Debates of 9 Nov 2022

MR FIRST DEPUTY SPEAKER
PRAYERS 10:42 a.m.
Mr First Deputy Speaker 10:42 a.m.
Hon
Members, we would commence with
the correction of the Votes and
Proceedings dated, Tuesday, 8th
November, 2022.
Page 1 … 7 -
Dr Kingsley Narko — rose —
Mr First Deputy Speaker 10:42 a.m.
Yes,
Hon Member?
Dr Kingsley Nyarko 10:42 a.m.
Mr
Speaker, pages 7 and 8; on page 7, the
item numbered 4, the Hon Member of
Parliament for Karaga sought
permission to participate in the COP
27. Our Leadership has received his
Leave of Absence Form and actually
endorsed it and it has been sent to the Rt
Hon Speaker. That also applies to the
item numbered 12, Mr Andrew
Amoako Asiamah, the Hon Second
Deputy Speaker, and the item
numbered 14, the Hon Majority Chief
Whip, Mr Frank Annoh-Dompreh who
are also on official assignments. Then
the item numbered 27 on page 8, the
Hon Minister for Lands and Natural
Resources, Mr Samuel Abdulai Jinapor.
This is just for the records, Mr
Speaker.
Mr First Deputy Speaker 10:42 a.m.
Very
well.
Throughout this week, the matter
about the application for leave of
absence not being processed and put
before the Table Office has come up,
but it is good we keep reminding
ourselves so that they come into the
records for future reference.
Page 8 … 15 -
rose
Mr First Deputy Speaker 10:42 a.m.
Yes,
Hon Member for Kwadaso?

Votes and Proceedings and Official Report
Dr Kingsley Nyarko 10:42 a.m.
Mr Speaker, on page 15, the item numbered (vii) Rev Stephen Yaw Osei, his designation should read, “Director of Policy Planning, Budgeting, Monitoring and Evaluation, Ministry of Works and Housing”. It should be “Evaluation” and not “Evaluating”.
Mr First Deputy Speaker 10:42 a.m.
Hon
Member, are you also correcting the name? Is it Rev Stephen Yaw Osei or Rev Stephen Yaw Owusu?
Dr Kingsley Nyarko 10:42 a.m.
Mr Speaker,
the name is all right. I was just trying to bring attention to the designation. The name is Rev. Stephen Yaw Osei, I do not have any issue with that. I am talking about the “Evaluating” which should read “Evaluation”.
Mr First Deputy Speaker 10:42 a.m.
Very
well.
Page 16 … 55?
Hon Members, in the absence of any
further corrections, the Votes and Proceedings of Tuesday, 8th November, 2022, as corrected, is adopted as the true record of proceedings.
Hon Members, I wish to vary the
order of Business and take Statements
before I revert to Questions.
I have admitted one Statement in the
name of the Hon Member for Wa East,
Dr Godfred Seidu Jasaw.
Hon Member, you may read your
Statement now.
STATEMENTS 10:52 a.m.
Dr Godfred Seidu Jasaw (NDC— Wa East) 10:52 a.m.
Mr Speaker, thank you very
much for the opportunity to read a
tribute by my good self, the Hon
Member for Wa East, in honour of the
late Alhaji Issaku Saliah, former
Member of Parliament for the Wa East
Constituency.
Mr Speaker, it is with a heavy heart
that I bring to you the sad news of the
passing of Alhaji Issaku Saliah, the
former Hon Member of Parliament
(MP) for Wa East Constituency. He
died on Tuesday, 4th October, 2022, at
the 37 Military Hospital after he
suffered from a short illness. He is
survived by his kind-hearted wife, Hajia
Fati Issaku Saliah, and his four children.
His remains were flown to Wa, and has

Statements

since been buried in accordance with

Islamic practices.

Mr Speaker, the late Alhaji Issaku

Saliah was born on 15th June, 1952 in

Manwe in the Wa East District of the

Upper West Region of Ghana. He

attended the Ghana Institute of

Management and Public Administration

(GIMPA) where he pursued a Diploma

in Public Administration. He was also

awarded a Bachelor of Science Degree

in Political Science at the University of

Ghana, Legon.

Alhaji Issaku Saliah served

successfully in several administrative

and management roles for a long period.

From 1979 to 1981, he worked as an

administrator for the Navrongo District

Assembly. Between 1981 and 1985, he

served in the Coordinating Council of

the then Upper Region, and soon after,

worked as the Managing Director of the

Upper Quarry Ltd from 1985-1991.

Mr Speaker, Alhaji Saliah ventured into politics, and participated in the 1992 Parliamentary Elections. He was successful and became the Hon Member of Parliament (MP) in the First, Second and Third Parliaments under the Fourth Republic of Ghana. To the best of his ability, he well represented the good people of Wa East

Constituency from January 1993 to January 2005. While in Parliament, he served as the Chairperson of the Committee on Transportation and Communication, and the Committee on Food, Agriculture, and Cocoa Affairs from 1997 to 2001.

He also served as a member of some

other Committees which included: the Committee on Roads and Highways; the Committee on Environment, Science, and Technology; the Committee on Trade, Industry and Tourism, and the Committee on Local Government and Rural Development.

Mr Speaker, as an experienced

lawmaker, and a father figure with a calm demeanour, the late Alhaji Saliah was appointed to the notable position of the Upper West Regional Minister in 2010 during the Mills-Mahama Administration.

Alhaji Saliah was a devoted Muslim

who openly professed his faith and practised Islam in all his endeavours. He was the Chairman of the Hajj Board from 1993 to 2001, and it was during his tenure on the Board that most of the foundational management protocols were put in place, which resulted in the many successes recorded and still being recorded in the organisation of the annual pilgrimage to Mecca by Muslims.

Statements

Mr Speaker, in honouring the late

Hon Alhaji Issaku Saliah, permit me to

itemise one of his key values and

competences. One key value that

characterised him was his altruistic

streak, and peaceful nature which was

evident in his stand for unity in this

multi-cultural, and multi-religious

environment. He was a

great democrat and a nationalist who

devoted his life to serving his

country. His intelligence and deep

knowledge in governance can be seen in

some of his contributions on the floor of

Parliament.

For want of time, he was so

passionate about decentralisation and

about making transport available to the

people at the local communities

particularly the likes of where he came

from. Thus, in contributing to the

Sessional Address on 27th January,

1995, he said, and I quote:

“…So, we have to advocate decentralisation of government

transport organisations such as the

City Express, the Omnibus Service

Authority (OSA). It would lead to

improvement in management if the

decentralisation is done for the

District Assemblies and Municipal

and Metropolitan Assemblies to

operate these services. This could

also serve as a revenue base for the

Assemblies and bring increased

returns on the government

investments because these are

loans that are guaranteed by the

Government or are moneys that are

lent by Government to these

organisations which have to be

repaid. They can operate in such a

way as to be able to repay these

loans whiles making such transport

services available to the rural poor” [Col. 453 of the Hansard of 27th

The late Hon MP was very

concerned about road safety. His

passion about the welfare of the

citizenry could be seen in his speech

when he supported the Motion on the

Road Traffic (Amendment)

Regulations, 1995. On the day of the

debate, he had this to say and I quote:

“My other observation is that re- registration of vehicles will enable us to eradicate the wanton conversion of vehicles for purposes other for which they were originally registered. For example, the mini buses which we popularly call ‘Urvan buses' come in as vans for carting goods but they are converted and used to carry passengers. These vehicles are not normally reinforced especially for the carrying of

Statements

Mr Speaker, this is as relevant today

as it was in the days when he was here in Parliament.

Indeed, we have lost a legend whose

memory will leave a mark in the good annals of Ghana, especially, for the people of the Wa East Constituency, and the Upper West Region as a whole.

Mr Speaker, the 40-day adua for our

beloved former legislator is slated for 20th November, 2022, and all Hon Members are invited to join in praying for his departed soul.

May Allah subhanahu wa ta'la

Allah grant him Jannah tul Firdaus!

Mr Speaker, I thank you for the

opportunity.
rose
Mr First Deputy Speaker 10:52 a.m.
Yes,
Hon Member for Wa Central?
Dr Abdul Rashid Pelpuo (NDC— Wa Central) 11:12 a.m.
Mr Speaker, thank you
for the opportunity to contribute to this
Statement, recognising the former MP
for Wa East who was an Hon Member
of Parliament for Wa East from 1993 -
2005.
Mr Speaker, we knew this man not
just as an Hon Member of Parliament
for Wa East but also as an Hon Member
of Parliament unofficially for Wa
Central. In all his life, he stayed in Wa
Central and for every single time he
lived, whenever he came to stay at
home, the number of people who lined
up to see him were normally from Wa
Central. We knew him to be a very kind
and amiable gentleman who loved his
people and who committed his life to
serving them. As an Hon Member of
Parliament for Wa East, we saw him as
somebody who wanted to make a
difference and Wa East was normally
compared to Wa Central because of
what he brought into his leadership. He
was somebody who would go all length
to make sure the education of his people
was met; he was committed in helping

Statements

them to achieve the best of anything

they look for.

Mr Speaker, I know that in getting

water to Wa East, which was very

paramount during his time, he worked

so hard that he managed to secure

sources that were not necessarily

government sources to send water to

Wa East.

I recall that at the time when he

succeeded so well in doing what he

wanted to do, there were huge praises to

him and people were calling on other

Hon MPs to do the same.

Mr Speaker, in his life, he served

his people. He was so much respected

in the Muslim community that he was

made the Chairman of the Ghana Hajj

Board at a point, and he did so much

in that role. He served the people and

engineered for a lot of people to go on

the pilgrimage, supported them and

sometimes, paid for them himself.

Mr Speaker, in doing all this, he

earned a lot of respect for himself. In

the party he served, the National

Democratic Congress (NDC), he also

created a lot of value in getting

people to admire him and the party.

The Wa East Constituency is not

necessarily an NDC stronghold, but

because of him and everything he did,

he secured a lot of support for the

party in that Constituency and was

able to ensure victory upon victory

while he was the MP.

Mr Speaker, in his last days, I went

to visit him in his house, and I noticed

that his sickness was so serious that

he could no longer function fully as

the person we knew. It made me to

recognise the frailty of humans, and

as Shakespeare said:

“All the world's a stage,

And all the men and women

merely players;

They have their exits and

entrances…”

Mr Speaker, he came in at a time

when he was most needed and exited

when the need be, when the Great

Lord wanted him out of the scene.

We only pray for him and his family,

who have shown that they can

support a man to achieve his

objectives. I know that his wife, Hajia

Fati, was very much in support of

everything that he did, and his

children were also committed in

Statements

receiving everybody who went to

their home to look for him. We would

pray for them, and hope that the great

Lord will receive him at the best

place in heaven and Jannatul

Firdaus. When we all leave here and

go there one day, we would all have a

joyous meeting. Mr Speaker, we wish

him the best and pray for him.

Mr Andrew Dari Chiwitey

(NDC — Sawla/Tuna/Kalba): Mr Speaker, I thank you for the

opportunity to also add my voice to

the Statement ably made by my Hon

Colleague.

Mr Speaker, according to the

Statement, Alhaji Saliah was born in

a small village called Manwe.

Around the time that the late Hon

Member was the MP, I was also at the

Nusrat Jahan Training College in Wa.

We heard so much about the said Hon

Member. At that time, we were

young students, and we always

wished we would grow up to become

like him.

Mr Speaker, it does not really

matter where one is born, comes from

or the status of his or her parents; all

one needs to do as an individual is to

build his or her own capacities and

fight hard. The said Hon Member did

what he could, despite the fact that he

was born in a small village in the

Upper West Region. He did not just

serve the people of the Wa East

Constituency, but the people of the

Upper West and the Northern

Regions, as well as the people of

Ghana. Mr Speaker, all we can say is

that the good Lord should give him a

peaceful rest.

I thank you once again for allowing

me to speak to the Statement.

Mr Peter Lanchene Toobu

(NDC — Wa West): Mr Speaker, thank you very much for the

opportunity to contribute to this

Statement on the demise of Alhaji

Issaku Saliah, the former Hon MP for

Wa East and former Hon Regional

Minister for the Upper West Region.

Mr Speaker, the late Alhaji Issaku

Saliah was, indeed, a trailblazer when

it comes to multi-party democracy in

the Wa East Constituency. He was

the first MP of the Fourth Republic

and served from 1993 to 2005. Many

of the people in Manwe and beyond

describe his human skill as skill par

excellence. He was the kind of leader

who did not sit and direct; rather, he

ensured that he led to the end and

provided results.

Statements

As the Chairman of the Ghana Hajj

Board, there was not a single period of

time when he allowed people to go to

Mecca without his direct participation. He

led people to Mecca and brought them

back. What he believed was that if he was

providing leadership, he should always be

there from the beginning to the end. If you

go to Manwe, where I attended the three-

day dua, its people and that of the Wa

East Constituency are always full of

praise for his lifestyle, humble nature, and

approachability.

