Debates of 17 Feb 2023

Hon Members, we
would move straight to the item
numbered 4. I do not have any message
from His Excellency the President,
neither do I have a formal com-
munication today, so we would move to
the item numbered 4 — Correction of Votes and Proceedings and the Official
Report.
Votes and Proceedings and
the Official Report

Hon Members, we
would start with the correction of Votes
and Proceedings of Thursday, 16th
February, 2023.
Page 1 … 9 —

Mr
Speaker, the item numbered 5 at page 9
— I see a clash of dates in the Communication from His Excellency the
President. The President, from this
Communication, is attending the Munich
Security Conference from Friday, 17th to
Sunday, 19th February, 2023. At the same
time, we are told that he will attend the
36th Ordinary Session of the Africa
Union (AU) and would return on the
same day, Sunday, 19th February, 2023.
It is not clear at what point he would
depart Germany for the AU Meeting in
Ethiopia. There appears to be a clash.
When we read the communication, it is
the same time, so, could they look at the
communication again and clarify that?
I am grateful, Mr Speaker.

Well, it was so stated in
the communication. I actually looked at
it myself. He did not give a clear
indication as to when he will depart
Munich. Do not forget the Conference is
a security conference, so sometimes,
those things are security matters.

Mr Speaker, just to add
on a lighter note that we have the
capacity to know exactly when he leaves
and arrives, except that our records
should be clear, so that it does not appear
that it is an error. The way it has been
captured here, it is as if we have made a
mistake because it is happening at the
same time in Ethiopia and Germany.

Actually, those are
always indicative; they are not the
actuals. As I said, for security reasons,
they are just indicative, but that is what
is contained in the Communication, so it
is well captured.
Page 10 …20

Hon Members, I have a
copy each of the Official Reports of 30th
June, 2022 and 5th July, 2022. We would
start with that of 30th June, 2022.
Hon Members, any corrections?

We would now move to
Tuesday, 5th July, 2022.

We would move to the
item numbered 5 — Business Statement for the Third Week.
Hon Chairman of the Business
Committee?

Hon Members, the Report has been presented, and it is now for your comments.

Mr Speaker, before the last Session ended, there were a number of very important
Motions you had approved that continued to appear on the Order Papers but could not receive attention. I would have thought that with the commencement this Third Session of the Eighth Parliament, they would be brought back, so that we can work on those Motions, particularly at this time that we seemed to have some time on our hands to deal with some of these outstanding matters, so that we do not wait till the last minute, and then, we would be inundated with a last-minute piling up of assign-ments. I want to draw attention to some of those Motions which we could not address.
Mr Speaker, having said that, there is
also a request that I made in the last Session relating to annual reports of various institutions that are outstanding.
For example, the last time the Public Procurement Authority (PPA) submitted its report was in 2012. There are a number of statutory institutions that must submit their annual reports to this House, including public universities; those annual reports have delayed con- siderably. It is really hampering our work, and we are not able to carry out our oversight mandate as efficiently as we would want to. I recalled the Hon

Majority Leader assured that he would draw the attention of his Hon Colleague Ministers, so that those annual reports that are outstanding would be submitted to the House. We have still not received those annual reports, and I would want to find out from the Hon Majority Leader and Minister for Parliamentary Affairs - what is the update of those annual

reports?

First Deputy Minority Whip (Mr

Ahmed Ibrahim): Mr Speaker, on page

7, that is Motions, item (iv) (b) and (c),

these are Motions:

(b) “That this honourable House adopts the Report of the Special Budget

Committee on the Draft Public

Elections (Registration of Voters)

Regulations, 2022 and Other

Related Matters”.

(c) “That this honourable House adopts the Report of the Committee of the

Whole on the Status of

Registration, Printing and Issuance

of the ECOWAS Identity Card

(Ghana Card) and Other Related

Challenges.”

Mr Speaker, Hon Members may recall

that these two meetings took place in the

last Session, and the Motions would be

taken next week, and these were the pre-

conditions for us and for the whole

House to have the opportunity to engage

the National Identification Authority

(NIA) and the Chairperson of the

Electoral Commission (EC).

Mr Speaker, Since these two

personalities may not have audience on

the Floor, would we invite the National

Identification Authority (NIA) officials,

that is the Hon Minister for the Interior

and his team, as well as the Chairperson

of the Electoral Commission (EC) and

her people, to come and sit in the House

on the day we take the Motions?

Mr Speaker, we would listen to

contributions from Hon Members on that

day, after which we would consider

whether to reconvene into a Committee

of the Whole. Since they would not have

audience on the floor of the House, we

may have to schedule a day to engage

with them so that we see how best we can

iron things out. Other than that, the way

we have put them here —

That is our constitutional mandate: we

engage them and present a Report on the

Floor. Once a Report is presented on the

Floor, a Motion would be moved and

Hon Members may make inputs.

However, since they do not have

audience on the Floor, how would they

explain some of the issues that would be

raised here? It would call for an

engagement with them, and that can only

happen through a Committee of the

Whole. I happen to be a Member of the

Special Budget Committee, and when we

met, it was agreed that Parliament would

schedule a day to meet the two officials

together so that the officials from the EC

would hear whatever the officials from

the NIA would say. When the Special

Budget Committee met, most of the

things were surprises to the Chairperson

of the EC. She said she was not aware of

the things the NIA officials had said. We

therefore concluded that we would need

to engage the two institutions together

after the Motion has been moved.

Mr Speaker, these are the few

comments I would want to make.

Thank you, Mr Speaker.

Some Hon Members — rose —

Are there any more
comments? Let me start with Dr Clement
Apaak.

Mr
Speaker, thank you for giving me the
opportunity to comment on the Business
Statement.
Mr Speaker, my comment has to do
with a very important matter that was
subject to discussion during the previous
Meeting before we went on recess.
Specifically, I would want to seek an
update from the Leadership of the House
with regard to when the Parliamentary
Friendship Associations would be
inaugurated.
Mr Speaker, I am fully aware that you
have played a very important role in
making the Parliamentary Friendship
Associations a component of our
Parliament. The Eighth Parliament came
into session on 7th January, 2021 and
today's date is 17th February, 2023. Yet, the Parliamentary Friendship Associa-
tions have not been inaugurated. Mr
Speaker, clearly, I believe this should be
a source of concern for your good self
and the rest of us.
Mr Speaker, you have always
encouraged us to take advantage of some
of these opportunities to brighten our
horizon and to work with our neighbours
and colleagues in other parts of the world
for the common good of humanity and
Ghana. Mr Speaker, in that regard, I
would want to plead with you to use your
office to ensure that the Parliamentary
Friendship Associations are inaugurated
so that we can benefit from such
interactions.
Thank you, Mr Speaker.

Yes, Mr Alhassan
Suhuyini Sayibu?

Mr
Speaker, I made a humble appeal to the
Business Committee last week, but your
superior wisdom and guidance was that
it should not coincide with the
presentation by the Hon Minister for
Finance on the Domestic Debt Exchange
Programme (DDEP).
Mr Speaker, it has to do with my
humble request for the House to consider
taking a briefing from the Hon Minister
for Finance on the new policy we have
often heard being discussed in the media;
the Gold for Oil programme. Mr
Speaker, my humble plea was based on
the experience that is known to this
House with regard to how the Sinohydro
deal has not lived up to expectation, even
though we were told that it was also a
barter transaction policy.

Mr Speaker, again, the discussions

raised questions about whether it is not to

be covered under article 181(5) of the

1992 Constitution. It is based on these

that I would like to renew my appeal to

the Business Committee to consider

programming the Hon Minister for

Finance to brief this House because we

are told that this policy is basically

handled by the Bank of Ghana - on the nature of this policy and whether or not

it is an international transaction that

requires Parliament's attention, and especially because we know where

Sinohydro deal has left us.

Thank you very much, Mr Speaker.

Mr Speaker, I
am grateful. Mine has to do with a
security issue. I have read and watched
from the media, the influx of our brothers
from Burkina Faso into Ghana. As a
result of some disturbances, some people
have moved into Ghana. I have listened
to the Bawku West District Chief
Executive, who has lamented that
Government was yet to come to their aid
even though they have received so many
people from Burkina Faso because of
some sort of disturbances there.
Mr Speaker, I thought that with this
being a national security matter, there
was the need for the Hon Minister for
National Security to come to the House
and give us some kind of hope. I say this
because the Sawla/Tuna/Kalba Con-
stituency and my Constituency share a
boundary with Burkina Faso, so if we
think that it is just an issue for Bawku or
the Upper East Region, very soon, it
would get to the Savanna Region and for
that matter, the Bole/Bamboi Con-
stituency.
Mr Speaker, I am concerned so I am
making a passionate appeal to you to let
the Hon Minister for National Security
come to this House and give us some
hope so that we know that at least we are
able to curb it there so that it does not
move into the rest of Ghana to create
problems for us.
Mr Speaker, I thank you for this
opportunity.

Yes, Hon Chairman of

Mr Speaker,
on the matter relating to the submission
of Annual Reports, I think that they are
indeed time bound so I agree with the
Hon Member that we should pursue the
various sector Ministers to ensure that
these Annual Reports come timeously to
Parliament. So, yes, I may have to confer
with the various sector Ministers to
ensure that they are brought timeously.
However, let me note that so many of
them have also come to the House, but
the Committees have not worked on
them. So, let me also on the other hand,
urge the Committees to act expeditiously
on those ones that have come.

Mr Speaker, having said that, charity

must begin from home—even Parlia- ment is in default—hence, I would urge

the Clerk to Parliament to ensure that

Parliament also complies with the

submission of our annual report so that

while urging that the various sector

Ministers and, indeed, other con-

stitutional creatures including the

various Ministries, Departments and

Agencies (MDAs) should comply,

Parliament should comply as well.

Mr Speaker, the Hon Deputy Minority

Whip related to what is captured on page

7 of the Order Paper in respect of the

Reports from the Special Budget

Committee that would be coming to

Parliament for consideration and

possible adoption. It may become

necessary for the Table Office to ensure

that Hon Members who might have left

their own Reports after reports have been

submitted to have new issuance of those

reports so that Hon Members could

consider or read them ahead of the House

applying itself to it.

Mr Speaker, the Hon Deputy Minority

Whip is indicating to us that the report is

ensuing from the last Meeting of this

House. I guess he meant the previous

Meeting of the House, not the last

Meeting. If there is a last Meeting, then

nothing can come after that.

[Interruption] It cannot be the last

Session because we are into the Third

Session and there cannot be a last

Session in the Second Session of the

House.

Mr Speaker, however, I agree that it

may be necessary to bring the two

together to listen to us. He is saying that

there would be a need to bring the two

together, I do not know where he is

drawing his inspiration from. It may

become necessary, perhaps, but if he is

indicating to us that there will be a need

to bring the two together then it means

that he has purposed that following after

the discussion of the Report, we will

certainly need to bring them together

again—I do not know where he is drawing his inspiration from; let us get

there, and we would cross the bridge.

Mr Speaker, I am aware that the work

on the Parliamentary Friendship

Associations has been done, and we are

left with the inauguration of the

Friendship Associations. That, of course,

rests with you, Mr Speaker. So to the

Hon Member who asked the question, Dr

Clement Abas Apaak, I think the

groundwork has already been done, we

are only left with the inauguration which

rests with the Rt Hon Speaker.

