Month: June 2022

The Speaker of Parliament, Rt. Hon. Alban Bagbin, on Thursday, June 16, 2022 blocked the conduct of any business from the finance ministry on the floor of the House unless the finance Minister appears before the House to answer questions and present statement on the COVID-19 account and related expenses.

This was after the Finance Minister failed to honour a scheduled appearance in Parliament on Thursday to give accounts to the House for the utilization of the COVID-19 funds as well as provide answers to some 17 Parliamentary questions filed by Members of Parliament to his Ministry.

Minority MPs were disappointed when the scheduled appearance of the Finance Minister in the House as was captured on the provisional Order Paper for the previous day was left out in the order of business to be conducted for the day.

They did not take it kindly when they were later informed that the Finance Minister had asked Parliament to reschedule his appearance before the House to next week Wednesday, June 22, 2022.

A temporal embargo has been placed on all activities of the Ministry of Finance in Parliament until the Minister for Finance; Ken Ofori-Atta comes to account to Parliament on the 19 billion COVID-19 expenditure.

The Deputy Minority Whip, Ahmed Ibrahim, raised the matter on the Floor of the House, insinuating that the Minister was avoiding accountability since his appointment with Parliament has been missed twice already.

The Speaker noted that, “until he responds to the question and submit a statement giving explanation as to how that money has been applied, “we would not entertain any business from that ministry; mark my words. Let me say that the House can decide that we would not allow a minister to present or lay business in the house depending on the conduct of the minister”.

The Speaker has thus directed that the House allows the laying of papers to be referred to the various committees, but also directs the committees not to consider the business until the minister fulfills the request of the House.

 Meanwhile, the all questions are to be re-programmed for Wednesday for the Speaker to respond to alongside other related businesses.

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A member of the Nigerian delegation to the Community Parliament who  presented her country’s report on Wednesday, June 15, 2022 Chuba Ikeazu Lynda, on Thursday, June 16, 2022 before the country report of Gambia, Benin, Niger and Cote d’lvoire was presented came under point of order for two  very import issues to be addressed before commencement of the days business.

According to her when she approached her colleague from Benin, Youssoufou Abdouramani Bida Nouhoume  on Thursday, June 16,2022 he explained to her that he never said Nigerian politicians are corrupt, and that the misconception is coming from the interpreters.

Mr. Bida Nouhoume further added that he never said Chuba Ikeazu Lynda threatened him and all he said after his contribution is that he feels threatened.

The third Deputy Speaker Ibrahima Memounatou was the one presiding and appealed to her colleagues to allow the Country report to be presented and after presentation the issue that is generating tension and confusion would be addressed, because the House had a tall order of business.

This did not go down well with the Nigeria members present on the floor of the House who insisted; since a point of order has been raised it should be heard and acted upon by the Speaker. This caused some confusion for about two hours.

“He made allegation against me personally, that I threatened him; ten years down the line someone can always call for the record, and this should be struck out, thanks Speaker”.

 After a conclave meeting and contribution from members the matter was put to rest and peace prevailed for the county report to be presented starting with Gambia which had to be cut short, as speaker upon speaker from Nigeria insisted that the right thing should be done for work to commence on the floor of the House.

Business however continued after the thorny issues were addressed.

Kwaku Sakyi-Danso/Ghanamps.com/Abuja-Nigeria

A member of the ECOWAS Parliamentary delegation from the Republic of Cote d’Ivoire Gnagadjomon Kone has expressed serious reservation of a wrong tendency he believes is raising its ugly head in the community Parliament.
On Thursday, June 16, 2022, he noted that two individuals within the Community Parliament, Youssoufou Abdouramani Bida Nouhoume and Chuba Ikeazu Lynda had differences that should be seen as such, but rather Anglophone and Francophone lawmakers were beginning to take stands to make it feel as if, it is the whole two language speaking lawmakers that had issues.
He hopes a lot of lessons would be learnt from the the situation that presented itself on the floor on Thursday June 16, 2022. “I sworn an oath of office coming here, I do not consider myself as a Francophone ECOWAS MP and Anglophone MP, I am an ECOWAS MP full stop”.