Mr Speaker, the integrity of Alhaji

Saliah is something young politicians

like us are trying very hard to take

after. For the 70-year-old Hon MP to

leave this world is quite painful for

his wife, Hajia Fati, and the children,

but they believe that what Allah has

given, Allah has taken. It is on this

note that all of us prayed earnestly

together in Manwe on the dua day

that Allah grant him Jannatul

Firdaus, and may we meet again one

day in heaven to congratulate Alhaji

Issaku. We came to this world to

contribute our quota to national

development, and Alhaji Issaku

Saliah played his role. The memories

are quite encouraging, and all of us

will continue to emulate the good part

of it and ensure that Ghana becomes

a better place and our democracy

continues to develop.

Mr Cletus Apul Avoka (NDC —

Zebilla): Mr Speaker, the late Hon

Alhaji Issaku Saliah was a perfect

gentleman and an astute politician.

Indeed, he was very quiet and

unassuming.

Mr Speaker, I was with him at

Navrongo Secondary School in the

late 1960s, and that was during the

formative period of our lives. After

Navrongo Secondary School, we

were mates at the University of

Ghana, Legon, where he majored in

Political Science while I did Political

Science as a minor course.

After our university education, we met

again at Bolgatanga. While he was in the

administration, I was with the Upper

Regional Development Corporation.

Subsequently, he became the Managing

Director of Upper Quarry Limited, a

company that was to produce quarry

products for the development of the

housing industry in the Upper East

Region, and I was the Board Chairman of

the quarry. Finally, we met here in

Parliament; he represented the Wa East

Constituency while I represented the

Zebilla Constituency.

Statements

We knew each other for a very

long time, and I am very sad that

Alhaji Saliah has died at this age

when he is neither too old nor too

young, and would have continued to

contribute to the development of this

country.

Mr Speaker, he was such an

unassuming fellow that if you did not

know him, you might have taken him

for granted, but he was sure of what

he did. He was competent in the

offices that he held. I was living with

him at Sakumono when we started

this august House. He was dedicated

to his constituency, and contributed

to the development of the Upper

West Region. It is no wonder he

became the Regional Minister for the

Upper West Region.

Mr Speaker, as the Hon Member for Wa East Constituency who read this Statement said, the late Hon Member contributed immensely to the development of Committees of this august House, particularly the Committees that he served on. He was very outstanding, outspoken, very knowledgeable and resourceful. It is this person we are paying tribute to today. I wish Alhaji Saliah were

still alive because he would have contributed a lot to the development of this country, against the background of the challenges we are facing in this country.

Mr Speaker, I convey my

condolences to the bereaved family, particularly his wife, Hajia Fati, who I know very well, the children, the constituents, the whole of the Upper West Region, the north, and mother Ghana as a whole.

May his soul rest in perfect peace.
Mr First Deputy Speaker 11:12 a.m.
Does
Leadership wish to comment?
Minority Chief Whip (Alhaji
Mohammed-Mubarak Muntaka):
Mr Speaker, I would like to add that this Hon Colleague of ours was not really known by most of the Hon Members in the Chamber today because of the attrition rates we have in the House. If an Hon Member serves for three terms, and in less than two decades, we have very few Hon Members in the Chamber who are familiar with him, then we know the kind of challenge that we have as a country.
Mr Speaker, he was a very calm
gentleman as has been restated. He

Statements

was very hardworking as we could

see; even as an MP, he still chaired

the Hajj Board, that organises Hajj.

There is a very sad part of his life that

I know of, and many of our Hon

Colleagues or former Hon

Colleagues are living it today; the

year before his death was a really

challenging one for the family.

Healthcare was a major challenge,

and you would not believe that a

former Hon MP who served for 12

years would go through the kind of

difficulties he went through.

Mr Speaker, this reminds me of

one of our former Hon Colleagues,

Mr Stephen Kwaku Balado Manu,

who said in this Chamber that a tomb

around New Edubiase has a writting

on it, “Yesterday, I was like you; tomorrow, you will be like me”. When we see former Hon MPs

growing wretched and having real

challenges with healthcare, we

should not just laugh and walk away,

because it is awaiting us.

I have said that if for nothing at all,

the least we can do as a Parliament is

to cater for the medication of former

Hon MPs and their spouses. They are

out there facing all these challenges;

they sometimes go round begging

like paupers, and we think that it

cannot happen to us. Some of them

might have even led a better life than

us in the Chamber today, but they are

confronted with this challenge. Mr

Speaker, we have to take steps to

formalise the healthcare issue for

former Hon MPs because I can assure

the House that he went through real

challenges before his demise.

Today, we pay tribute to him, and

the work that he has done for this

House and the country, but I can

assure you that during his most

difficult times, this House was not

there for him. If we do not take steps

to formalise these things, when it

happens to us tomorrow, definitely,

this House would not do it for us. I

think that as we pay tribute to the

dead, we should remember the living

and the former MPs who are

currently going through all manner of

challenges, especially with their

health. With our clinic and the

Parliamentary Service Board (PSB), I

am confident that we are capable of

providing, at least, healthcare for our

former Hon Colleagues and their

spouses.

Mr Speaker, on this note, I would

like to say that may Allah forgive

him; may Jannah be his final abode,

and may his family be strengthened

in these difficult times.

Statements

Mr Speaker, I thank you for the

opportunity to contribute to the

Statement.
Mr First Deputy Speaker 11:12 a.m.
Very
well. That brings us to the end of
Statements. I will revert to the item
numbered 5 — Urgent Questions for
the Hon Minister for Food and
Agriculture —
Alhaji Mohammed-Mubarak
Muntaka — rose —
Mr First Deputy Speaker 11:12 a.m.
Yes?
Alhaji Muntaka 11:12 a.m.
Mr Speaker,
before the Hon Minister for Food and
Agriculture comes to answer
Questions, you know our traditions.
Yes, I know he would start with the
three Urgent Questions. The other
Questions —
Mr First Deputy Speaker 11:12 a.m.
Hon
Minority Chief Whip, I am sorry.
Something is missing. It is our
practice that when we make a
Statement on a deceased Member, we
observe a minute's silence; that we
did not do so, Hon Members, shall we
observe a minute's silence in honour
of our deceased Hon Colleague.
Mr First Deputy Speaker 11:12 a.m.
Yes,
Hon Minority Chief Whip, can you
repeat what you said?
Alhaji Muntaka 11:12 a.m.
Mr Speaker, I
was drawing your attention to the
Questions advertised for the Hon
Minister for Food and Agriculture to
answer. Our practice is that Answers
to Urgent Questions are not
advertised, but for the Oral
Questions, which are about six, the
Answers were supposed to be
advertised. I am reliably informed by
the Clerks-at-the-Table that they
have been chasing the Hon Minister
since yesterday to get these Answers,
but they were not provided.
Mr Speaker, so, I would like to
plead with you that the Answers that
the Hon Minister has should be taken
from him while he answers the
Urgent Questions, so that it could be
run and distributed, so that we could,
at least, follow the Answers as he
reads them. Other than that, it would
be very difficult to follow the
Answers as he reads. We hope that
the Hon Minister will also take steps
to ensure that before he comes to

answer Questions, he would ensure

that his Ministry would do the right

thing.
Mr First Deputy Speaker 11:12 a.m.
Very
well. The Clerks-at-the-Table have
advised me that they have received
the Answers, and are already
processing it. Shall we please
proceed with the Urgent Questions
while they process an addendum to
the Order Paper?
The item numbered 5 — Urgent
Questions (a), stands in the name of
the Hon Member for Gomoa East, Mr
Desmond De-Graft Paitoo.
URGENT QUESTIONS 11:12 a.m.
MINISTRY OF FOOD AND 11:12 a.m.
AGRICULTURE 11:12 a.m.
Mr Paitoo 11:32 a.m.
Mr Speaker, I would
like to thank the Hon Minister for his

Urgent Questions

Answers that he has provided by

highlighting food accessibility,

availability, utilisation and stability.

However, in his presentation, he

made mention of food accessibility in

Accra. I would like to know from the

Hon Minister what is likely to be the

food accessibility in other parts of the

country. If the Hon Minister knows,

could he tell us something about it?
Dr Akoto 11:32 a.m.
Mr Speaker, I think the
problem is more acute in Accra and
that is why I mentioned Accra.
However, in places like Cape Coast,
Takoradi, Kumasi and to a lesser extent,
Tamale, the same phenomenon applies
and, as I said, I just came back from
five Regions in the southern forest
belt and it is very clear that there is a
lot of food, including the Nzema area.
However, in the cities, the Hon
Member for Bodi who is my good
Friend would attest to the fact that I
was in his town only last week — [Laughter]— the price of a bunch of plantain was only GH¢6 or GH¢7, yet
when it comes to the capital, Sefwi
Wiawso, it is GH¢12. Just from Bodi
to Sefwi Wiawso, the price doubles
and, of course, when it gets to Accra,
it is something else. The disparity
between prices in the producing areas
It is the same in Oti. I came back from
there on Sunday night. A tuber of
yam sells for GH¢6 in Dambai and in
Accra, GH¢24. These are the kinds of
disparities between food prices in the
producing areas and the big towns
and cities like Accra and Takoradi.
Mr Paitoo 11:32 a.m.
Mr Speaker, from Hon
Minister's answer, he mentioned the food prices in so many other places;
some being GH¢24, et cetera. Is it
likely that we would have a situation
of food insecurity that would
deteriorate in the country in future
and what does he have to say about
it?
Mr First Deputy Speaker 11:32 a.m.
Hon
Member, I am not sure I understood
your question. Can you please clarify
it?
Mr Paitoo 11:32 a.m.
Mr Speaker, per the
answer given by the Hon Minister on
price disparities, is it likely that we
would have food shortages in future?
Is the Hon Minister aware of that and
if he is, what measures has he taken
to prevent that before it gets out of
hand?
Mr First Deputy Speaker 11:32 a.m.
Hon
Member, your Question was on food
security and the Answer the Hon
Minister gave was to respond to that
Question. So, if there is any specific

Urgent Questions

area of clarity you want, kindly pick

it out otherwise, everything he has

said was an answer to the same

Question.
Mr Paitoo 11:32 a.m.
Mr Speaker, I think
the Hon Minister understands my
question so if you could kindly let
him answer it, it would be in my best
interest. I would like to hear the plans
he has to solve that.
Mr First Deputy Speaker 11:32 a.m.
Unfortunately, I have to admit the
question before he answers. The
question is a repetition of the
Question you asked which he has
answered. If you have no more
questions, allow other Hon Members
to ask their Questions. Hon Member,
are you done or do you have another
follow up question?
Mr Paitoo 11:32 a.m.
Mr Speaker, I am
done.
Mr First Deputy Speaker 11:32 a.m.
Thank
you very much.
Hon Member for Madina?
Mr Francis-Xavier Kojo Sosu 11:32 a.m.
Mr Speaker, thank you very much. I
am asking this question because of
the price disparity that the Hon
Minister alluded to. Indeed, when one
goes to Madina market and most of
the major markets around Madina,
prices of goods are really high. It is
really good and comforting to know
that in the producing communities,
prices are relatively low. So, what is
the Ministry doing to bridge this gap
between prices in the producing
communities and the cities?
Mr First Deputy Speaker 11:32 a.m.
Yes,
Hon Minister, did you hear his
question? Please answer.
Dr Akoto 11:32 a.m.
Mr Speaker, the
differences in the prices cannot be
accounted for, by transportation
because in each of the Regions I went
to, the presentation by the Regional
Directors of Agriculture on food
price analysis was consistently the
same. If we include transportation,
and handling of local collections to
Accra, we would consistently get
maybe one-third, whether it is maize,
soya, plantain, or yam. That is the
magnitude. So, transportation alone
cannot account for such a huge
doubling or tripling of the prices.
This is why the Ministry is taking the
suggestion of the Regional Director
for Western North that they should
help at the farm gate to collect the
produce and bring it to my office at

Urgent Questions

the Ministry of Food and Agriculture

for the civil servants to benefit from

the huge gap between the two. We are

actually taking this advice from them

and we are going to start next week to

experiment same to see how it goes.

Mr Emmanuel Armah-Kofi

Buah: Mr Speaker, thank you. In the

Hon Minister's Answer, it was very clear as he explained that the reasons

for the disparity in prices between the

urban centres, especially in Accra

and the producing areas, has to do

with the cost of fuel and

transportation. Well, that is probably

the reason. The Hon Minister did not

give us the reasons for the disparities

yet he said that it should be about

one-third. The Hon Minster for Food

and Agriculture has not told the

people of Ghana the reason for the

huge disparity. Can the Hon Minister

tell us the source of this big gap and

the reasons for this big disparity

between the production centres and

the cities?
Dr Akoto 11:42 a.m.
Mr Speaker, as I
mentioned, the costs which are taken
into account by the Regional
Directors in their calculations
between the centres of production
and places like Accra, Takoradi,
Cape Coast, Kumasi include
transportation cost. This is actually
charged by the transporters
themselves. We still have a disparity
of half to one-third difference
between the two locations. That is
something that we have to investigate
because the major items of cost have
to do with the local assemblage from
the farm gates into centres with
motorcycles and et cetera and then
the handling of the produce onto the
trucks to travel all the way to Accra,
Kumasi and Takoradi for it to be
discharged.

So, if we take account of all that,

we are saying that the price between

the farm gate and the big consuming

centres is about a half or less than

half.

