeamekpor 12:25 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I am guided
    but it is only fair that you would allow me to ask it
    from where I am, then I can disengage and go to
    my place, with all respect.
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 12:25 p.m.
    Very well, just
    ask this Question and go back to your seat.
    Mr Dafeamekpor 12:25 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, thank you.
    May you live long.
    MINISTRY OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT, 12:25 p.m.
    DECENTRALISATION AND RURAL 12:25 p.m.
    DEVELOPMENT 12:25 p.m.
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 12:35 p.m.
    Yes, Hon
    Minister for Local Government, Decentralisation
    and Rural Development?
    Minister for Local Government,
    Decentralisation and Rural Development (Mr
    Daniel Botwe) (MP): Mr Speaker, the concept
    of model market was initiated by Government
    through the then Ministryof Local Government and
    Rural Development, in collaboration with the
    Ministries of Finance, and Trade and Industry in
    2013/14 to modernise our markets. The model
    market concept sought to redevelop our existing
    markets with facilities and services including
    crèches, clinics, storage facilities, police, and fire
    service posts, pavements for the floor area and
    construction of decent counters.
    Mr Speaker, it is worth mentioning that the
    model market was not a separate scheme with
    dedicated funding. It is a concept that seeks to
    ensure that —
    Mr Speaker 12:35 p.m.
    Order!
    Hon Members, please, pay attention to the Hon
    Minister.
    Mr Botwe 12:35 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, it is a concept that
    seeks to ensure that markets in Ghana have key
    features and facilities. All Metropolitan, Municipal
    and District Assemblies (MMDAs) could initiate
    the construction of markets with the piloted model
    within their jurisdiction with funding from their
    discretionary funding sources or through a Public
    Private Partnerships (PPP) arrangement in line with
    the Public Private Partnership (PPP) Act, 2020 (Act
    1039).
    Mr Speaker, the South Dayi District Assembly
    may, therefore, on its own initiative, provide model
    markets within their medium-term development
    plan and Composite Budget.
    Mr Speaker, reports from the Assembly
    indicates that the South Dayi District Assembly is
    currently a beneficiary of an Open Seater Market
    Sheds Project with 40 open lockable stores, being
    delivered by the Coastal Development Authority
    (CODA) under the then Ministry of Special
    Development Initiative at Tongor-Dzemeni on 12th
    August 2021. The project has been relocated to
    Kpeve by the Management of the Assembly and
    the implementing partners in line with the District
    medium-term development objectives. However,
    the project specification does not conform to the
    Model Market concept.
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 12:35 p.m.
    Yes, Hon
    Member for South Dayi, any supplementary
    questions?
    Mr Dafeamekpor 12:35 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, thank you for
    the opportunity.
    Mr Speaker, clearly, the Answer which has been
    provided to this Question deviates from the policy
    position put out by Government. The impression
    was that central Government would take its own
    initiative and build model markets, whichmeans that
    the character, form and nature of the market would
    look similar wherever you go. The understanding
    was that theywould come in different forms, ranging
    fromlarge tomediumandsmall. So, if the impression
    is that the assemblies would take the initiative and
    do that, would his Ministrysupport these assemblies
    from the centre or they would have to rely on their
    own local resources to do that?
    Mr Botwe 12:35 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, yes, the Central
    Government and for that matter, the Ministry's
    funding availability would always support projects
    initiated in the Districts.

    Oral Answers to Questions
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 12:35 p.m.
    Yes, Hon
    Member for South Dayi, your last supplementary
    question.
    Mr Dafeamekpor 12:35 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, from
    paragraph two of the Hon Minister's Answer, there
    is an indication that the assemblies and other private
    entities who enter into a PPP agreement could do
    that. Now, has the Ministry developed any
    modalities for the assemblies to follow when they
    want to engage in it, or pursuant to section four of
    the Local Governance Act, they could enter into
    their own agreements, as and when they desire?
    Mr Botwe 12:35 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, rightly so. The
    assemblies can go ahead and enter into agreements
    just that, as stated in the same paragraph two, they
    should be guided by the Public Private Partnership
    Act, 2020 (Act 1039).
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 12:35 p.m.
    Hon Members,
    this Question is constituency specific so we would
    move on to the Question numbered 1130 which
    stands in the name of the Hon Member for Nkwanta
    North, Mr John Kwabena Bless Oti.
    Some Hon Members — rose —
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 12:35 p.m.
    Yes, Hon
    Member for Buem?
    Mr Kofi I. Adams 12:35 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, my Hon
    Colleague is absent and he has given me his
    permission to ask his Question with your leave.
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 12:35 p.m.
    Did he give you
    permission?
    Mr Adams 12:35 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, yes.
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 12:35 p.m.
    Hon Wisdom
    Gidisu, I saw you up. Did the Hon Member also
    give you permission?
    Yes, Hon Member for Buem?
    Completion of Abandoned District Assembly
    Project in Nkwanta North
    Mr Kofi I. Adams (on behalf of Mr John
    Kwabena Bless Oti) (Nkwanta North): Mr
    Speaker, I beg to ask the Hon Minister for Local
    Government, Decentralisation and Rural
    Development when the abandoned District
    Assembly complex project in the Nkwanta North
    would be completed.
    Mr Botwe 12:35 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, may I crave your
    indulgence for us to correct the second paragraph
    of theAnswer: April, 2020 should read April, 2022.
    Mr Speaker, the Nkwanta North District
    Assembly Complex was among the Assembly
    Blocks Construction Projects awarded by the then
    Ministry of Local Government and Rural
    Development on 10th June, 2019, scheduled to be
    completed within seven (7) months. However, due
    to challenges in the release of funds, the contractor
    had to wait till December, 2019 after advance
    mobilisation was paid. The contractor then took
    over the site for commencement of the project in
    January, 2020.
    Mr Speaker, as at the end of April, 2022, work
    on the Project was 70 per cent completed. The
    building has been roofed and work on plastering
    and window frames have been completed.
    The Report available to the Ministry indicates
    that the Assembly is making effort to get the
    contractor to site to complete work on the Nkwanta
    North Assembly Complex.
    It is expected that the project would be
    completed and handed over by the end of
    December, 2022.
    MrAdams 12:35 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, in the Hon Minister's
    Answer, he indicated that the project was awarded
    by the Ministry and the payment was from the
    Ministry. What would the Ministry do to aid the

    Oral Answers to Questions

    Assembly in terms of pursuing the contractor to

    get him to site to complete this project?
    Mr Botwe 12:35 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, the Ministry is fully
    involved and I can confirm to my Hon Colleague
    that, yesterday, I had a discussion with the Chief
    Executive for the Assembly, who told me that he
    was trying to make contact with the contractor. The
    Ministry is also supporting the efforts to ensure that
    funds are released to the contractor to continue the
    work through the District Assemblies Common
    Fund (DACF), so we can be assured of that.
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 12:35 p.m.
    Hon Member
    for Buem, do you still have a supplementary
    question?
    Mr Adams 12:35 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, this is some
    information the Hon Member for Nkwanta North
    shared with me, that it is true that the building has
    been roofed but plastering has not been done, so
    the Hon Minister would have to do some further
    follow-up to ensure that the speed of work is faster
    than what they are doing, so that the December
    completion may be met.
    I wish to thank the Hon Minister for Local
    Government, Decentralisation and Rural
    Development.
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 12:45 p.m.
    We would
    move to the Question numbered 1131, which stands
    in the name of the Hon Member for Krachi West,
    Ms Helen Adjoa Ntoso. Hon Member, you may
    ask your Question now.
    The Reason for Naming all Streets in the
    Krachi West Constituency “Mango Street”
    Ms Helen Adjoa Ntoso (NDC — Krachi
    West): Mr Speaker, I beg to ask the Minister for
    Local Government, Decentralisation and Rural
    Development the reason for naming all the streets
    in the Krachi West Constituency “Mango Street”.
    Mr Botwe 12:45 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, Metropolitan,
    Municipal and DistrictAssemblies (MMDAs) have
    been tasked to adhere to Chapter 2, Section 2.1.5
    of the Street Naming and Property Addressing
    Guideline, which stipulates that, in the case of
    existing streets with no names, the respective
    Department of Physical Planning shall, in
    consultation with the relevant traditional authorities
    and community leaders (or relevant stakeholders),
    select a street name in accordance with the
    requirements set out in Section 2.1.1 of the
    Guideline.
    As part of the implementation of the National
    Digital PropertyAddressing, there was the need to
    deploy number plates on properties with street
    names and the Ghana Post GPS Address; hence,
    the MMDAs were asked to submit or update the
    streets and property data for collation.
    Mr Speaker, someAssemblies, including Krachi
    West Municipal Assembly were unable to submit
    their data on their original street names to the
    National Digital Property Addressing System
    Secretariat Database. As a result, the National
    Digital PropertyAddressing Secretariat generated
    provisional street names to enable the project to
    meet the expected timelines.
    Ms Ntoso 12:45 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, the Hon Majority
    Leader is doubting whether all the streets have been
    named “Mango Street”. I can assure him that every
    street in Krachi West has either been named
    “Mango or Watermelon Street”.
    Mr Speaker, the last paragraph of the Hon
    Minister's Answer states that since the District
    Assembly did not adhere to the directive that was
    given, provisional names were generated to enable
    the project meet the expected timeline. Myquestion

    Oral Answers to Questions

    is that since the District Assembly was not able to

    do that, would the Hon Minister allow us to have a

    stakeholders' meeting with the chiefs and opinion

    leaders to be able to give the Secretariat names to

    replace “Mango and Watermelon Streets” that have

    been given to the streets of the Krachi West

    Constituency?
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 12:45 p.m.
    Yes, Hon
    Minster?
    Mr Botwe 12:45 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, as indicated in the
    Answer, by the Guidelines stated, there should be
    a consultation with the relevant traditional
    authorities, communityleaders and all stakeholders.
    Mr Speaker, I can confirm that in preparation
    for the Answer to this Question, I had a chat with
    the District Chief Executive and he assured me that
    they have started consultations in this regard. So, I
    would humbly request my Hon Colleague to get in
    touch with theAssembly, so that in the consultations
    with the stakeholders, they would all come up with
    appropriate names that would befit the District.
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 12:45 p.m.
    Hon Minister
    for Local Government, Decentralisation and Rural
    Development, on behalf of the House, I would want
    to thank you very much for attending upon the
    House to answer Questions from Hon Members.
    You are hereby discharged.
    Now, let me invite the Hon Minister for Lands
    and Natural Resources. I would move to Question
    numbered 1067.
    ANNOUNCEMENTS 12:45 p.m.
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 12:45 p.m.
    Hon Members,
    before the Hon Member asks his Question, let me
    acknowledge the presence of some guests from our
    sister Parliament in Malawi, who are here in the
    House. Let me introduce them.
    They are:

    You are welcome to Ghana and the Parliament

    of Ghana. Feel free and at home.

    Hon Member forAdaklu, you maynow ask your

    Question numbered 1067.
    MINISTRY OF LANDS AND NATURAL 12:45 p.m.
    RESOURCES 12:45 p.m.
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 12:45 p.m.
    Yes, Hon
    Member for Adaklu, any supplementary question?
    Mr Agbodza 12:55 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I thank you for the
    opportunity and also thank the Hon Minister for
    Lands and Natural Resources for providing the
    Answer.

    Mr Speaker, on 27th August, 2018, the then Hon

    Deputy Minister for Information, Mr Pius Enam

    Hadzide, said this in an interview to Citi FM and

    with your permission, Mr Speaker, I quote:

    “Compensation for land and judges'

    relocation to be absorbed by National

    Cathedral sponsors”

    Mr Speaker, this is a former Hon Minister

    acknowledging that Government would pay

    compensation, but the Hon Minister is here telling

    us that compensation has already been paid in

    1910. Could the Hon Minister reconcile what the

    former Hon Deputy Minister for Information said

    about compensation and what he is saying today

    about compensation of people on that land?
    Mr S. A. Jinapor 12:55 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, first of all, with
    the greatest of respect, as I said in my Answer,
    article 257 (1) of the 1992 Constitution, vests
    public lands in the President. The person who
    exercises delegated responsibilities on behalf of the
    President is my modest self, and the Lands
    Commission is the repository of records when it
    comes to lands in Ghana. That is why I did not just
    give an Answer to say compensation has been paid
    but rather I, cited the law under which compensation
    was paid. May I respectfully invite my Hon
    Colleague to have confidence in what I am saying.
    Compensation was paid.
    Mr Agbodza 12:55 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, this is a House of
    records. Could we therefore say that what the
    former Hon Deputy Minister said publicly, was
    inaccurate, because the Hon Minister said we
    should trust what he is saying, and I have no doubt
    that he has better records? Could we, therefore,
    take it that what Hon Hadzide said on Citi FM on
    27th August, 2018 is false information?
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 12:55 p.m.
    Hon Member,
    the question has been answered. He said you should
    have faith in what he is saying. So, it means whoever
    said it elsewhere — This is a House of records —
    Mr Agbodza 12:55 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I am not satisfied
    with the Answer. I just want it to be on record that
    he is saying that his record is —
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 12:55 p.m.
    Hon Member,
    your question has been answered so take it. He
    has answered your question.

