RECALL OF PARLIAMENT

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IN THE THIRD SESSION OF THE SEVENTH PARLIAMENT

OF THE FOURTH REPUBLIC OF GHANA

 

ORDER PAPER

 

FOR THE TWENTY-THIRD SITTING OF THE FIRST

MEETING OF PARLIAMENT

 

Wednesday 20^TH MARCH 2019

 

BEFORE THE COMMENCEMENT OF PUBLIC BUSINESS

 

 

 

1.         PRAYERS

 

 

 

 

 

2.         CORRECTION OF VOTES AND PROCEEDINGS AND      OFFICIAL REPORT

 

 

 

 

 

3.         QUESTIONS

 

 

 

*564.   Mr. Ali Maiga Halidu (Dormaa West): To ask the Minister for Lands and Natural Resources what the Ministry is doing to curb the activities of illegal chainsaw operators in Diabaa and Adakrom forest reserves.

 

 

 

 

 

4.         STATEMENTS

 

 

 

 

 

AT THE COMMENCEMENT OF PUBLIC BUSINESS

 

 

 

 

 

5.         MOTION

 

 

 

            That the Right to Information Bill, 2018 be now read the third time.

 

 

 

                        (Attorney-General and Minister for Justice)

 

 

 

 

 

6.         MOTION

 

 

 

That this Honourable House adopts the Report of the Committee on Poverty Reduction Strategy on the 2015 Annual Progress Report on the Implementation of the Ghana Shared Growth and Development Agenda (GSGDA) II, 2014-2017.

 

 

 

                        (Chairman of the Committee)

 

7.         PAYMENT SYSTEMS AND SERVICES BILL, 2018

 

            -           At the Consideration Stage

 

 

 

i.          Clause 100   – Amendment proposed   –     Interpretation of

 

“designation” delete and insert the following:

 

 

 

“‘designation’ means the identification of a system that can pose systemic risk which the Bank of Ghana intends to supervise”

 

 

 

(Chairman of the Committee)

 

          Debate to continue

 

 

 

 

 

ii.         Clause 100   – Amendment proposed   –     Add the following new

 

interpretation:

 

 

 

“‘Ghanaian Company’ means a company which is incorporated under the Company’s Act, 1970 (Act 179) and which is wholly owned by a citizen of Ghana”

 

 

 

(Chairman of the Committee)

 

          Debate to continue

 

 

 

 

 

iii.        Long Title   –      Amendment proposed   –     Delete and insert the

 

following:

 

 

 

“An Act to amend and consolidate the laws relating to payment systems, payment services, and electronic money business, and to regulate institutions which carry on payment service and electronic money business and to provide for related matters”

 

 

 

(Chairman of the Committee)

 

 

 

 

 

8.         CHARTERED INSTITUTE OF BANKERS (GHANA) BILL, 2018

 

            -           At the Consideration Stage

 

 

 

i.          Clause 15   –   Amendment proposed   –     Add the following new

 

Subclause:

 

 

 

“A body corporate is qualified to be enrolled as a Corporate member of the Institute if that body Corporate is the Central Bank or a financial Institution recognised under the Banks and Specialised Deposit-Taking Institutions Act, 2016 (Act 930)”

 

 

 

(Chairman of the Committee)

 

          Debate to continue

 

 

 

ii.         Clause 18   –   Amendment proposed   –     Subclause (1),

 

opening phrase, line 2, after “is” add “qualified to be registered as”

 

 

 

(Chairman of the Committee)

 

 

 

iii.        Clause 18   –   Amendment proposed   –     Subclause (1), delete

 

“(a) qualified to be registered”

 

 

 

(Chairman of the Committee)

 

 

 

iv.        Clause 18   –   Amendment proposed   –     Subclause (1),

 

paragraph (a), sub-paragraph (v), delete “honary” and insert “honorary”

 

 

 

(Chairman of the Committee)

 

 

 

v.         Clause 20  –    Amendment proposed   –     Subclause (2), delete

 

 

 

(Chairman of the Committee)

 

 

 

 

 

vi.        Clause 21   –   Amendment proposed   –     Add the following new

 

paragraphs:

 

 

 

“(e)      the member is not in good standing for a period exceeding three years;

 

(d)       the member fails to pay the prescribed fees for a period not exceeding three years.”