Some are speculating that the

marketeers are making supernormal

profit. That is something that has to be

looked at, but we have not gone there.

What we are looking at is actual cost in

terms of the price breakdown between

the farm gate and the consuming centres

like Madina, Makola and so on. We

collect these prices all the time. Our

staff are always in the markets reporting

to us the retail prices that are pertaining

in these markets, compared to what is

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in the producing areas. So, the Hon

Member's guess is as good as mine. Some are saying it is the market

women who are making supernormal

profits and others are saying it is

traders.

However, I definitely know, with

this analysis, that it is not

transportation because transportation

is included in the calculations that my

regional directors of agriculture have

given me as the cost from the farm

gate all the way to Accra, and then

there is this huge difference in prices

when it gets to the retail level.
rose
Mr First Deputy Speaker 11:42 a.m.
Hon
Member for Bodi, Mr Sampson Ahi?
Some Hon Members — rose —
Mr First Deputy Speaker 11:42 a.m.
Hon
Members, I would give you all the
opportunity. Do not worry.
Mr Sampson Ahi 11:42 a.m.
Mr Speaker, the
Hon Minister for Food and Agriculture,
who said that I am his Friend, visited Bodi
recently, and in comparing the price
disparity at the villages and the urban
centres in Bodi and Wiawso, for instance,
he mentioned different sets of prices.
If we look at the cash crop sector,
with regard to cocoa, there is price
guarantee for cocoa farmers because
there is a regulatory body. So,
irrespective of where cocoa is
produced, the same price is applied.
Would the Ministry of Food and
Agriculture consider a mechanism
for food crop production with respect
to pricing so that wherever plantain,
yam, cassava or cocoyam is produced,
farmers can get price guarantee so that
they are not cheated, irrespective of the
environment that they find themselves
in?
Mr First Deputy Speaker 11:42 a.m.
Hon
Minister, did you hear the question? I
heard commentary. I am not sure
which question there was.
Mr Ahi 11:42 a.m.
Mr Speaker, I asked a
simple question which is, if we look
at the cocoa sector, because there is
price guarantee for cocoa farmers
irrespective of where cocoa is
produced, they are not cheated; it is
the same price.
I am asking the Hon Minister
whether his Ministry would consider
a price guarantee system for food

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crop production, so that plantain,

cassava or cocoyam when produced,

irrespective of where they are

produced, the farmers would benefit

from this concept of price guarantee.
Dr Akoto 11:42 a.m.
Mr Speaker, I know
that my Hon Friend has a very soft
spot for me. His suggestion is a
brilliant one, and would be
considered.
Mr Williams Okofo-Dateh 11:42 a.m.
Mr
Speaker, I just want to know from the
Hon Minister - He only cited a tuber
of yam as being priced at GH¢6 at the
farmers' end, and GH¢25 in the city.
He also said he has gone round all the
regions. I would want to know what
kind of foodstuffs he would bring to
his office to sell because he said he
would set up a market centre in his
office.
Mr First Deputy Speaker 11:42 a.m.
Hon
Member, your question must relate to
the answer. This should be done
outside Parliament.
Yes, Hon Member for Asunafo
South, Mr Eric Opoku?
Mr Eric Opoku 11:42 a.m.
Mr Speaker, this
is a very important question for all of
us because it borders on food security.
In the Hon Minister's Answer, he
indicated that food security means the
availability of food, affordability and so
on. My interest is in availability and
affordability. The Hon Minister cited
examples using plantains and yams.
These are food crops that are produced
seasonally, and the problem we have is
that we do not have storage facilities to
store some of these produce.
When we talk about food security
and availability, we are looking at
sufficiency, affordability and so on. If
in this season, we have plantains in
abundance, what is the guarantee that
in the lean season, we are going to
have the same plantains?
That is why I am saying that it is
important because —
Mr First Deputy Speaker 11:42 a.m.
Hon
Member, you are now making
arguments. Kindly ask your question —
Mr Emmanuel Armah-Kofi
Buah and Mr Ahi: Mr Speaker, he is
laying the foundation to ask the
question.

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Mr Eric Opoku 11:42 a.m.
Mr Speaker,
what — [Interruption]. For food security, we are looking at
availability and affordability at all
times, and that is why I am asking the
Hon Minister what specific
mechanisms his Ministry has taken to
ensure availability and affordability
of food in Ghana throughout the year.
As we speak, we spend a
whopping US$2 billion on the import
of food into this country —
Mr First Deputy Speaker 11:42 a.m.
Hon
Ranking Member for the Committee
on Food, Agriculture and Cocoa
Affairs, the Question the Hon
Minister was to answer was 11:42 a.m.
“To ask the Minister for Food and Agriculture measures the Ministry
intends to adopt or has adopted to
improve on food security in the
country.”
How is that different from the
question you are asking? All he read
included warehousing — I listened to
all that. You were probably not
paying attention, but your question
has been answered.
Yes, Hon Member for Krachi
West, Ms Ntoso?
Ms Helen Adjoa Ntoso 11:42 a.m.
Mr
Speaker, I heard the Hon Minister
say that a tuber of yam costs GH¢6 at
Dambai; I returned from the
constituency just last week. May I
know from the Hon Minister what
size of yam he is talking about?
Mr First Deputy Speaker 11:42 a.m.
Hon
Minister, what size of yam is GH¢6?
Dr Akoto 11:42 a.m.
Mr Speaker, I know
that the Hon Member of Parliament
cuts very close to the area of Dambai,
so she should know the size of the
yam. It is average-sized, and if she
asks me what an average-sized yam
is, I would have to go and weigh
samples of various sizes to be able to
tell her the kilogram for medium,
small and large sizes, so I cannot
answer the question.
Some Hon Members — rose -
Mr First Deputy Speaker 11:42 a.m.
Yes,
Hon Member for Wa East, Mr Jasaw?
Mr Eric Afful 11:42 a.m.
Mr Speaker —
Mr First Deputy Speaker 11:42 a.m.
Hon
Member, I mentioned the name of the
Hon Member for Wa East. Mr Afful
moved from where he was sitting,
and that is why I did not recognise

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him. I thought I would come to him

but he was not there.

Yes, Hon Member for Wa East?
Dr Godfred Seidu Jasaw 11:52 a.m.
Mr
Speaker, the Hon Minister, in his
response said so much on availability,
accessibility and utilisation.

Earlier this year in March, the Hon

Minister was in this House to give

responses to Questions about

challenges with input availability,

particularly, fertilisers. He was in this

House again in July and complained

same about payment of fertiliser

suppliers et cetera. This presupposes

that the inputs in crop production was

challenged. How has that impacted

food security at the moment?
Dr Akoto 11:52 a.m.
Mr Speaker, thank you
very much for the opportunity to
answer the Hon Member's question.
We all know that Ghana does not
produce inorganic fertiliser, so we
rely on the import market, and we
know the disturbances that have been
called to the global market of
inorganic fertiliser, especially the
NPKs. What this Ministry is doing is
to encourage the application of
organic fertiliser like poultry
droppings and animal droppings
mixed with other things for the
farmers to spread under their crops. I
am glad to say that the data that I have
collected on my very recent tour to
five (5) regions clearly shows that
farmers are responding very swiftly
to the adaptation of organic fertiliser,
be it chemical, spray, capsules et
cetera. The quantity of organic
fertiliser farmers have applied in this
year far exceeds those of previous
years, in some cases, by a magnitude
of five to 10 times, and that is very
encouraging. So, that is the way we
are handling the global shortage of
inorganic fertiliser.
Mr First Deputy Speaker 11:52 a.m.
Yes,
Hon Member for Amenfi West?
Mr Eric Afful 11:52 a.m.
Mr Speaker, my
question to the Hon Minister is
simple. He has admitted that the
traders are making super-normal
profits, which is intentional. So as a
sector Minister who represents the
Government, what is he doing about
this within the chain of distribution of
the food products in the country?
Dr Akoto 11:52 a.m.
Mr Speaker, I am
seriously being misquoted. I did not

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say “speculation”; I said that when one takes the actual cost from the

farm gate, how much a farmer is paid,

the collection, transportation,

handling, packing and transportation

to Accra, Tamale or Takoradi, the

figure they get is multiples of what

retailers are paying, and there are

speculation that it could be due to

some traders making super-normal

profits; that was what I said. So, it is

a misquotation to say that I have

pointed accusing fingers to anyone. It

is something that has been

investigated, but in terms of price

formation analysis, there is nothing to

justify the doubling or tripling of

retail prices of food in the major

cities.

Mr Eric Afful — rose —
Mr First Deputy Speaker 11:52 a.m.
No,
Hon Member for Amenfi West. You
are done. Kindly take your seat.
Yes, Hon Member for Kintampo
North?
Mr Joseph K. Kumah 11:52 a.m.
Mr
Speaker, my question is on the
irrigation projects that Government is
putting in place. Could the Hon
Minister give us the regional
breakdown of the irrigation facilities
they are putting up?
Mr First Deputy Speaker 11:52 a.m.
Hon
Member, the regional breakdown of
what facilities?
Mr J. K. Kumah 11:52 a.m.
Mr Speaker,
the Hon Minister mentioned in his
answer that Government is putting up
irrigation facilities and some are 70 to
100 per cent complete. So, could he
give us the regional breakdown and
locations of those irrigation
facilities?
Mr First Deputy Speaker 11:52 a.m.
Hon
Member, I suggest that you file your
own Question. As for details as a
follow-up question, it is outside a
follow-up question.
Mr Emmanuel Bedzrah — rose —
Mr First Deputy Speaker 11:52 a.m.
Yes,
available Leader?
Mr Emmanuel K. Bedzrah 11:52 a.m.
Mr
Speaker, in the Hon Minister's Answer to the substantive Question,
he mentioned that there was
speculation of super-normal profit by
traders. I would like to find out from
the Hon Minister what measures he is
taking as part of intersectoral

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collaboration for us to get the prices

down.
Dr Akoto 11:52 a.m.
Mr Speaker, there is
another Hon Friend asking a
question; I have got a lot of friends
from the other Side. I did not put my
finger on it that it is a speculation. I
said that the elements which form the
price are about six variables. If one
puts all together, one comes to a
figure which should be the figure that
retailers should be paying, but they
are paying twice or sometimes, three
times that figure. So, it is something
that we need to look at because we
have to get to the bottom of it.
Some are saying it is the bad roads
and high fuel prices et cetera, but the
price that the transporters charge
includes everything; their risk, spare
parts et cetera, so, that cannot explain
this huge increase. Definitely, we
know from my very recent visit — this time last week, I was in the bush
talking to farmers and other
stakeholders, and it is clear that there
is a huge gap which is unusually high.
Consumers are paying unusually high
prices for the food, considering what
is paid to the farmers. So, it is
something that we have to look at,
and we are going to look at it to see
what we can do. However, in the
meantime, we are using our facilities
at the Ministry as a point of market,
so that plantain from Bodi can come
to the Ministry of Food and
Agriculture and then it would be
charged at the price as we know it
should be, and that should be what we
want to do.
Mr First Deputy Speaker 11:52 a.m.
Very
well. I would move on to the
Question numbered 5(b) which is in
the name of the Hon Member for
Keta, Mr Kwame Dzudzorli Gakpey.
Measures to Avert Bacterial Black
Spot (BBS) Disease
Mr Kwame Dzudzorli Gakpey
(NDC — Keta): Mr Speaker, I rise to ask the Minister for Food and
Agriculture what measures the
Ministry is instituting to avert the
Bacterial Black Spot (BBS) Disease
affecting mango farmers and thereby
forcing them out of business.
Dr Akoto 12:02 p.m.
Mr Speaker, the BBS,
as we call it in the trade, Bacterial
Black Spot, is caused by a bacterium
known as Xanthomonas campestris
pv. mangiferae-indicae. The BBS has
remained one of the most destructive
diseases of mango worldwide. The
bacterium is present on mango trees

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and enter into fruits through holes

called nentipox.

The disease pathogens are

dispersed by infected planting

materials, infected trucks with the

disease organisms on farms, infected

mango leaves used to line the inside

of trails, infected trails, wind-driven

infected drains, rain drops, infected

pruning tools, man and animal, hands

and clothing if infected, irrigation

water and all water used for mixing

chemicals if contaminated with the

bacterium, contact between the

canopy and foliage of trees or where

there is tree-to-tree contact, natural

openings on leaves stomata and fruit

lenticles, exposed leaves and fruit

surfaces.

Mr Speaker, the management of

BBS instituted by the Ministry of

Food and Agriculture aims at, among

other things, encouraging good

cultural practices such as orchid

sanitation and pruning to reduce

inoculum levels of the bacteria,

encouraging and creating awareness

on area-wide disease management in

mango farms, using healthy planting

materials from nurseries, purchasing

all seedlings from certified nursery

dealers and ensuring that the dealer is

aware of the BBS nursery

management procedure.

Others include, encouraging

farmers to use recommended copper-

based fungicides after pruning; the

application of copper plus mancozeb

sprays to ensure that all wounds and

crevices are covered; pruning after

harvest, and a spray regime of two or

three weeks interval to effectively

reduce the incidence of BBS; regular

scouting for early detection, and,

finally, application of one or two

post-harvest copper sprays to cover

the post-harvest splash and tail end of

the rainy season for effective

reduction in the inoculum pressure

the following season.