    Oral Answers to Questions
    Mr Agbodza 12:55 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I would take it that
    the former Hon Deputy Minister did not tell the
    truth to the public.
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 12:55 p.m.
    That is your
    own case.
    Mr Agbodza 12:55 p.m.
    That is my view.
    Mr Speaker, this is not a constituency specific
    Question, so I would leave one of my questions,
    with your indulgence, for my Hon Colleague, Mr
    Ablakwa because it is very important. We have
    documents suggesting that the same Land
    Commission that we all trust has given authorisation
    for an individual or an entity to own land there.
    Before the construction of the National Cathedral
    started, that entity was written to by the Hon
    Minister, saying that they are taking over their land.
    If indeed, what the Hon Minister has said is true,
    that compensations have alreadybeen paid in 1910,
    how come the Government is now taking over land
    that belong to itself? From there, Hon Ablakwa
    would provide details of that document so that the
    Hon Minister could verify.
    Mr S. A. Jinapor 12:55 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, again, let me
    respond to this very respectfully and modestly. I
    think there is a bit of confusion here, so a bit of
    enlightenment would help. TheAnswer Ihave given
    relates to compensation to pre-acquisition owners,
    so Governments, since independence, acquire lands
    compulsorily. Article 20 of the 1992 Constitution
    sets the remit within which land can be acquired
    compulsorily. When a land is acquired compulsorily,
    it becomes public land and compensation is paid
    to pre-acquisition owners.
    The Government itself can create third party
    interest. So, the government can grant leases or
    interest to third parties. If the Government turns
    around to use the land for other public purposes,
    there would be an issue of compensation again
    which is why I am tempted to believe that the
    Former Hon Deputy Minister was not in error. The
    Former Hon Deputy Minister, from what the Hon
    Member read himself, said compensations would
    be paid. I am talking about compensations having
    being paid to pre-acquisition owners. If there is an
    issue about third party encumbrances for which
    questions are being asked about compensation, that
    is a different matter. There are two different matters,
    pre-acquisition owners' compensation and third
    party encumbrances for which compensation may
    have to be paid again if Government were to take
    over the land.
    Mr Speaker, thank you.
    Mr Agbodza 12:55 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, my Question never
    made reference to pre-acquisition. [Laughter.] My
    Question was about the National Cathedral which
    is currently being built. I am not talking about pre-
    acquisition, so Iam not sure whythe Hon Minister's
    Answer is pre-determined in the colonial era. I am
    talking about now. Is the Hon Minister saying that
    they do not owe any individual or entity
    compensation as a result of a takeover of a parcel
    of land upon which the Cathedral is being built?
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 12:55 p.m.
    Hon Minister,
    you mayrespond. He said the Question is in respect
    of now and not pre-acquisition.
    Mr S. A. Jinapor 12:55 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, a substantial
    number of occupants on the land on which the
    National Cathedral is being built were public
    institutions and bythat I refer to the Passport Office,
    the Regional Police Commander's residence, the
    Scholarship Secretariat, and the Judiciary. All of
    these institutions have been relocated. There were
    two private entities on that land and that is the
    distinction that Iwas trying to draw. Efforts are being
    made to relocate those two private entities.

    Oral Answers to Questions

    In fact, as I speak, one of them has been

    relocated. The second one is in the process of being

    relocated. So, the question of compensation does

    not even arise. What Government is doing — of

    course you can say the relocation is compensation

    but I mean monetary compensation does not arise.

    We are relocating all the entities which occupied

    the land which is being used for the National

    Cathedral. A good number of them were public

    entities, so they have been relocated already and

    the private ones are also being relocated as I speak.
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 12:55 p.m.
    Yes, Hon
    Member for North Tongu?
    Mr Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa 12:55 p.m.
    Mr
    Speaker, I am grateful. I would want to find out
    from the Hon Minister for Lands and Natural
    Resources if he is aware that one of the entities, the
    private entities in question, by name Waterstone
    Realty Limited, which was offered land for
    relocation by the Lands Commission dated 12th
    August, 2020, almost two years now, has not been
    able to take possession of that property and indeed
    they have served notice. I see the letter here from
    their lawyers to the Attorney-General that they are
    proceeding to court. Is the Hon Minister aware of
    this situation and what is he doing to avert any
    judgement debts thatwould further create difficulties
    in this already precarious economic situation we
    find ourselves as a country?
    Mr S.A. Jinapor 1:05 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I refrained from
    mentioning the names of the two private institutions
    in my Answer because I was not particularly sure
    whether theywould want to be involved or brought
    into these matters of controversy. I have the full
    facts before me here, but I deliberately took the
    view of not mentioning the names of private
    companies who are seeking to resolve their private
    business issues with the Government on the Floor
    of Parliament.
    Given that the Hon Member for North Tongu
    has let the cat out of the bag, let me give the facts
    to the House. The two private institutions are
    Comsys Ghana Limited and Waterstone Realty
    Ghana limited. Comsys was given another
    Government property in the same vicinity and they
    have been dealt with and settled when it comes to
    the issues of their land on which the Cathedral is
    being built.
    Mr Speaker, Waterstone Realty Limited which
    is the company that Hon Okudzeto Ablakwa
    referred to was given a property at Roman Ridge.
    However, there were issues of national security
    which resulted in the company not being able to
    take over the said property at Roman Ridge. As I
    speak, the Lands Commission is fully engaged with
    Waterstone Realty Limited with the view of giving
    them alternative land arrangement, so that the
    matters in issue would be resolved.

    Mr Speaker, we are all very familiar with the

    issues of replacement of land and comparable values

    et cetera, and making sure that they are given land

    which is of the same value as what they lost. These

    are the facts.

    Mr Speaker, let me complete by assuring the

    House that the matters which have to do with land

    administration, and dealing with issues of land

    relating to the Cathedral are being done responsibly

    and efficiently.

    Thank you, Mr Speaker.
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 1:05 p.m.
    Thank you very
    much.
    I will now give the opportunity to the available
    Leader.
    Mr Ebenezer Okletey Terlabi 1:05 p.m.
    Thank you
    very much. Mr Speaker, I would want to ask the
    Hon Minister the last time the said Committee had

    Oral Answers to Questions

    an engagement with Waterstone Realty, and when

    he thinks this issue will be resolved.
    Mr S. A. Jinapor 1:05 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I do not have
    the exact information as to the last time the Lands
    Commission engaged Waterstone Realty. Those
    matters would be within the bosom of the Lands
    Commission. It will be resolved as soon as
    practicable, but I can give the assurance that we
    will employ our best endeavours to resolve this as
    quickly as possible.
    Thank you, Mr Speaker.
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 1:05 p.m.
    Very well.
    We would move to the Question numbered 1
    115, which stands in the name of the Hon Member
    for Bongo, Mr Edward A. Bawa.
    Mr Edward A. Bawa 1:05 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, before I
    ask the Question, I would like to correct a
    typographical error in the Question. The word
    “development” should be “redevelopment”.
    Redevelopment Project of Government
    Estates
    Mr Edward A. Bawa (NDC — Bongo) 1:05 p.m.
    Mr
    Speaker, I beg to ask the Minister for Lands and
    Natural Resources what the Redevelopment
    Project of Government Estates entails.
    Minister for Lands and Natural Resources
    (Mr Samuel A. Jinapor): (MP) Mr Speaker,
    since I was notified about this Question sometime
    in March this year, I have read the Question over
    and over but have still not been able to figure out
    what exactly the Member of Parliament for Bongo
    seeks to elicit.
    Mr Speaker, with the greatest of respect to the
    Hon Member, I am afraid I have to indicate that
    the Question is not properly hinged and it is, in fact,
    incomprehensible. However, out of the abundance
    of transparency, and given my enormous respect
    for this august House, if I am allowed to conjecture,
    based on the framing of the Question that the Hon
    Member seeks information on government estates,
    that is not within the realm of the Ministry of Lands
    and Natural Resources.
    The mandate of the Ministry of Lands and
    Natural Resources, established under section 11
    of the Civil Service Act, 1993 —
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 1:05 p.m.
    Hon Minister,
    are you saying that you are guessing the response?
    The Hon Member himself has indicated that the
    Question has not been captured well, and probably,
    that is why you did not understand the Question.
    Now, you say you are guessing the Answer--
    Mr S. A. Jinapor 1:05 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, the Answer I
    am giving is the Answer to the Question on record
    and even with the amendment made by my Hon
    Colleague, this Answer would still be an answer I
    would rely on.
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 1:05 p.m.
    Very well.
    Mr S.A. Jinapor 1:05 p.m.
    The mandate of the Ministry
    of Lands and Natural Resources, established under
    section 11 of the Civil Service Act, 1993 (PNDCL
    327) and paragraph 1(o) of the Civil Service
    (Ministries) Instrument, 2021 (E.I. 12) is to ensure
    the sustainableand efficient management of the lands
    and natural resources of our country for socio-
    economic development. Government estates and,
    for that matter, redevelopment of government
    estates, are within the ambit of the Ministryof Works
    and Housing, established under section 11 of
    PNDCL 327 and paragraph 1(q) of E.I. 12, and
    thus, if at all, the Hon Member wants to inquire
    about anything relating to government estates, the
    proper office to do so, I should submit, Mr Speaker,
    is the Ministry of Works and Housing and not that
    of Lands and Natural Resources.
    I thank you, Mr Speaker.
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 1:05 p.m.
    Thank you very
    much.

    Oral Answers to Questions

    Hon Member, would you redirect your

    Question?
    Mr Bawa 1:05 p.m.
    Yes, Mr Speaker, I am going to.
    M r Speaker, on the 20th of January, 2022, the
    Hon Deputy Minister for Lands and Natural
    Resources, Mr Benito Owusu-Bio, is reported by
    the Public Relations (PR) unit of the Ministry of
    Lands and Natural Resources, saying — Mr
    Speaker, with your permission, the caption is:
    “GovernmentApproves Redevelopment Project of
    Government Estates”. The first paragraph reads:
    “Hon Benito Owusu-Bio, the Deputy
    Minister for Lands and Natural Resources,
    in charge of Lands and Forestry says
    Government has given the approval for the
    Ministry to embark on a redevelopment
    agenda of government estates in various
    regions of the country.”
    There is another paragraph, just to show where
    the Hon Minister is involved. It says:
    “Mr Benito said, the Sector Minister, Hon
    Samuel A. Jinapor, has his focus on issues
    relating to Lands, particularly, this year and
    this redevelopment agenda is one of the first
    projects he intends to work on, adding that
    the Minister's focal areas for the year 2022
    are Cape Coast, Sekondi-Takoradi, and
    Tamale.”
    Mr Speaker, my question again is 1:05 p.m.
    what does
    this project entail?
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 1:05 p.m.
    Hon Minister,
    if you are minded to respond, you may do so.
    Mr S. A. Jinapor 1:05 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, again,
    respectfully, I think there will be the need for some
    enlightenment on this particular issue.
    Redevelopment of government bungalows, as I said
    in myAnswer, is within the remit of the Ministry of
    Works and Housing. I do not formulate the various
    mandates of the Ministry and that is why I took the
    pains to set out the provisions of government
    architecture and the various mandates of the
    Ministries. The Ministry of Works and Housing is
    responsible for government estates and their
    redevelopment. I think that is trite. We do not have
    to squabble over that.
    Mr Speaker, when the Hon Minister for
    Agriculture wants to have a farm, he needs land,
    and the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources
    would come in. In the same way, when Parliament
    wants to build offices and they need land, the
    Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources would
    come in. When the Ministry of Works and Housing
    wants to engage in redevelopment of estates, they
    require to use land — it is called land use. The
    Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources would
    come in.
    So, when the Hon Deputy Minister talks about
    the approval of redevelopment of government lands,
    he is very right in saying so. It does not change the
    mandate of the Ministry of Works and Housing or
    the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources. The
    Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources comes
    into play in relation to redevelopment schemes or
    estates, only to the extent of land use, just as would
    be the case if it were for agricultural purposes. That
    does not change the mandate of various Ministries.
    Let me conclude, Mr Speaker, by reiterating
    and doing so very vehemently that the mandate for
    redevelopment of estates is within the four corners
    of the Ministry of Works and Housing, not the
    Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources.
    Mr Bawa 1:05 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I think that the whole
    idea of trying to avoid giving a response to this
    Question is well — I mean, the general public is
    watching this. However, what is the role of the
    Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources
    particularly in this whole redevelopment agenda?
    If at the end of the day the Hon Minister thinks that
    the redevelopment of estates and other things is for
    the Ministry of Works and Housing, what is his
    specific role in this? His Hon Deputy Minister was
    the one who indicated that this year, the Hon
    Minister's focus, as the sector Minister, was to deal
    with Cape Coast, Sekondi-Takoradi, and Tamale.

    Oral Answers to Questions

    What is it that the Hon Minister is going to focus

    on?
    Mr S. A. Jinapor 1:15 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, what the
    Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources is
    interested in is the optimal use of land. So, that is
    what the Hon Deputy Minister, Mr Benito Owusu-
    Bio, is talking about. That does not make the
    Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources have
    oversight when it comes to the redevelopment of
    government estates. So, I would want to conclude
    by giving a classic example.
    In the First Republic, a lot of lands were
    acquired for agricultural purposes in the outskirts
    of Accra. Today, most of those lands have been
    urbanised. If the Ministry of Food and Agriculture
    wants to change the use of that land, the Ministry
    of Lands and Natural Resources comes in as the
    title holder of that land, given that they are public
    lands. It does not mean that the Ministry of Lands
    and Natural Resources becomes the Ministry
    responsible for agriculture.
    Mr Speaker, I am struggling to help my Hon
    Friend but I do not know how to explain it.
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 1:15 p.m.
    Hon Minister,
    that is why, initially, I did not want you to even
    respond to those questions but be that as it may, it
    is fine. So, we would move to the Question
    numbered 1118, which stands in the name of the
    Hon Member for Tempane, Ms Lydia Lamisi
    Akanvariba.
    State of Trees Planted on the Green Ghana
    Day and Total Cost for the Project
    Ms Lydia Lamisi Akanvariba (NDC —
    Tempane): Mr Speaker, I beg to ask the Hon
    Minister for Lands and Natural Resources the state
    of the five million trees planted on 11th June, 2021,
    the Green Ghana Day, and what the total cost for
    the project was.
    Mr S. A. Jinapor 1:15 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, the importance
    of trees to our survival and the survival of the planet
    cannot be overemphasised. They prevent erosion,
    protect our water bodies from siltation and drying
    up, serve as sources of food and medicine, provide
    habitats for wildlife and microorganisms, serve as
    wind breaks, regulate atmospheric temperature and
    climate change, gives us clean air for good health,
    and provide sources of livelihood for many of our
    people.
    Unfortunately, our forests are being depleted at
    an alarming rate. Some 80 years ago, half of the
    earth's surface was covered by forests. Today,
    forests cover less than 30 per cent of the earth's
    surface. Here in our country, we have lost over
    100,000 acres of natural forest in the last decade
    alone.
    With the climate crisis reaching its tipping point,
    forests, also known as the “Lungs of the Earth”,
    have a crucial role to play in the sustainability of
    our planet and our survival. It is for this reason that
    the Government of President Akufo-Addo has
    committed to an aggressive afforestation and
    reforestation programme to restore our lost forest
    cover and contribute to global climate action.
    One of such initiatives is the Green Ghana
    Project, launched last year to create enhanced
    national awareness of the necessity for collective
    action towards restoration of degraded forests in
    the country, inculcate values of planting and
    nurturing of trees in the youth, mitigate climate
    change and beautify our communities and
    environment.
    Mr Speaker, on the maiden day of the Green
    Ghana Day, 11th June, 2021, led by H. E. the
    President of the Republic, Nana Addo Dankwa
    Akufo-Addo, and supported by all Ghanaians and
    persons living in Ghana, including Mr Speaker and
    Hon Members of this august House, some
    7,000,000 trees were planted across the country
    which exceeded our target of five 5,000,000.
    Mr Speaker, field monitoring assessment
    conducted by the National Investigations Bureau

    Oral Answers to Questions

    (NIB) and the Forestry Commission indicate that

    about 80 per cent of these trees have survived and

    are doing very well.