 

 

 

(Chairman of the Committee)

 

 

 

vii.       Clause 22  –    Amendment proposed   –     Subclause (2), delete

 

 

 

(Chairman of the Committee)

 

 

 

viii.      Clause 22  –    Amendment proposed   –     Subclause (3), delete

 

 

 

(Chairman of the Committee)

 

 

 

ix.        Clause 22  –    Amendment proposed   –     Subclause (5), delete

 

 

 

(Chairman of the Committee)

 

 

 

x.         Clause 23  –    Amendment proposed   –     Subclause (1), line 1,

 

delete “keep”

 

 

 

(Chairman of the Committee)

 

 

 

xi.        Clause 23  –    Amendment proposed   –     Subclause (7), line 2,

 

delete “two daily newspapers” and insert “one daily newspaper” and in line 3, at end, add “and on the website of the Institute”

 

 

 

(Chairman of the Committee)

 

 

 

xii.       Clause 24  –    Amendment proposed   –     Subclause (1), line 1,

 

delete “may” and insert “shall”

 

 

 

(Chairman of the Committee)

 

xiii.      Clause 24   –   Amendment proposed   –     Subclause (1),

 

paragraph (a), delete and insert the following:

 

 

 

“has been found guilty of professional misconduct as specified in the Fourth Schedule”

 

 

 

(Chairman of the Committee)

 

 

 

xiv.      Clause 24   –   Amendment proposed   –     Subclause (1),

 

paragraph (b), lines 1 and 2, delete “a period determined by the Council” and insert “a consecutive period of five years”

 

 

 

(Chairman of the Committee)

 

 

 

xv.       Clause 25  –    Amendment proposed   –     Subclause (2), line 2,

 

delete “twenty-one” and insert “fourteen”

 

 

 

(Chairman of the Committee)

 

 

 

xvi.      Clause 27  –    Amendment proposed   –     Subclause (2), line 1,

 

delete “person” and insert “chartered banker”

 

 

 

(Chairman of the Committee)

 

 

 

xvii.     Clause 28  –    Amendment proposed   –     Subclause (2), delete

 

and insert the following:

 

 

 

“The Chief Executive Officer shall review and make appropriate recommendations to the Council in respect of the annual business plan and budget for the Institute”

 

 

 

(Chairman of the Committee)

 

 

 

xviii.    Clause 30  –    Amendment proposed   –     Subclause (5), line 2,

 

delete “Minister” and insert “Chief Executive Officer”

 

 

 

(Chairman of the Committee)

 

xix.      Clause 36  –    Amendment proposed   –     Headnote, after

 

“tuition” add “related banking services”

 

 

 

(Chairman of the Committee)

 

 

 

xx.       Clause 36  –    Amendment proposed   –     Line 2, delete

 

“banking” and insert “or related banking services”

 

 

 

(Chairman of the Committee)

 

 

 

xxi.      Clause 39  –    Amendment proposed   –     Opening phrase,

 

delete “may” and insert “shall, within twelve months of the coming into force of this Act”

 

 

 

(Chairman of the Committee)

 

 

 

xxii.     Clause 39   –   Amendment proposed   –     Paragraph (d), sub-

 

paragraph (ii), delete

 

 

 

(Chairman of the Committee)

 

 

 

xxiii.    Clause 39   –   Amendment proposed   –     Paragraph (d), sub-

 

paragraph (iii), line 1, delete “Third Schedule” and insert “Second Schedule”

 

 

 

(Chairman of the Committee)

 

 

 

xxiv.    Clause 39   –   Amendment proposed   –     Paragraph (d), sub-

 

paragraph (iv), line 1, delete “Fourth Schedule” and insert “Third Schedule”

 

 

 

(Chairman of the Committee)

 

 

 

xxv.     Clause 40   –   Amendment proposed   –     Line 1, delete

 

“prescribed by the Council and paid to the Institute” and insert “as prescribed by Regulations”

 

 

 

(Chairman of the Committee)

 

xxvi.    Clause 41  –    Amendment proposed   –     Interpretation of

 