Mr Speaker, the Ministry would

increase farmer awareness of BBS; equip

farmers, extension agents, quarantine

officers, and plant doctors for early

detection and effective management of

the disease. Our strategy would include

carrying out trials in selected farmer

mango fields with some of the registered

fungicides to confirm the efficacy of the

fungicides to other farmers. Training

manuals would also be developed to

improve extension services delivery as

part of the management of the

disease.

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Mr Speaker, lastly, regular monitoring

of the disease would be ensured to

manage and effectively control the

spread on mango farms.

Mr Speaker, I thank you.
Mr First Deputy Speaker 12:02 p.m.
Hon
Member, please ask your follow-up
question.
Mr Gakpey 12:02 p.m.
Mr Speaker, because
the disease actually swept through
mango farms causing farmers to lose
their mangoes, I would like to find
out from the Hon Minister, if there is
any initiative or package put in place
by the Ministry in terms of
compensation to farmers whose
mangoes were lost to the disease?
Dr Akoto 12:02 p.m.
Mr Speaker, if every
farmer were to be compensated for
the loss of crop because of diseases,
then the whole budget of the
Government of Ghana would be
spent on farmers. It is not a policy of
this Government to compensate
farmers for loss of crops because of
the practices they carry out. So, there
is no intention on the part of this
Government to compensate farmers
for the loss of mangoes due to BBS.
Mr Gakpey 12:02 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I would
like to find out from the Hon Minister
what measures the Ministry has put in
place in terms of certifying seedlings.
Is there any research going on in
terms of seedlings that would be
resistant to this disease? Is there any
on-going research to come up with
hybrid mango seedlings that would
be resistant to BBS?
Dr Akoto 12:02 p.m.
Mr Speaker, this is for
the area of research, and research on
crops and other agricultural products
is in the jurisdiction of the Ministry
of Environment, Science,
Technology and Innovation. They are
in charge of the operations of the
Council for Scientific and Industrial
Research (CSIR) in the country and I
am sure that the disease is causing
enough loss to farmers for the
scientists at the CSIR to investigate
and come up with trees that are
resistant to BBS.
However, as I indicated earlier, it
is a global phenomenon. The disease
does not affect only tropical areas; it
affects farmers all over the world and
I am sure of some scientists somewhere,
I am not aware if those here in Ghana

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are working to get a variety which

would be resistant and which would

help farmers in Ghana as well.
Mr First Deputy Speaker 12:02 p.m.
Hon
Member, you have one more
opportunity.
Mr Gakpey 12:02 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I would
like to find out from the Hon
Minister, what steps are being taken
in terms of educating farmers as well
as producers. Are there any steps, by
the way?
Dr Akoto 12:02 p.m.
Mr Speaker, the
Ministry is very much aware of the
damage the BBS is causing,
especially in the enclave of Krobo
and some areas in the Bono and Bono
East Regions, and it is a big concern.
Of course, our extension officers are
working along with the farmers to
carry out these processes that I have
mentioned in terms of spraying, the
time of spraying, the frequency of
spraying, the type of chemicals to use
and all of that. Our extension officers
are working alongside the farmers to
ensure that the damage done by the
BBS is reduced to the minimum.
Mr Emmanuel Kwasi Bedzrah 12:02 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I would like to find out
from the Hon Minister if the
Government, apart from the support
given to these farmers, is also giving
them any financial support for the
losses they have incurred so far?
Dr Akoto 12:02 p.m.
Mr Speaker, not at the
moment. In fact, the last time I met
with the Growers' Association, they
were suggesting that the Government
subsidises the chemical but the
discussion has not concluded. It is
something that is being looked at.
Mr Vincent Ekow Assafuah 12:02 p.m.
Mr
Speaker, in March, 2022, the West
African Competitiveness Programme
(WACOMP) supported the
Government of Ghana to train about
20 Agricultural officers and 48
mango farmers in the Shai-Osudoku
District. This was geared towards
educating farmers on plant disease
control and safe handling of
agrochemicals. I would like to find
out from the Hon Minister if the
Ministry has any intention of
replicating this in other districts.
Dr Akoto 12:02 p.m.
Mr Speaker, we do in-
house training for our extension
officers, district directors of
agriculture, regional directors as well
as directors at the headquarters. It is

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human capacity building, and it is

part of our schedule to ensure that the

experts working in the Ministry are

uptodate with modern practices, so, it

is very much part of it.

Mr Eric Opoku — rose —
Mr First Deputy Speaker 12:02 p.m.
Yes,
Hon Ranking Member for Food,
Agriculture and Cocoa Affairs
Committee, please ask a question, do
not make a comment.
Mr Eric Opoku 12:12 p.m.
Mr Speaker,
could the Hon Minister share with us
the number of farmers who have been
affected, and losses occasioned by
the outbreak of the disease?
Mr First Deputy Speaker 12:12 p.m.
Hon
Minister, do you have that data?
Dr Akoto 12:12 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I do not have
the answer. Thank you. — [Laughter] —
Mr First Deputy Speaker 12:12 p.m.
He is
experienced enough to know that
such details must be asked for,
specifically. I think you have had one
opportunity, so if there is no other
person, I would move on to the
Question numbered 5(c).
Hon Member for Ejura-
Sekyedumase, you may ask your
Question now.
Mr Kofi Iddie Adams 12:12 p.m.
Mr
Speaker, I have the permission of the
Hon Member to ask his Question, and
I seek your leave to do so.
Mr First Deputy Speaker 12:12 p.m.
Very
well. You may proceed.
Steps to Bring Down the High
Cost of Food Production
Mr Kofi Iddie Adams (on behalf of
Mr Muhammed Bawah Braimah)
(NDC — Ejura-Sekyedumase): I beg
to ask the Hon Minister for Food and
Agriculture what steps the Ministry is
taking to bring down the high cost of
food production in order to avert food
shortages in the country.
Dr Akoto 12:12 p.m.
Mr Speaker, we have
spent enough time this morning
talking about price formation and the
cost elements which go into the
determination of prices, and the gap
that has widened between prices in
the producing areas and in the urban
centres. I am sure that the Hon
Member was very much part of the
discussion.

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Admittedly, there has been

significant increase in the cost of

food production in recent times. This

has culminated in high food prices in

our markets during the 2021/2022

Season. The main factors accounting

for the high cost of food production

are global inflation, and its impact on

imported inputs such as fertilisers,

seeds, weedicides, et cetera. Another

major factor, the Russian-Ukraine

conflict, has contributed to the trend

of rising prices of inputs, which

started at the peak of the COVID-19

Pandemic in the year 2020.

Mr Speaker, prices of inorganic

fertilisers, for instance, has hiked

over 300 per cent on the local market

during the period mentioned. It is

important to emphasise that almost

all the inorganic fertilisers used in

Ghana are imported. It is worth

noting that prices of fertilisers have

increased significantly due to the

destruction of supply chains, high

freight charges, and global inflation.

Substantial increases in prices of

inputs, in most cases, is beyond the

reach of majority smallholder

farmers, raising concerns about

projection for food crops under the

Planting for Food and Jobs (PFJ). The

Ministry is deeply concerned about

this development, and is taking steps

to mitigate the impact on food

production. The following are some

of the measures:

(1) In the 2022 cropping season,

farm inputs such as improved

seeds and fertilizers have been

sold to smallholder famers at

subsidised prices under the

PFJ. Interested farmers have

accessed these subsidy inputs

at various retail outlets.

(2) Provision of pesticides for the

control of fall armyworm. One

of the most destructive pests

threatening the cultivation of

maize in Ghana is the fall

armyworm pest. Maize

farmers have had to spray their

crops three or four times

within the production cycle of

90 days to avert significant

losses, and this comes as an

additional cost to the farmer.

Consequently, the Ministry of

Food and Agriculture (MOFA)

has, since 2017, procured and

distributed pesticides to farmers

free of charge to control the

ravaging effects of fall

armyworm. The intervention has

ensured stability in the production

of maize till date.

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(3) Provision of extension services

to farmers. Through agriculture

extension agents, farmers

across the country are exposed

to improved agriculture

technology such as row

planting, improved seeds,

hybrid seeds, maize seeds, and

fertilizers. These technologies

have helped farmers a great

deal by enhancing crop

productivity and making

farming profitable.

Mr Speaker, in a significant way,

the interventions mentioned above

have helped to minimise the adverse

impact of the external shocks on

production cost of farming in Ghana.

These have mitigated the threat to

food insecurity.
Mr Adams 12:12 p.m.
Mr Speaker, the Hon
Minister, in his Answer, indicates
global inflation, which has impacted
on the price of inputs. Is the Hon
Minister considering reviewing the
40 per cent subsidy on agriculture
machinery, which is one of the costs
associated with agriculture input,
back to the 60 per cent as it used to be
prior to 2017?
Dr Akoto 12:12 p.m.
Mr Speaker, 40 per
cent subsidy is quite substantial.
There are two countries that we have
a relationship with when it comes to
the supply of farm machinery. One is
Brazil and the other, India. The
Indian Facility is yet to kick in. We
have just taken delivery of the last
batch of machinery from Brazil,
which is based on a US$95million
loan that we have taken from the
Brazilian Government. The
machinery has been delivered in three
tranches. The last tranch is moving
the machinery from the port, which is
being done as we speak. So, we have
to pay back these sums of money, and
we think that 40 per cent is quite
generous. In some cases, when it
comes to power tillers, landing one
unit of power tiller at the Tema Port
is over a GH¢100,000, but we
dropped the price steadily to only
GH¢18,000. We could not have had
it better than that. That is nearly 82
per cent subsidy. So, where we feel
there is a need to drop the price, we
go to Cabinet to get permission to do
so, but as we speak, the standard is 40
per cent, and we have no intention of
reducing it any further.
Mr Adams 12:12 p.m.
Mr Speaker, the Hon
Minister talked about the supply of
subsidised inputs to smallholder
farmers in the 2022 Crop Season, but
these inputs seem not to be available

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to the farmers who need it the most.

Could the Hon Minister give

indication to the House as regards

what other measures he is putting in

place to make sure that these inputs

get to the farmers who need it the

most?
Dr Akoto 12:22 p.m.
Mr Speaker, we have
tried all kinds of methods. Farmer
groups and commercial farmers are
given the opportunity to own these
machineries. Indeed, some District
Assemblies have benefitted. In the
year 2018, we gave 31 District
Assemblies the Agricultural
Mechanisation Centres (AMSECs),
and we were expecting them to pay.
Till today, not a penny has been paid
by the District Assemblies, and as I
said, this is a loan that the people of
Brazil have given to the people of
Ghana, and we have to pay back. So,
we are limited in terms of the target
groups that we can give these
facilities to. They need to have the
capacity to pay back so that the
Government of Ghana can honour its
obligations through his foreign
partners.

So that is a very important

arrangement. The Ministry's budget

is not limitless so, we have a limited

amount of money that we use to run

the Ministry well and it cannot be that

every farmer can receive a machinery

service. We do not have enough

money to import and we do not

manufacture the major machineries

like tractors, powered tailors and so

on in Ghana.

We have to import them so, we are

doing the best we can and we are

reaching as many farmers as we can

so long as they come in groups

registered through the Ministry, the

Directorate, the District Directors of

Agriculture and the Regional

Directors, and then referred to us with

their recommendation, we would

look at the applications.

Mr Speaker, thank you.