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The third Deputy Speaker of the Community Parliament from Togo, Madam Ibrahima Memounatou did not take it kindly when a member of the Nigeria delegation, Egoh Oghene referred to her as a dictator and insisted along the line, whiles she was presiding that she deserve an apology. On Thursday, for more than two hours the plenary was thrown into confusion when representatives from Nigeria insisted that a point of order raised to clear, the misconception that Nigerian politicians are corrupt is addressed before the day’s proceedings can commence.

According to the third Deputy Speaker members should allow the House consider country reports from the Gambia, Benin, Niger and Cote d’Ivoire after that the issue would be addressed.

That, however did not go down well with the Nigerian delegation.

This brought about some confusion and the House became so rowdy hence the third Deputy Speaker who was chairing had to leave the chair for tension to come down.
Mr. Egoh Oghene, not happy with the stands taken by the third deputy Speaker pointed out that the Speaker was being a dictator. Madam, Ibrahima Memounatou, not happy with the development on the floor pointed out that she has been an MP since 2002 and been in government of her country for six years and headed bigger Assemblies.“ECOWAS is not the biggest I have handled, I insist on an apology from him; I am a very patient person, I want to point out I have not swept the issue under the carpet, I would not authorise you to use this kind of words against me”.

And added that when she takes the chair it is not her as an individual and she would not accept the kinds of words used against her, “I occupy the seat as a Speaker”, she insisted as she was being assisted by the Secretary General to bring the situation under control.

In the heat of the confusion, Abdullahi Silame Balarabe pleaded with the presiding speaker to allow her contribute to bring about a lasting solution to the confusion.“We should not subject ourselves to things that would harm us, Madam Speaker you are a leader you need to be patient”. He further added that they represent their countries as lawmakers in the House and the Speaker needs to listen to everyone since they were the ones who selected the Speaker, and when a point of order is raised whatever it is it should be heard by the Speaker before anything.

Again, “we met in conclave and this issue has been solved, all you needed to do to let those who were not in your office know that, when you came back we were there to solve the problem as we are back just tell them the issue has been solved and you went on without telling them anything”.
He added that the presiding speaker is not a military person so she should just allow his colleague Bida to withdraw whatever is generating the confusion. Madam, Memounatou explained that after the conclave meeting she was of the opinion that majority of members understood the point she was putting across, but if that is not the case and majority think the issue should be addressed before they move on it is accepted.

And at each point she kept reminding her colleague for an apology. “I want an apology and I want official apology and should be on record”. Mr. Egoh Oghene thanked the presiding third Deputy Speaker for the way and manner she has handle issues. “We were worried, I was the first to say you are a dictator but now I apologize, you are not a dictator you have done the right thing now”.

Kwaku Sakyi-Danso/Ghanamps.com/Abuja-Nigeria

A member of the Nigerian delegation to the Community Parliament, Egoh Oghene on Thursday, June 16, 2022 urged is colleague from Benin to come clear to explain to the House why he feels threatened.

According to him his colleague from Benin, Youssoufou Abdouramani Bida Nouhoume is a good Speaker he admire a lot, “so if he comes to Parliament and feels threatened, that is not fair. Nobody in Parliament should feel threatened, is he being threaten by someone from Togo, Ghana or Nigeria?”.

Again, “we would like to know and it is in our interest for him to be protected if he feels threatened, we can call police to follow him everywhere”. His submission got everyone in the chamber laughing but he insisted that it is important for all MPs to feel safe and at home to carry on their duties.

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Chairman of the Public Accounts Committee and member of the Benin delegation to the Economic Community of West States (ECOWAS) Parliament, Youssoufou Abdouramani Bida Nouhoume, has responded to allegations that he referred to his colleague politicians from Nigeria as being corrupt.

He asserts that he has  never said Nigerian politicians are corrupt.

Confusion erupted at the plenary on Thursday, June 16, 2020 for almost two hours fifteen minutes when a member of the Nigerians delegation Lynda Chuba Ikeazu moved a motion that two quick issues be addressed before the day’s proceedings can be carried on.