“corporate member” delete and insert the following:

 

 

 

“corporate member” means a banking institution or company licensed by the Bank of Ghana under the Non-Bank Financial Institutions Act, 2008 (Act 774) or a financial services company recognised by the Council”

 

 

 

(Chairman of the Committee)

 

 

 

xxvii.   Clause 41  –    Amendment proposed   –     Add the following new

 

interpretation:

 

 

 

“related banking service” includes a service provided by

 

(a)        financial administrators and managers;

 

(b)        receiver managers and debt management consultants;

 

(c)        consultants in banking and finance;

 

(d)       trainers in banking and finance;

 

(e)        arbitrators, mediators and conciliators in banking and finance matters;

 

(f)        agency bankers;

 

(g)        financial investigators;

 

(h)        trustees;

 

(i)         financial advisors;

 

(j)         credit management analysts; and

 

(k)        financial industry analysts.”

 

 

 

(Chairman of the Committee)

 

 

 

xxviii.  Clause 42  –    Amendment proposed   –     Subclause (1), line 1,

 

delete “accrued”

 

 

 

(Chairman of the Committee)

 

 

 

 

 

xxix.    Clause 43  –    Amendment proposed   –     Subclause (3), line 4,

 

delete “kept, prepared” and insert “prepared, kept”

 

 

 

(Chairman of the Committee)

 

 

 

xxx.     New Clause  –     Amendment proposed   –     Add the following new

 

clause:

 

 

 

“Secretary to the Council

 

The Council shall designate a serving officer of the Institute as Secretary to the Council”

 

 

 

(Chairman of the Committee)

 

 

 

xxxi.    First Schedule  –   Amendment proposed   –     Clause (4), sub-

 

clause (1), line 4, delete “require” and insert “summon”

 

 

 

(Chairman of the Committee)

 

 

 

xxxii.   First Schedule  –   Amendment proposed   –     Clause (4), Subclause

 

(2), delete

 

 

 

(Chairman of the Committee)

 

 

 

xxxiii.  First Schedule  –   Amendment proposed   –     Clause (6), delete

 

 

 

(Chairman of the Committee)

 

 

 

xxxiv.  Second Schedule  – Amendment proposed   –     Delete

 

 

 

(Chairman of the Committee)

 

 

 

xxxv.   Third Schedule  –  Amendment proposed   –     Clause (1), sub-

 

clause (2), paragraph (a), lines 1 and 2, delete “Treasurer and not more than four members of the Council” and insert “and four other members of the Council at least two of whom are women”

 

 

 

(Chairman of the Committee)

 

xxxvi.  Third Schedule  –  Amendment proposed   –     Clause (2), head note

 

delete “meetings” and insert “General Meetings”

 

 

 

(Chairman of the Committee)

 

 

 

xxxvii. Third Schedule  –  Amendment proposed   –     Clause (3), sub-

 

clause (3), opening phrase, after “shall” insert “on the instructions of the Council” after”

 

 

 

(Chairman of the Committee)

 

 

 

xxxviii. Fourth Schedule  – Amendment proposed   –    Cross reference in

 

head note, delete and insert “[sections 18(2)(d) and 24(1)(a)]”

 

 

 

(Chairman of the Committee)

 

 

 

xxxix.  Fourth Schedule  – Amendment proposed   –     Paragraph (a), delete

 

 

 

(Chairman of the Committee)

 

 

 

xl.        Fourth Schedule  – Amendment proposed   –     Paragraph (e), line 1,

 

after “certificates” insert “of that member”

 

 

 

(Chairman of the Committee)

 

 

 

xli.       Short Title  –      Amendment proposed   –     Delete “(Ghana)” and

 

insert “Ghana”

 

 

 

(Chairman of the Committee)

 

 

 

xlii.      Long Title  –       Amendment proposed   –     Line 1, delete

 

“(Ghana)” and insert “Ghana”

 

 

 

(Chairman of the Committee)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

9.         COMMITTEE SITTINGS

 

 

 

NOTICE OF COMMITTEE SITTINGS

 

 

 

APPOINTMENTS COMMITTEE

 

 

 

Date:               Wednesday, 20^th March 2019

 

Time:               10:00 a.m.