Therefore, once space is found for that, it

could be done, and I hope it would be

done in this Meeting.

Mr Speaker, in registering the

observation which certainly is not part of

the Business Statement for next week, I

really observed the Hon Member reading

copiously from a prepared statement, I

do not know whether he wanted the

opportunity to make a statement on that

because his eyes, as I observed him, was

really glued to a prepared statement.

[Laughter][Interruption] How do I

know? I was observing closely — [Interruption] — I am submitting to the Hon Member that this is not what he

wrote — [Laughter] —

Mr Speaker, Mr Alhassan Suhuyini

Sayibu raised an issue relating to the

Gold for Oil transaction in saying that it

should come to Parliament — We would have further engagement to see the

import of the request. I think I would

dialogue with the Hon Minority Leader

on that and see where to carry it. I think

that speaking for myself, it is one of the

landmark issues that this Government

has undertaken. But, maybe, Hon

Members may have to understand the

import of it. I believe that it is going to

have tremendous impact on our

economy. As far as I am concerned, it is

a very good decision that has been taken,

but we would get to it.

Mr Speaker, as I said, we would have

some further discussions of the matter

with the Hon Minority Leader and we

would see where it would land.

Mr Speaker, I think another Hon

Member raised an issue in respect of the

influx of Burkinabe so Ghana and into

impact on our national security. Again,

we would have some discussion on that.

The Hon Minister for National Security,

I think, is outside the Jurisdiction, so

when he comes we would discuss it. But

Parliament already was going to have— this Committee that we have in the

Chamber— we were going to have a retreat on some of these matters in

respect of some Chairpersons and the

Ranking Members of some committees

that know themselves. Unfortunately,

because the Hon Minister is not

available, it has not been possible. So,

perhaps getting to the tail end of this

Meeting, that meeting may have to come

off.

Mr Speaker, talking about the influx of

Burkinabe, it should really inform us of

the need for us, as Ghanaians to

subscribe to the National Identification

Card.

Mr Speaker, I thank you.

Hon Members, you have
heard the response from the Hon
Chairman of the Business Committee.
Definitely your comments would be
taken on board as we traverse the next
week. In that case, the Business State-
ment as presented is adopted by the
House.
We will now move to item numbered 6
— Questions.
We have a number of Questions—

Hon Majority Leader,
are you on your feet?

Mr Speaker,
yes, indeed, I would like to seek your
indulgence to vary the order of Business
to have the item numbered 10 on page 6
of the Order Paper dealt with. I guess
within a very short time, we can deal
with it and then pave the way for us to

Hon Members, I grant
leave to the Hon Majority Leader to vary
the order of Business for us to move to
page 6 of the Order Paper and start with
item numbered 10.

This is to be moved by the Hon

Majority Leader.

We can now move to
item 11. Are we ready for item 11, Hon Majority Leader?

Yes, Hon Member for
Okaikwei Central?

Mr Speaker, thank
you very much for the opportunity to
speak to the Motion. It is very important
that you have moved with speed to
constitute this very important Committee,
as provided for under the 1992
Constitution, but I would require some
explanation, especially with article
124(2)(b) of the 1992 Constitution as
stated on the face of the Motion paper
and with your permission, I beg to quote:

1. “There shall be a Parliamentary Service which shall form part of

the public services of Ghana.

2. There shall be a Parliamentary Service Board which shall consist

of-

a. the Speaker, as chairman;

b. four other members all of whom shall be appointed by the Speaker,

acting in accordance with the

advice of a committee of Parlia-

ment; and

c. the Clerk to Parliament.”

Mr Speaker, I know you have chaired

this Committee in the last three years,

and I do not recall a Committee of

Parliament being put together to advise

you in accordance with the Constitution.

I may be wrong — Mr Speaker, I am being heckled by the Hon Majority

Leader — if he could allow me — I am being over heckled by the Hon Leader of

Government Business — [Laughter] —

Mr Speaker, I know you are clothed

with the powers to constitute the

Committee, and Hon Members would be

happy to know the Committee that you

consulted to advise you in arriving at

this.

Secondly, we knew of the now Hon

Chairman of the National Democratic

Congress, Mr Johnson Asiedu Nketia, as

a former Member of the Committee, and

I would congratulate him for the service

he provided the Committee, and also, Mr

Hackman Owusu Agyeman who used to

be a Member of the said Committee. We

know the very important role this

Committee plays with regard to your

Office and the administration of Parlia-

ment, and my worry and concern was

that constitutional provision — a Committee of Parliament that advises

you with the composition and nomi-

nation of those four Members which the

constitution allows you to nominate.

That was my only concern. Mr Speaker,

thank you very much.

Yes, Hon Majority
Leader?

Mr Speaker,
the Hon Member for Okaikwi Central is
right in referring to article 124(2)(b) that
and I beg to quote:
2. “There shall be a Parliamentary Service Board which shall consist
of -
a. the Speaker, as chairman;
b. four other members all of whom
shall be appointed by the Speaker,
acting in accordance with the
advice of a committee of Parlia-
ment; and
c. the Clerk to Parliament.”
Mr Speaker, it is that Committee of
Parliament that is being set-up now. So,
the Committee now would meet and
proffer its advice to the Speaker on who
would constitute the four-person team to
join Mr Speaker and the Clerk to Parlia-
ment. That is all that this Committee is
set out to do. So, when Mr Samuel

Okudzeto Ablakwa went on another

trajectory, already commending the

Committee for reforms that have been

initiated and to be continued, I was

wondering where he was drifting to and

equally so for Mr Patrick Yaw Boamah

who is saying that he does not recollect

that any such Committee has been put in

place. Maybe, the formation of such

committees got lost on his own personal

radar. That Committee has always been

set-up when the occasion demands. So,

the first time when the Majority at the

time changed their Leadership four

times: beginning with your good self, as

the Majority Leader replaced by Mr

Cletus Apul Avoka; and Mr Benjamin

Bewa-Nyog Kunbour, then later some-

body getting recycled — All of them, a Committee had to be settup and properly

constituted to advise the Speaker. So,

that has always been the practice of the

House, and that is for the avoidance of

doubt.

Some Hon Members — rose —

Yes, Hon Members, I
thought this was a simple matter. Yes, go
on, Mr Ablakwa.

Mr Speaker, I just want
to set the records straight, that I was
referring to the Parliamentary Board. I
was lauding the Parliamentary Service
Board under the Leadership of the
Speaker for the reforms, all the laurels,
and the awards they were winning. So,
the Committee would advise the Speaker
on an appointment to the Parliamentary
Service Board, and I am allowed to
celebrate the Parliamentary Service
Board under the able Leadership of the
Rt Hon Alban Sumana Kingsford
Bagbin. So, that is all I did and we do not
have to confuse the Board and the
Committee; they are two distinct entities.
I am grateful, Mr Speaker.

Yes, Deputy Minority
Leader?

Mr Speaker, thank you. I
think it is in order for the Hon Member
to have made the point he made. I,
personally, have been in this House for
14 years, and I have to tell you I am very
proud of the changes I am seeing under
your Leadership. And I think that every
opportunity that we have to talk about,
some of the reforms and the changes you
have brought, are things that we should
celebrate, especially, on the occasion of
the 30th anniversary of our democracy.
Mr Speaker, so, it is in order. Thank you.

Yes, Hon Member for
South Dayi?
Mr Rockson-Nelson E. K. Dafeamekpor
(NDC — South Dayi: Mr Speaker, thank you for the opportunity to add my voice
in support of the Motion on the Floor,
particularly because we would like to
urge the Committee to assist you to be
able to successfully host the Common-
wealth Parliamentary Association cele-
brations that will take place this year,
which will coincide with the 30-year
anniversary of the Fourth Republic. And
so, it is important that the Committee
assist you to select members and people
who can help you put this programme
together successfully because the eye of
the world, especially the Commonwealth
world, would be on Ghana this year.

So, this is all that I wanted to add in

support of the people who would assist

you to do a good job for us this year.

Mr Speaker, thank you for the

opportunity.

Yes, Hon Majority
Leader?

Mr Speaker,
just so that we get it right. The event in
Ghana which will be from 30th
September to 6th October, is not a
celebration. It is a Commonwealth
Parliamentary Conference and not a
Commonwealth Association Celebration,

Mr Speaker, it is a conference that

involves all Commonwealth Parliaments

coming to have a conference in Ghana.

The 66th Conference of the Common-

wealth Parliamentary Conference (CPC),

and on account of that, the fact that it is

holding in Ghana — Mr Speaker is the President of the Commonwealth Parlia-

mentary Association and because Ghana

is hosting it, the President of the

Republic is the Vice Patron. The Patron

is the King of England and the President

of the host country is the Vice Patron on

account of the fact that this country

would be hosting it. So, it is a two-prong

thing that is happening but it is a

conference and not a celebration, with

Hon Members, may we
move on?

Mr Speaker, I think that is
exactly the point — the Vice Patron — and Ghana was not selected by accident
but because of our credentials. So, yes, it
is a conference but there is good reason
some of us can use the comment that the
selection of Ghana for the conference is
good enough reason for us to celebrate.
Question put and Motion agreed to.
Resolved according.

Hon Members, we will
now go back to the item numbered 6 — Questions.
The Hon Minister should take his
appropriate seat and we will start with
the Question numbered 332 which stands
in the name of Mr Wisdom Gidisu, the
Hon Member of Parliament for Krachi
East.
Hon Member, you may ask your
Question now.
Mr First Deputy Speaker to take the
Chair.

Mr Speaker, I beg to ask the Hon
Minister for Roads and Highways when
feeder roads would be constructed to link
the following communities in the Krachi

East Constituency: (i) Avunya (ii)

Agbokope (iii) Ganakpoe (iv) Okotobrigya

(v) Dzagbetsikope (vi) Wulubu (vii)

Alamblow (viii) Ntsimintsini (ix) Odumase

- Adorkope (x) Kudorkope.

1.08 p.m. [MR FIRST DEPUTY

Minister for Roads and Highways

(Mr Kwasi Amoako-Attah): Mr Speaker,

thank you. Mr Speaker, I would begin

with the background.

Background

(i) Avunya (ii) Agbokope (iii) Ganakpoe

(iv) Okotobrigya (v) Dzagbetsikope (vi)

Wulubu (vii) Alamblow (viii) Ntsimintsini

(ix) Odumase - Adorkope (x) Kudorkope

These communities in the Krachi East

Municipality are fishing and farming

settlements mostly along the Volta Lake.

The roads leading to these settlements

are farm tracks, which are not captured

in the feeder roads network. They are all

un-engineered roads.

Current Programme

There is no programme on these farm

track roads.

