IN THE THIRD SESSION OF THE SEVENTH PARLIAMENT
OF THE FOURTH REPUBLIC OF GHANA
ORDER PAPER
FOR THE THIRTEENTH SITTING OF THE THIRD
MEETING OF PARLIAMENT
Tuesday 12TH November, 2019
BEFORE THE COMMENCEMENT OF PUBLIC BUSINESS
1. PRAYERS
2. CORRECTION OF VOTES AND PROCEEDINGS AND OFFICIAL REPORT
3. QUESTIONS
*643. Mr. Ekow Hayford (Mfantseman): To ask the Minister for Food and Agriculture what plans are in place to re-activate the Mankesim Irrigation Project which has been abandoned since 2008.
*645. Ms. Francisca Oteng Mensah (Kwabre East): To ask the Minister for Education how many of the ‘E-Block schools’ have been completed from 2017 to date.
4. STATEMENTS
AT THE COMMENCEMENT OF PUBLIC BUSINESS
5. PRESENTATION OF PAPERS
The following Papers to be presented:
(a) By the Minister for Communications
Annual Statement by the Audit Committee of the Ghana Investment Fund for Electronic Communications (GIFEC) for the year 2018.
(b) By the Minister for Local Government and Rural Development
Annual Statement by the Audit Committee of the Suaman District Assembly for the year 2018.
(c) By the Chairman of the Committee
Report of the Committee on Foreign Affairs on the Bilateral Agreements for the Waiver of Visa Requirements for Holders of Diplomatic and Service/Official Passports between the Government of the Republic of Ghana and the Governments of (a) the Republic of Equatorial Guinea (b) the Republic of Hungary (c) the Republic of India (d) the Republic of Iran and (e) the Republic of Morocco.
(d) By the Chairman of the Committee
(i) Report of the Finance Committee on the Term Loan Facility Agreement between the Government of the Republic of Ghana (represented by the Ministry of Finance) and Industrial and Commercial Bank Of China (ICBC) Limited for an amount of up to Ninety-Five Million, Three Hundred and Seventy-Five Thousand, Twenty United States Dollars and Thirty-Six Cents (US$95,375,020.36), to finance the supply and erection of electrical materials and equipment for the electrification of 582 communities in the Ashanti, Brong Ahafo, Eastern, Volta and Western Regions (Phase 2 of the initial 1,033 Communities).
(ii) Report of the Finance Committee on the Term Loan Facility Agreement between the Government of the Republic of Ghana (represented by the Ministry of Finance) and Societe General Ghana Limited for an amount of up to Fifteen Million, Four Hundred and Fifty Thousand United States Dollars (US$15,450,000.00), to finance the supply and erection of electrical materials and equipment for the electrification of 582 communities in the Ashanti, Brong Ahafo, Eastern, Volta and Western Regions (Phase 2 of the initial 1,033 Communities).
(iii) Report of the Finance Committee on the Request for waiver of Import Duties, Import VAT, Import NHIL/GETFund Levy, ECOWAS Levy, EXIM Levy and Special Import Levy amounting to the Ghana Cedi equivalent of Thirty-One Million, Sixteen Thousand, Seven Hundred and Seventy-One United States Dollars (US$31,016,771.00) [equivalent to GHȼ158,216,548.93] on project materials and equipment to be procured under the Agreement to finance the supply and erection of electrical materials and equipment for the electrification of 582 communities in the Ashanti, Brong Ahafo, Eastern, Volta and Western Regions (Phase 2 of the initial 1,033 Communities).
6. MOTION
That this Honourable House adopts the Report of the Committee on Lands and Forestry on the Annual Report and Accounts of the Office of the Administrator of Stool Lands for the year 2014.
(Chairman of the Committee)
7. MOTION
That this Honourable House adopts the Report of the Committee on Lands and Forestry on the Annual Report and Accounts of the Office of the Administrator of Stool Lands for the year 2015.
(Chairman of the Committee)
8. MOTION
That the Constitution (Amendment) Bill, 2019 be now read a second time.
(Moved on Monday, 29th July 2019 by the Hon. Attorney-General and Minister for Justice, Ms. Gloria Akuffo. Chairman of the Committee on Constitutional, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs, Mr. Ben Abdallah Banda presented the Report on the Bill.)
[Decision to be taken pursuant to Standing Order 110(a)]
9. NARCOTICS CONTROL COMMISSION BILL, 2019
- At the Consideration Stage
i. Clause 3 – Amendment proposed – Paragraph (a), line 1,
delete “provide leadership” and insert “regulate” and in line 3, after “narcotic drugs” add “psychotropic substances” and do same wherever “narcotic drugs” appear in the Bill.