    Mr Speaker, as I have already informed the

    House when I appeared on Monday, 2nd August,

    2021, as captured in columns 223 to 232 of the

    Hansard for the day, the Forestry Commission

    produced a total of 1,010,000 seedlings from the

    Nurseries of the Forest Services Division and

    600,000 seedlings were received in the form of

    donations.

    Since the target was to plant a minimum of

    5,000,000 trees, the Forestry Commission had to

    purchase additional seedlings to ensure the

    availability of seedlings for planting. A total of

    5,408,534 seedlings were procured at a cost of

    GH12,796,615. Mr Speaker, the breakdown is

    provided below:

    Oral Answers to Questions

    Mr Speaker, an audited account shows that the

    Forestry Commission spent some GH¢

    2,000,000.00 on production of their seedlings and

    the mobilisation and distribution of the 7,000,000

    seedlings across the country. An amount of

    GH¢5,219,775.75 was spent on operations and

    logistics, including the planning and organisation of

    the Green Ghana launch and the Green Ghana Day.

    Mr Speaker, at the appropriate time, the State

    agencies responsible for auditing accounts would

    undertake their work and, as required by law, the

    audited accounts would be made available to the

    august House.

    Mr Speaker, yes, it is important to ask about

    the cost of the Green Ghana Day;

    Yes, it is important to ask for value for money;

    Yes, it is important to ensure that the

    procurements laws are followed; and

    Yes, it is important to ensure that every penny of

    the tax payer's money spent is accounted for, and

    I fully associate with the enquiries of my Hon

    Colleague for Tempane.

    That said, we must also not lose sight of the

    importance of this noble undertaking, which forms

    a major part of our fight against climate change and

    its debilitating consequences on lives and livelihood

    including perennial floods and droughts. We must

    all, therefore, support this initiative, continue to plant

    trees and nurture them to maturity.

    Mr Speaker, I would want to use this

    opportunity to thank you and the honourable House

    for your continuous support to this national

    undertaking. Reports from the Forestry

    Commission indicate that for this year's project,

    although the target was to plant 20,000,000 trees,

    as at the end of the Green Ghana Day, 10th June,

    Oral Answers to Questions

    2022, we had distributed 22,671,696 seedlings

    across the country.

    In line with our usual practice, the Forestry

    Commission would monitor how many of these

    seedlings were planted and how many have

    survived. We continue to implore on all who planted

    seedlings to nurture them to ensure their growth. If

    one did not plant, it is still not too late to plant a

    tree.

    Mr Speaker, the many years of inaction has

    made the urgency of tree planting more important

    now than ever and Government is committed,

    through the Green Ghana Project, to restore our

    lost forest cover and contribute to global action

    against climate change.

    I thank you, Mr Speaker.
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 1:15 p.m.
    Yes, Ms
    Akanvariba, we would want to hear your
    supplementary question.
    Ms Akanvariba 1:15 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I am most
    grateful to the Hon Minister for his elaborate
    Answer. However, I would want to find out from
    the Hon Minister how the distribution of the different
    kinds of seedlings was done, taking into
    consideration the different ecological environment
    and their unique suitability for the plant.
    Thank you very much.
    Mr S. A. Jinapor 1:15 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I would want
    to thank my Hon Colleague from Tempane for this
    very important Question and for her passion in our
    effort to restore the forest cover of our country.
    Mr Speaker, as I indicated the last time I was
    here to make a Statement on Green Ghana Day,
    the Forestry Commission had a technical committee
    which did the assessment and evaluation of which
    seedlings should be sent to which part of our
    country. So, the conclusion was reached based on
    technical advice as to which seedlings would thrive
    in say, Northern Region and, what should be sent
    to Central Region, Ashanti Region, and so on.
    Therefore, the 5,000,000 seedlings which were
    distributed for the maiden edition of the Green
    Ghana Day, as well as the over 22,000,000,
    seedlings which have been distributed for this year's
    edition of Green Ghana Day, the technical advice
    was taken into account and that is how the seedlings
    were shared across the country. I would want to
    believe that we would be able to nurture these
    seedlings to maturity.
    Thank you, Mr Speaker.
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 1:15 p.m.
    Hon Member,
    your last question.
    Mrs Akanvariba 1:15 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, in the Hon
    Minister'sAnswer, he stated the importance of trees
    in our environment in this country. I would like to
    find out from him whether heconsiders collaborating
    with the Metropolitan, Municipal and District
    Assemblies (MMDAs) to make tree planting a
    requirement for the issuance of permits for the
    construction of houses and other buildings in the
    country.
    Thank you, Mr Speaker.
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 1:15 p.m.
    Yes, Hon
    Minister?
    Mr S. A. Jinapor 1:15 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, this is a matter
    that I would take up with the Minister for Local
    Government, Decentralisation and Rural
    Development since he has the mandate for it.
    However, I see the validity and wisdom in the
    proposal that the Hon Member for Tempane is
    putting on the table and I would take it up with the
    Minister since it is his Ministry that issues permit
    for the construction of buildings in our country. It is
    a very important proposal that the Hon Member
    has made. I would definitely do so.

    Oral Answers to Questions

    Thank you, Mr Speaker.
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 1:25 p.m.
    We would
    move to the Question numbered 1242, standing in
    the name of the Hon Member for South Dayi.
    Yes, Mr Rockson-Neslon E. K. Dafeamekpor,
    we want to hear you.

    Amount Paid to Verified Claimants for the

    Tema-Akosombo-Mpakadan Railway

    Project

    Mr Rockson-Nelson Etse Kwame

    Dafeamekpor (NDC — South Dayi): Mr

    Speaker, I beg to ask the Hon Minister for Lands

    and Natural Resources how much money has been

    paid and to how many verified claimants as far as

    the Tema-Akosombo-Mpakadan Railway Project

    is concerned.
    Mr S. A. Jinapor 1:25 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, the site for the
    Tema-Akosombo-Mpakadan Railway
    Development Project was compulsorily acquired
    by 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 for the land is being paid by the
    beneficiaryinstitution of the land, whichis the Ghana
    RailwayAuthority, under the Ministry of Railway
    Development, established under section 11 of the
    Civil Service Act, 1993 (PNDCL 327), and
    paragraph 1(t) of the Civil Service (Ministries)
    Instrument, 2021 (E.I. 12).
    The Lands Commission has assessed the value
    of compensation payable to the pre-acquisition
    owners. However, the verification of claimants and
    the payment of compensation is done bythe Ghana
    RailwayAuthority, the beneficiaryof the acquisition.
    The Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources,
    therefore, has no information on the number of
    claimants verified, and how much has been paid in
    respect of the acquisition.
    Mr Dafeamekpor 1:25 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, would the
    Hon Minister be kind enough to, at least, tell the
    House the number of claimants the Lands
    Commission determined, not verified, and
    forwarded to the Ministryof Railway Development
    through the Ghana Railway Authority for the
    purpose of payment?
    Mr S. A. Jinapor 1:25 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, as I said in my
    Answer, the procedure is that the beneficiary
    institution is responsible for the payment of
    compensation. In this particular case, based on the
    legislation which occasioned this compulsory
    acquisition, sections 250 and 253 of the new Land
    Act, 2020 (Act 1036), mandate the Lands
    Commission to assess the value of the
    compensation, but the beneficiary institution is
    responsible for verifying the claimants and also
    effecting the payment of the compensation.
    Mr Speaker, I am informed that some 500
    claimants have been paid as we speak now.
    However, the process has not concluded so I am
    unable to give specific figure as to the exact number
    of claimants who have been paid compensation.
    Mr Speaker, finally, there are also issues as is
    expected of counter-claims and disputations about
    who is entitled to what and issues of error in site
    plans, which the Lands Commission is assisting the
    Ghana RailwayAuthority to resolve so this is still
    work in progress. It suffices for me to emphasise
    that the remit of Lands Commission or the Ministry
    of Lands and Natural Resources ends at the point
    of assessing the compensation. The verification of
    the claimants and the payment of the compensation
    to them is done by the beneficiary institution, in this

    Oral Answers to Questions

    case, the Ghana Railway Authority and for that

    matter, the Ministry of Railways Development.
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 1:25 p.m.
    Hon Member,
    your last supplementary question.
    Mr Dafeamekpor 1:25 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, the Hon
    Minister informed the House that through the Lands
    Commission, his Ministry was able to assess the
    value of the compensation payable. If he was able
    to tell the House that at least some 500 verified
    claimants have been paid, pending the others, what
    was the assessed compensation payable done by
    the Commission and forwarded to the beneficiary
    agency? That is what I would want to know.
    Mr S. A. Jinapor 1:25 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, as the Hon
    Member would agree, the Lands Commission is
    rendering some kind of statutory services to a client,
    being the Ghana RailwayAuthorityand the Ministry
    of Railways Development. Indeed, the Land
    Valuation Divisionofthe Lands Commission renders
    these services to all manner of institutions, with some
    being private and others public. I am not too sure
    how the Ministry of Railway Development and the
    Ghana RailwayAuthority, for that matter, intend to
    handle this compensation matter since there is also
    the issue of speculation. If I was to come before
    this House to say that so much has been assessed
    as compensation, I do not know what implication
    it would have on the Ghana Railway Authority.
    Mr Speaker, may I respectfully crave the
    indulgence of my Hon Colleague to examine the
    possibility of seeking more answers from the
    Ministry of Railways Development. As he would
    agree with me, the matters to do with the exact
    compensation people should be paid are very much
    within the bosom of the Ministry of Railways
    Development.
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 1:25 p.m.
    We would take
    the last Question from the Hon Member forAdaklu,
    Mr Kwame Governs Agbodza.
    Mr Kwame Governs Agbodza 1:25 p.m.
    Mr Speaker,
    I am grateful for your indulgence and I also thank
    my Hon Friend for making himself available to
    answer the Questions. Mr Speaker, off the record,
    the Hon Minister is beginning to be compared to
    the Hon Minister for Roads and Highways as being
    diligent in terms of the number of times he appears
    before the House to answer Questions, although
    the content of his answers is something we would
    discuss another day.
    Government Landed Properties Disposed
    of and Transferred to Private Individuals
    Mr Kwame Governs Agbodza (NDC —
    Adaklu): Mr Speaker, I beg to ask the Hon
    Minister for Lands and Natural Resources which
    Government landed properties have been disposed
    of and transferred to private individuals and entities
    in the Greater Accra Region since 2017, and how
    much each of the properties cost.
    Mr S. A. Jinapor 1:35 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, on Thursday,
    3rd February, 2022, a similar Question was asked
    by the Hon Member for South Dayi, Mr Rockson-
    Nelson E. K. Dafeamekpor, on behalf of the Hon
    Member for Adaklu, Mr Kwame Governs
    Agbodza, in whose name the Question stood.
    Mr Speaker, I did indicate in my Answer that
    these transactions are handled by the Regional
    Lands Commissions, established under article
    260(1), to perform the functions of the Commission
    in the Regions. I added that in the spirit of
    transparency and accountability, I was prepared
    to provide the data from 1993, when we ushered
    in the Fourth Republic, till date. I, therefore, directed
    the Lands Commission to coordinate with the
    various Regional Lands Commissions and collate
    the data for this august House.
    Mr Speaker, while working on the Question of
    the Hon Member, I received notices of other
    Questions relating to the same subject matter. By

    Oral Answers to Questions

    Question 1061, the Hon Member for Nsawam-

    Adoagyiri, Mr Frank Annoh-Dompreh, requested

    for the same information for the period between

    2009 and 2016, and by Question 1063, the Hon

    Member for Ashaiman, Mr Ernest Henry Norgbey,

    requested for the same information for the 20-year

    period between 2001 and 2021.

    Mr Speaker, as I indicated in myAnswer to this

    august House on June 7, 2022, I have directed the

    Lands Commission to coordinate with the 16

    Regional Lands Commissions and collate the

    information for the House.

    I noticed, however, that this Question relates to

    the Greater Accra Region only, but again, as

    indicated in my Answer on June 7, 2022, only 10

    per cent of data in the Greater Accra Region has

    been scanned and digitised. The remaining 90 per

    cent are manually generated and processed.

    Officers of the Lands Commission, therefore,

    have to manuallygo through volumes of documents

    to put the data together. As this Question forms

    part of the earlier Question posed by the Hon

    Member forAshaiman, which was first in time, and

    since I have already promised this august House to

    provide the data in respect of that Question, which

    will invariably answer this Question, I would rely

    on my Answer on June 7, 2022 that the Lands

    Commission has been directed to collate the data

    and that same will be presented to the House when

    ready.

    Mr Speaker, I must, however, add candidly that

    I have been advised by the Lands Commission that

    with the volume of work involved in this exercise, it

    may be near impossible to put together this data, at

    least, during the lifetime of this Parliament. This is

    why Government has prioritised the digitisation and

    digitalisation of land administration in the country.

    When this is done, all these information will be

    available and accessible to any person or citizen

    anywhere in the country, from the comfort of their

    homes, without the need for a parliamentary

    question.