Future programme

Engineering studies will be conducted

on these roads during the first quarter of

2023 for the appropriate interventions to

be carried out on them. The execution of

the works will be considered under the

2024 Budget.

Mr Speaker, I am happy
the Hon Minister acknowledged and said
in his Answer that all these communities
are fishing and farming settlements and
the roads leading to them are just farm
tracks and that is exactly the import of
this Question.
Mr Speaker, in the Hon Minister's Answer, he also stated that the
engineering works would be done this
year, 2023, and actual works would be
captured in the 2024 Budget. I would like
to know whether the Ministry is
considering a temporary measure to
actually curb the situation until the year
2024 because it is very difficult to
transport farm produce to the regional
capital and, for that matter, nearby
towns. That is why it is very important.
Mr Speaker, would the Ministry
consider putting temporary or interim
measures in place to actually alleviate
the problems that the people are facing?

Mr Speaker,
rightly so. As I did say, these
communities and roads lead to very
important areas that undertake economic
activities of farming and fishing; that is
why we are carrying out the engineering
work this quarter to form part of 2024
Budget, and until that time, we shall
continue to keep an eye on it to ensure
that these farm tracks are always
accessible.

Mr Speaker, I would like
to use the opportunity to thank my Hon
Brother, the Minister, for the good work
he is doing and, also, to get assurance
from him whether we should take it that

come the year 2024, just as he said in his

Answer, the roads would be captured in

the 2024 Budget.

Mr Speaker, I
can, again, confirm that once
engineering studies are taken on these
community roads and pave the way to
form part of the 2024 Budget, then
obviously, they would have been pro-
grammed for action to be taken on them.

Very well.
We will move on to the Question
numbered 618 which stands in the name
of the Hon Member for Nareligu/
Gambaga, Mr Seidu Issifu.
Plans for some Road Networks
in Nalerigu/Gambaga

Mr Speaker, I beg to ask the
Hon Minister for Roads and Highways
what plans the Ministry has for the
following road networks: (i) Dindani - Kpikpari - Gbini - Zogilgu - Sumniboma - Naamasim road (ii) Langbinsi - Wundua road (iii) Langbinsi - Kasape - Buzulugu - Timpela road (iv) Buzulugu Junction - Samni road.

Mr Speaker, I
would begin with the background to the
(i) Dindani - Kpikpari - Gbini - Zogilgu - Sumniboma - Naamasim Roads.
The Dindani - Kpikpari - Gbini - Zogilgu - Sumniboma - Naamasim road is gravel/earth surfaced in poor
condition. It is 17.1km long and located
in the East Mamprusi District of the
North East Region.
Current programme
There is no programme on the road.
Future programme
Engineering studies have been
conducted on the road for rehabilitation.
The execution of the works will be
considered in the 2024 budget.
(ii) Langbinsi - Wundua road
Background
The Langbinsi-Wundua road is
identified on the Department of Feeder
Road (DFR)'s road database as Langbinsi-Wundua-Kpasong-Kpukpalga
which is 25.7km. The road is an inter-
district feeder road that connects East
Mamprusi of the North East Region to
Karaga District of the Northern Region.
The Langbinsi-Wundua section which
falls within the East Mamprusi District is
an engineered gravel surface road in poor
condition. The remaining length within
the Karaga District is mainly un-
engineered.
Current programme
Contract for the Rehabilitation of the
road was awarded under the project titled
“Rehabilitation of Langbinsi-Wundua- Kpasong-Kpukpalga Feeder Road
(25.7km)”. The contract commenced on 8th December, 2016, for completion by
8th March, 2018.

The Contractor executed works

including:

 25.7kms of clearing and formation,

 12No. 1/90mm diameter pipe culverts

 1No. 3/3mx3m reinforced box culvert

 1No. 2/2mx2m reinforced box culvert

 1No. of 900mm diameter pipe culvert.

The work stalled after achieving 15%

physical progress.

The Contractor abandoned the site in

December 2018 and warning letters have

been issued to resume work. The

Department of Feeder Roads is taking

necessary steps to terminate the contract.

(iii) Langbinsi - Kasape - Buzulugu

- Timpela road

Background

The Langbinsi - Kasape - Buzulugu - Timpela feeder road is 12.5 kms long. It

is located in the East Mamprusi District

of the North East Region. It is a gravel/

earth surface road in poor condition.

Current programme

There is no programme on the road.

Future programme

Engineering studies will be conducted

on the road during the first quarter of

2023 for upgrading. The execution of the

works will be considered in the 2024

budget.

(iv) Buzulugu Junction - Samini road

Background

The Buzulugu Junction - Samini road is identified on DFR's road database as Kasape - Samini which is 7.1 kms. It is located in the East Mamprusi District of

the North East Region. It is a gravel/earth

surface road in poor condition.

Current programme

There is no programme on the road.

Future programme

Engineering studies will be conducted

on the road during the first quarter of

2023 for upgrading. The execution of the

works will be considered in the 2024

Budget.

Yes, Hon
Member?

Mr Speaker, the Hon
Minister has alluded to the fact that these
respective road networks are in a very
deplorable situation, and most of the
Answers he gave have to do with a plan
for the 2024 Budget, but I would like to
find out from him whether there is any
temporary intervention the DFR plans to
put in place to at least lessen the burden
on the people around these localities?

Mr Speaker,
these are very important roads in the
Constituency and they constitute a major
network for the movement of the people
to carry out their daily and commercial

activities, so steps would have to be

taken to work on the roads. As I have

indicated, they must be budgeted for, that

is why we are looking at the year 2024.

However, in the interim, all these

roads will come under the Ministry's ongoing routine maintenance programme,

and we would keep a close eye on them

to make the roads motorable.

Mr Speaker, I would like to
find out if all these road networks would
pass through the routine maintenance
schedule, is there any specific schedule
that the Hon Minister could give, so that
we would assist his Ministry to monitor
the work on the ground?
I would be grateful if the Hon Minister
could give that information so that we
can help him monitor what is ongoing on
the ground.

Mr Speaker, I
always like to avail my Ministry and the
technical staff to carry out our work, but
I always also call for support and
collaboration from my Hon Colleagues.
Thus, if we continue to work together
and there is any issue, particularly
regarding maintenance, until the
conditions become favourable for us to
work on the road, I would like them to
also support me and bring all issues to
my attention and that of my Ministry so
that we address them.

Hon
Member, you have one more oppor-
tunity.

Mr Speaker, my last
question is specifically in connection
with Langbinsi - Wundua road, which has been captured in the Question as (ii),
and the Langbinsi - Kasape - Buzulugu road.
With regard to the Langbinsi - Wundua road, on 5th November, 2021,
this Question was asked of the Hon
Minister, and he specifically told us in
Column 017 of the Official Report of 5th
November, 2021, that the road was being
assessed and it would be captured in the
2023 Budget for construction to start.
In the 2023 Budget, there was no
specification to that effect. These roads
were not listed there, and I understand
that they have to be in the detailed report
at his Ministry. I would like to find out
from him, as he promised that it would
be captured in the 2023 Budget, whether
the Langbinsi - Wundua road is captured
in the 2023 Budget?

Yes, Hon
Minister?

The last question that
relates to the —

Hon
Member, you have asked a question. I
thought you wanted the Hon Minister to
answer it?

Mr Speaker, very well.

Mr Speaker, yes,
the contract for this project had delayed

for too long, and the project was being

undertaken by MCC - Razaak Company

Limited, but as indicated, it had to be

terminated first so that it could be

captured, and steps are being taken to get

the termination process completed.

Meanwhile, it is part of the 2023 Budget,

but we have to go through the process

first before packaging and re-awarding it

to a more competent contractor. So, I can

confirm that.

Mr Speaker, I thank you.

Very well.
I will move on to the Question
numbered 648, in the name of the Hon
Member for Tema East, Mr Isaac Ashai
Odamtten.
Yes, Hon Member, you may ask your
Question.
Status of the VALCO Roundabout - TOR - Kpone and TOR Junction -
DVLA - TT Brothers Junction Roads

Mr Speaker, I beg to ask
the Hon Minister for Roads and
Highways the state of the following
Industrial Area Road Projects after the
sod-cutting: (i) VALCO Roundabout - TOR - Kpone (ii) TOR Junction - DVLA - TT Brothers Junction.

Mr Speaker, I
would start with the background.
Tema is a Metropolitan Assembly in
the Greater Accra Region.
Current programme
(i) VALCO Roundabout - TOR - Kpone
Mr Speaker, the contract for
rehabilitation of Tema Industrial Area - Kpone Road (7.2 kms) commenced on
21st February, 2022, for completion by
20th February, 2024.
The project is at 10 per cent physical
completion. The contractor is on site;
however, works are progressing slowly.
(ii) TOR Junction - DVLA - TT Brothers Junction
Mr Speaker, the above roads were
awarded under two separate contracts
titled “Reconstruction of Tema Steel Works Road (4.2 kms)” and “Recon- struction of DVLA Road in Tema (1.20
kms)”.
Reconstruction of Tema Steel Works
Road (4.20 kms)
Mr Speaker, the project commenced
on 3rd June, 2018, for completion by 3rd
January, 2020, which was revised to 18th
December, 2020.
Mr Speaker, the project is sub-
stantially completed.
Reconstruction of DVLA Road in
Tema (1.2 kms)
The project commenced on 18th June,
2018, for completion by 17th February,
2019. The project is at three per cent
physical completion. The contractor has

vacated site. The contract is being

terminated for non-performance.

Mr Speaker, I thank you.

Mr Speaker, a
contract that has to run for two years has
gone one year already and is still at 10
per cent physical completion evidently
indicates that we are on the path of failed
timelines. The inconvenience to
commuters and vehicle owners is telling.
Given the importance of that corridor,
would the Hon Minister consider doing
something that would make commuters
and vehicle owners have respite on that
corridor?

Mr Speaker,
these three roads, as indicated are very
important to us, particularly the enclave
where the roads are. So I agree with my
Hon Colleague, and I am sure he is also
aware that the construction of these roads
from VALCO Roundabout - TOR - Kpone to Steel Works and TT Brothers
are not ordinary roads to be constructed
to bituminous level. These are areas that
have been programmed as concrete
roads.
Mr Speaker, in our country, the only
concrete road that we have, properly
speaking, is the Accra - Tema Motorway, and because of the heavy vehicular
movement around this enclave, we
decided to construct the roads there as
concrete roads, and a special ceremony
was carried out. Concrete roads require
specific equipment. They are not roads
such that if any contractor defaults can be
easily re-awarded to another contractor.
That is why the Steel Works - TT
Brothers Road is substantially completed.
This is because the contractor who
undertook that job was one of the best we
have in this country - JOSHOB Con- struction, and he used special machinery
for that job. So, he has been charged to
undertake the other remaining jobs,
particularly from VALCO Roundabout
to TOR. Therefore, I would like to say
that this job will be undertaken to a great
extent this year, having almost
completed the Steel Works Road, which,
I am sure the Hon Member himself is
aware. That is substantially complete; it
is around 98 per cent completion. So, the
contractor is moving to the other road
between TOR and VALCO Roundabout.
Mr Speaker, I thank you.

Mr Speaker, with your
permission, I beg to read from the last but
one paragraph of the Hon Minister's Answer, and this relates to the DVLA
Road in Tema: “The project is at 3 per cent physical completion. The contractor
has vacated site. The contract is being
terminated for non-performance.”
Mr Speaker, marrying these two
statements that the contractor has
performed on the Steel Works Road and
is being assigned to the VALCO
Roundabout - TOR Junction Road yet, this is a contractor who has abandoned
site for non-performance.