“I demand that the records struck out that I threatened my colleague Youssoufou Abdouramani Bida Nouhoume and Nigerian politicians are corrupt”, this was an issue that came to play when Mr. Bida Nouhoume made his contribution when Nigeria presented its country report on Wednesday, June 15, 2022.

According to Bida he took an oath and he is in the Community Parliament to exercise freedom of speech and the confusion they are experiencing is out of interpretation that has not gone down well.

  “I was accused  of saying the political class in Nigeria was corrupt. They did not listen to my pleading; I only ask that they work for the good of the population and on issues of good governance and corruption is not resolved in our countries”.

Again, Nigeria is the largest economy; you have a high class and a low class, I do not know what the interpreters said, I did not accuse any of the MPs directly.

He further added that MPs are free to express themselves that is why he said he feels threatened as an MP and he is a Nigerian by origin. “I am not accusing anybody, read out my text”,  a pleaded that fear and panic should not be created  and they should be sure they do not misunderstand each other.

Again, “we should not accuse each other as dictators, every time when we present country report everyone is free to comment. Nigeria should live and work in peace the development of the country.  I did not give them instructions the interpretation given you was wrong impression”.

And his right as an MP under Article 20 he has an immunity and can express himself and no one can take him to court, and his wish is that they understand each other. “let us feel at home in Nigeria and feel democracy in Nigeria is real as we are not threatening Nigerians, may God bless Nigeria and ECOWAS”.

In addition he said this is his third term despite the fact that he is less than forty years in age in politics he is experience enough in parliamentary proceedings and can never make a mistake of saying that someone has threatened him.

And apologized to the third Deputy Speaker and noted that he believes the misunderstanding is settled.

Kwaku Sakyi-Danso/Ghanamps.com/Abuja-Nigeria

The Speaker of Parliament, Rt. Hon. Alban. S. K. Bagbin, has stated that many citizens have lost faith in democracy’s ability to improve their lives.

Addressing the future of Ghana’s Parliament, the Speaker stated that “the wave of disillusionment that has affected many countries, including Ghana, should be reversed to restore hope in the power and promise of democracy, adding that “the role of Parliament is critical in this reversal effort.”

He was speaking at the University of Professional Studies (UPSA), Accra, on the occasion of the Third Eminent Guest Lecture Series’ on the topic; “The Future of Parliament in Ghana’s Democratic Governance.”

The Speaker emphasised the importance of strengthening Parliament’s oversight drive, acknowledging that while Parliament is endowed with broad powers under several Articles of the 1992 Constitution (103, 69, 82, 181, and so on), the Legislature’s oversight mandate has been the weakest link during the Fourth Republic. He believes that the only way to effectively implement this oversight function in order to improve accountability and transparency is for both sides of the House to take a bipartisan and neutral approach in how Parliament monitors the management of the State and its resources.

“The economic incentives and carrots that can be gained for siding with the executive, facilitated by extreme loyalty and strict party discipline,” he said, “have all contributed to the weakening of Parliament’s position and oversight power.”

He noted that in the future, Parliament will need to achieve financial autonomy in order for the Legislature to be fully equipped with the power to oversee the Executive.

He emphasised that “despite the design of the Constitution, Parliament has the power of the purse, and approval from the Consolidated Fund can only be given by Parliament for government to undertake their projects.”

Ironically, the executive approves Parliament’s budget, giving the executive enormous and overbearing powers over the Legislature. The current arrangement, in which the Executive approves Parliament’s own budget, has the potential to undermine the legislature’s oversight capacity, he stated.

Under the shadow of a hung parliament, Rt. Hon. Bagbin called for strategic engagements, consensus building, and conflict resolution, which will provide a channel for both sides of the House to approach societal issues with a single goal in mind: the interests of the Ghanaian people.

He emphasised the importance of including traditional and religious leaders, as well as civil society organisations (CSO) in the work parliament, in order to improve parliament-citizen relations even further. “One such initiative will be the ‘Citizen Bureau,’ which will be Parliament’s partnership with CSOs,” he says.

 This will enable such civil society actors to legislate using residual powers in order to establish a governance organ. By doing so, Speaker Bagbin believes that Parliament will become more aware of its shortcomings and the gaps that need to be filled in order for the Legislature to improve.

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