    Thank you, Mr Speaker.
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 1:35 p.m.
    Hon Member,
    you have heard the Hon Minister. The Question
    has been answered.
    Mr Agbodza 1:35 p.m.
    No, Mr Speaker. I am totally
    shocked by the Answer provided by the Hon
    Minister. The Hon Minister for Lands and Natural
    Resources has said to this country that he is
    incapable of providing data on landed properties
    belonging to Government which have been
    transferred to individuals or entities, for which
    compensations have been paid. The Government
    received money from individuals and entities for
    compensations on those lands in Greater Accra
    Region alone and the Hon Minister says he does
    not have the quantum of money that he has
    received? In fact, just today, the Hon Minister told
    us that he knows about two of those transactions.
    The lands that were transferred to Comsys and
    Water Stones. Few weeks ago, we knew that part
    of Achimota Forest had been transferred to
    someone else.
    Mr Speaker, is the Hon Minister saying that it is
    not possible to, at least, for the 10 per cent that has
    been scanned, to provide data on landed properties
    that have been transferred only under their
    Government and he said the Lands Commission
    says that it is impossible? Can the Hon Minister tell
    us that it is impossible to give us data on landed
    properties transferred from 2017 to this day —
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 1:35 p.m.
    Hon Member,
    I did not hear the Hon Minister say it is impossible.
    The import of his Answer was for you to give him
    time because it takes a lot of time.

    Oral Answers to Questions
    Mr Agbodza 1:35 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, he said it is not
    possible “in the lifetime of this Parliament”. Mr
    Speaker, it is not possible that the Hon Minister for
    Lands and Natural Resources does not have data
    on landed properties transferred only between
    2017 to date in Greater Accra Region alone —
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 1:35 p.m.
    Hon Minister,
    clarify the —
    Mr Agbodza 1:35 p.m.
    It is not possible for the Hon
    Minister to tell us that.
    Mr S. A. Jinapor 1:35 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, first of all, it
    may be needless for me to say this, but I think it is
    important I do. I provide these Answers very
    candidly, honestly and professionally. Mr Speaker,
    I am sorry I have to say this. I have no reason or
    basis to put together Answers just to avoid the
    Questions posed by the Hon Member. I have no
    reason to do that.
    Mr Speaker, the Question that was posed said
    that I should provide data of all public lands
    transacted from 2017 to date. The gravamen of
    myAnswer was that multiple Questions have been
    asked relating to the grant of interest in public lands,
    and I indicated that the Hon Member for Nsawam-
    Adoagyiri has asked that I provide from 2009 to
    2021. Somebody asked another Question that I
    provide data from 1993 to date, and I said that I
    am working to provide a holistic data to the House
    from 1993 to date which would answer all the
    various Questions which have been posed relating
    to the grant of interest out of public lands. I would
    want to put it on record that I never said that that
    data would not be or cannot be provided.
    Mr Speaker, I went further to indicate that given
    that the records of the Lands Commission are not
    digitised, and only 10 per cent of records of the
    Greater Accra Regional Lands Commission is
    digitised with 90 per cent still manual, to put
    together all these information across the country
    from 1993 to date may be near impossible to collate
    it within the lifetime of this Parliament.
    Mr Speaker, I am just being candid and saying
    it as it is. I would be absolutely happy for my Hon
    Friend, Mr Agbodza, to come with me to just one
    unit of the Regional Lands Commission office in
    the GreaterAccra Region, and he would leave there
    without a shred of doubt that the Answer I gave to
    him is the case.
    Mr Speaker, anybody who has been involved
    in land administration in our country would come
    to this conclusion. The Hon Member can speak to
    some former Hon Ministers from his Side who have
    been Hon Ministers for Land and Natural
    Resources and the nature of record keeping in our
    country. This is not the making of this Government
    or some other, but the commissions and omissions
    of various Governments in our country over the
    years. To pull data on even one transaction at a
    Lands Commission office sometimes becomes a
    nightmare so, this is my candid and honest Answer
    I have given to this House. The data is being put
    together. We would work on it vigorously, and when
    it is ready, I would provide it to this House.
    It would be a tedious undertaking, and I am not
    promising days, weeks or months. It will take some
    time, and that is whywe are pursuing digitisation of
    the records of the Lands Commission. This would
    make the assessment of this information readily
    available to this House and any citizen of this
    country. This is the way forward; this is the Answer
    to his Question.
    Mr Agbodza 1:35 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, a few minutes ago,
    the Hon Minister told us that the National
    Intelligence Bureau (NIB) and his entity told him
    that 80 per cent of the trees that were planted
    everywhere in Ghana have survived. The Hon
    Minister can account for seven million trees across

    Oral Answers to Questions

    the whole country, yet he cannot account for landed

    properties that have been transferred within the

    Greater Accra Region. That must be a miracle.
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 1:35 p.m.
    Hon Member
    —
    Mr Agbodza 1:35 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I am passionate
    about this. We are talking about people complaining
    to Hon Members of Parliament that landed
    properties belonging to the State are being
    transferred to individuals needlessly, and when we
    want answers from the Hon Minister so that we
    can help the public, he tells us that it is not possible
    “in the life of this Parliament”. What if Ido not come
    to the next Parliament? Mr Speaker, I am totally
    —
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 1:35 p.m.
    Hon Member,
    I appreciate your question. At least, I have been a
    land administrator before, and appreciate what the
    Hon Minister is also saying. It has not been easy,
    so please, let us understand where he is coming
    from because in my view, it is better he comes with
    the right information than to go and come back with
    inaccurate figures. If the Hon Minister says we
    should give him time, let us appreciate what he is
    saying —
    Mr Agbodza 1:35 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, the whole of the
    Greater Accra Region does not belong to the
    Government. In fact, my house does not belong to
    the Government. We are talking about a minuscule
    number of landed property belonging to the State.
    Mr Speaker, I shudder to say the Hon Minister
    has refused to give me the Answer. He can deny it,
    but even the 10 per cent he says has been digitised
    —
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 1:35 p.m.
    Hon Member,
    please. If the Hon Minister says he would not —
    No, I would not —
    Mr Afenyo-Markin 1:45 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, we are
    always guided by the rules of the House, and the
    Hon Member for Adaklu, Mr Kwame Agbodza,
    knows them. Mr Speaker, when we want to use
    Question Time to throw punches and say things that
    we know the rules do not permit us to say and find
    a wayto challenge even when Mr Speaker is guiding
    us, to say the least — [Interruption] —

    Mr Speaker, Standing Order 67 guides an Hon

    Member on what to do in a supplementaryquestion.

    An Hon Member cannot use that opportunity to

    argue, debate or attempt to impugn improper

    motive. Mr Speaker, with the greatest of respect,

    what the Hon Member for Adaklu, Mr Kwame

    Agbodza, is doing is wrong — [Interruption] Yes.

    I am here as a pro tem Leader, and I am telling

    him. Mr Speaker has given me the Floor so if he

    should quietly sit down and listen to me. We are to

    assist Mr Speaker, and there are first-timers in the

    House. The Hon Member cannot even have the

    patience to listen quietly — [Interruption] I did. I

    listened to him quietly, and that is why I am able to

    counter his points.

    Mr Speaker, with the greatest respect, the Hon

    Member for Adaklu knows what to do under

    supplementary questions. An Hon Member cannot

    use supplementary questions to argue, debate or

    introduce new issues to satisfy his or her own

    political interests. That is what he is doing.

    Mr Speaker, with the greatest respect, let us

    get this matter straight. We have had an occasion

    on this Floor which I would call the “Muntaka rule,”

    where Alhaji Mohammed- Mubarak Muntaka

    argued forcefully that when one raises a matter, and

    the person whose matter was raised had no right

    of audience on the floor of the House, that person

    was to hold back. This was the “Muntaka rule” in

    the Joy FM misreportage case, and the Rt Hon

    Speaker ruled that it was right.

    Oral Answers to Questions

    Mr Speaker, I am relating this matter to what

    the Hon Member is attempting to do. There is a

    matter that the Hon Minister is answering the

    Question on. Standing Order 67 talks about

    supplementary question — [Interruption] — Mr

    Speaker, Hon Agbodza may have to listen.

    Mr Speaker, having said all of these, and it being

    our duty to assist you, I humbly pray that with this

    assistance offered the Chair, the Chair would no

    more entertain all the sinful behaviour of Mr Kwame

    Agbodza in respect of our Standing Orders,

    because he has sinned heavily against the Standing

    Orders.

    Mr Kwame Agbodza — rose —
    An Hon Member 1:45 p.m.
    The Hon Deputy Majority
    Leader should retract and apologise.
    Mr Afenyo-Markin 1:45 p.m.
    Well, the Hon Member

    — Mr Speaker, I end it here on that note.
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 1:45 p.m.
    Hon Members,
    this brings Question time to a close.
    Mr Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa — rose —
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 1:45 p.m.
    Hon Member,
    we have had more than —
    Mr Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa 1:45 p.m.
    Mr
    Speaker, it is for the purpose of guidance.
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 1:45 p.m.
    Hon Member,
    come again?
    Mr Ablakwa 1:45 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, we need your
    guidance because it is very important.
    The Hon Minister has confirmed that so many
    Hon Members of Parliament (MPs) from both Sides
    have expressed interest in this matter, by filing
    Questions. He talked about the possibility that in
    the lifetime of this Parliament, we may not get a
    response from him. We need some guidance from
    you. At least, even if the response would be given
    in a month or two, we should be guided as a House,
    because we cannot leave this matter to be in
    abeyance and in perpetuity. This is because I am
    frightened that for the lifetime of this Parliament,
    we may never get Answers to this Question. It is
    scary.
    Mr Ahmed Ibrahim — rose —
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 1:45 p.m.
    Very well.
    Mr Ahmed Ibrahim 1:45 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I have
    listened to both the Hon Minister and the Member
    who asked the Question.
    In fact, the matter being raised is a verysensitive
    one which is very important for our survival as a
    country because it borders on land, and where there
    is no land, there is no country.
    Mr Speaker, it is good that you are the one
    presiding at this time. I do not want to point to your
    circumstance, but I know that you have enough
    knowledge so long as matters of land and survey is
    concerned, therefore you appreciate the Answer
    being given very well.
    Mr Speaker, this is the second time that this
    Question is being asked. In listening attentively to
    the Questions Mr Agbodza raised, I realised that
    they were both published as the Answer for that
    day as well as today's Answer, and that was why I
    listened quietly. In response to the Question he
    asked, the Hon Minister said that he had not said
    so because the Question was asked from the
    previous Answer, which was addressed to me.
    Mr Speaker, if we have taken our time as a
    Parliament to make a very fine law — I remember
    that in the Seventh Parliament, we did the new land
    law. Therefore, if Parliament has taken the need
    and the time to come up with a very fine law, and
    Hon Members have interest in such Questions, the
    question I would have asked the Hon Minister was

    Oral Answers to Questions

    — Yes, I admit that there is a problem, because

    we are transitioning from manual to digital, and it

    takes time.

    In the Sixth Parliament, I was a member of the

    Committee on Communications, at the time that the

    National Communications,Authorityhad a problem

    which was due to revenue assurance for the Ministry

    of Finance, and that is what brought in an

    information technology (IT) company called Subah

    Info Solutions. They digitised the records of most

    Ministries, including that of the Ghana Education

    Service (GES), and it helped them. So, if the Hon

    Minister who is not the first to be at the Ministry

    and would not be the last, truly has a difficulty

    because he wants to digitise — so that we move

    from the manual to digital —

    Mr Speaker, we know that in all the 261 District

    Assemblies, there are boundary disputes

    everywhere. Also, most of the chieftaincy disputes

    border on land litigation, so any issue concerning

    land records must be of importance to us.

    The Hon Member forAdaklu, MrAgbodza, may

    be playing his oversight responsibility. Despite the

    Standing Order mentioned by the Hon Deputy

    Majority Leader, the Speaker is still in charge of

    the admissibility of Questions. All the Questions

    asked by Mr Agbodza were admitted by the

    Speaker, and the Hon Minister had no difficulty in

    answering them. He was frank. If there is a problem,

    as a country, do we have a role to play in ensuring

    that we are able to digitise those records, so that

    the Hon Minster would not come on a daily basis

    as though he is responsible for that. He came to

    meet it, but “ye de gya wo a, na ye de asoa wo”

    to wit “it is now your responsibility because you

    are now the duty bearer.” That is why we ask those

    Questions. Is there a way that this House — if it is

    a problem of funding, we are in charge of the purse.

    If we have to digitise, let us make sure that we have

    a special need.

    Mr Speaker, I think the LandAdministrationAct

    used to have a donor component of money that

    was given to us as a country in doing our land law

    until we passed the new land law.

    Mr Speaker, if we were able to run away from

    the Aborigines' Rights Protection Society (ARPS)

    in 1897, we should be in charge of our own land

    records for the sake of posterity. I remember when

    Ghana discovered oil, and I came to Parliament in

    the year 2009, there were similar records like this

    and that was before Ghana could go to the

    International Court for the boundary dispute

    between Ghana and La Cote d'Ivoire. We needed

    to close all our doors after realising that we should

    have done so and so but, we could not do, so we

    decided to do it then. We held a Closed Sitting

    under a certificate of urgency and we did enough.

    Thus, this House must assist the Hon Minister

    to digitise the records so that by the click of a

    mouse, we would know who a particular parcel of

    land belongs to. That is all we are saying. So, it is

    not out of anymischief, for the Hon Deputy Majority

    Leader to saythat the Question is imputing improper

    motives, or the Hon Minister is not giving the needed

    Answers. I know there are difficulties there, but

    we need to solve it, as a country.

    Mr Speaker, I would like to ask the Hon

    Minister if there is a way we can assist him to

    digitise? If it is a problem of funding or technology,

    he should let us know.
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 1:45 p.m.
    Hon Minister,
    could you give us a timeframe? It would be a bit
    challenging, looking at the life of this Eighth
    Parliament.
    Mr S. A. Jinapor 1:55 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, the Hon
    Deputy Minority Chief Whip has summed up the
    matter on the table. The truth of the matter, which
    is exactly the point I have been trying to make since
    I mounted the dispatch box, is that the state of land

    Oral Answers to Questions

    administration in our country is not fit for purpose.

    That is the hard truth. Sourcing for information or

    data on even a parcel of land — if we were to find

    the records of where Parliament is situated today,

    and the historical antecedents of how this land was

    acquired, we would be surprised that it could

    become a nightmare. The truth of the matter has

    absolutelynothing to do with shelving information.

    In any event, as I said, the information would be

    provided from the year 1993 to date.