 

Venue:             Committee Rooms 1 to 3 (New Administration Block)

 

Agenda:           To hold public hearing on the H. E. the President’s nominations for ministerial and deputy ministerial appointments.

 

 

 

COMMITTEE ON MINES AND ENERGY

 

 

 

Date:               Wednesday, 20^th March 2019

 

Time:               1:00 p.m.

 

Venue:             Committee Room 7W (West Wing, 7^th Floor, Job 600)

 

Agenda:           To consider the Ghana Iron and Steel Development Corporation Bill, 2019.

 

 

 

COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION

 

 

 

Date:               Wednesday, 20^th March 2019

 

Time:               1:00 p.m.

 

Venue:             Committee Room 6W (West Wing, 6^th Floor, Job 600)

 

Agenda:           To hold discussions with Executives of the University Teachers Association of Ghana (UTAG) of the University of Education, Winneba.

 

 

 

COMMITTEE ON FOOD, AGRICULTURE AND COCOA AFFAIRS

 

 

 

Date:               Wednesday, 20^th March 2019

 

Time:               1:00 p.m.

 

Venue:             Committee Room 6E (East Wing, 6^th Floor, Job 600)

 

Agenda:           To hold discussions with officials of the Cocoa Marketing Company (Ghana) Limited.

 

 

 

COMMITTEE ON HEALTH

 

 

 

Date:               Wednesday, 20^th March 2019

 

Time:               2:00 p.m.

 

Venue:             Committee Room 8W (West Wing, 8^th Floor, Job 600)

 

Agenda:           (i)         To hold discussions with a delegation of the

 

Norwegian Parliamentary Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and Defence.

 

 

 

                        (ii)        Any other business.

 

 

 

 

 

 

NOTICE OF QUESTIONS

 

 

 

*568.   Dr. Samuel Atta-Mills (Komenda/Edina/Eguafo/Abrem): To ask the Minister for Trade and Industry why the Komenda Sugar Factory has been shut down and what are the reasons for shutting down the factory.

 

 

 

*569.   Mr. Dominic Napare (Sene East): To ask the Minister for Local Government and Rural Development when regulations will be made to give effect to the provision of notices in compliance with the Local Governance Act, 2016 (Act 936), to liberate District Assemblies from high cost of gazetting bye-laws and fee fixing resolutions.

 

 

 

*570.   Ms. Sophia Karen Ackuaku (Domeabra/Obom): To ask the Minister for Sanitation and Water Resources when the Ministry will continue the pipe-laying from Dankyira to Asalaja town and its surrounding villages.

 

 

 

*571.   Ms. Helen Adjoa Ntoso (Krachi West): To ask the Minister for Roads and Highways when work on the following roads will resume and be completed: (i) Dambai Lake Side to Kete Krachi (ii) Osramanie Junction to Osramani and its town roads. (iii) Ehiamankyene Junction to Ehiamankyene and its town roads (iv) Ntewusu town roads.

 

 

 

*572.   Mr. Collins Owusu-Amankwah (Manhyia North): To ask the Minister for Roads and Highways when Kumasi roads will be given a face-lift.

 

 

 

URGENT QUESTIONS

 

 

 

Ms. Sophia Karen Ackuaku (Domeabra/Obom): To ask the Minister for Roads and Highways when road safety signs, such as road markings, road reflectors and street lights would be fixed on the main Asalaja through Domeabra to Kasoa road, in order to limit motor accidents on the road.

 

 

 

 

SUPPLEMENT

 

 

 

ANSWER TO PARLIAMENTARY QUESTION

 

 

 

*564.   Mr. Speaker, the Dormaa West Constituency is within the Bono Region. There is a town within the Dormaa West District Assembly called Diabaa. Unfortunately, there is no Forest Reserve called “Diabaa Forest”. The closest Forest Reserve within the vicinity of Diabaa is the Mpameso Forest Reserve which is a production Forest Reserve.

 

 

 

Mr. Speaker, the Mpameso Forest Reserve is under a Timber Utilization Contract (TUC) and is being managed by the Ayum Forest Products Company Limited with their sawmill located at Mim in the Bono Region.