May I ask the Hon Minister, what the

consequences would be, for a road that

has received some work; three per cent

done, with no payment made yet? What

would be the legal implication?

Mr Speaker
thank you. We do not just terminate
contracts. Yes, there is a contractual
relationship between the employer,
being the Government, and the
contractor, and one may not know what
the three per cent constitutes. So, if the
contractor has abandoned site, and he has
not worked up to the level that he should
be paid, per the certificate, which we call
the Interim Payment Certificate (IPC)
that is submitted, then we would make
sure he has basis for terminating the
contract. So, once we decide to terminate
the contract, definitely, we shall comply
with the prevailing law connecting the
employer and the contractor.

Very well.
Hon Members, Question numbered
712 in the name of the Hon Member for
Adenta. Mr Mohammed Adamu
Ramadan, you may ask your Question?
Urgent Steps to Mitigate Traffic
Situation on Adenta - Amrahia Malejor - Dodowa Road
Mr Mohammed Adamu Ramadan
(NDC — Adentan): Mr Speaker, I beg to ask the Hon Minister for Roads and
Highways what urgent steps the Ministry
is taking to mitigate the traffic situation
on the Adenta - Amrahia Malejor - Dodowa road.

Mr Speaker,
thank you.
Background
The Adenta - Dodowa road forms part of the Regional Road R40 which connects the Greater Accra Region at Adenta Junction through Dodowa to the Eastern Region at Trom. It is a single carriageway with bituminous surface treated and in fair condition. Sections of the road are however in bad condition (at major intersections and at the approaches of speed tables). It has medium to high traffic which worsens during the peak hours (morning and evening).
Current programme
The dualisation of the Adenta- Dodowa road is part of the Sinohydro Master Project Support Agreement (MPSA) between the Government of Ghana and Sinohydro Corporation of China as Lot 5. Under the programme, the road is supposed to be widened to a dual carriageway between Adenta and Oyibi. However, this particular Lot has stalled because Sinosure is yet to clear the financing.
However, the Ghana Highway Authority in the interim, has been carrying out routine maintenance works on the bad sections of the road to keep it motorable and to maintain the structural integrity of the road.

Yes, Hon Member?

Mr Speaker, on 28th July, 2018, this House passed the Master Project Support Agreement, and on 21st November, 2018, that same year, the Hon Minister for Information, Mr Kojo Oppong Nkrumah, indicated that the first

tranche of US$649 million had been made available to be assessed by Government. The project was due to start in the year 2019. Five years on, nothing has started on that road.

I would want to find out from the Hon

Minister, whether this project is still on

the table or completely off the table now?

Yes, Hon Minister?

Mr Speaker,
thank you. All the projects constituting
the first Lot under the Sinohydro Master
Agreement Programme are all on the
table, and are being worked on. What
might be slow on one or two projects; but
I can assure everybody in this country
that the first 10 projects approved by
Synohydro constitutes the first phase,
and totalling 441 kms of road network is
being worked on.
However, I mentioned in my Answer
that Synosure, which is the insurance
aspect of the project, must necessarily
underwrite the financing agreement for
this particular project. It is being worked
on, and as it forms part of the first Lot, it
is still on the table and it is going on as
others have been completed in the
country.
Mr Speaker, if you would allow me,
one can see that the Tamale Interchange
is fully completed, Takoradi PTC
Interchange almost around 97 to 98 per
cent completion stage, and other internal
roads, 100 kms in Kumasi, Cape Coast,
and the rest, have been completed and
commissioned in the Western Region.
These form part of the part 1 of the
project, and it would be finished. I can
give you that assurance.

Yes, Hon Member?

Mr Speaker, one can
best describe the situation on that stretch
of road as horrendous. A distance of
about 10 to 12 kms which would take
about 20 to 30 minutes would sometimes
take people between three to four hours.
One needs to experience it to appreciate
what I am saying. Adenta is predominantly
a ‘dormitory' Constituency where people in the middle-class work in town but live
there. People would have to wake up
sometimes as early as 3 a.m. or 4 a.m. to
move into town, just to avoid the traffic.
Mr Speaker, I would like to beg the
Hon Minister if his Ministry could
consider looking at the inner roads
because if one knows that stretch
properly, regarding people coming from
Ashiyie Amanfrom, if the inner roads are
in good condition, they do not have to get
on to the main road but rather use the
inner roads to come through hotel
junction or through to Ashaley Botwe.
Mr Speaker, so, I would kindly plead
with the Hon Minister, if we could
consider that option or like his Ministry
did for the gang of four roads, if the
Government of Ghana (GoG) could take
over, and consider dualising this road as
it is really difficult for my constituents.

Yes, Hon Minister.

Mr Speaker,
thank you. This is an option worth
considering, and I can also confirm that

that road is one of the heavily trafficked

roads we have within the Greater Accra

Region. That is why the road is being

widened, and being dualised.

If one may know, the Ministry is

dualising that portion of the road

between Adenta and Oyibi, and

It is all an attempt to make sure that

we reduce the congestion of vehicles on

that road. Mr Speaker, his suggestion is

a good one and it is well conceived.

Mr Speaker, I thank you.

Very
well.
Hon Members, I would move on to
Question number 776 which stands in the
name of the Hon Member for Awutu
Senya West, Mrs Gizella Tetteh-
Agbotui.
Completion of Obrachire SHS and
Bontrase to Ayiresu Roads
Mrs Gizella Tetteh-Agbotui (NDC
— Awutu-Senya West): Mr Speaker, I beg to ask the Hon Minister for Roads
and Highways when the following roads
in the Awutu-Senya West Constituency
would be completed: (i) Obrachire SHS
Road (ii) Bontrase to Ayiresu Road.

Mr Speaker, the
Bontrase - Ayiresu and Obrachire SHS
roads can be found in Bawjiase in the
Awutu Senya West District of the
Central Region. Trading and farming are
the primary economic activities in this
area.
Mr Speaker, the rehabilitation of the
Bontrase - Ayiresu and Obrachire SHS
roads have been awarded under the
contract titled “Rehabilitation of Bawjiase Town Roads (5.2km)”. The project commenced on 14th September,
2020 for completion in 24 calendar
months.
Mr Speaker, the roads to be
constructed under this contract include:
 Opei Abbey - Solomon Quaye Junction, Bawjiase (2.3kms)
 Y-Junction - Ayensu Starch Factory Road, Bawjiase (1.4kms)
 Akpetehie Factory Road, Bontrase (0.7km)
 Obrachire Senior High School Roads (0.8km)
Current Programme
Mr Speaker, the contractor is
currently on site and undertaking
drainage works on Obrachire Senior
High School roads.
Mr Speaker, the physical progress of
works is estimated at 22 per cent.

Mr Speaker,
one big challenge I realised is that all
these road segments have been packaged
together. This constituency has a high

level of rainfall when the rainy season

sets in, yet, quite a number of the drains

have been done but have not been

completed. So, it is likely to cause a lot

of erosion since the physical progress of

works is estimated at 22 per cent. Some

of the drains are also broken. This is

because they started but terminated the

construction at a point. So, could the Hon

Minister give some assurance that some

payments could be done so that the

contractor could expedite work with all

these multiple sections that are

outstanding? I am presupposing that

there are some payment issues relating to

this and when it is done then the people

would also benefit from the roads that are

being improved in the constituency.

Mr Speaker, I thank you.

Mr Speaker, it
is true that work on this project has been
slow. As much as we try to push the
contractor to speed up work — and I believe that she knows the contractor,
Polyroads Positive West Africa Limited.
The original completion date for this
work was September, 2022 but it was
postponed to December of that same
year. However, from all indications, we
had to extend it to December this year.
We also need to push the contractor by
supporting him — I must be honest and fair to the contractor. Payment must also
be made available to him and we are
trying to do that. The good thing is that
he is still on site although work is not
going on. However, with the support
from us, the contractor would proceed
and be empowered to keep up with the
good work.
Mr Speaker, I thank you.

Mr Speaker,
these roads are in three different
communities. Two of the roads are in
Bawjiase — Opei Abbey - Solomon Quaye Junction and Y-Junction - Ayensu Starch Factory Road;
Akpeteshie Factory Road is in Bontrase
and Obrachire Senior High School Road
is in Obrachire. So, I would plead with
the Hon Minister that these three
communities are very important and they
have suffered enough with their bad
roads.
Mr Speaker, I thank you.

Hon
Member, I suppose she wants your
assurance.

Mr Speaker, I
share the concern of the Hon Member
and I take it in good faith.

Very
well.
Hon Members, we would take
Question number 1350, which stands in
the name of the Hon Member for
Kwadaso, Dr Kingsley Nyarko.

Mr Speaker, I
rise to seek your permission to ask the
Question on behalf of Dr Kingsley
Nyarko.

Hon
Member, why do you have to seek
permission?

Mr Speaker, he informed
me to ask the Question on his behalf.

Has he
asked you to ask the Question on his
behalf?

Very
well. Permission is granted for you to ask
the Question on his behalf.
Completion of the Santasi - Apire - Heman Road
Mr Patrick Banor on behalf of Dr
Kingsley Nyarko (NPP - Kwadaso): Mr Speaker, I beg to ask the Hon
Minister for Roads and Highways when
the contractor working on the
Santasi―Apire―Heman road will return to the site to continue and
complete that deplorable road.

Mr Speaker, the
Santasi - Apre - Heman road is identified on Department of Feeder Roads (DFR's) database as Santasi - Apire - Heman - Bebu which is 14.65km. The road is an
inter-district feeder road that connects
Kwadaso Municipal and Atwima
Kwanwoma District of the Ashanti
Region. It is an engineered gravel surface
road in fair condition.
Current Programme
Mr Speaker, contract for the
upgrading of the road was awarded under
the project titled “Upgrading of Santasi - Apire - Heman - Bebu Feeder Road (14.65km)”. The contract commenced on
21st February, 2021, for completion by
20th August, 2022, which was later
revised to 20th August, 2023.
Mr Speaker, the project is currently
50 per cent complete and the contractor
is on site.

Mr Speaker, I do not
have any supplementary question.

Hon
Member for Asutifi North, do you have
his permission to also ask the next
Question on his behalf?

Yes, Mr Speaker.

Very
well. You may proceed.
Status of the Ohwimase - Denkyemuoso - Atwima Takyiman - Trabuom Road
Mr Patrick Banor on behalf of Dr
Kingsley Nyarko (NPP - Kwadaso): Mr Speaker, I beg to ask the Hon
Minister for Roads and Highways the
status of the Ohwimase - Denkyemuoso - Atwima Takyiman - Trabuom road.

Mr Speaker, the Ohwimase - Denkyemuoso - Atwima Takyiman - Trabuom road forms part of the R134 which carries traffic from the western side of Kumasi to Nkawie, Bibiani and beyond. It serves towns such as Denkyemuoso, Boko, Foase and other

communities. This road is within the

Kwadaso Municipality.

Current Programme

Mr Speaker, contract for the “Upgrading of Kwadaso - Trabuom Road (15.2km)” commenced on 5th September, 2019, for completion by 4th September, 2021, which has since elapsed. The works are currently at 85.1 per cent physical completion. The

contractor has executed the underlisted works:

i. Site clearance and demolition works

ii. Earthworks (cut and fill)

iii. Concrete works (U-drains and Culverts)

iv. Road paving works (subbase and mechanical stabilised base)

v. Sectional primer sealing works

vi. Sectional sealing works.