    I am not too sure that there is any Government

    in this country, that can make the claim that they

    did not bequeath or grant interest in public lands in

    this country. There are estates all over the place in

    Accra and other parts of the countrywhich are built

    on public lands. So, that cannot be the issue. The

    gravamen of the issue is the state of land

    administration in our country. I heard the Hon

    Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa speak about the Land

    Administration Project I (LAP I) and LAP II —

    He is correct. LAP I and LAP II came into being

    by the intervention of the World Bank, yet it did

    not resolve the land administration issues in our

    country.

    The panacea, as the experts have advised, and

    as the Hon Deputy Minority Chief Whip has quite

    — it is how to resolve the issue of records keeping

    at the Lands Commission. The only solution, both

    historically, contemporarilyand byglobal standards,

    is to digitise the records of the Lands Commission.

    I would like to assure the House that we are

    working feverishly around the clock, to be able to

    get to the stage where the records of Lands

    Commission would be digitised. We would certainly

    need the help of this House, and very soon come

    before the Lands and Forestry Committee to plead

    our case.

    Mr Speaker, on timelines, what I would say is

    that we would l employ our best endeavours to be

    able to put this information together and provide it

    to this House. However, there are real and genuine

    hurdles and realities which we have to confront and

    that is the reason I gave that Answer.

    Mr Speaker, thank you and the House very

    much for your indulgence.
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 1:55 p.m.
    Hon Minister,
    I thought I gave directives to, at least, give us some
    indication as to when you think you could provide
    to the House, the Answer to the Questions Hon
    Members are asking. Probably, in the lifetime of
    this Parliament, it would be a bit difficult, but just
    give us some indications, whether next year, next
    Session, or whatever it is —
    Mr S. A. Jinapor 1:55 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, l would like to
    work throughout this year — and in these matters,
    the Lands Commission, as you know, is a semi-
    autonomous constitutional body. They are the
    repository of the records of lands in our country,
    and they gave me this advice. This is a House of
    records and a very important forum. I should not
    be giving indications and timelines which may
    become problematic for me, for the reputation and
    dignity of my office.
    Mr Speaker, if you would allow me, I would
    like to repeat that in the course of this year, we
    would work day and night and employ our best
    endeavours to be able to provide the information
    to the House as practically as possible.
    Dr Kwabena Donkor — rose —
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 1:55 p.m.
    Very well.
    Hon Senior Member, let me hear you.
    Dr Kwabena Donkor 1:55 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, if I could
    recall, there is supposed to be a register of
    government lands. If this register does exist, it
    should not be too difficult to find out which part of
    these government lands have been ceded to private
    citizens or individuals by various Administrations
    within the last ten years or so. If the register is not
    in existence, that is a different business, then I would
    sympathize with the Hon Minister. However, if it is
    still in existence, I believe it would be useful.
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 1:55 p.m.
    On that note,
    we bring Questions time to a close. On behalf of
    the House, I would like to thank the Hon Minister
    for Lands and Natural Resources for appearing
    before the House to answer Questions from Hon
    Members. You are hereby discharged.
    Hon Majority Leader, can we go to the item
    numbered 6? The Hon Minister for Information is
    here.
    Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 1:55 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I
    think there are two Statements that we can take
    today including the one by the Hon Minister for
    Information. Before we get there, I would like to
    remind you where we are in terms of the time.
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 1:55 p.m.
    Hon Members,
    may I crave your indulgence to allow me to extend
    Sitting beyond the normal Sitting hours. It is now 2
    p.m., so kindly bear with me. On that note, we
    would invite the Hon Minster for Information to
    give us a Statement on the implementation of the
    Right to Information (RTI) Act 989.
    Hon Minister, you may have the Floor.
    STATEMENTS 1:55 p.m.
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 2:05 p.m.
    Thank you,
    Hon Minister for Information.
    Some Hon Members — rose —
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 2:05 p.m.
    Yes, Mr Sam
    George? Or do you not have a copy of the
    Statement?
    Mr Samuel N. George 2:05 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I do not
    have a copyof the Statement but we have had some
    prior engagement.
    Mr Speaker, you could allow Mr Kwame
    Agbodza to start and then I would come back
    subsequent him.
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 2:05 p.m.
    Very well.
    Mr Kwame G. Agbodza (NDC — Adaklu) 2:05 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, we are grateful to our Hon Colleague,
    the Hon Minister, for being diligent with the House
    and for providing this information to the House.
    I thought his first line of gratitude would have
    gone to this honourable House. To be honest, we
    are told this Bill has been in the House for a long
    time and I must pay particular tribute to the Hon
    Majority Leader, Mr Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu,
    together with the Hon Minority Leader, Mr Haruna
    Iddrisu, and the House, who made sure that in our
    lifetime, this Bill is passed. Therefore, I believe that
    the first people that needed to be thanked for this
    is the Hon Members of this House. This is because
    this House and, particularly, the Leadership of the
    House present here made it possible for us to have
    the Bill passed. Byall means, we would thank those
    who are implementing it today but guess what, if
    this House did not make it a priority to pass it, it
    would have still been a Bill in the House and there
    would not have been any board or committee
    implementinganything.

    Statements

    Having said that, I believe that this is a very

    important thing we have done as a House and I am

    happy that the Hon Minister gave us this update. I

    am surprised that in his view, the academia,

    especially, is not making use of the information as

    much as possible but he would agree with me that

    many of the Government entities do not have

    information fit for purpose. One of which is what

    we have been talking about here, so what is the

    point in applying for information on an issue that is

    important to you when you know what they are

    going to tell you it is not available.

    We need to encourage the Government entities

    to have proper records that are fit for purpose. Data

    that is required by academia has to be wholesome

    to an extent before they can process it and if it is

    not, I believe that it would be difficult for them to

    use it. Nevertheless, this is an achievement of the

    House and the country.

    Mr Speaker, I would also like to comment on

    some of the Hon Minister's recommendations. I

    think that it is very important that, perhaps, from

    the secondary school level, we should be able to,

    not as a curriculum, but the services of the Ministry

    could be extended to the secondary schools for

    people to be able to understand what their rights

    are so that by the time they get to a point where

    they are considered adults and they could demand

    information from the State, it would just be part of

    their lives.

    I also agree with the Hon Minister on how we

    can fund them. It is quite disappointing as he said

    that we are still not able to fund or we do not have

    the human resource to man some of the agencies

    and I think that this is not beyond us. Let us look at

    what the Government Financial Policy and Budget

    Statement would say when the Hon Minister for

    Finance turns up somewhere next month. I agree

    with him that we should encourage entity heads;

    Chief Directors and everybody to have that

    understanding that it is their responsibility to ensure

    that the entities that they superintend over provide

    this information to people, at least, the information

    that is required. The public must also understand

    that it is not everyinformation that theyrequire from

    an entity that must be provided to them. This is a

    fact, because trying to get how the number of

    people who attend a CHPS compound at Adaklu

    is normal information, but what kind of sickness a

    particular person reports is obviously not

    information that they would be provided with so

    we must be educated on what kind of information

    we could seek for.

    Mr Speaker, I think it is good that the Hon

    Minister comes back to tell us — I wished that the

    implementing agencies of the many Bills we passed

    would come back to tell us the challenges and what

    is working well so we know if we did the right thing

    or not and if we need to recall some of those

    legislations and upgrade them, we could do that.

    Mr Speaker, I would like to particularly thank

    our Hon Colleague for doing this. For me, what he

    has done is helpful to me; for being part of crafting

    the Bill into a law and how its operation is going so

    far. Thank you for the opportunity.

    Some Hon Members — rose —
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 2:15 p.m.
    Yes, let me
    come to the Hon Member for Dormaa East.
    Mr Paul A. Twum-Barimah (NPP —
    Dormaa East): Thank you, Mr Speaker, for the
    opportunity to contribute to the Statement made
    by the Hon Minister for Information. Let me use
    this opportunity to also congratulate the Hon
    Minister and add my voice to that of my Senior
    Hon Colleague to applaud him for coming to the
    House to update us on how far the Right to
    Information (RTI) Act (2019), Act 989, has
    performed.
    Mr Speaker, for me, as much as we are talking
    about the importance and the good things that we
    are getting out of the RTIAct, the public interest is
    important, and my Senior Hon Colleague mentioned
    that. It is important that we educate the people to

    Statements

    appreciate the importance of the RTI Act. As we

    speak, there are a lot of people who have heard

    about the RTI but they do not know how to access

    or use it. I would urge the Hon Minister for

    Information to take the public interest to a higher

    level. Clearly, we have seen how some people are

    accessing information using the RTIAct, which is

    getting us the results we need. Therefore, we would

    encourage that the Ministry would go further to also

    whip up the interest of Ghanaians, to be able to

    appreciate and access the information that they

    need.

    Obviously, we need to know which kind of

    information we can have access to and which kind

    we cannot, where we can go and where we cannot,

    and which processes we should use. These are all

    important, and we would encourage and support

    the Hon Minister to find ways and means to help

    us to educate the people to access information.

    Once again, I thank you, Mr Speaker, and I

    congratulate the Hon Minister for doing this.

    Some Hon Members — rose —
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 2:15 p.m.
    Let me begin
    from the Hon Member for Bia West.
    Dr Augustine Tawiah (NDC — Bia West) 2:15 p.m.
    Thank you, Mr Speaker. I believe that this is a
    beginning point for us to realise the important need
    of not only passing legislations, but really taking
    important steps to ensure that implementation is
    critical for the legislation, otherwise, we would just
    continue to pass legislations that are not relevant to
    our society.
    We all know the background to the RTIAct, to
    the extent that there were public demonstrations
    urging for it, and any form of opaque processes
    can now be open to public scrutiny by asking for
    the right information. Therefore, it is laudable that,
    at least, we have an update of the implementation
    process.
    I would like to ask the Hon Minister two
    questions that are based on his presentation
    regarding the availabilityof information: essentially,
    whether they have focal persons in the Ministries,
    Departments and Agencies, and as a result of that,
    whether, as we did with the client services, they
    have services that are readily available, and that
    the person does not have to go round so many
    people in order to access information or even to
    find out where the information is available. In other
    words, do they have specific units, such as, the
    client service that we established a few years ago,
    so that one can actually go in there and be able to
    find the correct information or be directed to the
    right place?
    Then, secondly, he mentioned the issue of some
    information that is classified, and as a result, when
    one shows up at the place, asking for such
    information, it cannot be made available to the
    public. In the process of implementation, as the RTI
    law says, has the Hon Minister come across a
    situation where organisations refused to offer
    services to people in terms of making information
    available because that information is classified?
    When, therefore, did they say that information
    would be declassified so that the public can have
    access to it? Also, I would like to know whether in
    the process of doing so, they have observed any
    legal issues in which people havetaken organisations
    to court because based on the RTI law, they are
    supposed to make the information available, and
    whether by control or power, they have not made
    that information available.
    Mr Speaker, my final comment would be on
    the issue of the entire process. Being the Minister
    for Information, can the Hon Minister tell, if it has
    really helped journalists in their work? Has it been
    useful to them in terms ofaccessing right information
    so that instead of being speculative, as we see in
    some of the newspapers, has this process given
    them the opportunity to really access the right

    Statements

    information? In the Hon Minister's assessment of

    the print media and even social media, as the

    Ministry may have people to observe these things,

    has the RTI Act improved the accuracy of

    information that is put out in the public domain?

    Mr Samuel O. Ablakwa — rose —
    Mr Second Deputy 2:25 p.m.
    Thank you very much.
    Hon Ablakwa?
    Please, let us be brief.
    Mr Samuel O. Ablakwa (NDC — North
    Tongu): Thank you, Mr Speaker. I shall be guided
    accordingly.
    Mr Speaker, I would like to begin by
    commending the Hon Minister for Information for
    his very exemplary conduct in presenting himself,
    and, in a very timely manner, the Annual Report on
    the implementation of the Right to Information Act
    (2019), Act 989. Mr Speaker, you would recall
    that only last Friday, I raised this matter on the Floor
    of the House about Annual Reports that are
    pending, some for five years, seven years, eight
    years, some, almost a decade, when I checked the
    records.
    Mr Speaker, let us take, for example, the Hon
    Minister for Finance, who is supposed to present
    the Annual Report to this House on the Public
    Procurement Authority. The last time it was done
    was in 2012. So, there is a general attitude that is
    not helpful so far as Annual Reports are concerned
    and it leaves this House in the dark. We are not
    able to carry out our oversight function, and to
    really be well apprised on what is happening to the
    various institutions that we set up by law and all the
    policyinitiatives that we hope that this countrywould
    benefit from.
    Therefore, what the Minister for Information is
    doing — this is the second time, and I think our
    records must reflect it that this is the way to go, a
    very commendable conduct, and we would ask the
    Hon Minister not to grow weary. He should
    continue onthis trajectory. It is, indeed, verypositive.
    Mr Speaker, I note from the Hon Minister's
    presentation that the RTI Commission has been
    really on the side of those who seek information,
    that is, citizens, and I am glad to note that even
    when they were sued by a public institution, the
    court, on 17th February, 2022, ruled in favour of
    the Commission. That is a really positive
    development, and it shows that the Commission
    appears to be tilting on the side of people because
    the people really are weak; State institutions are
    verystrong and they can always muzzle individuals
    to conceal information, but when we have the
    Commission appearing to be on the side of citizens
    and helping them to champion transparency and
    the free flow of information, it is something that we
    must commend, and I would like to salute the RTI
    Commission for that.
    Mr Speaker, having said that, I note that some
    of the challenges the Hon Minister referred to
    related to lack of financial clearance which delayed
    in 2021, so that they were not able to recruit at full
    throttle the information officers required. I am glad
    to hear that, at least, some progress is being chalked
    up in that regard, but we would appeal to the
    Ministry of Finance that this is a very important
    legislation and that they should prioritise the
    employment request of the Hon Minister for
    Information, and for that matter the RTI
    Commission, so that we can have a full house.
    Mr Speaker, what transpired few minutes ago
    before the Hon Minister mounted the dispatch box
    is a matter that should concern all of us.

    How do we make information readily available?

    Even as a House, we are struggling to get Hon

    Ministers to provide information to us. Digitalisation

    of information and ensuring that information is

    accessible remain a challenge in this country.