(Mr. Haruna Iddrisu)
Debate to continue
ii. Clause 4 – Amendment proposed – Subclause (1),
paragraph (c), line 2, delete “that” and insert “the” and in line 4, before “Commissioner” insert “the”
(Chairman of the Committee)
iii. Clause 4 – Amendment proposed – Subclause (1),
paragraph (o), delete and insert the following:
“(o) Director-General of the Ghana Immigration Service or his representative not below the Deputy Director-General”
(Mr. Haruna Iddrisu)
iv. Clause 7 – Amendment proposed – Subclause (2), line 2,
delete “ex-officio member” and insert “member who is a member by virtue of office”
(Chairman of the Committee)
v. Clause 8 – Amendment proposed – Subclause (1), line 2,
delete “the times and in the places” and insert “a time and place”
(Chairman of the Committee)
vi. Clause 8 – Amendment proposed – Subclause (2), line 3,
delete “the place and time” and insert “a time and place”
(Chairman of the Committee)
vii. Clause 8 – Amendment proposed – Subclause (3), lines 2
and 3, delete “in respect of an important matter”
(Chairman of the Committee)
viii. Clause 8 – Amendment proposed – Subclause (4), line 3,
delete “their number” and insert “the members”
(Chairman of the Committee)
ix. Clause 9 – Amendment proposed – Subclause (1), line 2,
after “Board” add “shall” and delete “shall” at beginning of paragraphs (a) and (b)
(Chairman of the Committee)
x. Clause 9 – Amendment proposed – Subclause (1),
paragraph (b), line 2, delete “deliberations” and insert “deliberation”
(Chairman of the Committee)
xi. Clause 10 – Amendment proposed – Subclause (2),
paragraphs (c), delete
(Mr. Haruna Iddrisu)
xii. Clause 10 – Amendment proposed – Subclause (2),
paragraphs (d), delete
(Mr. Haruna Iddrisu)
xiii. Clause 10 – Amendment proposed – Subclause (4), delete
“8” and insert “9”
(Chairman of the Committee)
xiv. Clause 13 – Amendment proposed – Subclause (1), delete
“an independent and autonomous body” and insert “independent and autonomous”
(Chairman of the Committee)
xv. Clause 13 – Amendment proposed – Subclause (2), line 3,
delete “its functions” and insert “the functions of the Commission”
(Chairman of the Committee)
xvi. Clause 15 – Amendment proposed – Delete
(Mr. Haruna Iddrisu)
xvii. Clause 15 – Amendment proposed – Subclause (1),
paragraph (a), line 1, delete “is”
(Chairman of the Committee)
xviii. Clause 16 – Amendment proposed – Subclause (1), line 3,
before “General Enforcement” insert “of”
(Chairman of the Committee)
xix. Clause 17 – Amendment proposed – Subclause (2), delete
(Chairman of the Committee)
xx. Clause 17 – Amendment proposed – Subclause (4), line 2,
delete “loyalty of staff of the Commission” and insert “suitability of staff of the Commission posted to units determined by the Director-General by an administrative directive”
(Chairman of the Committee)
xxi. Clause 18 – Amendment proposed – Subclause (1), line 2,
delete “the same”
(Chairman of the Committee)
xxii. Clause 18 – Amendment proposed – Subclause (2), line 3,
delete “Sixth” and insert “First”
(Chairman of the Committee)
xxiii. Clause 19 – Amendment proposed – Paragraph (b), line 2,
delete “its” and insert “the”
(Chairman of the Committee)
xxiv. Clause 19 – Amendment proposed – Add the following new
paragraph:
“(#) fifty percent of the proceeds realised from the sale of confiscated property under subsection (2) of section 60”
(Chairman of the Committee)
xxv. Clause 20 – Amendment proposed – Headnote, line 2,
delete “abuse” and insert “use”
(Chairman of the Committee)
xxvi. Clause 20 – Amendment proposed – Subclause (1), line 1,
delete “Abuse” and insert “Use”
(Chairman of the Committee)
xxvii. Clause 20 – Amendment proposed – Subclause (1), line 1,
after “Disorder” insert “and”
(Mr. Haruna Iddrisu)
xxviii. Clause 20 – Amendment proposed – Subclause (2), line 2,
delete “abuse” and insert “use”
(Chairman of the Committee)
xxix. Clause 21 – Amendment proposed – Line 3, delete “abuse”
and insert “use”
(Chairman of the Committee)
xxx. Clause 22 – Amendment proposed – Paragraph (d), delete
and insert the following:
“(d) fifty percent of the moneys realised under paragraph (d) of section 19.”