Mr Speaker, however, the contractor is not on site due to a delay in payment

for work done. The contractor has indicated willingness to move to site

when payment is duly made.

Hon Member, do you have any supple- mentary questions?

Mr Speaker, no. I thank you.

Mr Speaker, I know of this very road, and I take key notice of the response by the Hon Minister. In fact, what the Hon Minister did on 5th September, 2019, was repackaging and giving it to the contractor. This is because the contractor had been on the road until that time, which is about four years. So, the contractor was awarded the contract in 2014, and when the Hon Minister came, he repackaged it and gave it to the same contractor, who has been there. There is a lot of dust generated by the contractor who comes — it is just touch and go. Even where he has constructed and applied bitumen; from Ohwimase, he has done about just 1km; however, every now and then, he is on the road, scarifying and doing it all over again.
Mr Speaker, may we know from the Hon Minister whether indeed he is satisfied with the work, apart from the payment that he said is due. Even then, with the spot that the contractor has done, every now and then, he comes, scarifies it, and does it all over again. I would like to know whether the Hon Minister is really satisfied with the job of the contractor.

Mr Speaker, I cannot say that I am satisfied with any job, unless it is completed. I know the worries of all my Hon Colleagues: if road construction works start in our respective constituencies and they do not get completed, and all the troubles that we get from our people. So, I cannot say that I am satisfied with the work.
Mr Speaker, in my Answer, I said that a lot of work has been done. In fact,

the contractor has got to what we call the substantial completion stage of above 85 per cent. Some areas have been primer sealed; only a small section has been fully sealed. The most dangerous thing is that if a contractor gets to a primer seal stage and stops, within a very short time — those of us who follow road construction and understand — the entire project goes back.

Mr Speaker, I was also honest to say

that the contractor is owed so much and that anytime we make efforts to pay, he goes back to work. A contractor who has worked on a project up to 85per cent- completion stage is a serious contractor by all standards. So, the only promise is that the employer, which is the Government, also makes efforts as we are doing to make some payment to the contractor to go back to complete the work.

Hon Majority Leader, can we move on now?

Mr Speaker, with the indulgence of my Hon Colleagues and of course, the Hon Minister for Roads and Highways, I would like to apply for us to vary the order of Business and go back to the item listed 9 on page 6 of the Order Paper.

Very well.
Minority Leadership, the Hon
Majority Leader is asking for a variation
of the order of Business.

Mr Speaker, this was
not explicitly discussed at conclave.
However, I think that it is not harmful to
allow the Hon Minister to just leave, just
for the record.

Very
well.
Hon Members, at the commencement
of Public Business, the item numbered 9
- Presentation and First Reading of Bills.
The item numbered 9(a) would be
presented by the Hon Attorney-General
and Minister for Justice.

Mr
Speaker, I would like to seek leave for
the Hon Deputy Attorney-General and
Minister for Justice to do the pre-
sentation on behalf of the Hon Attorney-
General and Minister for Justice.

Yes,
Hon Deputy Attorney-General and
Minister for Justice?

Hon
Members, the item numbered 9(b).
Contracts (Amendment) Bill, 2022
An ACT to amend the Contracts Act,
1960 (Act 25) to provide for the type of interest to be paid on a sum on money due to a party of a contract or transaction entered into on behalf of the Republic.
Presented by the Hon Deputy
Attorney-General and Minister for Justice (Mr Alfred Tuah-Yeboah) (on behalf of the Hon Attorney-General and Minister for Justice). Read the First time; referred to the Committee on Constitutional, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs.

Hon
Members, that is the end of the Pre- sentation and First Reading of Bills. We would now return to Question time.

Mr Speaker,
we have listed on the Order Paper as item 12 and 13, in respect of the advice that the Committee that was put in place formerly as given to the Rt Hon Speaker, the advice has been given. I am not too sure that the advice that is given to the Rt Hon Speaker ought to be advertised as the advice given to the Rt Hon Speaker. I believe that on account of that, Rt Hon Speaker may announce to us that he has received advice from us and, indeed, has appointed persons to serve on the Parliamentary Service Board. If that is acceptable to the Chair, then I would
pray the Rt Hon Speaker that the items numbered 12 and 13 no longer be taken because I am not too sure that an advice that is supposed to be given to the Rt Hon Speaker should be advertised on the Order Paper, but indeed, the advice has been given.
Mr Speaker, I thank you.

Very
well, as you so advice, I would defer any
consideration of that to the Rt Hon
Speaker when he takes the Chair.
Hon Members, having regard to the
state of the Business of the House, I
direct that the House Sits outside the
regular Sitting hours.
We shall return to Question time and
continue with the Question numbered
*1583 in the name of the Hon Member
for Suhum, Mr Kwadjo Asante.

Very well, the next Question is in the

name of the Hon Member for Amasaman,

Mr Akwasi Owusu Afrifa-Mensa.

Mr Alexander K. Afenyo-Markin

— rose —

Yes,
Hon Deputy Majority Leader?

Mr Speaker, apparently, the Hon
Member for Suhum had communicated
to the Hon Majority Chief Whip, who
has just drawn my attention that the Hon
Member for Suhum wanted me to do that

on his behalf because of some emer-

gency. With your leave, therefore, I shall

proceed to ask the Minister for Roads

and Highways when the Suhum-Okrase

asphalt —

Hon
Deputy Majority Leader, I have not
given you the permission and you are
proceeding?

Alright, Mr
Speaker.

You are
seeking permission to do it on his behalf,
is that it?

Mr Speaker, it
is so.

Very
well, now, permission is granted. You
may ask the Question.

Thank you, Mr
Speaker.

Mr Speaker,
Background
Suhum is the administrative capital
of the Suhum Municipality in the Eastern Region.
Current Programme
The contract for “Asphaltic Overlay
on Selected Roads in Suhum” measuring 10.0 kilometres commenced on 8th November, 2019, for completion by 7th May, 2020. The project is at 94 per cent physical completion.
Mr Speaker, the Suhum - Okrase
road is captured under the project as “the Independence High Street (Okrase - Mile 44 Road, 4km)”. The contractor has completed 2.1km out of the 4km. The contractor is on site.
Mr Speaker, I thank you.

Yes, Hon Deputy Majority Leader, are there any follow-up questions?

Mr Speaker, no.

Very well. I would move to the Hon Member for Amasaman, Mr Akwasi Owusu Afrifa-Mensa.
Causes of Flooding on the N6 Circle to Ofankor Road

Mr Speaker, I beg to ask the Hon Minister for Roads and Highways what accounts for the flooding

on the N6 Circle to Ofankor road notably in front of the Ghana Telecommu- nication University College (GTUC), in front of Shell filling station near Peace FM, in front of Muus, close to Taifa Junction and the Ofankor Roundabout.

Minister for Roads and Highways

(Mr Kwasi Amoako-Attah): Mr Speaker,

Background

The Achimota-Ofankor Road, N6,

was reconstructed from a two-lane single

carriageway to a three-lane dual

carriageway in the year 2012. The total

length that was reconstructed is 5.7

kilometres. It forms part of the urban

section of the dualisation of the Accra-

Kumasi Road project.

Causes of Flooding on the Achimota-

Ofankor Road

The flooding on the Achimota-

Ofankor Road, precisely the Shell Fuel

Station, Old Peace FM, Ofankor Barrier

is due to encroachment on the outfall of

the drains that collects runoff water from

the road and adjoining land.

In addition, the hydraulic capacity of

the drains has been reduced by

accumulation of silt and refuse.

Current Programme

Mr Speaker, the Ghana Highway

Authority will collaborate with the

Regional Coordinating Council, the

Metropolitan/Municipal Assemblies, and the

National Security to demolish all

structures on the waterways to allow the

free flow of water.

Meanwhile, Ghana Highway Authority

will desilt the drains as part of the

Agency's routine maintenance activities. I thank you, Mr Speaker.

Hon
Member, do you have any follow-up
questions?

Mr Speaker,
please I have a follow-up question; I
would like to find out from the Hon
Minister how soon the demolishing can
be done since rains will start falling soon.
The mere falling of rain on these roads
for five minutes causes slow movement
of traffic. Thank you.

Yes,
Hon Minister?

Mr Speaker,
demolishing exercises do not have any
fixed time or date, but taking into
consideration the nature of the perennial
flooding that has been experienced at
these sections of the road and the damage
that it causes anytime the road gets
flooded, the demolishing, if supported by
the Regional Coordination Council
(RCC) and the Metropolitan and
Municipal Assemblies (MMAs), should
be carried out almost immediately,
particularly around this time, before the
rains set it.
However, in doing so, I would like to
add that our people must also be
educated and cautioned because this road
which was constructed as far back as

2012, met all the engineering and design

construction specifics and the place was

not getting flooded until people decided

to encroach on the fore of the project.

That has been causing the flooding and a

lot of people also throw a lot of rubbish

into all the drains that were constructed

as part of the road. Nobody takes any

pleasure in demolishing houses, but as

quickly as possible and particularly

around this time, I would urge these

agencies; the RCC and MMAs to assist

the Ministry of Roads and Highways to

carry out the demolishing which could be

done any moment from now if we get the

support.

I thank you, Mr Speaker.

Yes,
Hon Member?

Mr Speaker, I
thank you. I would like to find out from
the Hon Minister if the engineers at the
Ministry of Roads and Highways could
do something about this road, to find a
lasting solution to this flooding situation
on this main highway.

I think
that is what he said. The solution is to
remove all the obstructions. If you have
another question, please ask.
Should we move on to the last
Question?
Very well. So, kindly ask Question
number 1656.
Payment of Compensation to Affected
Persons
Mr Akwasi Owusu Afrifa-Mensa
(NPP—Amasaman): Mr Speaker, I beg to ask the Minister for Roads and
Highways, when compensation will be
paid to people whose properties have
been affected by the construction and
expansion of Ofankor - Amasaman - Nsawam highway.

Yes, Hon Minister?
Minister for Roads and Highways
(Mr Kwasi Amoako-Attah): Mr Speaker,
Background
The Ofankor - Amasaman -
Nsawam Highway forms part of the National Road N6 which connects the Greater Accra Region through Nsawam to the northern part of Ghana. The reconstruction of the road makes provision for 10 lanes comprising; six lanes on the main highway and four lanes on the service roads.
There is also provision for four
flyovers at the major town centres, namely, Amasaman, Pobiman, Medie and Nsawam Junction. The contract also makes provision for ten 10 pedestrian footbridges and one pedestrian underpass. Due to the project scope, the mandatory 90m Right of Way provision for national roads will be fully utilised. As a result, structures within the Right of Way were demolished to make way for the works.

Current Programme

The Right of Way (90 metres) for the

Accra-Kumasi Road Corridor which includes the Ofankor - Nsawam Road Section (Dual Carriageway) of 33.4km was acquired on 23rd December, 2003, and amended on 16th September, 2004, under the Executive Instrument (E.I. 17

& 7).