    Statements

    Mr Speaker, so, I hope that even as we seek to

    employ more people and empower the RTI

    Commission, we would also look at our record

    keeping processes as a country, and seek to

    improve on all of those systems so that we can keep

    adequate records because sometimes, there is a

    deliberate effort by some people in the public sector

    to make it as difficult as possible to find information.

    It is all through human attitudes and conducts, non-

    filing of the right documentation, sometimes even

    the destroying of documents, and the allowing of

    the vagaries of the weather to destroy pieces of

    information which are crucial for the success of this

    RTIAct.

    Mr Speaker, at the end of the day, if the

    information is not available, no matter the

    commitment by multiple state actors and

    stakeholders, we might not be helpful.

    Mr Speaker, finally, I would be remiss if I do

    not touch on a matter that happened recently. I think

    that the Hon Minister must commit to the retraining

    and training of the information officers. Recently,

    the Council of State was in the news for the wrong

    reasons when an information officer directed the

    representative of Togbui Afede who had gone and

    filed the right information request but was asked to

    go to Metro TV. That was very ridiculous, and even

    the tone of the letter —

    Mr Speaker, that was an unprofessional

    conduct, and we must make it clear that the whole

    essence of this RTI Legislation is for there to be

    openness and a new mindset to governance and

    that really, in this country and per our Constitution,

    sovereignty resides in the people. The offices we

    occupy — whether we are civil servants, public

    servants or politicians -- we are servants of the

    people, and power really belongs to the people.

    So, one cannot treat the people with contempt.

    Mr Speaker, so, I hope that the Hon Minister

    would take a strong view on that, and whether it is

    lack of training or professionalism, it must not

    happen again that just flippantly and ridiculously,

    information officers denycitizens of information and

    redirect them to places that they should not go.

    Mr Speaker, having said that, it is clear that we

    are building an RTI architecture which would serve

    our democracy well and would lead to more

    openness in governance, and I hope that the

    Government actors themselves - His Excellency

    the President and all his Hon Ministers, would show

    a general attitude of openness.

    Mr Speaker, you know how we sometimes

    struggle in the House when we file our Questions

    and eventually the Hon Ministers hide under

    National Securityconsiderations and all of that. That

    kind of attitude does not inspire confidence.

    Generally, we should all reflect a certain

    exemplary attitude that would positively help to

    deepen accountability and transparency.

    Mr Speaker, I thank you, and I commend the

    Hon Minister again for the example.

    Mr George Kwabena Obeng Takyi — rose

    —

    Mr George Kwabena Obeng Takyi (NPP-

    - Manso Nkwanta): Mr Speaker, thank you for

    giving me the opportunity to contribute to this very

    important Statement made by the Hon Minister for

    Information. I am very grateful for this information

    that has been provided by the Hon Minister to the

    House.

    Mr Speaker, it looks like the concentration is

    on political issues, where the pressmen would go

    to politicians and request for information, and if there

    is any impediment in the way of the pressmen, the

    politician is given a very wild publicity.

    Mr Speaker, we may also talk about the

    classification of information which information

    should come out and which should not. Financial

    Statements

    information is informationthat helps thedevelopment

    of the country — However, there is one critical

    area that nobody is taking care of; certain

    information which, institutions, by law, are not

    compelled to be given to the public or other

    interested parties.

    Mr Speaker, for example, our educational

    institutions like the universities and research

    institutions do a lot of research which are financed

    by the public and other agencies. However, nobody

    compels them to bring the information out. If no

    one goes to them to request that information, then

    that information would be kept in cupboards or files

    without having anyinfluence on the public direction

    and policy initiatives.

    Mr Speaker, let us take the professional

    institutions such as accounting institutions,

    engineering institutions and medical institutions. In

    their research and work, they come out with a lot

    of information and important data that could help

    this society, but who compels them to bring that

    information out? This House provides and approves

    the budget for these institutions to go into research

    to come out with certain information that would help

    this country. But Mr Speaker, what are we doing

    as a people and as a House to compel such

    professional institutions and bodies to comeout with

    certain information to feed the public, particularly

    this House?

    Mr Speaker, taking the case of the Health

    Sector with regard to certain information on

    cancerous diseases, the researchers do their

    research and come out with certain vital data that

    would help our development. However, who is

    compelling them? How are they providing this

    information to the benefit of members of the public?

    Mr Speaker, there are also the engineers who

    construct roads and buildings. Looking at how

    certain roads are being constructed and the damage

    done to our roads and buildings in the process of

    construction, there are engineers who have a lot of

    data and information concerning how certain road

    works are done. However, who is compelling them

    to bring out this information to help our national

    development?

    Mr Speaker, it is important that as a people,

    this House compels such professional bodies and

    institutions so that they also come up with their

    reports to feed the public with the essentials of what

    they do. That would help this country to move

    forward. We should not always look at what

    politicians are doing; what the press would get from

    them and when the press is refused information,

    they hammer the politicians and communicate

    information which would destroypeople about how

    they do their jobs. That is not helping this country.

    Mr Speaker, we should also look at the other

    side that these research institutions and other

    professionals would bring out whatever they are

    doing that would build this society to help our

    national cause.

    Mr Samuel Nartey George — rose —
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 2:25 p.m.
    Hon Member,
    we would listen to you and then listen to the
    Leadership.
    Mr Samuel N. George (NDC 2:35 p.m.
    None

    Prampram): Mr Speaker, thank you for the

    opportunity to contribute to the Statement made

    by the Hon Minister for Information and Member

    of Parliament for Ofoase/Ayirebi Constituency, Mr

    Kojo Oppong-Nkrumah. I would like to join my

    Hon Colleagues in celebrating the diligence of the

    Hon Minister when it comes to the presentation of

    his reports.

    Mr Speaker, your Committee on

    Communication oversees two Ministries and deals

    with two different Hon Ministers. I wished all the

    Hon Ministers behaved like the Hon Minister for

    Information when he came to report.

    Mr Speaker, I am sure the Hon Majority Leader

    himself would have a better job and a better sleep

    if all the Hon Ministers behaved as timeously as the

    Hon Minister for Information. Maybe the Hon

    Minister for Information may be able to share a

    few notes on how the Hon Majority Leader could

    Statements

    get the other Hon Ministers to comply with the

    duties under the Constitution and the Acts to report

    to Parliament.

    Mr Speaker, however, the RTI is a very critical

    law we have passed. Act 989 is one that had spent

    years in this House and I believe that the serving

    Parliament and the Leadership at that time deserve

    a lot of credit for passing the Bill.

    Mr Speaker, even though the Bill has been

    passed, some sections of the media refer to the

    Act as a “ghost Act” which means it is not a living

    document because we still have some legislative

    work to be done which would give life to the Act

    of Parliament.

    Mr Speaker, this has led to some challenges that

    we have seen. The RTI Law is not one that is

    supposed to inhibit applicants from accessing

    information using costs. We have seen quite a

    number of cases, and I would like to use this

    opportunity to appeal to the Hon Minister that the

    Ministry should, as part of their work, work with

    the Judiciary to bring the Judiciary up to speed on

    what the real spirit of the law is, not just the letter

    of the law.

    Mr Speaker, this is because looking at the rulings

    that the judges have given in the two cases that

    have gone before the courts, in the Ernest Norgbey

    versus the Electoral Commission (EC) case where

    Mr Ernest Norgbey was seeking information on

    procurement from the EC, sought to hide behind

    the fact that Parliament had not passed the Fees

    and Charges Act relative to the RTI and request

    for information. When the jurisdiction of the courts

    was invoked, a GH¢1,500.00 fee was placed, and

    you would want to ask yourself - to print a few

    sheets of paper should not have to cost

    GH¢1,500.00, but that was a bad precedent set

    by the courts. This is because, not everybody can

    afford GH¢1,500.00 for access to information.

    Why do I say it was a bad precedent? In a few

    months' time, the court relied on that ruling — same

    judge — in passing another judgment on the Media

    Foundation for Africa verses the NCAcase; where

    the NCA had also imposed, I think, a charge of

    over US$1,000 or GH¢2,000.00 in that instance.

    The judge says that principle was wrong, and goes

    back to the Mr Ernest Norgbey case and also

    imposes the GH¢1,500.00 charge once again.

    I do not think that that was the intendment of

    the sponsors of the Bill and Parliament that we

    would fix a rate of GH1,500.00. Mr Speaker, some

    of the people making that request would not have

    that money if we peg it at GH1,500.00. We saw

    the Minerals Commission take on the RTI

    Commission when they said they should charge

    GH¢2.00 and there, I want to celebrate the head

    of the RTI Commission. The young lawyer there,

    my mate from the University — we call him

    “Gedebus”, he did a very good job where he told

    the Minerals Commission that they could not be

    charging US$1,000 for information, so they should

    charge GH¢2.00 instead. When he asked them to

    pay GH¢2.00, they went to court challenging the

    RTI Commission. On that instance, we celebrate

    the courts —— the court told them that they could

    not seek refuge for an illegality in the courts.

    However, if the Ministry does not bring the fees

    and charges to Parliament, we would continue to

    have the CEOs of State institutions bullying

    applicants, and so, the Hon Minister must bring the

    requisite documents for the fees and charges to be

    fixed by Parliament.

    Mr Speaker, one very important thing is that,

    under section 19 of the Act, the persons to deal

    with request or applications — the information

    officers — there are over 400 State institutions but

    we have less than a 100 information officers who

    have been trained and certified by the Ministry and

    the RTI Commission.

    Mr Speaker, if the Government has money to

    do all kinds of other things, they should give

    clearance for the Ministry to recruit the rest of the

    Statements

    people. The salaries of about 300 more RTI

    information officers — proper information officers

    — would serve better purposes. If we have money

    for consultants to design things and pay them $36

    million, yet we do not have money to recruit —
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 2:35 p.m.
    Hon Member
    —
    Mr George 2:35 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I am guided, so I
    would not go down that road. If we have money
    for other things, then the Ministryof Finance which
    finds money in the Consolidated Fund must find
    space for the Minister for Information to recruit
    information officers. This is because if you had
    proper trainingfor information officers at the Council
    of State, they would not have directed the request
    by Torgbe Afede XIV to Metro TV.
    Mr Speaker, so we would plead that the Hon
    Minister for Finance, even as he reads the Bible,
    should realise that the Bible urges expediency in
    one's works, so that he would also find expedient
    money for the Ministry to recruit.
    Mr Speaker, the very last one is the classification
    of information. You see, we have the right to
    information law, and this is one caution I sounded
    even before Parliament passed the RTI law but we
    have not got a proper classification of public
    information. The RTI is simplyan index, it is a search
    engine. When you go to google to do your search,
    it becomes possible because it is a classification of
    documentation that has been indexed that you can
    access.
    Mr Speaker, until we have a review of the Public
    Records and Archives Administration Department
    (Establishment) Instrument, 1996 (L.I. 1628) to
    properlyclassify Government documentation ——
    if we do not properly classify Government
    documentations, and know what is a classified
    document, a declassified document, and the number
    of years it takes to declassify a document ——
    Hon Ministers would wake up and continue to tell
    you that the request you have made is classified
    using sections of the RTI law to that effect. Some
    information should be declassified after five years,
    others 10 years and some after 15 years. We need
    to have that classification model done by Parliament
    for Public records; only then would the RTI get a
    full steam.
    Mr Speaker, I thank you for your indulgence. I
    am done.
    Mr Ablakwa — rose ——
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 2:35 p.m.
    Hon Ablakwa,
    no!
    What? I would come to leadership. Yes, but Hon
    Deputy Minority Whip, be brief.
    First Deputy Minority Whip (Mr Ahmed
    Ibrahim): Mr Speaker, I thank you for the
    opportunity. Mr Speaker, I would join my Hon
    Colleagues in commending the Hon Minister for
    Information for doing a good job. The democratic
    watchers should listen to the Hon Member for North
    Tongu, Mr Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa. I have
    confidence in him as the Minister for Information,
    but when he commended the Hon Minister, I knew
    that he was speaking professionally. So, anything
    that the Hon Member for North Tongu says he says,
    it professionally. —— [Laughter] ——
    Mr Speaker, what the Hon Member for North
    Tongu said was re-emphasised bythe Hon Member
    for Ningo-Prampram, Mr Samuel Nartey George.
    They were not just saying it for the sake of politics.
    If you do a good job, we have to let you know so
    that you continue to do the good job. Equally, if it
    is not a good job, we would let you know. So when
    we criticise constructively, that should also not be
    misconstrued that they are criticising only because
    they are in opposition. Today, we are telling you
    that you are doing a good job, likewise we would
    criticise you tomorrow if you veer from that good
    job. When we say it, listen to it in good faith.
    Mr Speaker, I have been a Member of the
    Communications Committee from 2009 to date;
    this is my 14th year as a Member of that Committee.
    We have seen how the Ministryof Communication
    overshadows the Ministryof Information. Currently
    under your leadership, Hon Minister for

    Statements

    Information, the Ministry of Information has

    overshadowed that of Communication, and that is

    what the Hon Member for Ningo Prampram, Mr

    Samuel Nartey George, and the Hon Member for

    North Tongu, Mr Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa have

    said. So, Hon Minister, keep it up.

    Mr Speaker,
    An Hon Member 2:35 p.m.
    They should combine the
    Ministries
    Mr A. Ibrahim 2:45 p.m.
    They should combine the
    Ministries? No. That is what we did and lost. The
    Ministry of Information is very vital and it is a
    precondition to every good democracy. If you want
    to enjoy good governance, you must prioritise your
    Ministry of information. An informed electorate
    would make informed decisions.
    Mr Speaker, this is why the 1st President, Dr
    Kwame Nkrumah —— even though I was not born
    around that time, laid much emphasis on the
    Ministry of Information to make sure that
    dissemination of information to the districts was
    prioritised.
    Mr Speaker, as a country, we make very good
    laws but we have challenges with implementation,
    and it is always wrong when one substitutes old
    things for new things without maintaining both.
    People underestimated the importance of the
    Ministryof Information. Civil Society Organisations
    and academia advised Presidents against having
    both Ministries. They advised Presidents that they
    could combine both the Ministryof Information and
    the Ministryof Communication.