Mr Kofi Iddie Adams — rose—
Mr First Deputy Speaker 12:22 p.m.
Hon
Member, you have done your three
post questions.
You have done two. Very well,
take your last question.
Mr Adams 12:22 p.m.
Mr Speaker, thank
you very much. My last question was
actually to do with inputs like

Urgent Questions

fertilizer, seeds and what have you

but the Minister was talking about

machinery and I thought he would

even say something about the farmer

service centers. Even if everybody

cannot acquire some, what is the

Ministry doing about the farmer

service center? But I would like to

find out about the inputs especially

about fertilizer, are the donkeys still

smuggling the fertilizer out of the

country or it is being kept here to be

Mr Speaker, thank you.
Mr First Deputy Speaker 12:22 p.m.
Yes,
Hon Minister, what is it about
“donkeys” and “smuggling”?
Dr Akoto 12:22 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I would
like to ask the Hon Member to come
again with his question because I do
not understand his question.
Mr First Deputy Speaker 12:22 p.m.
Yes,
Hon Member, what exactly do you
mean by “donkeys smuggling”?
Mr Adams 12:22 p.m.
Mr Speaker, it has
been reported that the Hon Minister
for Food and Agriculture alleged that
donkeys are involved in —
Mr First Deputy Speaker 12:22 p.m.
Hon
Member, you know that there are
languages that are not admissible in
the House. I thought it was a term of
art that is why I allowed the Question
but please reframe your question.
Mr Adams 12:22 p.m.
Mr Speaker, no! That
donkeys are means of transporting
fertilizer and that nobody follows
them, they know the — so I am only asking whether —
Mr First Deputy Speaker 12:22 p.m.
Hon
Member, you said it was reported, if
it was brought here, we will use it
here but, if it is reported, I will not
admit it here. So, I said, reframe your
question please.
Mr Adams 12:22 p.m.
Well, Mr Speaker, it
is reported that the Minister appeared
before the Committee and gave this
indication that — Public Accounts Committee — and I am a member so when he appeared there, we asked
him that question so I am asking
whether the donkeys are still
involved in the smuggling of
fertilizer —
Mr First Deputy Speaker 12:22 p.m.
Anybody else to ask a question?
Some Hon Members — rose —

Urgent Questions
Mr First Deputy Speaker 12:22 p.m.
Yes,
Hon Member for Afadzato South?
Mrs Angela Oforiwa Alorwu -
Tay: Mr Speaker, thank you for the
opportunity.
Mr Speaker, in the Hon Minister's
response to one of the Questions
asked by Mr Adams, he answered
that Government has no intention of
reducing the subsidy on fertilizer or
general equipment. Hon Minister, are
you happy to tell us that Government
has no intention?
Also, we expect you or I
personally expect you to come here to
say that you would continue to push
— my last question to you: Are you
satisfied with your performance as a
Minister for Food and Agriculture?
Mr First Deputy Speaker 12:22 p.m.
Hon
Member, do you have another
Question? You know that questions
are supposed to — well it appears that
you have to mend the rules a little
more. It may take some time to
recognise you again.
Several Members — rose —
Mr First Deputy Speaker 12:22 p.m.
Yes,
Hon Second Majority Whip?
Ms Lydia Seyram Alhassan 12:22 p.m.
Mr
Speaker, there is a practice in this
House that if you are not available to
ask your own Question, it is only the
person who asked the Question —
No, it is that no other person, apart
from the one who asked the question
on behalf of the original proponent of
the Question can vary the practice.
There is the practice, I have been in
this House long enough to know that
there is that practice. The Hon
Member has asked his Question and I
think we should continue with the
next Question.
Mr First Deputy Speaker 12:22 p.m.
It is
all right. The request is brought to my
attention, Hon Leader, the rule is that
when a Question is a constituency
specific Question, then we do not
allow people from outside the
constituency to do follow up but
these are general Questions so the
practice is to allow a number of
Members to contribute.
Yes, Mr Patrick Yaw Boamah?
Mr Patrick Yaw Boamah 12:22 p.m.
Mr
Speaker, thank you.

Urgent Questions

Kindly, may I refer you to

Standing Order 67(i), which reads:

67(i) “a Question shall not be asked on the character or conduct

of persons whose conduct may

only be challenged on a

substantive motion;”

Mr Speaker, my Hon Colleague,

Mrs Angela Oforiwa Alorwu-Tay is

seeking to know from the Hon

Minister if his performance as a

Minister — which is totally unrelated to the Question that was admitted.

Mr Speaker, if I may finish, you

asked my Hon Colleague to resume

her seat, this Question has to be

withdrawn and expunged from the

records because it has no correlation

with the Question that the Hon

Minister is on the Floor to answer.

Several Hon Members — rose—
Mr First Deputy Speaker 12:22 p.m.
Thank
you, Hon Member, that is why I
overruled that question. I declined to
admit it because it is not a question
that would be in the records.
I will give the last opportunity to
Mr Godfred Jasaw and then I will
move on.
Yes, Hon Member for Wa East?
Mr Godfred Jasaw 12:22 p.m.
Mr Speaker,
thank you very much. The Hon
Minister in his response, mentioned
as part of the measures to reduce the
cost of production, subsidies that
have been given to inputs, i.e to
improve seeds and fertilizers. Hon
Minister, the percentage of subsidy
appears to be varying on our records.
What is the exact subsidy percentage
that you granted for fertilizer and
improved seeds as inputs?
Mr First Deputy Speaker 12:22 p.m.
Hon
Member, where does this come in?
As a follow up to —
Mr Jasaw 12:22 p.m.
Mr Speaker, it does —
Mr First Deputy Speaker 12:22 p.m.
Can I
repeat that Question before you
answer my question?
Mr Jasaw 12:22 p.m.
Yes.
Mr First Deputy Speaker 12:22 p.m.
The
Question is “To ask the Minister for
Food and Agriculture what steps the
Ministry is taking to bring down the
high cost of food production in order
to avert food shortages in the
country”. If you have any question, it
should be related to the answer

Urgent Questions

emanating from this one, but not on

any other.
Mr Jasaw 12:22 p.m.
Mr Speaker, that is
exactly so, the Minister in his
response, mentioned subsidies to
inputs as part of the measures that he
has put in place to reduce the cost of
production. So, my question is, what
is the exact percentage of the subsidy
that was offered for improved seeds
and fertilizer for this year?
Mr First Deputy Speaker 12:22 p.m.
Hon
Minister, do you have the
percentage?
Dr Akoto 12:22 p.m.
Mr Speaker, the
subsidies range from 15 - 90 percent
depending upon the import, so it is
difficult for me to go through all the
imports. I do not have the figures
with me here.
Mr Suhyini Alhasssan Sayibu —
rose —
Mr First Deputy Speaker 12:22 p.m.
Very
well.
Who? Alright, I think your beard
and your hat — Well, I said I will
give the last one to Jasaw but, I will
listen to you.
Yes, Hon Member for Tamale
North?
Mr Suhyini Alhasssan Sayibu 12:32 p.m.
Mr Speaker, thank you for the
opportunity.
I wish to find this out from the
Hon Minister. Given the nature of
the Question, which was a double-
barrelled one, I would want to know
the specific steps the Ministry has
taken in consultation with extension
officers and the CSIR in ensuring that
the cost of production, as the
Question stipulated, is reduced for
farmers. Also, on food security, I
would like to find out from the Hon
Minister the specific role —
Mr First Deputy Speaker 12:32 p.m.
Hon
Member, you are entitled to one
supplementary question —
Mr Sayibu 12:32 p.m.
Mr Speaker, it is the
nature of the Question and the Hon
Minister's Answer —
Mr First Deputy Speaker 12:32 p.m.
You
are entitled to one question. So,
choose which one you wish to ask.

Urgent Questions
Mr Sayibu 12:32 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I would
like to find out the specific steps and
the specific role — with steps, I would like to find out the specific
steps that the Ministry has taken with
extension officers and the CSIR to
reduce cost of production and the
specific role of the National Food
Buffer Stock Company in ensuring
that prices are stabilised as the vision
behind the establishment of the
National Food Buffer Stock
Company.
Mr First Deputy Speaker 12:32 p.m.
Hon
Minister, what specific steps have
you taken with extension officers to
reduce production cost?
Dr Akoto 12:32 p.m.
Mr Speaker, there are
no steps taken for extension officers
and CSIR to reduce cost of
production. CSIR is under a different
Ministry — they come under the Ministry of Environment, Science,
Technology and Innovation. We do
not have any collaboration with them
in the field as far as the farmer is
concerned. What we take from them
are the products of their research to
improve productivity on the farm,
and the extension officer is supposed
to work with the farmer in that
regard. That is what I can tell the Hon
Member of Parliament.
When it comes to the second part
of the question, which is — I think there were two questions - the National Food Buffer Stock
Company. The National Food Buffer
Stock Company is not in the business
of buying — at the moment, they are limited to buying for the School
Feeding Programme. Their activity in
terms of intervening in the market
will be taken up by the Grains
Development Authority, who Bill is
before this Parliament for
consideration.
Mr Speaker, I thank you.
Mr First Deputy Speaker 12:32 p.m.
Thank
you very much, Hon Minister. We are
done with the Urgent Questions. We
will move on to — but before I move on to Question numbered 942, kindly
permit me to suspend the House for
five minutes. I will revert.
12.36 p.m. — Sitting suspended.
12.40 p.m. — Sitting resumed.
Mr First Deputy Speaker 12:32 p.m.
Hon
Members, thank you for your patience.
We will now move on to the item
numbered 6: Questions. The first one,
that is the Question numbered 942, it
stands in the name of the Hon

Member for Prestea-Huni-Valley,

Mr Robert Wisdom Cudjoe.
ORAL ANSWERS TO 12:32 p.m.
QUESTIONS 12:32 p.m.
MINISTRY OF FOOD AND 12:32 p.m.
AGRICULTURE 12:32 p.m.
Mr R. W. Cudjoe 12:42 p.m.
Mr Speaker,
the Hon Minister mentioned extreme
dry weather conditions, unfavourable
prices, and COVID-19 as the various
reasons they were not able to raise
enough collateral to access the
facility. I would like the Hon Minister
to also tell us the steps he is taking to
resolve the issue of late supply of
fertiliser to farmers. This year, for
instance, fertilisers arrived around the
end of September and the beginning
of October.
Mr First Deputy Speaker 12:42 p.m.
Hon
Member, could you repeat the
question?
Mr R. W. Cudjoe 12:42 p.m.
Mr Speaker,
the Hon Minister mentioned extreme
dry weather conditions, unfavourable
prices, and COVID-19 as the various
reasons they were not able to raise
enough collateral to access the
facility, so I would like to ask him
what steps he is also taking to address
the issue of late supply of fertiliser
and other inputs to cocoa farmers as
this year, cocoa farmers received
fertilisers around the end of
September and the beginning of
October.
Dr Akoto 12:42 p.m.
Mr Speaker, as the Hon
Member for Prestea/Huni-Valley

Oral Answers to Questions

knows, there has been severe

disruption to global trade because of

the Russia-Ukraine War; Russia and

Ukraine are major suppliers of these

fertilisers to our country. Therefore,

the delay was precisely because of

the distraction to the global trade. It is

not only Ghana; every country

around the globe experienced some

delay in the delivery. What is

happening here is precisely because

of the disruption in international

trade. This is why this year, there was

this slight delay in delivering

fertilisers to farmers.
Mr R. W. Cudjoe 12:42 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I
would like to know how much it cost
COCOBOD, in terms of payment of
fees and charges, for the period that
they were not able to access the
funds.
Dr Akoto 12:42 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I do not
have those figures with me. I would
have to refer to COCOBOD for the
exact figures, so I would do that later.
Mr R. W. Cudjoe 12:42 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I
did not hear what the Hon Minister
said.
Mr First Deputy Speaker 12:42 p.m.
Hon
Minister, the Hon Member says he
did not hear your answer.
Dr Akoto 12:42 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I said that
I do not have those figures with me. I
would have to refer to COCOBOD
for the figures that the Hon Member
is demanding, so, if he would excuse
me, I would provide that after I
receive the information from
COCOBOD.
Mr R. W. Cudjoe 12:42 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I
would like to be assured of a specific
timeline that the Hon Minister would
provide this information.
Mr First Deputy Speaker 12:42 p.m.
Hon
Member, is that your third question?
Mr R. W. Cudjoe 12:42 p.m.
Yes. Mr Speaker
Mr First Deputy Speaker 12:42 p.m.
Very
well. Hon Minister, the Hon Member
would like to know when you can
deliver the information.
Dr Akoto 12:42 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I was an
Hon Member of the Committee on
Government Assurance; I know
exactly what that means, and I cannot
stand in front of this august body to
say that I would give those figures
tomorrow or the day after. Definitely,
they would come.
Mr Eric Opoku 12:42 p.m.
Mr Speaker, the Hon Minister, in his Answer, indicated

Oral Answers to Questions

that “actual cocoa production was 1,047,385 tonnes for the 2021/2022 crop year”. When we read further, the Hon Minister says that the “forecast tonnage of 918,000 was projected for the 2021/2022 crop year at the beginning of the season”. This means that the forecast was below the actual output; that is the impression created in that paragraph. When we go further down, it says and I beg to quote:

“The combined effect of low prices and downward revision of the 2021/2022 crop forecast makes it difficult for COCOBOD/CMC to generate enough cocoa contracts to collateralise further drawdowns…”

Mr Speaker, in 2021/2022, the

total cocoa production in Ghana was 683,000 tonnes; it was in 2020/202,1 so this is complete misinformation.
Mr First Deputy Speaker 12:42 p.m.
Hon Member, what are you contrasting? What is your source of contrasting the information of the Hon Minister? Do you have any data to contrast him?
Mr Eric Opoku 12:42 p.m.
Mr Speaker,
from the Answer of the Hon Minister,
it is clear.
Mr First Deputy Speaker 12:42 p.m.
Hon
Member, you said it was 683,000
tonnes-
Mr Eric Opoku 12:42 p.m.
Mr Speaker, the
source is COCOBOD. Before we
approved the --
Mr First Deputy Speaker 12:42 p.m.
Where is it?
Mr Eric Opoku 12:42 p.m.
It is here in this
House; it is available to us in the
Hansard. When we were approving
the syndicated loan, that was the
Report that the Finance Committee
submitted to us. The Hon Minister
himself knows that last year, Ghana did
not cross the one million threshold, so
why are we talking about --
Mr First Deputy Speaker 12:42 p.m.
Hon
Member, when you produce the data,
I always give it value, but when you
say it to contrast --
Mr Eric Opoku 12:42 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I
perfectly agree with you. However,
what I am saying is that even when
you look at the Answer provided, the
contradiction itself clearly shows that
is not the position. How would the
Hon Minister say that the actual
production was 1,047,385 tonnes,
and come back to say that because it

Oral Answers to Questions

was revised down, we could not have

enough contracts to guarantee for it.