To date, the Government of Ghana

has paid compensation to the tune of

GH₵40,649,177.16 to about 1,500 Project Affected Persons (PAPs).

Current claimants leased the acquired

Right of Way from owners who had

already been paid compensation under

the said E.I, that is E.I. 17&7. These

claims have been submitted to the Lands

Commission for a joint audit after which

eligible claims would be processed for

payment.

Mr Speaker, I
would like to thank the Hon Minister and
further ask that under what circum-
stances a person whose property was
demolished would not qualify for
compensation since he stated in his
response that the claims are being
audited, and only eligible claimants
would be paid compensation.

Mr Speaker, in
my Answer, I said that majority of the
Project Affected Persons (PAPs) have
been paid the right compensation due
them. After the payment, some other
people went and leased out the properties
after the original owners had been paid,
and Government would never pay
compensation twice. There are others too
who encroached on the road corridors
reserved for road construction. They also
did that illegally and I would like to
make this point that anybody who
encroaches on the right of way despite all
the warnings that we give, Government
would not go ahead to pay compensation
to them.
However, as indicated in my Answer, the matter is being referred for audit and at the end of it, those who are due for compensation would be paid. I have already said that over GH₵40 million has been paid to PAPs, but people must be aware that if they do not do the right thing and encroach on road corridor, no compensation would be paid by the Government.

Yes, anymore question? Are you done?

Yes, Mr Speaker, thank you.

Very well. Hon Members, that brings us to the end of Question time. I thank the Hon Minister for attending upon the House to answer Questions.
Hon Minister, you are discharged.
Yes, it is 2.30 p.m. by my watch on a Friday.

Mr Speaker, we would take a Statement.

I admitted these Statements, but are they

urgent to be taken today? Today is a Friday and it is past our Sitting time.

Mr Speaker, if you would indulge me, there are Papers to be presented. I guess we could do that within five minutes and then we can take the Statements. We can take the item numbered 8.

Hon Members, we would take the item numbered 8, Presentation of Papers. Very well. The item numbered (a) would be taken by the Hon Majority Leader.

Hon Members, the Report is dully presented. The Rt Hon Speaker would act on it.
Hon Members, the item numbered
8(b) to be laid by the Hon Minister for Transport.

Mr Speaker, it would be taken by the Hon Minister for Roads and Highways.

Very
well, Hon Minister, you may go ahead.
By the Minister for Roads and
Highways (Mr Kwasi Amoako-Attah) (on
behalf of the Minister for Transport) —
National Road Safety Authority
Regulations, 2022.
Referred to the Committee on
Subsidiary Legislation.

Hon
Members, the item numbered 8(c) to be
laid by the Hon Minister for Education.

Mr Speaker,
I would like to seek permission for the
Hon Minister for Communications and
Digitalisation to present the item
numbered 8(c) on behalf of the Hon
Minister for Education.

Hon
Majority Leader, the Hon Minister for
Education should come and present it
himself. — [Pause] — The presentation is deferred.
Yes, Hon Majority Leader?

Mr
Speaker, the Hon Deputy Minister for
Local Government, Decentralisation and
Rural Development is in the House with
us, so he could do the presentation on

behalf of the Hon Minister as the acting

Minister.

Very
well.
By the Deputy Minister for Local
Government, Decentralisation and Rural
Development (Mr Osei Bonsu Amoah)
on behalf of (the Minister for Local
Government, Decentralisation and Rural
Development) —
Annual Statement by the Audit
Committee of the Bolgatanga East
District Assembly for the year 2021.
Referred to the Committee on Local
Government, and Rural Development.

Are we

Hon Members, we would take the

item numbered 8(e). Is it not ready?

What about the items numbered 8(f) (i)

and (ii)? Very well.

Mr Speaker,
we would defer the item numbered 8(f).

Very
well.
Yes, so what is the pleasure of the
House?

Mr Speaker, it
is to take the Statement.

Is that
the pleasure of the House?

Mr Speaker, we could
take the Statement now. — [Interruption] Yes, starting with the Hon Deputy
Majority Leader's elaborate Statement on Cyber Security.

Well,
there are two Statements that I admitted;
are we going to take all of them? Very
well.
Yes, Hon Deputy Majority Leader,
you may read your Statement.

Hon
Minister for Communications and
Digitalisation, you would be the last
person.
Yes, Mr Rockson-Nelson Dafeamekpor?
Mr Rockson-Nelson Etse Kwame
Dafeamekpor (NDC — South Dayi): Mr Speaker, I thank you for the
opportunity to comment on the
Statement ably and scholarly presented
by the Hon Deputy Majority Leader.
Mr Speaker, I said scholarly because
the Statement reads like a well-
researched academic article, with all
references scholarly indicated. We must
commend the Hon Deputy Majority
Leader for that.
Mr Speaker, this Statement speaks to a
very serious matter presently affecting
everyone. This is particularly because
the use of mobile phones, which are now
mostly called smartphones, has become
very important to our children so that we
can stay in touch with them and reach out
to them while we are here working and
other parents are also working from
elsewhere. So, by the sheer nature of the
circumstances in which we find
ourselves, our children are necessarily
exposed to the use of smartphones
connected to the internet. The concern of
the Hon Deputy Majority Leader who
made the Statement is about how we
allow our children to use smartphones
while at the same time preventing them
from having access to unwholesome
content.
Mr Speaker, the Hon Deputy Majority
Leader made reference to some figures:

as much as 4.5 billion children are part of

the people who make use of social

media. If the general statistics is that 40

per cent of the general population is

constituted by children under 18 years,

then, it presupposes that about two

billion children are part of the 4.5 billion

people who are presently exposed to

social media. This, therefore, shows that

we, as a people, must take this Statement

and the issues raised very seriously.

For instance, paragraph 9 of page 4

states and I beg to quote:

“A UNICEF report released in 2021 revealed globally that one in

five girls and one in 13 boys suffer

sexual abuse or some exploitation

through electronic media before

they attain their 18th birthday.”

Mr Speaker, this would be on some

general application. It, therefore, shows

that the number of children in this

country who are predisposed to the use

of smartphones, which nowadays come

with in-built social media applications,

suffer similar abuses.

Mr Speaker, the Hon Deputy Majority

Leader actually quotes portions of the

report to the effect that the scale

complexity and danger of online-

facilitated child sexual abuse and

exploitation is escalating, with tech-

nology enabling new modes of child

abuse to emerge, such as the

livestreaming of sexual assault and

sexual extortion of children, often to

coerce a child to take part in the

production of child sexual abuse material

under threat.

Mr Speaker, we have listened to other

Hon Members who have raised similar

matters in similar Statements before,

which is why I am particularly happy

about the Hon Deputy Majority Leader's final call, as part of the conclusion of the

Statement, that this should be referred to

a joint Committee, to consider the

contents of the Statement and bring a

report to guide the House, as to public

policy and legislation.

Mr Speaker, although it is quite a

lengthy Statement, I would like to lend

my support to the call that this matter be

expeditiously dealt with and a report

brought to the House.

To conclude, I would like to borrow the

last suggestion the Hon Deputy Majority

Leader put out as the role of parents in

checking this matter. He states in

paragraph 19(j) that as parents, we

should “impose limits on our children's screen time and set phone curfews to

prevent our children from having late-

night conversations online.”

Mr Speaker, I think we are all parents,

so we should be guided by these

admonitions and check how long our

children stay on mobile phones,

smartphones, tablets, or whatever

gadgets are available to them. We should

set what is being described as “phone curfews” so that our children are not too predisposed to the dangers that the

Statement seeks to draw attention to.

Mr Speaker, thank you for the oppor-

tunity.

Some Hon Members — rose —

Hon
Minister, I had wanted you to be the last
person.

Mr Speaker, I
know please.

But I
would let the Hon Member for Tamale
Central contribute first.
Mr Murtala Muhammed Ibrahim
(NDC — Tamale Central): Mr Speaker, thank you for giving me the opportunity to contribute to the Statement - and permit me to borrow the words of my Hon Friend - “ably made” by the Hon Deputy Majority Leader,
Mr Speaker, the cyber space is one that
seeks several things. Depending on how it is used, it can be positive or negative. The space and technology could be used to advance societies, create oppor- tunities, jobs, and do many other positive things. Unfortunately, it could also be used to create chaos and anarchy in society. We have seen that, oftentimes, people have cases in court because some of them used the cyber space to attack the integrity of people who have built their integrity over several years through hard work. Mr Speaker, unfortunately, the cyber space is also being used, or could be used, to create chaos and anarchy. We have seen examples of such in many parts of Africa.
Mr Speaker, it is worrying when our
young ones, who are the human resource base of our country in some years to come, happen to be the people who are affected tremendously by the misuse of cyber space. I find it extremely difficult
to comprehend how we can guide against the abuse of the cyber space. The children go to school — While one parent may have the ability to prevent the children from going to school with such phones, but the friends of the children may have theirs.
Recently, we have seen how students
in senior high schools attack citizens of this country.

We have seen how people virtually

stabbed and killed each other because someone used the space to attack another, who also retaliated, and at the end of the day, it had to take the security agencies to settle the differences between these two people.

Mr Speaker, the danger of this is not

just what they look at, but the

introduction of LGBTQ+ through this

cyber space. In fact, I have seen and have

even lost count — I was watching one of these kids' programmes on television at home, and I was flabbergasted to see

LGBTQ+ ideas introduced in some of

the cartoons. These cartoons on

television can also be found on their

phones. That, for me, is the danger.

My understanding of how some of

these social networks are used by

countries, such as China, is mostly for

the purposes of education. For example,

TikTok, is a Chinese programme, and I

have heard experts who have stated that

in China, its use is regulated to the extent

that kids are encouraged to use it for the

purposes of advancing knowledge.

However, in our part of the world, I can

bet with my last penny that 99 per cent of

its use is not for the purposes of

advancing education and technology; it

is used for the purposes of things that do

not contribute meaningfully towards the

growth of this country. That is why I

joined the call that, as the legislative Arm

of this country, we need to begin to look

at policies that have some level of

regulations as to how people use this

space.

Mr Speaker, I have had people who

have created Facebook accounts in my

name for more than a million times.

These accounts are used to defraud

people. Just yesterday, I had to report to

the Ghana Police that someone had

created a Facebook account in my name,

asking people to pay money for the

purposes of being recruited into the

security services. I do not think that there

is any Member of Parliament (MP) here

who is not a victim of such faceless,

cowardice Facebook accounts created by

people we do not even know. People fall

prey to such fraud because of the level of

desperation of wanting to get jobs.

Mr Speaker, we must begin to avoid

just talking and begin to act, and act now.

I got the information that the Ghana

Police Service — because when I spoke with the police officer, he said that they

have created a desk and that they are

going to take particular attention to how

MPs' names have been used to create such sites. How about those who are not

MPs? How about those who have built

their integrity and lives for several years,

if not decades? I think that we need to

begin to act, and it is in this vein that I

could not agree more with my Hon

Brother and Comrade when he said that

the Statement was ably presented by my

very good Hon Friend — [Interruption]— Yes, socialist term — I know how discomforting it is when

someone uses the term, “comrade”.