    Mr Speaker, politically, when we did that in the

    year 2016, we lost the elections. This is because

    though the Government was doing a very good job,

    there was no one to market that good job. When

    the Government then went for US$398.33 million

    Exim Bank loan to construct the Tema-Akosombo

    railway line —— we did that, and after approving

    the loan, instead of allocating maybe US$1 million

    for communication — to communicate the

    importance of the project to the people of the

    country, we could not do that. Similarly, when we

    constructed the Ho, Kumasi, Wa, Takoradi airports

    and Terminal 3 at the Kotoka International airport,

    we did not include communication component for

    the Ministry of Information to disseminate this

    information for the people to know. So, the

    importance of the RTI would inure to the benefit of

    the electorate. This is because they would make

    informed choices.

    Mr Speaker, when we were spending on e-

    Blocks to make sure we prevented the future

    occurrence of “Double Track”, we could not

    include a component of it to educate the people so

    that they would be able to know the importance of

    those projects. They said: “You are constructing

    schools; do we eat schools?” We were preventing

    the future occurrence of a “Double Track”. Because

    we were voted out, the 200 e-Blocks could not be

    completed, so we are now doing “Double Track”.

    So, the importance of information in every

    democratic dispensation cannot be underestimated.

    Mr Speaker, coming back to the important

    Statement the Hon Minister made - Hon Minister,

    I said we should not substitute a new policy with

    an old one. When the former President, John

    Agyekum Kufuor, brought the Information Service

    Department (ISD) and the Yellow and Green

    vehicles, it helped to disseminate Government

    information and policies. What is the state of the

    ISD now? Now, we have the Right to Information

    Act - the ISD, in recruiting the District Information

    Officers, excuse me to say, a good job was not

    done. Some District Information Officers did not

    even qualify to be there, but they were put there

    because — When it was reengineered with the

    introduction of those vehicles under former

    President John Agyekum Kufuor, when he brought

    the Yellow and Green vehicles.

    Mr Speaker, the reengineering and the

    recruitment of the District Information Officers

    everywhere — the calibre of people that were

    recruited — because of that, the ISD is always

    Statements

    going down. As I speak, their budget for last year

    — even Government communication had GH¢6

    million whereas the budget of ISD, which has

    representatives in the whole country and also with

    261 districts, was only GH¢2 million. So now that

    we are talking about District Information Officers

    and District Right to Information Officers, there must

    be a budget for it.

    To the Hon Minister, if the recruitment process

    goes well, we will commend him; if it does not go

    well, we have to chastise him because he is the one

    responsible for recruiting those important Officers

    responsible for the Right to Information in every

    district. So, he must make sure a good job is done.

    We would bring a Supplementary Budget; the Bill

    suffered from 2002 till 2018 or 2020 before it was

    passed; about more than 15 or 16 years. When it

    was passed, we were given a grace period for the

    Government to prepare. So, the Government has

    no excuse to say, “I do not have funds, logistics or

    technology to be able to make Ghanaians have

    access to information.”

    Mr Speaker, I know that you have sat down

    for a long time. I have a lot to say, but with the little

    that I have said — “A word to the wise is in the

    North and the best comes from the West, and I am

    from the Middle Belt”.

    Mr Speaker, thank you for the opportunity.
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 2:45 p.m.
    Yes, Hon
    Majority Leader? May I respectfully —
    Majority Leader and Minister for
    Parliamentary Affairs (Mr Osei Kyei-Mensah-
    Bonsu): Mr Speaker, I also rise to lend my voice
    to congratulate the Minister of Information for his
    timeous appearance in the House to relate to us
    where we are with the Right to Information Act. I
    think it is important as a House to really
    acknowledge the Hon Members in the House who
    assisted in a very profound manner the crafting and
    “smithing” of this very important Act. For the
    umpteenth time, I want to recognise the
    contributions of the Hon Joseph Yieleh-Chireh, Hon
    Ben Abdallah, Hon Shaibu Manama Obei of
    Daboya-Mankarigu, Hon Kwame Anyimadu-
    Antwi, Hon Inusah Fuseini, and the Hon Joseph
    Osei-Owusu who at the time of passing this all-
    important legislation were very instrumental and
    assisted me tremendously to get this piece of
    legislation from the oven.
    Mr Speaker, the reason for the Right to
    InformationAct really fits verywell in the Preamble
    of our national Constitution -- the 1992 Republican
    Constitution.
    “IN EXERCISE of our natural and
    inalienable right to establish a framework of
    government which shall secure for ourselves
    and posterity the blessings of liberty, equality
    of opportunity and prosperity;”
    That is at the heart of the Right to Information
    Act. Again, we wanted to deepen our own
    understanding of probity and accountability so that
    Government would be subjected to appraisal by
    the governed, and for us to assure ourselves that
    whatever step the ruling class or government took
    would inure to the benefit of the citizens. That is all
    that the Right to InformationAct meant and, indeed,
    means for us. There were teething problems but
    we were able to overcome them eventually and we
    got it passed. Some issues have been raised about
    some challenges, but no Act passed by this House
    is sacrosanct. As we move along, it may become
    important, given experiences that would ensue from
    applying the law to amend portions of it. Again,
    that is how it is supposed to be.
    Mr Speaker, having said that, I guess there are
    other matters or obligations imposed on us by the
    Constitution that if we apply same goodwill and
    courage to confront them, we would be able to
    pass them. One such Bill, which is still outstanding,
    is the Property Rights of Spouses Bill. Whereas
    the Constitution imposes an obligation onthis House
    immediately after the promulgation of this
    Constitution to have that law passed, since 1993,
    we have never got around this. It is still in the

    Statements

    pipeline, and I believe that very soon — I know

    the Hon Attorney-General and Minister for Justice

    is working on the Bill — it will come before us. Let

    us resolve as a House, while it comes before us, to

    put our heads together to have that Bill passed by

    this House.

    Mr Speaker, the next one is the Intestate

    Succession Law. That one is also now reduced to

    a footnote. Let us bring it back and pass that Bill in

    this House. I think the third one would be the

    AffirmativeAction Bill which is also in the works. I

    hope we would be able to finish with them; I am

    not too sure if we are not able to-- because we

    have verylimited time before we adjourn. The next

    Meeting is a Budget Meeting, and normally, we

    have very little space to pass legislations which are

    not related to the Budget. I want to believe that

    latest by the middle of next year, we would be able

    to get these three important pieces of legislation off

    the grid and have the President assent them because

    we need them. We need those three pieces of

    legislation; the Intestate Succession Law, the

    Spousal Rights or Property Rights of Spouses, and

    of course, the Affirmative Action Bill.

    Mr Speaker, I thank you and Hon Colleagues

    who have contributed to the Statement ably made

    by the Minister for Information.
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 2:55 p.m.
    Thank you very
    much. Hon Minister, would you have —
    Mr Oppong-Nkrumah 2:55 p.m.
    Yes, Mr Speaker. I
    would like to say a big thank you to Leadership
    and Hon Members for the contributions they have
    made. There are points that we would note and
    include in the further implementation of theAct. Just
    to quickly mention that we have focal persons and
    those are the Right to Information (RTI) Officers,
    which I talked about, but we need to have them in
    many more places.
    We have also encouraged an Online Record
    Management Systems (ORMS) which would help
    improve the capturing and storing of data within
    Ministries, Departments, andAgencies (MDAs) so
    that the delivery of information when it is requested
    for is also further enhanced.
    Mr Speaker, finally, the fees and charges
    recommendation is currently before the House and
    has been listed for consideration on today's Order
    Paper. So, it is not in our hands; it is in the hands of
    the House to quickly pass it so that some of those
    challenges could be quickly addressed.
    Mr Speaker, I thank you for the opportunity.
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 2:55 p.m.
    Thank you very
    much. Hon Majority Leader, I would like to suspend
    the House for some time.
    Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 2:55 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I
    believe you can suspend it for a while and when
    we come back, we would spend less than 30
    minutes to conclude a few things and adjourn.
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 2:55 p.m.
    Hon Members,
    with your indulgence, I would like to suspend the
    House for one hour.
    2.57 p.m. — Sitting suspended
    4.37 p.m. — Sitting resumed.
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 2:55 p.m.
    Hon Members,
    let me welcome you back, and thank you for
    indulgingme.
    Yes, Hon Majority Leader?
    Mr Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 2:55 p.m.
    Mr Speaker,
    let me seek your indulgence for us to go to item
    listed as 21.
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 2:55 p.m.
    Hon Members,
    page 13, item listed 21, the Ghana Hydrological
    Authority Bill, 2022 at the Consideration Stage.

    Hon Majority Leader, where is the Committee

    Chairman?
    Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 2:55 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I
    believe we can begin; I have seen a few matters. I
    believe we will not be able to travel too far with
    this, but let us begin and see where we can get.
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 2:55 p.m.
    Hon Majority
    Leader, in the absence of the Chairman of the
    Committee, can we move on?
    Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 2:55 p.m.
    Absolutely, Mr
    Speaker. Once the Committee has submitted its
    Report, the House owns it and so, we can proceed.
    With my Hon Colleague, Mr Kwame Agbodza
    Governs, I believe we can join ranks to pilot this.
    BILLS — CONSIDERATION STAGE
    Ghana Hydrological Authority Bill, 2022
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 2:55 p.m.
    Hon Members,
    we move to clause 1.
    Clause 1 ordered to stand part of the Bill.
    Clause 2 — Object of the Authority
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 2:55 p.m.
    Hon Members,
    there is a proposed amendment.
    Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 2:55 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, the
    Committee has proposed an amendment, and it
    relates to restructuring what obtains in the Bill in
    clause 2. They have restructured it as has been
    expressed on the Order Paper. Having said so, I
    would want to propose a further amendment to what
    obtains on the Order Paper.
    Mr Speaker, if you look at how it has been
    captured on the Order Paper, it reads:
    “The Object of the Authority is to promote
    hydrological service delivery for the
    planning, design, execution, operation and
    maintenance of
    (a) flood control mechanisms;
    (b) works related to coastal
    engineering, sewerage, drainage
    improvement and river development; and
    (c) operational and applied hydrology,
    for the quantification, conservation and
    development of the water resources of
    the country.”
    Mr Speaker, this is how it has been captured.
    Now, Iwould want to propose a further amendment
    to this because if you read how it has been captured,
    it says:
    “The Object of the Authority is to promote
    hydrological service deliveryfor the planning,
    design, execution, operation and maintenance
    of”
    then subclauses (a) and (b) follow. There is a
    problem with subclause (c) because if you start
    from the preambular of clause 2, it may then read:
    “The Object of the Authority is to promote
    hydrological service deliveryfor the planning,
    design, execution, operation and maintenance
    of
    (c) operational and applied hydrology, for
    the quantification, conservation and
    development of the water resources in the
    country.”
    This is wrong. Mr Speaker, the proper
    arrangement should be:
    “The Object of the Authority is to promote:
    (a)hydrological service delivery for the
    planning, design, execution, operation and
    maintenance of
    (i) flood control mechanisms
    (ii) works related to coastal engineering,
    sewerage, drainage improvement and river
    development”

    Ghana Hydrological Authority Bill, 2022 -- Consideration

    108

    Stage

    Even there, Mr Speaker, how do you develop

    a river? I believe they really mean either river basin,

    river course or river channel development. It is the

    river channel development or river course

    development, not the river development so, we

    would have to look at that. Hence, we would have,

    “river course” or channel development and” to

    read:

    “The Object of the Authority is to promote:

    (a) hydrological service delivery for the

    planning, design, execution, operation and

    maintenance of

    (i) flood control mechanisms

    (ii) works related to coastal engineering,

    sewerage, drainage improvement and river

    channel development”

    Then we shall have subclause (c) now become

    subclause (b), so that taking it from the preamble,

    it would read:

    “The Object of the Authority is to promote:

    (a) hydrological service delivery for the

    planning, design, execution, operation and

    maintenance of

    (i) flood control mechanisms

    (ii) works related to coastal engineering,

    sewerage, drainage improvement and river

    channel development”

    (b) operational and applied hydrology, for

    the quantification, conservation and

    development of the water resources of the

    country.”

    That is how it should read.
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 4:47 p.m.
    Hon Majority
    Leader, if I got you right, it means the rendition
    would be:
    “The object of the Authority is to promote:
    (a) hydrological service delivery for the
    planning, design, execution, operation and
    maintenance of
    (i) flood control mechanisms
    (ii) works related to coastal engineering,
    sewerage, drainage improvement and river
    channel development
    (b) operational and applied hydrology, for the quantification, conservation and
    development of the water resources of the
    country.”
    Hon Members, that is the further amendment
    by the Hon Majority Leader.
    Mr Kwame Governs Agbodza 4:47 p.m.
    Mr Speaker,
    I agree with the Hon Majority Leader. I know the
    Hon Chairman of the Committee is not here. Since
    we are talking about “hydrological service delivery
    for the planning, design, execution …”, instead of
    using “execution”, which is just a bit broad -- they
    are actually talking about construction because if
    we plan, design, construct, operate, then maintain,
    why do we not use the word “construct” to make it
    clearer instead of using the word “execution”? What
    are we executing? Even planning is a form of
    execution of a task. Design and maintenance are
    also under execution of an activity.
    Mr Speaker, secondly, as the Hon Majority
    Leader has said, if we read what now becomes the
    subclause (a)(ii), the whole thing reads:
    “The object of the Authority is to promote:
    (a) hydrological service delivery for the
    planning, design, execution, operation and
    maintenance of
    (ii) works related to coastal engineering,
    sewerage, drainage development —
    I do not think we need to have the word
    “development” after “drainage”, because drainage
    is a whole issue on its own, so it is not only about
    improvement. It could be “drainage improvement”
    because we may be doing a new thing; we are not
    onlyimproving on what we are saying. There could
    be a new standard for what a drainage should be,

    Ghana Hydrological Authority Bill, 2022 -- Consideration

    110

    Stage

    so it is not only about development; if we want to

    add “improvement”, why do we not add that to

    “sewerage”? I think we should leave it as “coastal

    engineering, sewerage, drainage and river course

    or river channel”. The new rendition would read:

    “The object of the Authority is to promote:

    (a) hydrological service delivery for the

    planning, design, execution, operation and

    maintenance of

    (i) flood control mechanisms

    (ii) works related to coastal engineering,

    sewerage, drainage and river channel

    development”

    Mr Speaker, why do we even want to use the

    word “development” for a river channel? I know

    some people may ask — well, rivers flow through

    the city of Accra. What we normally do is to create

    a safe channel based on the volume for the water

    to go through the city and be discharged into the

    sea — [Interruption] You meant “courses”? All

    right, but when they say “development” — river

    channel — [Interruption] All right.