If it is a mistake, the Hon Minister

should admit that it was not the

2021/2022 crop year, but rather

2020/2021.
Mr First Deputy Speaker 12:42 p.m.
Hon
Member, you were supposed to ask a
question. I have disallowed the
question because it does not flow
from any data.
Mr Emmanuel Kwasi Bedzrah 12:52 p.m.
Mr Speaker, even though you have
disallowed the question, the Answer
from the Hon Minister is there. It
says, “actual production was
1,047,385 tonnes for 2021.” My Hon
Colleague just wants clarification
because the Hon Minister said that
figure was the actual production and
later went on to state that the figure
was the revised production. So, my
Hon Colleague just wants clarity in
that line. That is all.
Mr First Deputy Speaker 12:52 p.m.
Hon
Member, what is unclear about that?
If they had given a projection and the
actual projection came to this figure,
why could it not be revised?
Some Hon Members — rose —
Mr First Deputy Speaker 12:52 p.m.
Available Leader, if you have a
supplementary question, kindly ask
it.
Mr Bedzrah 12:52 p.m.
Mr Speaker, the
Answer says “actual cocoa production”, “not actual cocoa projection”.
Mr First Deputy Speaker 12:52 p.m.
Available Leader, do you have a
supplementary question to ask?
An Hon Member 12:52 p.m.
Mr Speaker, —
Mr First Deputy Speaker 12:52 p.m.
Hon
Member, I have given the Floor to the
Leadership to ask supplementary
questions.
Available Leader, if you have any
supplementary question, kindly ask,
otherwise, I am moving on. Alright,
so, you only wanted to make a
comment.
Mr Alexander K. Afenyo-Markin
— rose —
Mr First Deputy Speaker 12:52 p.m.
Hon
Deputy Majority Leader, you may
kindly make your comment.

Oral Answers to Questions

Mr Alexander K. Afenyo-

Markin: Mr Speaker, I would like to

find out from the Hon Minister

whether the 1,047,385 productions

for 2021/2022 season, which is

contained in his answer, is an Answer

that he still relies on.
Dr Akoto 12:52 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I am so
glad you have given me the
opportunity to clear the confusion. It
is a typing error. That is all.
Mr Afenyo-Markin 12:52 p.m.
Mr Speaker,
flowing from the Answer of the Hon
Minister -[Interruption].
Mr First Deputy Speaker 12:52 p.m.
Hon
Members, Leaders can ask as many
supplementary questions as they
choose to ask.
Mr Afenyo-Markin 12:52 p.m.
Mr Speaker,
I would like to know from the Hon
Minister the date that he would want
the records to capture as accurate for
the over 1,047,385 production.
Dr Akoto 12:52 p.m.
Mr Speaker, the
1,047,385 production refers to
2020/2021.
Mr Afenyo-Markin 12:52 p.m.
Mr Speaker
- [Interruption].
Mr Bedzrah — rose —
Mr First Deputy Speaker 12:52 p.m.
Available Leader, the practice is that
when your fellow Leader is on the
Floor, you do not interrupt. You have
to learn to be a Leader before you
come here.
Mr Afenyo-Markin 12:52 p.m.
Mr Speaker,
my Hon Colleague should know that
when an Hon Member becomes a
Leader, there are certain things he
should not bring to the Front Bench.
He could do what he is doing now if
he were at the Back bench but he now
has the privilege of being the
available Leader —
Mr First Deputy Speaker 12:52 p.m.
Hon
Deputy Majority Leader, kindly
address me, not the available Hon
Leader.
Mr Afenyo-Markin 12:52 p.m.
Mr Speaker,
I would like to know from the Hon
Minister, having provided clarity that
the 1,047,385 production level was
for the 2020/2021 crop season —
Mr First Deputy Speaker 12:52 p.m.
Hon
Deputy Majority Leader, that
question has been answered. So,
kindly ask another supplementary
question.

Oral Answers to Questions
Mr Afenyo-Markin 12:52 p.m.
Mr Speaker,
I am laying a foundation for a specific
figure. I would like to know if the
Hon Minister would like to refer to
the budget to give us the accurate
tonnage. This is because, again, we
could see some discrepancy. So, I
would like to know whether the Hon
Minister would like to go back, refer,
and advise himself accordingly on the
actual figure. The amount is over
1million but the exact figure is what
we would like for him to clarify.
Mr First Deputy Speaker 12:52 p.m.
Hon
Minister, would you like to answer
that supplementary question?
Dr Akoto 12:52 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I would
like to confirm that the 1,047,385
metric tonnes of the crop refer to
2020/2021 year. So, that is for the
record.
Mr Bedzrah — rose —
Mr First Deputy Speaker 12:52 p.m.
Available Leader, I earlier gave you the
opportunity to ask a supplementary
question as the available Leader but you
did not ask any. If you would still like to
speak, then I would allow you to speak.
It is the practice that the Leadership of
the Minority speaks first before that
of the Majority; however, I would
allow you to speak.
Mr Bedzrah 12:52 p.m.
Mr Speaker, thank
you very much for recognising me as
the available Minority Leader for
now.
Mr Speaker, the Hon Minister has
given out a figure, which he admitted
to be a mistake. His figure in the
Answer, which he said was for
2020/2021 was 1,047,385. However,
the figure in the 2022 budget, which
was supposed to be what he quoted is
rather in paragraph 683. With your
permission, I beg to read:
“The trend in cocoa production has turned in the positive
direction in the just ended
2020/2021 season. Total
production reached an all-time
high of 1,047,500 tonnes, a
34.82 per cent increase over the
output of the previous years.”
Mr Speaker, however, the Hon
Minister has just admitted that his
mistake was 1,047,000 and not what
was stated in the budget. This shows
that his whole Answer is wrong. If
the budget is 1,045,500 and his
answer is 1,047,000, then it means
that the entire Answer he has given us

Oral Answers to Questions

on the floor of the House concerning

this Question is not right. So, the Hon

Minister could go and return to the

House to give us the actual data and

Answer for this Question.
Mr First Deputy Speaker 12:52 p.m.
Hon
Minister, are your Answers wrong?
Dr Akoto 12:52 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I am
trying to get to all this confusion.
However, the fact of the matter is that
COCOBOD revises their figures all
the time. There are some stocks in the
pipeline while some are stuck, and
there are procedures to obtain the
figures all the time. The 1,047,385 is
the latest revised figure from
COCOBOD, so I do not see the
confusion. It is not sacrosanct.
Mr Speaker, at the time of the
Budget, the figure was what I have
mentioned; however, it is always
being revised. The figures from
COCOBOD are always revised to the
latest standard that they know. So, I
think that my Hon Colleagues on the
other Side should understand that that
is the standard practice. It is not
sacrosanct. Once it comes to the
House in November, it could change
in the course of the year as and when
stocks are delivered at various points.
Mr Speaker, that is the explanation
for the difference.
Mr Speaker, I thank you.
Mr First Deputy Speaker 1:02 p.m.
Yes,
available Leader for the Minority
Side, do you have any more
questions?
Mr Bedzrah 1:02 p.m.
No, Mr Speaker. I
would just want to add that when
figures are given out in the budget
that is before this House —
Mr First Deputy Speaker 1:02 p.m.
Hon
Member, is that a question?
Mr Bedzrah 1:02 p.m.
No, I do not have
any other questions.
Mr First Deputy Speaker 1:02 p.m.
Very
well.
We are in Question time so I
would proceed.
Hon Members, we would take the
Question numbered 945, which is in
the name of the Hon Member for
Buem Constituency, Mr Kofi Iddie
Adams.

Oral Answers to Questions

Details and Location of the Beneficiaries

of 1000 Rice Harvesters
Mr Kofi Iddie Adams (NDC — Buem) 1:02 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I beg to ask the
Hon Minister for Food and
Agriculture the details and locations
of the beneficiaries of the 1,000 units
of rice harvesters and distributed to
the women-based farmer rice groups
across the country.
Dr Akoto 1:02 p.m.
Mr Speaker, as part of
the Government's strategy to develop the rice value chain and curb the
importation of rice, estimated at
US$200 million, the Government
imported 1,000 rice harvesters and
distributed same to 247 women-
based rice groups across the country
in 2021.
The details and regional locations of the beneficiary groups are as follows:
Western North 26
Greater Accra 18
Upper West 61
Central 47
Eastern 85
Ashanti 120
Upper East 62
North East 47
Volta 82
Oti 45
Ahafo 33
Bono 53
Bono East 56
Northern 164
Savanna 62
Western 39

Oral Answers to Questions

Mr Speaker, the distribution of the

rice harvesters to the various regions

was based on the following criteria:

• Availability of constitution of the group,

• Evidence of bank accounts of the group,

• Evidence of minutes of meetings,

• Gender composition of the groups in favour of women,

• The number of rice acreage cultivated by a group,

• Cohesion and demand for the harvesters, and

• Status of accessibility to harvesters.

Mr Speaker, I thank you.
Mr First Deputy Speaker 1:02 p.m.
Yes,
Hon Member for Buem Constituency?
Mr Adams 1:02 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I would
like to find out the details from the
Hon Minister since that is my
concern. If you take, for example, the
Oti Region, he stated 45 groups. I
would like to know how many were
given to each group and the location.
Dr Akoto 1:02 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I wish I
could comply with the request, but I
do not have those details here. So, I
would have to consult the office for
the information requested by the Hon
Member.
Mr Adams 1:02 p.m.
Mr Speaker, it is so
hard for me to even ask a follow-up
question because so many months
have elapsed after filing this
Question. It was a Question I asked as
a follow-up in the House, and the
Second Deputy Speaker, who was
presiding, wanted me to ask a specific
Question so that the Hon Minister
could come with the details. Sadly, if
he has come with just the regional
breakdown and he is telling me that
he cannot give me details as the
representative from Buem
Constituency, which is in the Oti
Region, for me to know whether rice
farmers in my area are beneficiaries
or not, then I am very disappointed
after such a long time.
Mr First Deputy Speaker 1:02 p.m.
Hon
Member, this comment is
unwelcomed. Please, ask a question.
He has given you the regional
breakdowns so you can easily verify

Oral Answers to Questions

from your Region whether anybody

in your district has benefited.
Mr Adams 1:02 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I wish it
was that easy. The Hon Minister
stated that the groups have the
availability of constitution, evidence
of bank accounts, evidence of
minutes of meetings, gender
composition of the groups in favour
of women, and the number of rice
acreage cultivated by a group. I
would like to find out if the Hon
Minister could provide this House the
acreages per region, or at least two
regions. Take the Ashanti Region
with about 120 groups, what is the
acreage for that region?
Mr First Deputy Speaker 1:02 p.m.
Hon
Member, you have to ask a specific
Question. You asked for the
beneficiaries of harvesters, but you
are now moving into details of rice
cultivation by groups, that has to be
asked specifically so that the Hon
Minister comes with the information.
You know that the Ministry does not
sit with the information. When an
Hon Member asks a Question, the
Ministry has to go and source the
Answers. We do not permit surprises,
so please, ask another question.
Mr Adams 1:02 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I would
oblige to your directives.
Mr Speaker, I would like to find
out whether the Hon Minister has
received any feedback that this
programme has yielded any good
dividend.
Dr Akoto 1:02 p.m.
Mr Speaker, for the
information of the House, I was in the
Buem Constituency only a few days
ago. I spent the whole of Saturday in
the Oti Region, and I saw the benefits
that these implements are making in
the lives of the people. In fact, I have
a video of 16 of the women in their
nice green T-shirts with their labels
giving evidence of what they have
achieved from this programme
through Planting for Food and Jobs.
Some of them have built houses
out of the proceeds from their rice
farms; some have also bought plots of
land while others have actually
constructed blocks on their plots of
land.
Mr First Deputy Speaker 1:02 p.m.
Hon
Minister, we have seen the benefits.
Hon Member for Buem, kindly
ask another question —

Oral Answers to Questions
Dr Akoto 1:02 p.m.
Mr Speaker, the
benefits are enormous.
Mr Adams 1:02 p.m.
Mr Speaker, the
reason I asked for the details is that it
does not reflect in the food prices in
my area. Local rice has become too
expensive and difficult to access.
Mr First Deputy Speaker 1:02 p.m.
Yes,
Hon Member for Atebubu/Amantin
Constituency, Mr Sanja Nanja?
Mr Sanja Nanja 1:02 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I
thank you for the opportunity.
The Hon Minister has given the
breakdown of the regions, but could he
provide us with the list of beneficiaries?
Mr First Deputy Speaker 1:02 p.m.
He
asked the Hon Minister for Food and
Agriculture for the details and
locations of beneficiaries, and that is
the Answer. — [Interruption] He did not do what? — [Interruption] — The details and regional locations of
beneficiary groups are provided here
on page 4.
Mr Sanja Nanja 1:02 p.m.
Mr Speaker, the
Hon Minister has only provided the
number of groups in each region, but
we want the specifics: the list of the
groups and the beneficiary groups —
Mr First Deputy Speaker 1:02 p.m.
That is
what the Hon Member for the Buem
Constituency asked and I said that such
details are not readily available to the
Hon Minister. He has to go and —
Please, ask another question. The
details that are available to him are
what he has provided. If you want
him to give you the names of the
groups, you would have to give him
additional time.
Mr Sanja Nanja 1:02 p.m.
In Bono, for
instance —
Mr First Deputy Speaker 1:02 p.m.
We
do not permit surprises, so, if you ask
that as a specific question, allow him
time to bring it. Please, file that
Question.
Hon Member, you are done.
I would like to move on. Some of
you have had the opportunity, so I
would like to recognise other people.
Yes, Mr Governs Kwame
Agbodza?
Mr Governs Kwame Agbodza 1:12 p.m.
On a point of order.