Mr Speaker, I thank you for giving me

the opportunity to make this contribution

and to thank my Hon Comrade Friend for

contributing to the Statement ably made

by my Hon Friend, who, otherwise,

should have been comrade.

Mr Speaker, thank you.

I will
come to the Leaders, and then the Hon
Minister would conclude.
Deputy Minority Leader (Mr
Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah): Mr
Speaker, thank you. I would like to thank
the Hon Member who made the
Statement, the MP for Effutu, Mr
Alexander Kwamena Afenyo-Markin,
for a very thorough and well-researched
Statement.
Mr Speaker, the reason this Statement
is very important is that the Hon Member
who made the Statement took the
trouble, not just to outline the advantages
of social media, but to also bring out the
dangers, made recommendations, and
even outlined the role of parents in this
fight to make sure that our children are
safe. Indeed, I think every MP, on a daily
basis, would use some of the social
media platforms: Facebook, Twitter, or
Tiktok et cetera. Really, when we started,
I think the term was “Information Superhighway”—The advantages are enormous, that a child in a village in

Ellembele, who is connected to the

internet and really studying mathematics

with another child in Japan, solves

mathematical problem, problems whose

answers otherwise could not be found.

So, yes, there are a lot of advantages.

This is the social media that has now

made the world a global village, indeed.

It also comes with serious dangers that

have been outlined by the Hon Member

who made the Statement. He talked

about exposure to upsetting and

inappropriate content and sexual

violence that has been brought about by

this. A lot of dangers have also been

described by the Hon Members who

previously contributed to the Statement.

Times are different in this information

superhighway. When I was growing up,

the worst one could do was that, “KKs band” had come to one's village, and in the evening, one, somehow, escaped to

go and watch the concert without the

permission of one's parents. They would track the person down to that concert

party, grab them by the neck, and they

would go home and get a slap. However,

the parent of the 21st Century is at home

with the child who is in his room; the

assumption is that he or she is being a

good child, but they are on the internet,

connected to a place the parent has no

idea about. He or she is on the internet

and connected to the dangerous child

abuser. We have heard stories of a lot of

missing children who have escaped.

Mr Speaker, just three months ago, a

young girl from the Brong Ahafo Region

was lured to Ellembelle District, through

social media, with the promise by the

young man who lured her that not only

was he going to help her go to school, he

was also going to support her with a lot

of enticement. She ended up in

Ellembele District from Brong Ahafo — It was only by God's grace that we saved this young lady. We, thankfully, arrested

the abuser. The police disclosed that they

found 30 phones—this is a guy who has been duping so many — Apparently, he had gone in and out of jail for five times.

He was a hardened criminal, and all he

did was be on social media in a single

room in a small village called Ampain.

He was operating in the whole country,

luring girls, and I think even killing and

selling them, connecting them with a

network of very dangerous people.

Mr Speaker, this is what we are talking

about, so the recommendations by the

Hon Member who made the Statement

are very important, especially when he

talked about the efforts of the State

which has already passed laws. He talked

about the Cybersecurity Act, 2020 (Act

1038), but I would emphasise the need

for us to revisit and strengthen the Act to

make sure that — quite frankly, we can close the loop holes and make it

especially more punitive to punish

people who take advantage.

Mr Speaker, the recommendations,

especially, are what impress me. He

talked about the role of the parent, and

there is nothing very important than

parents making sure that they can engage

their children, making sure that they

create the lines of communication so that

our children would not find it so difficult

to engage us and tell us everything.

How many parents have that

relationship with their children? That is

important. The fear that they have gone

on the internet and somebody has

promised to give them - [Interruption]. So, Mr Speaker, this topic is very

important. The need for us to address the

issues raised is very important,

especially the concluding recommenda-

tions; they are critical and we must take

a real look, particularly the one that quite

frankly applies to this Parliament.

In his concluding remarks, the Hon

Member who made the Statement called

for a joint Committee of Gender,

Children and Social Protection, the

Ministry of Communication and Digita-

lisation — I am happy the Hon Minister is here and even the security services. Mr

Speaker, what I want to add is that on six

occasions, Facebook accounts in my

name have been used to dupe people. I

have gone to the Police, the intelligence

officers. They told me they were close to

arresting people at Spintex, but it never

happened. I do not remember a time that

they have been able to arrest anybody,

and I believe a lot of Hon Ministers of

State and Hon Members of Parliament

are helpless when it comes to these

fraudsters.

We must take these issues seriously,

especially, the Ghana Police Service. We

cannot create a desk at the Police Service

when it comes to this issue. We must

begin to have a whole department and

train a whole army of cyber-security

experts to deal with this issue.

Mr Speaker, this topic cannot be

exhausted today. It is too important, and

we must re-visit it and address the issues

that have been raised by the Hon

Member who made the Statement. I

thank you for the opportunity.

Majority Chief Whip (Mr Frank

Annoh-Dompreh): Mr Speaker, I intend

to be brief, and I see the Hon Minister for

Communication and Digitalisation

seated. I am sure she would speak from

the point of policy and also give further

elucidation on the matter. However, let

me acknowledge from the outset that in

other jurisdictions—I know about China, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and a

few other places—when you visit, there are limitations clearly put out on what

you can do on social media, Whatsapp

and others.

Let us not mix up the issues raised by

the Hon Member who made the

Statement. I think if we look at the topic,

the Hon Deputy Majority Leader is

looking at an early clamp-down on

exposure of children to social media.

That is the thrust of the Statement, and I

think we have to focus on that. Of course,

I agree that there are other considerations

and other concerns, especially looking at

social media as a resource and its

attendant negative effect inherent.

Mr Speaker, on children, it is

something that can be done. I heard the

Hon Member for Tamale Central

lamenting on limitations on this — Even

if we limit their access to phones, they

would definitely be going to other places

such as schools. It can still be done. Once

it is a policy of Government, the begging

question comes up as enforcement, and

that is what we have to focus on.

I must commend the Hon Deputy

Majority Leader. The Statement is very

well researched, detailed and also

properly puts matters into context,

referencing studies and publications that

are relevant. However, Mr Speaker, on

the existing law, which is the Cyber

Security Act, 2020 (Act 1038), probably,

that is what, if it pleases you, Mr

Speaker, we may look at doing a

consequential referral, so that one of

your Committees or an ad hoc

Committee could be put together to look

at these matters in context and advise the

House on how we should go forward.

This is because the risk is real. We

cannot pretend about it, especially where

it concerns our youth and our kids and

how vulnerable they are. We may have

to take a quick decision as a House and

come to some consensus on how we

should deal with this.

The Hon Deputy Minority Leader

lamented on what we have been going

through as Hon Members of Parliament.

The fraud that has been perpetuated on

us, especially in recent times, all comes

in wake to speak to the fact that all of us

are at risk. So, the matter is not about

children, but for the meantime, we

probably have to look at the law, and as

the Hon Member who made the

Statement laments on the dearth of

reports in this House to know what is

happening in terms of the implementation

of various sections of the Act?

Having said this, Mr Speaker, I would

want to commend the Hon Deputy

Majority Leader and pray you that you

probably do the needful by giving out a

consequential referral so that we can

further grind the matter and come to a

very good conclusion.

Minister for Communication and

Digitalisation (Mrs Ursula Gifty

Owusu-Ekuful): Mr Speaker, I must

commend the Hon Member who made

the Statement, the Hon Deputy Majority

Leader, for a very well-researched paper

which speaks the facts of the dangers that

we face and our children are exposed to

through social media usage. However, it

goes beyond merely social media usage.

It is the dangers online, generally, that

our children are exposed to. Some of

these dangers do not just come from

social media platforms, but by browsing

other sites online, and as some of the Hon

Members who commented indicated, it is

not so much social media that is the evil

but it is the use to which we put it that

may cause some harm to all of us.

Mr Speaker, he was right. Up to 30 to

40 per cent of our children are exposed

to dangers online. What do we do to

protect them? Our Cyber Security Act

provides some of the most far-reaching

protection that our children can have, as

indicated in the Statement, and almost all

the dangers that they are exposed to are

outlined in there and provision made for

some protection for them against that.

However, it is one thing making

provision in the law for addressing

deviant behaviour; it is another thing

enforcing those provisions in the law.

Thankfully, we have set up the Cyber

Security Act, 2020, which has a very

active child online protection unit which

works very closely with both civil

society and security agencies to clamp

down on actions that are taken in

contravention of the law.

As part of their duties, they have a very

active Public Education and

Sensitisation Department, and it is one of

the most effective ways that we have

identified to ensure that our children can

utilise online platforms safely. We

launched a Safer Digital Ghana pro-

gramme in 2008, and every year, there is

an Africa Safer Internet Day, which is

celebrated as part of the Safer Digital

Ghana Project. Over 400,000 school

children have been sensitised and

educated on safe ways to utilise the

internet and safer cyber-hygienic

practices. This year, they intend to reach

another additional 600,000 school

children largely in the second cycle

institutions.

Mr Speaker, they have also instituted a

short code through which all persons, not

just children, who are affected by some

practices online which they are

uncomfortable with, can seek advice. It

is a 24/7 platform which they utilise, and

the short code is 292. So, one can just

dial 292 and there would be somebody to

guide him or her as to what he or she can

do to either address a live situation that

he or she is going through or prevent

some untoward actions from happening.

We also have peer educators in the

various second cycle institutions and

have instituted quiz competitions that

also educate them on safer digital

practices. As part of our Girls in ICT

Programme as well, all the girls in our

various regions that we institute this

programme in, are also educated on it.

We need to advocate responsible usage

of social media. We have adequate laws

to protect our children and ourselves, and

it is not just our children that are at risk.

There are several instances of adults who

are also subjected to all manner of cyber

criminal activities, either knowingly or

unknowingly online. It is important, just

as the Hon Member who made the

Statement indicated, that we educate

ourselves so that we could assist our

children and protect ourselves.

Mr Speaker, this latest scourge of

people posting nude photographs and

images of themselves online is plaguing

not just our young people but even some

of our older compatriots as well. It is

something that we need to guard against

because images, once posted online, stay

there forever. The person may have

deleted it from his or her device but there

are people who know how to always

retrieve those images. Therefore, these

are some of the things that they are

taught never to do.

Mr Speaker, it is also very intriguing

that you would never meet a total

stranger on the streets in-person who

would tell you that I would like you to be

my friend and you would agree and share

intimate information about yourself with

that complete stranger within a few days

of meeting him or her. However, this

activity is happening online where friend

requests are sent and almost instantly,

they become like people who have

known each other ever since they were

born or they are forever and we share

intimate details of our lives with them.

Our children, through this programme,

are taught what to do and what not to do.

But, as the Hon Member who made the

Statement indicated, it is absolutely

imperative that parents interest

themselves in what their children are

doing online. Unfortunately, most

parents are clueless or unaware of many

of the activities that their children are

engaged in, the sites that they browse

online, and the people they are talking to

online.

Mr Speaker, it is important that we

build relationships with our children that

would enable them to discuss some of the

challenges that they are facing or even

incidents that they are exposed to online

with us to enable us advise them on what

to do. Parents cannot protect their

children if they do not know what

dangers are out there. So, I agree

completely with the Hon Member who

made the Statement that we provide an

opportunity for the Cyber Security

Authority to give a full briefing to

selected Committees of the House, and I

would even add that the Committee on

Defence and Interior be given full

briefing. I am also in favour of regular

Reports being presented to the House,

not just on social media usage but also on

the state of cyber security in our country

generally to update us on actions that are

being taken and the support that is

required from us as lawmakers as well.