(Chairman of the Committee)
xxxi. Clause 23 – Amendment proposed – Delete
(Mr. Haruna Iddrisu)
xxxii. Clause 24 – Amendment proposed – Delete
(Mr. Haruna Iddrisu)
xxxiii. Clause 24 – Amendment proposed – Paragraph (b), delete
“abuse” and insert “use”
(Chairman of the Committee)
xxxiv. Clause 25 – Amendment proposed – Line 2, delete “to the
Minister and” and insert “through the Minister to”
(Chairman of the Committee)
xxxv. Clause 25 – Amendment proposed – Line 3, before
“financial” delete “the” and insert “each”
(Mr. Haruna Iddrisu)
xxxvi. Clause 26 – Amendment proposed – Subclause (1), lines 1
and 2, delete “books of account and proper records in relation them” and insert “books, records, returns and other documents relevant to the account”
(Chairman of the Committee)
xxxvii. Clause 26 – Amendment proposed – Subclause (3), delete
and insert the following:
“(3) The Auditor-General shall, within six months after the end of the immediately preceding financial year, audit the accounts and forward a copy of the audit report to the Minister and the Board.”
(Chairman of the Committee)
xxxviii. Clause 27 – Amendment proposed – Subclause (1), line 1,
delete “one month” and insert “three months”
(Chairman of the Committee)
xxxix. Clause 28 – Amendment proposed – Sectional note above
clause 28, delete “Office” and insert “Commission”
(Chairman of the Committee)
xl. Clause 28 – Amendment proposed – Lines 1 and 2, delete
“officers authorised by the Director-General” and insert “authorised officers”
(Chairman of the Committee)
xli. Clause 29 – Amendment proposed – Line 1, delete “officer
authorised by the Director-General” and insert “authorised officer”
(Chairman of the Committee)
xlii. Clause 30 – Amendment proposed – Headnote, delete
“officer” and insert “authorised”
(Chairman of the Committee)
xliii. Clause 30 – Amendment proposed – Subclause (1),
opening phrase, line 1, delete “27, an officer authorised by the Director-General” and insert “28, an authorised officer”
(Chairman of the Committee)
xliv. Clause 30 – Amendment proposed – Subclause (1),
paragraph (a), subparagraph (i), delete “and”
(Chairman of the Committee)
xlv. Clause 30 – Amendment proposed – Subclause (1),
paragraph (a), subparagraph (ii), line 3, at end, add “or”
(Chairman of the Committee)
xlvi. Clause 30 – Amendment proposed – Subclause (1),
paragraph (a), add the following new subparagraph:
“(#) any other person found at that airport, seaport or river port or other place of entry into this country;”
(Chairman of the Committee)
xlvii. Clause 30 – Amendment proposed – Subclause (1),
paragraph (b), subparagraph (i), delete “or”
(Chairman of the Committee)
xlviii. Clause 30 – Amendment proposed – Subclause (1),
paragraph (b), subparagraph (ii), line 3, at end, add “or”
(Chairman of the Committee)
xlix. Clause 30 – Amendment proposed – Subclause (1),
paragraph (b), add the following new subparagraph:
“(#) any other person found at that airport, seaport or river port or other place of entry into this country;”
(Chairman of the Committee)
10. COMMITTEE SITTINGS
NOTICE OF COMMITTEE SITTINGS
COMMITTEE ON EMPLOYMENT, SOCIAL WELFARE AND STATE ENTERPRISES
Date: Tuesday, 12th November 2019
Time: 11:00 a.m.
Venue: Committee Room 7E (East Wing, 7th Floor, Job 600)
Agenda: To consider the Budget Performance Report in Respect of the National Labour Commission for the Period January to December, 2018.
COMMITTEE ON LANDS AND FORESTRY
Date: Tuesday, 12th November 2019
Time: 1:00 p.m.
Venue: Committee Room 10W (West Wing, 10th Floor, Job 600)
Agenda: To continue the consideration of the Land Bill, 2019.
COMMITTEE ON MINES AND ENERGY
Date: Tuesday, 12th November 2019
Time: 12:00 Noon
Venue: Committee Room 6W (West Wing, 6th Floor, Job 600)
Agenda: To consider the 2019 Budget Performance and the 2020 Annual Proposed Workplan of the Electricity Company of Ghana.
COMMITTEE ON HEALTH
Date: Tuesday, 12th November 2019
Time: 2:00 p.m.
Venue: Committee Room 8W (West Wing, 8th Floor, Job 600)
Agenda: To hold discussions with officials of the Alliance and Reproductive Health Rights (ARHR) on Universal Health Coverage and support towards health policy formulation and implementation.
STANDING ORDERS COMMITTEE
Date: Tuesday, 12th November 2019
Time: After adjournment
Venue: Speaker’s Conference Room (Speaker’s Block)
Agenda: To continue with the review of the Standing Orders.