Oral Answers to Questions
Mr Speaker, I rise on Standing Order 72, and it reads 1:12 p.m.
“By the indulgence of the House and leave of Mr Speaker, a Member may, at the time appointed for statements under Order 53 (Order of Business) explain a matter of personal nature or make a statement on a matter of urgent public importance. Any statement other than a personal statement may be commented upon by other Members for a limited duration of time not exceeding one hour. The terms of any such proposed statement shall first be submitted to Mr Speaker.”
Mr Speaker, in the past, our Hon
Colleague, the Hon Minister, said he laid the Report of the Cocoa Road Audit in this House. For the past one- and-a-half years —
Mr First Deputy Speaker 1:12 p.m.
Hon
Member, you are out of order.
Mr Agbodza 1:12 p.m.
Mr Speaker, this is
of national importance because it —
Mr First Deputy Speaker 1:12 p.m.
Hon
Member, however serious it is, there
are procedures for dealing with it.
You do not jump into one problem. I
thought you were coming to tell me
that one of our Hon Members had
collapsed.
Mr Alhassan Suhuyini Sayibu 1:12 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I wish to seek clarity
from the Hon Minister based on the
Answer published on page 4. Does
the table refer to the number of
groups that benefitted in each region
or to the number of machines that
went to each region? So that we can
file a substantive Question for the
number of groups. It is a bit
confusing.
Dr Akoto 1:12 p.m.
These are the
beneficiary groups. Mr Speaker, for
the benefit of this House, the title of
the table is “The details and regional
locations of the beneficiary groups
are as follows”, and we gave the
number of beneficiary groups in each
region.
Mr Sayibu 1:12 p.m.
Mr Speaker, then that
is problematic because in the
Answer, we are told 247 women-
based groups, but if you —
Mr First Deputy Speaker 1:12 p.m.
Hon
Member, I have not given you the
floor. Yes, Hon Ranking Member?

Oral Answers to Questions
Mr Eric Opoku 1:12 p.m.
Mr Speaker, if the table provides the number of groups in the regions, then the 247 women-based rice groups provided in the Answer is inaccurate because when you put the figures together, it adds up to 1,000, and that cannot be right. This refers to the number of machines. I have done the calculation. When you add the 26 and put the figures together —it is 1,000. The Hon Minister has provided in his Answer that the 1,000 rice harvesters were distributed to 247 women-based rice groups. So, if you have 1,000 in the regions, how can they be the groups? So, Hon Minister, this one refers to the machines and the groups are 247. For instance, we are told that 33 of the machines went to the Brong Ahafo Region. I am an Hon Member of Parliament (MP) from that Region —
Mr First Deputy Speaker 1:12 p.m.
Hon
Member, let him answer. Hon Minister, could you clarify if these numbers add up to 1,000 while the groups add up to 247 as you stated? How do you reconcile this having said that this number refers to the groups?
Dr Akoto 1:12 p.m.
Mr Speaker, the fact of
the matter is that the groups are not of the same numbers. Some may be 10; others may be 200. So, it is not a question of each group having one.
This is exactly what it is; we have a whole directorate for farmer groups — it is always the case. If you go to Sissala East, we have one group of 1,000 farmers and if you come to the Volta Region, we may have a group of only 15 farmers, but they are all groups. So, you do not expect that we will hang to each [Interruption— So, that is the explanation.
Mr First Deputy Speaker 1:12 p.m.
Hon
Minister, let us be clear. So, is this the list which adds up to 1,000, the number of machines or the number of groups? That is the confusion we want to clear.
Dr Akoto 1:12 p.m.
Mr Speaker, if you
look at the title of the table, it says, “Details and regional locations of the beneficiary groups.” The definition is “those who benefitted”. It is not talking about machines; it is talking about a number of groups. It is very clear; the title is there.
Mr First Deputy Speaker 1:12 p.m.
Yes,
let me come to the Hon Deputy Minority Leader.
Mr James Klutse Avedzi 1:12 p.m.
Mr
Speaker, if the Answer provided by the Hon Minister shows that the figures in the table are the groups, it means that we have 1,000 groups. Could the Hon Minister reconcile the

Oral Answers to Questions

total of the table, which is 1,000, with the 247 in the opening statement of the Answer?
Dr Akoto 1:12 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I would
have to refer to the directorate of the
Ministry for that. I cannot sit here and
answer. However, for what I know,
groups do not have the same number
of people; that one is a fact.
Therefore, the distribution of the
machinery cannot be the same for
each group; I know that too. In some
cases, two or three groups may have
access to the same harvester. So, it is
a very complicated matter so I need
clarification from my directorate. I
will come back to this House.
Mr Avedzi 1:12 p.m.
Mr Speaker, the Hon
Minister should just withdraw this
Answer; it is misleading. He
mentioned 247 women-based groups,
but the table is talking about 1,000.
He also said that the numbers in the
table are the groups. So, there are two
groups here: 247 in the opening
statement and 1,000 in the table. He
should reconcile the two. If he cannot
reconcile them, he should withdraw
the Answer and come back.
Mr First Deputy Speaker 1:12 p.m.
Hon Minister, that confusion must be cleared. Do you want to be given time to come back and clarify it? You have
already stated 247, but the list here numbers up to 1,000. The 1,000 is consistent with the number of machines but not with the number of groups, which is why we want to clarify it. What do you want to do? Would you go and come back or you will clarify it now?

Yes, I am waiting for you. We

want to clarify for the records before we proceed.
Dr Akoto 1:12 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I will come back with further details. Thank you.
Mr First Deputy Speaker 1:12 p.m.
Very well. He will come back with that Answer. The Clerks-at-the-Table will take note and re-programme that Question to be answered afresh.
Hon Members, let us move to the
Question numbered 964, which stands in the name of the Hon Member for Bole/Bamboi, Mr Yusif Suleman.
Mr Seidu Issifu — rose —
Mr First Deputy Speaker 1:12 p.m.
Hon Member, why are you on your feet?

Oral Answers to Questions
Mr Seidu Issifu 1:12 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I have the Hon Member's permission to seek your leave to ask the Question on his behalf.
Mr First Deputy Speaker 1:22 p.m.
Very well, leave granted.

Measures and Policies to Prevent

Herdsmen from Destroying

Farmlands and Reduce Clashes in

Bole District
Mr Issifu Seidu on behalf of Mr Yusif Sulemana (NDC - Bole/Bamboi) 1:22 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I beg to ask the Minister for Food and Agriculture what measures and policies Government has instituted to prevent herdsmen from destroying farmlands and farm produce and its consequent clashes between herdsmen and farmers in the Bole District?
Dr Akoto 1:22 p.m.
Mr Speaker, in the year 2017 Government established the Ghana Cattle Ranching Project (GCRC) with an inter-ministerial committee charged to oversee transhumance and pastoral practice. The Committee is mandated to find solutions to the frequent clashes between herdsmen and crop farmers.
The inter-ministerial committee
comprise the following:
i.Ministry of Food and Agriculture
ii. Ministry of National Security
iii.Ministry of Local Government
and Rural Development
iv. Ministry of Interior.
Mr Speaker, since the establishment
of the GCRC, the following measures
have been taken to manage, reduce and
eliminate herder and farmer clashes:
1. Infrastructure Development
Two fodder banks in Wawase and
Amankwa in the Kwahu Afram Plains
have been rehabilitated and converted
into model cattle ranches to hold
community cattle as a means of
curtailing the frequent herder-farmer
conflicts in the area. So far, there has
been a high degree of success.
2.Collaboration in Transhumance
Space
Government of Ghana acting in
collaboration with some non- governmental organisations (NGOs) has made the following intervention in the transhumance space:

Oral Answers to Questions

i. Development of a three-number livestock markets in Bawku in the Upper East Region, Buipe in the Savannah Region and Gushegu in the Northern Region.

ii. Construction of a three-number

livestock loading ramps in Zebila and Pusiga in Upper East and Guunayili in the Northern Region

iii. Establishment of a six-number

campsites in Gushegu, Jankpili, Takaligu in the Northern Region, Gberigi and Sorto in the Savannah Region and Zongoiri in the Upper East Region

iv. Provision of a eight-number

water points in Jankpili, Takaligu, Gushegu in the Northern region, Buipe, Gberigi, Sorto in the Savannah Region, Yarigu and Zeogo in the Upper East region

v. Designation of 50 kms Sapeligu

Zongoiri Region Livestock Movement Corridor in the Upper East region.

vi. Provision of a three-number

grazing reserves in Jankpili, Takaliigi and Gberigi in the Northern and Savannah regions.

Mr Speaker, further to the stated interventions the GCRC has submitted a proposal to Government for the establishment of a five- number grazing reserves and corridor systems in the Kintampo North Municipal, Bawku West, Central Gonja, East Gonja, Gushiegu, Sawla- Tuna Kalba, Sissala East, Adaklu, Fanteakwa North, Sekyere Afram Plains, and Kumawu Districts.

3. Public Relations

Mr Speaker, to ensure peaceful

coexistence and cohabitation of pastoralist and crop farmers within conflict and anticipated conflict zones, continuous consultation and sensitisation of stakeholders - cattle owners, crop farmers and community members - are being undertaken.

Furthermore, two pilot conflict

resolution committees - District steering committee -have been set up in the Kwahu Afram Plains South District headed by the District Chief Executive and his colleague at the Builsa South District, Fumbisi, to settle disputes.

Mr Speaker, I am happy to report

that the listed interventions are yielding positive results, as cases of conflict have continued to decline. Government would stay the course in

Oral Answers to Questions

the quest to achieve sustainable peace between crop farmers and herdsmen.
Mr I. Seidu 1:22 p.m.
Mr Speaker, going
through the response of the Hon Minister, I am even more confused now than I was before. The Question is targeted at the Bole District, but going through the response, I have not seen any intervention that is targeted at the Bole District. I would like to find out from the Hon Minister which of these interventions is meant to address this menace in the Bole District?
Dr Akoto 1:22 p.m.
Mr Speaker, the nature
of the problem we are dealing with is not strictly by geographical location, but rather a national problem which has to be solved nationally. So, Bole District is, in fact, benefitting from these arrangements and interventions that we are talking about, but specifically, there are a lot of adjoining districts to Bole and its environs which have benefitted specifically from these interventions which have indirectly benefitted the people of Bole.
Mr First Deputy Speaker 1:22 p.m.
Yes,
Hon Member?
Mr I. Seidu 1:22 p.m.
Mr Speaker, the Hon Minister alluded to the fact that there are some interventions being made by the GCRC in the area of getting grazing reserves and corridor systems in some specific districts. May I find out from the Hon Minister whether he would want to consider the Bole District, so that we could have the grazing reserves and corridor system to address this canker?
Mr First Deputy Speaker 1:22 p.m.
Yes,
Hon Minister?
Dr Akoto 1:22 p.m.
Mr Speaker, all
districts which have a movement of herdsmen would ultimately benefit, but as I keep saying, we have a very limited budget, so we can only go from A to B and to C. Ultimately, I hope that Bole would have a direct access to these interventions, but these are selected on the basis of strategy and resources and that is what is working. As we said, the number of conflicts has reduced substantially and crop farmers are now going about their work in a very peaceful manner unlike six or seven years ago when the daily occurrence of conflicts was really disturbing agriculture in this country.
Mr I. Seidu 1:22 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I would
like to find out from the Hon Minister whether he has organised any stakeholder engagement or anything

Oral Answers to Questions

like that in the Bole District to address this problem in the district, especially since he is talking about conflict resolution?
Mr First Deputy Speaker 1:22 p.m.
Yes,
Hon Minister?
Dr Akoto 1:22 p.m.
Mr Speaker, the simple
answer is, no.
Mr First Deputy Speaker 1:22 p.m.
This is a constituency-specific question. The Question numbered 965, Hon Member for Awutu-Senya West, Mrs Gizella Tetteh-Agbotui.
Efforts to Establish Mechanisation Centres for Farmers in Awutu-
Senya District
Mrs Gizella Tetteh-Agbotui
(NDC — Awutu-Senya West): Mr Speaker, I beg to ask the Minister for Food and Agriculture what effort the Ministry is instituting to establish mechanisation centres for farmers in the Awutu Senya District?
Dr Akoto 1:22 p.m.
Mr Speaker, since the
year 2018, MOFA has imported various agricultural machinery and equipment from Brazil for sale to interested farmers, institutions, and new investors at a subsidised rate across the country. This is intended to
promote the establishment of private- sector-owned mechanisation centres to support farmers in the southern, middle and northern belts of Ghana.
Mr Speaker, further to this,
Government, through MOFA, is arranging a US$150 million Indian Exim Bank facility for the same purpose. A detailed Project Report for implementation is being prepared by a consultant. Thank you.
Mr First Deputy Speaker 1:32 p.m.
Yes,
Hon Member?
Mrs Tetteh-Agbotui 1:32 p.m.
Mr Speaker,
recently in my constituency, even though an order of about 20 of the tractors or so were made to the Region, they could pay for only six (6). These are even individual farmers who have made efforts to get those tractors —this cuts across a lot of constituencies — what intervention can the Hon Minister make for small holder farmers who are many but may not have the financial means to get equipment that should be used in their farms? This is because that is what I thought these mechanisation centres could be for.
Mr First Deputy Speaker 1:32 p.m.
Yes,
Hon Minister?