Mr Speaker, I would also urge the

House to assist the Cyber Security

Authority and the Ministry of Finance to

work towards operationalising the Cyber

Security Fund. We may have a lot of

programmes but without financing for

those programmes, it would be

impossible to reach out to as many

people as possible who need to be taught

and exposed to some of the dangers

online and how we could also protect

ourselves from those dangers that are out

there. Therefore, I would be grateful if

that referral could be made. I lend my full

support to it and I hope that through that

we could all work towards providing the

Cyber Security Authority with the

requisite support; logistical and financial

support that they need to expand their

ambit to ensure that we are all adequately

protected.

Mr Speaker, there is a Cyber Crime

Division of the Ghana Police Service

which works very closely with the Cyber

Security Authority and there is a law

enforcement liaison unit which has been

set up within the Cyber Security

Authority to assist Hon Members who

may have their identity stolen and cloned

online to deal very quickly with some of

those incidents. So, I would use this

opportunity to urge all Hon Members of

Parliament who may be impersonated on

any social media platform to contact the

Cyber Security Authority. They have

established very good linkages with all

the social media owners and all those

sites could be pulled down very quickly.

Unfortunately, as fast as they are pulled

down, they are just as quickly set up

again. So, it is a constant battle but we

cannot relent on this fight. So, I would

urge Hon Members to contact the Cyber

Security Authority.

Mr Speaker, there are also applications

which allow parents to monitor the sites

that their children visit and even shut

those sites down remotely. It is important

that the parents even check the history of

the sites visited by their children on the

computers, laptops, or smartphones as

well. The parents could also retrieve that

information as well. I am sure that if we

provide an opportunity for the Cyber

Security Authority to liaise with Hon

Members of Parliament, they could teach

us some of these tools that would enable

us protect our children and ourselves

online.

Mr Speaker, there is suggestion,

however, in paragraph 18 of the

Statement that I do not quite agree with,

in the sense that the Hon Member is

asking for prohibiting children under 16

from consuming or using social media

and plans to sanction parents or

guardians if any of their children are

found visiting those social media sites.

Social media platforms are tools for

either good or evil. It is not just visiting those sites, they visit those sites for educational purposes. So, let us not throw out the baby with the bath water. Let us find a way to help them navigate the internet safely; use the internet and these social media platforms responsibly and derive the benefits that are available online while avoiding the pitfalls that are also available online. Therefore, I would not be in favour of criminalising social media usage for children under 16. There

are budding geniuses and in our Girls in ICT Programme, we have encountered children as young as nine who are building their own websites and are developing all manner of interesting programmes through exposure to the wonders of the internet. Therefore, let us be circumspect in how we deal with this. We believe that through public education, sensitisation, and training on cyber hygienic practices, our children could derive maximum benefits from the internet while avoiding the dangers out there.

Mr Speaker, let me, once again commend the Hon Member who made the Statement, the Hon Deputy Majority Leader, and all the comments that have come. I would like to assure the House that we would work closely with Parliament to ensure that our children get the very best out of the emerging and available opportunities on the internet to enable them compete with their peers across the globe and come up top as well.

Mr Speaker, I thank you.

Very well.
Thank you, Hon Members. There is another Statement. It is on the footballer, Mr Christian Atsu, so the Hon Ranking Member would read it. It is a very short one.

Mr Speaker, I thank you for the opportunity to make this Statement on how the people of this

country have been plunged in a state of confusion over a son of this land and footballer, Christian Atsu's safety after a devastating earthquake in Turkey in the early hours of Monday, 6th February,

2023.

Mr Speaker, it has now been about 10

days since these two powerful earth-

quakes ripped through southern Turkey

and parts of Syria. Rescue efforts are still

very much underway in Turkey where a

number of people have been pulled out

alive from the rubble, and there have

been reports on the rescue of many of our

sons and daughters for which we are

thankful to God. However, it is sad to

say that there is no news of the true state

of our very own footballer, Christian

Atsu. Many are wondering if he is alive

or not, whichever the true state is,

Ghanaians want to know.

Mr Speaker, I understand that in the

wake of such an event, desperation

increases as there is the urgency to feed

family and loved ones with news of the

state of victims of such disasters in order

to bring some relief to relatives of

victims. This has resulted in the

conflicting reports believed to have

come from the vice president of Atsu's football club, a day after the earthquake,

indicating Atsu had been pulled out alive

from the rubble of a building in Turkey's southern Hatay Province and transported

to hospital with injuries, following

Monday's magnitude 7.8 earthquake, and was responding to treatment, only to

receive another report of mistaken

identity putting his family and

Ghanaians into a state of confusion,

turning our hope into despair.

Mr Speaker, two days after the sad

incident, the Ghanaian Ambassador to

Turkey issued a statement relating to the

report from the club official that the

player had been pulled out from the

rubble but the Embassy was yet to

establish contact with Christian Atsu.

Till now, we have not received further

update from the Embassy to help deal

with the confusion regarding the true

state of his safety. If the Embassy is

unable to provide us with any update,

then we are in a wonderland and do not

know the report to work with, since there

seems to be conflicting reports.

The Embassy owes it a duty to the

people of this country to give an update

on the situation and ensure the safety of

every Ghanaian in Turkey. There are

pieces of information on some media

platforms such as ghana soccer net. com)

stating that rescuers are narrowing on

efforts to rescue the footballer but lack

necessary equipment to aid in their

search to rescue Atsu and many others

under the rubble.

Mr Speaker, Ghanaians think the

Government must be blamed for not

putting in any effort in facilitating the

search for the precious son of this land.

The Turkish have lost over two thousand

of their nationals in this disaster,

therefore, the enthusiasm to look for one

Ghanaian will obviously not be there.

Report reaching us as 15th February,

2023, stated that there is no represent-

tative from Hatayspor present at the

ground to help expedite the rescue

mission. Another report stated that some

sections of the rescue team have brought

their rescue mission to an end. This is

really frustrating news to receive. Even

though it is getting too late, we think the

Government should quickly intervene in

this regard to help rescue Atsu as it is

predicted that the weather condition is

expected to worsen in the region, which

will further hamper rescue operations.

Downed buildings and destroyed roads

have also made it difficult to find

survivors.

The earthquake in Turkey is a

traumatising situation; stress, anxiety,

and other depression-like symptoms are

common reactions after such a disaster.

It is, therefore, very necessary that the

Government, through the help of the

Embassy, provide some crisis inter-

vention: counseling for Ghanaian

victims and Atsu's family.

Mr Speaker, as we keep hope to see

Christian Atsu and many others trapped

under the rubble alive soon, we need to

learn from this as a country. Although we

do not have control over the occurrence

of natural disasters, some measures may

be employed to mitigate its impact.

There is, therefore, the need for some

awareness of disaster-prone areas in

Ghana. For instance, education, pre-

paredness, prediction and warning

systems can reduce the disruptive

impacts of a natural disaster. Mitigation

measures such as adoptions of zoning,

land-use practice and building codes are

needed and avoiding development at

disaster-prone areas. Any law in line

with whatever mitigation measure we

have as a country in the event of a natural

disaster must be enforced.

Mr Speaker, as I conclude my

Statement, I urge the Embassy in Turkey

to provide some aid to the Ghanaian

survivors as there are some others

struggling to provide a meal. My

solidarity goes to the Turkish President

and victims. Our prayers are with our

son, Christian Atsu, and his family as

there is a firm hope that he will be

rescued alive. May all who have died in

the disaster rest in peace.

Mr Speaker, I thank you for the

opportunity.

Very well.
Now, I would listen to the Hon
Minister for Youth and Sports and bring
the discussion to a close. It is late.
Yes, Hon Minister?
Minister for Youth and Sports (Mr
Mustapha Ussif) (MP): Mr Speaker,
thank you so much for the opportunity to
comment on the Statement made by Mr
Kobena Mensah Woyome, MP for South
Tongu and the Hon Ranking Member for
the Committee on Youth, Sports and
Culture.
Mr Speaker, the Ministry of Youth,
and Sports, on behalf of the Government
and people of Ghana, once again, extend
our heartfelt sympathy to the
Government and the people of Turkey
and Syria, following the earthquake that
hit the two countries last week.

Mr Speaker, the Ministry of Youth and

Sports and the entire Government and

the people of Ghana, just as the rest of

the world have been devastated by the

high number of casualties of the

earthquake. Of serious concern and

worry to the Ministry and the Ghanaian

people, is the disturbing situation of our

brother, Christian Atsu, who is yet to be

found by search operatives in Turkey.

Mr Speaker, while the good people of

Ghana continue to pray for divine

intervention, the Ministry of Youth and

Sports, and the Government, through the

Ghanaian Embassy in Turkey, continue

to make all the needed contacts and

efforts towards the discovery of our

brother, Christian.

During this difficult period, I have

been in contact with the family of

Christian Atsu. Currently, his brother is

in Turkey, and I wish to acknowledge in

this House the role the Ghanaian

Embassy in Turkey played in facilitating

the passage of Christian Atsu's brother to Hatay, the epicentre of the disaster.

Mr Speaker, through the Ghana

Football Association, we have also been

in contact with other footballers, about

six of them who also have their career in

Turkey. They include:

i. Joseph Attamah

ii. Bernard Mensah

iii. Isaac Coffie

iv. Isaac Sackey

Mr Speaker, also, our female

footballers:

v. Suzzy Teye Dede

vi. Priscilla Okyere alias Karka

Mr Speaker, the Ghana Football

Association (GFA) has also been

briefing me on its regular contact with

the Turkish Football Federation as the

search for our brother continues.

Mr Speaker, the devastation of the

earthquake in Turkey is one of

unimaginable proportion, considering

the number of lives lost and injured. The

continuous search for our brother and

others, over a week after the disaster is,

indeed, a disturbing situation for the

Government and the people of Ghana.

Mr Speaker, I wish to use this

opportunity to appeal to the international

community, with the expertise to assist

in this situation, to offer immense

support to the rescue team in Turkey and

Syria during this humanitarian crisis.

Mr Speaker, while commending the

relentless efforts of the rescue team in

Turkey under such difficult circums-

tances, I wish to also appeal to them to

intensify their efforts, in any way

possible, towards the search for Christian

Atsu and many others trapped.

Mr Speaker, nothing is beyond the

Almighty God as the scriptures in both

the Holy Qur'an and the Bible attest to. The intriguing and the miraculous story

of Jonah and the whale in both the

Qur'an and the Bible should continue to

give all Ghanaians hope that nothing is

beyond the Lord Almighty. May God

protect our brother, Christian Atsu, and

many others until we find them

miraculously alive.

Thank you so much for the opportunity

to comment on the Statement made by

my Hon Colleague.

Very well.
Thank you, Hon Members. At this
stage, we are all engaged in speculation,
and I think that it should not heighten the
anxiety of people directly affected, so I
would leave the Statement and the
response here.
It is way past our closing time, so I
would bring proceedings to a close.