 

 

 

The incidence of illegal chainsaw operations in the area is known to the Forestry Commission and steps have been taken to curb these illegal activities. These steps include the following;

 

1. Last year the Chiefs and Elders within the Dormaa Traditional Area were sensitized on forest management issues and what constitutes illegal forest activities. Since then there has been regular community durbars within the enclave.
2. There were other stakeholder engagements (in February, 2019) involving the District Assembly (DCE-Hon. Mary Ameyaa), Immigration and Customs outfits at Nkrankwanta.
3. Carried out re-posting of all Management Staff within the District (District Manager, Assistant District Managers, Range Supervisors and Forest Guards of the Dormaa Forest District recently.
4. In consultation with the Commanding Officer, (Lt. Col. Dan Adjetey), an additional Military Team was constituted to assist the Military Team (already in-place) - this step has yielded the required dividends.
5. A Forestry-Police checkpoint has been created at Diabaa to monitor truck movement of logs and lumber along the corridor. This has resulted into series of arrests of illegal lumber.
6. There is a continuous Radio-Education Programme on the following FM stations to sensitize the communities: GIFT FM-105.5 MHZ; SPACE FM-87.7 MHZ; PEACEFM- 1-4.3 MHZ and Radio B.A.R – 93.5 MHZ.
7. The Rapid Response Team (RRT) of the Forestry Commission has intensified its patrols in the Nkrankwanta-Diabaa and Yaakrom corridor to clamp down any illegal activities.

 

 

 

Mr. Speaker, these measures have yielded very positive results. Through the exercise Twenty-one (21) suspects were arrested (6 suspects-jailed; 11 suspects-fined; 4 suspects-on remand)

 

 

 

-      The jail terms vary from 3 months to 12 months.

 

-      Three (3) vehicles used in perpetrating the illegal activities were confiscated to the state (vehicles are currently parked on the premises of the Regional Forestry Office, Sunyani).

 

-      Twenty-three (23) chainsaws were also seized and are in the custody of the Dormaa District.

 

-      One (1) installed woodmizer was also seized and it is currently on the compound of the Dormaa District Office.

 

 

 

            Details of the arrests made in January and February 2019 and the actions taken are attached.

 

            Mr. Speaker, going forward, we will:

 

i)                    continue with the education and community awareness programmes to prevent illegal activities;

 

ii)                  enforce the forest laws and regulations as well as implement various strategies to arrest and prosecute forest offenders;

 

iii)                create Military camps in some identified hotspot Forest Reserves  to prevent further encroachment;

 

iv)                engage the Traditional Authorities to entreat their subjects to refrain from illegal exploitation of forest resources;

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Table 1: Details of arrests and the cases tried in the month of January & February, 2019. DORMAA DISTRICT

 

 

 

NATURE OF OFFENCE	DATE	NAME OF SUSPECT(S)	ACTION TAKEN
ILLEGAL CHAIN SAWING	12/02/19	KOFI GYAN	FINED GHS 11,000
ILLEGAL CHAIN SAWING	20/02/19	KUSI AGYEMANG	FINED GHS 9,000
TRANSPORTATION OF ILLEGAL LUMBER WITHIN THE FOREST	19/01/19	PRINCE DAMOAH MOHAMMED ALHASSAN	SENTENCED TO 6 MONTHS IMPRISONMENT EACH
ILLEGAL FELLING/SAWING OF TIMBER	26/01/19	ALBERT MWINE KOFI DANIEL KOFI MOHAMMED	SENTENCED TO 6 MONTHS IMPRISONMENT EACH BUT THIRD SUSPECT DISCHARGED
ILLEGAL FELLING/SAWING OF 5 WAWABIMA TREES	3/01/19	YAW YEBOAH KWADWO FRIMPA SAMUEL AZUMAH ATSU KOJO OBENG DESMOND	SUSPECTS FINED GHS 4,000 & 3 CHAINSAW MACJHINES CONFISCATED TO THE STATE
ILLEGAL FELLING OF 1 PAPAO TREE AND CROSSCUT INTO 32 PIECES FOR MOTAR MANUFACTURE	4/01/19	APPIAH BENJAMIN KWAKU KWAA	SUSPECTS EACH FINED GHS 480