    Mr Speaker, my point is that we could probably,

    use the word “construction” in subclause (a), follow

    with what the Hon Majority Leader said and then

    make it “river courses development” so that it reads:

    “The object of the Authority is to promote:

    (a) hydrological service delivery for the

    planning, design, construction, operation and

    maintenance of

    (i) flood control mechanisms

    (ii) works related to coastal engineering,

    sewerage, drainage and river courses development”
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 4:47 p.m.
    Hon Majority
    Leader, may we move to page 14. Hon Minority
    Leader proposed certain amendments that we
    delete “promote” and insert “regulate”. Hon
    Majority Leader, we would come there, but since
    we are dealing with clause 2, I wanted us to address
    that.
    Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 4:47 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, we
    are not there yet, but I believe that one would not
    fly. Given the explanation you have offered, his own
    amendment is rendered otiose.
    Mr Kofi Iddie Adams 4:47 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I think
    the earlier concern you raised is still relevant, though
    the Hon Majority Leader has given an indication
    that once the Report on a Bill is presented, it
    becomes the property of the House. It appears the
    Hon Chairman of the Committee, the Hon Ranking
    Member and even the Hon Minister responsible
    for this sector are not here. They would have
    considered the very technical description of some
    of these issues, and could have assisted us in dealing
    with the matter like we did last week, when we
    considered the Criminal Amendment Bill. We had
    the Hon Minister, the Hon Chairman of the
    Committee, and the Hon Ranking Members here,
    and they considered in detail before they arrived at
    some of these proposals, so that would help us.
    We seem to be handling this stage of this Bill when
    they are not here.
    I would want to propose that we could consider
    any other Business while we wait for, at least, the
    Hon Chairman or the Hon Ranking Member to be
    present to guide the House as to how far we can
    go and how to deal with it. I am not so happy that
    we are doing this in the absence the leaders of the
    Committee and the Hon Minister responsible for
    the sector.
    Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 4:47 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, first
    of all, as I have made my point. If the Hon
    Chairman and the Hon Ranking Member are not
    here, and they have submitted their Reports, they
    cannot hold the House to ransom if they refuse to
    come to the Chamber. It becomes the property of
    the House once they submit the Reports.

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    Stage

    Mr Speaker, having said so, I gave an indication

    that I just wanted us to start and we would certainly

    get into a labyrinth, especially, with respect to clause

    3. I just wanted us to start with clauses 1 and 2,

    and then certainly, we would suspend consideration

    of the matter. We just wanted to get the bearing

    right with respect to clauses 1 and 2, and then we

    suspend. Going forward, to be able to clear the

    many amendments that have been proffered, I

    noticed that we need to have some winnowing

    sessions.

    Mr Speaker, I believe we could go through

    clause 2, and once we are through with that, we

    could stand the Consideration Stage down, and do

    winnowing on it. Even with the winnowing, if the

    Hon Chairman and the Hon Ranking Members are

    not there, we would still do it. I do it in my office,

    and when I had Hon Inusah Fuseini, Hon Joseph

    Yieleh Chireh, Hon Shaibu Mahama, Hon Ben

    Abdallah Banda and Hon Kwame Anyimadu-

    Antwi, many times, we did it alone. When the Hon

    Chairmen came, they realised that we had done a

    tidier job on it than the Committee would have in

    many weeks and months. It is all for the good of

    the House.

    The Hon Member for Buem shouldapplyhimself

    to it, and we would be able to make positive

    contributions. He should not wait for the Hon

    Chairman and the Hon Ranking Member.
    Ms Comfort Doyoe Cudjoe 4:47 p.m.
    Mr Speaker,
    apart from the argument, I support my Hon Brother.
    After this long period, we need to feed the people
    since they have been here from morning till now.
    There is no food or water, yet we are keeping them.
    We do not even form a quorum. Mr Speaker,
    please, adjourn the House, so that we continue
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 4:57 p.m.
    Hon Members,
    we could hold on with the Consideration Stage,
    but we could take another Business. If you got the
    Hon Majority Leader right, he just wanted us to
    start considering the Bill so that from tomorrow,
    we could move on with it and arrive at a conclusion.
    It is not that we are doing everything.
    I, personally, appreciate the issue Mr Kofi
    Adams raised and I believe what the Hon Leader
    said was just to introduce the Consideration Stage
    of this all-important Bill and when we get to clauses
    1 and 2, we could hold on and do the rest from
    tomorrow or next week.
    Mr Ahmed Ibrahim 4:57 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I am with
    you. The original decision was for us to suspend
    for some few minutes and come back to start work
    on the Bill and adjourn. We suspended and we are
    back and work has begun on it. So, I believe it is
    an appropriate time for us to adjourn.
    Mr Speaker, if I heard the Hon Majority very
    well, he said that once the Committee has presented
    a Report to the House, the Bill is now the property
    of the House. That is right. The amendments and
    proposals on the Order Paper should be moved
    by the Hon Chairman because they stand in his
    name. If we would want to give everybody the
    excuse to be shirking responsibility in that way, it
    would not help this House and even though we have
    gone by the agreement, we have begun the work
    — we are to adjourn and come back tomorrow.
    Mr Speaker, I would want to make an appeal
    that the Leadership and Members of the Committee
    who presented this Report must be present to justify
    why they are moving those amendments on the
    Order Paper so that we work together. When they
    went to the Committee meeting, we were not there
    with them. The technical team from the Ministry
    were with them and they justified why certain
    amendments and proposal should be made. So,
    that is why those amendments and proposal stand
    in the name of the Hon Chairman of the Committee.
    So, when the Chairman justifies and an Hon
    Member opposes, that is when he brings in the
    technical knowledge that was given to the
    Committee at the consideration stage of the
    Committee. So, if that is not done and the Report
    is just brought to the House - and neither the
    Chairman nor the Ranking Member is here; the
    Ranking Member has come. The Committee

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    Stage

    Members must help this House with the knowledge

    they got when they were considering the Bill at the

    Committee level and why they are moving those

    amendments. So, the call by the Hon Member for

    Buem is in good order because when Leadership

    was discussing, he was not privy to it and this is

    why he is moving in that direction.

    So, Hon Majority Leader, we are in this

    together. He said we should go and come back to

    begin the work. We suspended for one hour and

    we have come back and started the work because

    we had absolute respect for him. But, if he gives

    an indication to someone and he agrees and the

    goal post shifted, tomorrow, when they are given

    directives, they would not take it in good faith. So,

    while we have done clauses 1and 2 —

    [Interruption] — So, Mr Adams, the Clerks-at-

    the-Table have to be consistent with the

    amendments that are being moved at the

    Consideration Stage of a Bill. So, if we start with

    clause 1 and we do not complete it, when we come

    tomorrow, where are we starting from? So, let us

    finish with the clauses 1 and 2 and adjourn so that

    when we come tomorrow, we can do meaningful

    work. However, I think the signal is a wake-up call

    for the Committee Members to be present in the

    Chamber. The presentation of their Report does

    not end it.

    Dr Kwabena Donkor — rose —
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 4:57 p.m.
    Yes, Hon
    Member for Pru East?
    Dr Kwabena Donkor 4:57 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I looked
    at the left and right hand sides of my revered Hon
    Majority Leader and they are empty; he has no
    support. He is lonely there. — [Laughter] — If they cannot have the team available to support the
    Hon Majority Leader, I believe once we take
    clauses 1 and 2 in deference to him, the House
    should consider adjourning.
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 4:57 p.m.
    Yes, Hon
    Majority Leader?
    Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 4:57 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, if my
    Hon Colleague had been here — he is just restating
    what I have said; I said we could just do clauses 1
    and 2. I would not make further progress on that.
    However, I would like to repeat that once a
    Committee submits their Report to the House, it
    becomes the property of the House. Whether or
    not the Committee Members are here, the House
    can proceed. That is the point I made. Of course,
    that is not to derogate from the need for Members
    of the Committee, especially the Leaders to be here
    during the Consideration of any Bill.
    However, fancythe situation where a Committee
    after presenting its Report decides not to participate
    in the proceeding, can the House not proceed on
    the matter? The House, certainly, can proceed, and
    that is the point I made.
    Mr Speaker, as I said, I just wanted us to begin
    in earnest and I believe we can suspend further
    consideration of the Bill. I understand the Hon

    — The Hon Member suffers from optical illusion;

    the man is here, and he is saying that he is not.

    [Laughter] — Dr Kwabena Donkor who was

    complaining that my right flank is empty, his own

    left flank is equally empty. [Laughter] However,

    Mr Speaker, we can suspend further Consideration.
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 4:57 p.m.
    Hon Leader,
    can I put the —
    Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 4:57 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, you
    can put the Question on clause 2 as variously
    amended. When we had done so, we would not
    proceed further on that.
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 4:57 p.m.
    Hon Members,
    there is a further amendment to Clause 2 and the
    rendition of the further amendment should read:
    “The Object of the Authority is to promote
    (a) Hydrological Service Delivery for the
    planning, design, execution, operation
    and maintenance of”
    So, (a) becomes (i)

    Ghana Hydrological Authority Bill, 2022 -- Consideration

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    Stage

    (i) Flood control mechanisms

    (ii) Works related to coastal engineering,

    sewerage, drainage improvement and

    river channel development

    Then the (c) becomes (b)

    (b) Operational and applied hydrology for the

    quantification, conservation and development

    of the water resources of the country.

    Mr Samuel Atta Akyea — rose —
    Mr Atta-Akyea 4:57 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, to make it more
    elegant, if one looks at Clause 2, the object of the
    clause is, “authorities to promote hydrological
    service deliveryfor the planning” whichis something
    in continuum; it is like a continuous verb and
    “designing”, “executing”, “operating”, and
    “maintaining” — So, it is not a one-off thing but it is
    a continuous verb. The Hon Majority Leader is
    shaking his head but that is my humble view so that
    the flow would be good.
    So if we say “planning”, then, it should follow
    with “designing, executing, operating and
    maintaining” — yes, this is what they would be
    doing as if it is a continuum.
    Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 4:57 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, the
    humble view of my Hon Colleague is right to some
    limited extent. The application of the definite article
    “the” before “planning” renders absolutely correct,
    the use of the words “execution, operation, and
    maintenance”: “for the maintenance of, for the
    operation of, for the design of”. But “design” is both
    a verb and a continuing verb. So, ‘design' could
    either be ‘design or designing', either would be right.
    Mr Speaker, as it is, I would want to appeal to
    my Hon Colleague because it is right. In his own
    humble view, it is right to some limited extent.
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 4:57 p.m.
    Very well.
    Question put and amendment agreed to.
    Clause 2 as amended ordered to stand part of
    the Bill.
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 5:22 p.m.
    Hon Members,
    we would hold on with the Consideration Stage
    and continue tomorrow.
    Hon Majority Leader, I think we have other
    Reports and Papers to lay.
    Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 5:22 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, it is
    Mr Ahmed Ibrahim 5:22 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, I thought
    you were bringing the Consideration Stage to an
    end and then we tilt the Mace.
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 5:22 p.m.
    We are ending
    the Consideration Stage today and we would

    Yes, Hon Majority Leader?
    Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 5:22 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, as I
    indicated, could we go to the item numbered 7 on
    page 5?
    Mr Ahmed Ibrahim 5:22 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, the Hon
    Ranking Member of the Finance Committee is not
    here, and I had the occasion to speak with him, so
    we would not lay the item numbered 7(b). The
    Chairman of the Committee is here. The Finance
    Committee has not sat on the item numbered 7(b),
    so we — [Interruption] — All right.
    Mr Speaker, if we could consider the item
    numbered 14-- Motion , as Leadership, I do not
    think we are privy to the Report, and our Hon
    Leader would agree with me so that we meet as a
    Committee before those Papers can be laid. I
    remember that a Committee did a similar work and
    when we laid the Report, it gave birth to a legislation
    in the House. Such Reports must be given to
    Leadership to go through to see how they could
    translate them into legislations. Based on that, we
    would step that one down.
    Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 5:22 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, my
    application was just for the Presentation of Papers
    and my Hon Colleague is jumping to other areas
    that have not been defined by us. It is just the item
    numbered 7(a).
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 5:22 p.m.
    Then, let us
    finish it.
    Hon Members, I invite you to page 5. We have
    already commenced Public Business; we are now
    at the Presentation of Papers. Item numbered 7(a)
    — By the Hon Minister for Trade and Industry.
    Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 5:22 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, if you
    would indulge me, I would just do the presentation
    of that Paper on behalf of the Hon Minister.

    Mr Speaker, I would just do the presentation

    on behalf of the Minister.
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 5:22 p.m.
    Hon Minister,
    leave granted.
    PAPERS 5:22 p.m.
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 5:22 p.m.
    Can we move
    to the item numbered 7(b)?
    Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 5:22 p.m.
    Mr Speaker, as I
    indicated, for the item numbered 7(b)(i) and (ii),
    the Chairman has given an indication that the
    Committee has not even met on that. So, it cannot
    be done. My application, as I said, was in respect
    of just the item numbered 7(a), and having done
    that, I guess we could take an adjournment.
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 5:22 p.m.
    Adjournment?
    Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu 5:22 p.m.
    Yes, Mr Speaker.

    Mr Speaker, I have seen an Hon Member raise

    his hand here. There is no raising of hands in

    Parliament. In the meantime, I have drawn your

    attention that my application was just in respect of

    the item numbered 7(a). So, with the time reading

    14 minutes after 5 o'clock, we may take an

    Mr Speaker, respectfully, I did not “throw my
    Mr Second Deputy Speaker 5:22 p.m.
    Hon Members,
    I think we would bring proceedings to a close. The
    time is 5.15 p.m.
    So, I would proceed to adjourn the House to
    10 o'clock in the forenoon. Hon Members, we have
    a lot to do tomorrow, so let us come early.
    On that note, I would thank you very much and
    adjourn the House to tomorrow.
    ADJOURNMENT 5:22 p.m.