Oral Answers to Questions
Dr Akoto 1:32 p.m.
Mr Speaker, the idea of the Agricultural Mechanisation Centres (AMSECs) is to bring small holder farmers together as a group so that they can have the services of the mechanisations at a subsidised rate. The issue is that, in trying to do that, farmers would have to come together in groups, and they should meet certain criteria with the certification from their District Directors of Agriculture. If there are 100 farmers, the District Director and his extension staff who are working with the farmers should be able to verify that they are genuine farmers and what their needs are; they farm together on so many acres and so on.
Then, the group itself should apply
to the Ministry for Food and Agriculture through the District Director and the recommendations of the Regional Director, so that they can benefit. In most cases, these groups cannot pay outright the heavily subsidised prices for the equipment, but we can make terms for them if they pay a certain amount or deposit or a percentage of about one-third so, and a lot of farmer groups in this country have benefitted from that in all regions including the Hon Members own region; Central Region.
Therefore, I would suggest to the
Hon Member to contact her District
Director of Agriculture to see how they can bring these groups around, and once these groups are in place they could apply like others. As she said, the Brazilian facility may be too late now, but we have in the pipeline, the Indian Exim Bank facility and we would be very glad to assist them.
Mr First Deputy Speaker 1:32 p.m.
Yes,
Hon Member?
Mrs Tetteh-Agbotui 1:32 p.m.
Mr Speaker,
the reason I asked about these mechanisation centres [Interruption] — I can appreciate the fact that the Hon Member said they should come together. Already, there are a lot of farmer groups planting cassava, maize, and all the various crops. Apart from what he has mentioned, is there another way of looking at it such that whether it is the Youth in Agriculture Initiative or whatever, large tracts can be ploughed for the youth to be able to go into agriculture?
As I said, I can appreciate where
the Hon Minister is coming from, but
it does not work in that manner for the
outcomes that we all desire. I engage
with my District Director of Agriculture
a lot and if everything was all well and
good, it would not need my intervention
to even ask this Question. Gomoa-West
and Mfantseman have such

Oral Answers to Questions

mechanisation centres. So, is there a

strategy to have them actively as

mechanisation centres in districts,

which would help the farmers in a

much more organised and productive

way?
Mr First Deputy Speaker 1:32 p.m.
Yes,
Hon Minister?
Dr Akoto 1:32 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I know of
the mechanisation centre in Apam. I have visited it myself. and I have visited the farms around beneficiary farmers, and it is working perfectly. The problem is that mechanisation centre, like the 31 other District Assemblies that we gave these facilities, up till now they have not even paid for the equipment; not even one pesewa. Yet, the moneys that we are using to bring these items here are loanable funds from the people of Brazil, and we have to pay back. So, if after giving the huge subsidy, we give the benefit and they do not pay back, then it draws others back. If those people had paid since the year 2018, by now, I am sure Awutu Senya District would have also benefited but that is the problem we are facing; it is difficult to get the people to pay up so that we could at least turn it around. This is because that facility is for a grace period of four or five years — I have forgotten.
We were hoping that once everybody paid, we would be able to even order another set before the fifth year, but that is not happening. So, we have a problem there but definitely, the closest one to the Hon Member is what I have mentioned that if she goes there, she would be able to have a discussion to get the idea and bring it to her constituency.
Mr First Deputy Speaker 1:32 p.m.
Hon
Member, are you done? Very well. This is a constituency-specific question and I am not extending it beyond that.
Hon Members, Question numbered
1405 which stands in the name of the Hon Member for Old Tafo —
Mr Afenyo-Markin — rose —
Mr First Deputy Speaker 1:32 p.m.
Yes,
Hon Deputy Majority Leader?
Mr Afenyo-Markin 1:32 p.m.
Mr Speaker,
the Hon Member is unavoidably absent, and it is his prayer to the Chair for his Question to be rescheduled.
Mr First Deputy Speaker 1:32 p.m.
Hon
Deputy Majority Leader, did you say you were going to ask the Question on his behalf or you want it to be rescheduled?

Oral Answers to Questions
Mr Afenyo-Markin 1:32 p.m.
Mr Speaker, the prayer is for your leave to reschedule.
Mr First Deputy Speaker 1:32 p.m.
Very
well.
I would proceed to the next
Question numbered 1409, which stands in the name of the Hon Member for Bunkpurugu, Mr Abed- Nego Azumah Bandim.
Yes, Hon Member?
Licensing of Farmer Tribe Company to Import and Sell
Hybrid Maize Seeds in Ghana
Mr Abed-Nego Azumah Bandim
(Bunkpurugu—NDC): Mr Speaker, I beg to ask the Minister for Food and Agriculture whether Farmer Tribe, an agro chemical and seed distribution company based in Tamale, is licensed by the Ministry to import and sell hybrid maize seeds in Ghana.
Mr First Deputy Speaker 1:32 p.m.
Yes,
Hon Minister?
Dr Akoto 1:32 p.m.
Mr Speaker, Farmer
Tribe Company Limited is duly registered with the Plant Protection & Regulatory Services Directorate (PPRSD) of MoFA, as a retailer to sell seeds in the country. The
company was licensed on 25th March, 2020, and has since renewed its registration. This can be verified at the PPRSD of MoFA.
Mr Speaker, it is my understanding
that the hybrid maize seeds sold by the dealer are mobilised from companies engaged in the importation of seeds into the country. For emphasis, therefore, Farmer Tribe is a retailing company with no license to import seeds into the country.
Mr First Deputy Speaker 1:32 p.m.
Yes,
Hon Member?
Mr Bandim 1:32 p.m.
Mr Speaker, may I
know from the Hon Minister whose responsibility it is to ensure that the hybrid maize seeds distributed or sold by Farmer Tribe meets the required standards?
Dr Akoto 1:42 p.m.
Mr Speaker, that is
precisely the job of Planned Protection Regulatory Service Directorate (PPRSD) of the Ministry of Food and Agriculture. They have to license all importers of seeds; issue permits and all other things related to it.

So, if this company meets the

requirements, I do not see why the

Plant Protection and Regulatory

Oral Answers to Questions

Services (PPRS) cannot give them

the permit to import or license to

operate in this country.
Mr Bandim 1:42 p.m.
Mr Speaker, during
the planting season this year, this
company distributed maize seeds to
farmers in my constituency. They
bought them, planted, and they never
germinated. The indication was that
they had expired. What measures
would the Minister put in place to
ensure that these expired seeds are
not sold to the unsuspecting farmers
in future?
Dr Akoto 1:42 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I am
really surprised at this statement
because it has never come to my
attention that seeds sold to farmers in
the Hon Member's constituency did not germinate. If that is the case, it is
against the law. So, he should have
reported it to me or to the District
Director of Agriculture and we would
have taken very severe measures
against that. We want to kill that
practice. It was very rampant but
now, with very strict regulations, we
are getting it down but we have not
been able to uproot it totally from the
system.
So, I would appreciate further
discussions with the Hon Member so
that we can further take actions on
this.
Thank you.
Mr Bandim — rose —
Mr First Deputy Speaker 1:42 p.m.
Hon
Member, you have exhausted your
three supplementary questions.
Mr Bandim 1:42 p.m.
Mr Speaker, no
please.
Mr First Deputy Speaker 1:42 p.m.
Hon
Member, really? Very well.
Mr Bandim 1:42 p.m.
Mr Speaker, the
company staff were confronted by
farmers in my constituency and
demanded refund. The company
insisted that they would make refund
available only after the farmers
produced the seeds that were sold to
them which was not possible because
they had already planted them.
I would want to find out from the
Hon Minister, whether it his possible
that they would prevail on the
farmers plight to make refund to the
farmers who bought the seeds?
Dr Akoto 1:42 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I think the
best way out is for the farmers to

Oral Answers to Questions

petition myself or the Regional

Director of Agriculture or the District

Director to get to us and we would

take the necessary actions. If we

investigate and find out that it is a

practice which they have conducted,

then it is against the regulations and

the law and we have to deal with them

and withdraw their license if

possible. So, we would need a kind of

a petition with the evidence attached

and we would investigate and take

the necessary action.

Thank you.
Mr Bandim 1:42 p.m.
Mr Speaker, I thank
you for the opportunity. I would take
the necessary action as the Hon
Minister has indicated.
Mr First Deputy Speaker 1:42 p.m.
Very
well.
Hon Members, that brings us to
the end of Questions time.
I thank the Hon Minister for attending
upon the House to answer Questions.
You are hereby discharged.
Yes, Hon First Deputy Majority
Whip?
Ms. Lydia S. Alhassan 1:42 p.m.
Mr Speaker,
we would take the item numbered 8 -
Presentation of Papers.
The Hon Minister is in the House.
Mr First Deputy Speaker 1:42 p.m.
Very
well.
Hon Members, at the commencement
of Public Business, the item numbered 8.
The item numbered 8 (a), by the
Hon Minister for the Interior.
PAPERS 1:42 p.m.
Ms Alhassan 1:42 p.m.
Mr Speaker, the
item numbered 8 (c).
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 1:42 p.m.
All
right. Do you want the Hon Minister
for the Interior to do it on his behalf?
Ms Alhassan 1:42 p.m.
Yes, Mr Speaker.
Mr Second Deputy Speaker 1:42 p.m.
Very well.
Hon Minister for the Interior, the
item numbered 8 (c) (i).
By the Minister for the Interior
(Mr Ambrose Dery)(on behalf of the
Minister for Education) —
(i) Annual Statement by the Audit Committee of the
Ministry of Education for
the Year 2021.
(ii) Annual Statement by the Audit Committee of the
St. Francis College of
Education for the Year
2021.
(iii) Annual Statement by the Audit Committee of the University of Mines and Technology (UMaT) for the Year 2021.
(iv) Annual Statement by the Audit Committee of the Sunyani Technical University for the Year
2021.
Referred to the Committee on
Education
Mr First Deputy Speaker 1:42 p.m.
Sorry,
which one did you —
Mr Ahmed Ibrahim 1:42 p.m.
Mr
Speaker, she did transposition but it is the same thing, so, just refer it to the Committee on Education and that is it.
Mr First Deputy Speaker 1:42 p.m.
Hon
Members, we have come to the end of the Presentation of Papers.
Any indication from Leadership?
Ms Alhassan 1:42 p.m.
Mr Speaker, that is
about all for the day.
So, I would want to move that
today's proceedings be brought to an end till tomorrow 10 o'clock.
Thank you.
Mr First Deputy Speaker 1:42 p.m.
Hon
Members, any seconder to the
Motion?
Mr A. Ibrahim 1:42 p.m.
Mr Speaker, on
the Order Paper, there was supposed
to be a Joint Caucus Meeting and this
was approved by the Business
Committee last week. It has been
programmed and it is on the Order
Paper. Why are we not having the
Joint Caucus Meeting?
Mr First Deputy Speaker 1:42 p.m.
Hon
Member, which of the Order Papers
are you referring to? What page
please? Page 5, very well. “Joint Caucus Meeting after adjournment”.
So, let us proceed with the
Business and after adjournment, you
can ask your question. For now, the
Motion was for adjournment.
Mr A. Ibrahim 1:42 p.m.
Mr Speaker, we
agreed to adjourn so we could have
the Joint Caucus Meeting and if it
would come on, Hon Members need
to be informed that after
adjournment, there would be a Joint
Caucus Meeting and that is what I
was inquiring from the Majority Side
before I second the Motion for
adjournment. If the Joint Caucus
Meeting would not come on, then it
means after adjournment, Hon
Members can go. Maybe it has been
re-scheduled. They need to be told
something.
Mr Speaker, whatever be the case,
I do not want to pre-empt what is
supposed to be discussed at the Joint
Caucus Meeting. The stakes are high
for tomorrow's Meeting and we
wanted to meet as a Joint Caucus to
prepare the House for tomorrow
because when we started Sitting in
the morning — Mr Speaker, you
came very early and it was only one
Hon Member seated in the Chamber
and it is not good for our image.
These are part of the matters that we
wanted to discuss at the Joint Caucus
Meeting, but if it would not come on,
before I second the Motion. I just
want to entreat Hon Colleagues that
tomorrow, the Motion for Censure
would be moved and it is on the Order
Paper slated for the 10th of
November, 2022.
So, Hon Members must come
early. By 10 o'clock, we must all be
in the Chamber in our numbers.
Mr Speaker, with that I second the
Motion.
Mr First Deputy Speaker 1:42 p.m.
Hon
Members, the Motion for adjournment
has been moved and seconded.
Question put and Motion agreed
to.
ADJOURNMENT 1:42 p.m.