SUPPLEMENT
ANSWERS TO PARLIAMENTARY QUESTIONS
*643. Mr. Speaker, the Mankessim Irrigation Project comprises of two schemes:
i. the Baifikrom Micro Irrigation Scheme covers 5ha and
ii. the main Mankessim Small Scale Irrigation Scheme covers 17ha developed out of a potential of 260ha.
All two (2) Schemes are located next to each other near Mankessim.
Status of schemes;
- 1. BAIFIKROM MICRO – IRRIGATION SCHEME
The 5ha micro-scheme is located some 4km from the Mankessim Station towards Ajumako. The Scheme was constructed from 2006-2008 under the micro-project component of the Small Scale Irrigation Development Project (SSIDP).
The Scheme was rehabilitated under the Northern Rural Growth Programme (NRGP) in 2010. The NRGP intervention consisted of mechanization of 2 No. boreholes and the provision of sprinkler kits to cover all the 5ha irrigable area. Fencing was erected around the perimeter of the scheme.
A broken-down submersible pump has been fixed but the scheme cannot be fully utilized now because all the tripods supporting the sprinkler heads are broken down. Also part of the scheme experiences temporary flooding during heavy down pours.
- 2. MANKESSIM SMALL SCALE IRRIGATION SCHEME
The Scheme is located off the Mankessim-Ajumako road at the Baifikrom micro scheme junction, and was constructed in 1974 through Government of Ghana (GoG) funding. It has a potential area of 260ha. The potential area is dotted with small hills surrounded by narrow strips of fairly flat lands.
Irrigation water is applied to the crops through sprinklers fed by pumps, taking water from gravity filled water sumps. Crops grown on the 17ha Scheme include watermelon, okra, garden eggs and maize.
The Scheme was first rehabilitated under GoG funding between 2005-2006 to modernize the system. The work covered the provision of additional five (5) sumps to the existing sumps, the replacement of connecting pipes and provision of five (5) pumps.
The Scheme was again rehabilitated by INCATERMA ENGINEERING CONSULTING in 2016 as part of the Irrigation and Groundwater Development Project.
The scope of works included;
- rehabilitation of main canal
- construction of four (4) sumps on the 400m supply pipeline.
- supply of 25 No. Diesel pumps and irrigation kits for 25 hectares.
- construction of a 100m2 packhouse and an Agro-meteo station.
As a result of inadequate number of farmers, only 13 diesel pumps out of the 25 supplied to them are being used.
An investor has been given about an acre (0.4ha) of the land for the 1D1F project to process sugarcane. It is expected that this would attract more farmers.
2.1 MANKESSIM WATER SUPPLY
Akin to several GIDA schemes such as Tono, Vea, Tanoso, Ghana Water Company Limited (GWCL) draws water from the Irrigation Dam for treatment and supply to Mankessim and surrounding areas. About 180m3/day of water comes from the Mankessim Irrigation Dam. This is a major hindrance to full development of the agricultural potential of this scheme. The abstracting of raw water from dams by GWCL without any effort of their own, is a threat to many irrigation schemes across the Country.
The Ghana Irrigation Development Authority intends to engage with GWCL to discuss the possibility of the latter developing alternative sources to augment water supply to the town and surrounding areas. This is to ensure that reasonable amount of water would become available for irrigation.
- 3. NEXT STEPS
The Authority has dispatched a team of Engineers to Mankessim to undertake assessment of the system and provide indicative cost estimates for the rehabilitation of the Baifikrom micro scheme. The assessment is also expected to lead to the repair of two (2) broken down pumps at Mankessim Irrigation Scheme. As part of the Authority’s plans, Water Users Association will be formed to attract more farmers to the Scheme. Their capacities would be built and strengthened to better manage the two facilities after rehabilitation. All these would be done in line with LI 2230 passed in 2016.
The Authority also intends to undertake additional topographic survey to explore the possibility of expanding the area under irrigation. Efforts would be made to develop the valleys between the small hills dotting the irrigable land into rice and sugarcane fields.
The Authority apart from looking at revamping the Mankessim scheme, is open to Public Private Partnership (PPP) arrangements to fully utilize the land for agricultural purposes.
However, this option is subject to conclusions on how much water would be available for agriculture, since the dam is also supplying domestic water to the Municipality.
Apart from looking at revamping the Baifikrom Scheme, the Authority is opened up to Public – Private arrangements to fully utilize the land for agricultural purposes. However, this option is subject to the determination of how much water would be available for agriculture.
*645. Mr. Speaker, the Ministry through the GETFund is committed to completing all on-going and stalled projects including the outstanding Community Senior High School Projects also known as the “E-Blocks”.
Mr. Speaker, it should however be noted that, a total number of twenty-seven (27) Community Senior High Schools have been completed and operationalized from January 2017 to date for use by Students.
