News:
June 9, 2020
Minority Leader, Haruna Iddrisu was compelled to invoke Order 53 (2) to ensure the Electoral Commission comes to the House to brief it on its road map towards election 2020, after weeks of request on the matter had not been addressed.
According him, he had made this demand for the EC to come to the House since 30th April for the Majority Leader Osei-Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu to summon Mrs Jean Mensah to update parliament either at the Committee of the whole or the special budget Committee.
“Parliament should be allowed to interrogate matters relating to their budget requirement and procurement, as a way of political accountability constantly the matter has been relegated to the background”.
And recounted that the last time he raised this issue he was told the EC would be in the House on 9th June 202, but presenting the Business Statement on Friday there was no indication that the EC would be in the House.
The Speaker Professor Aaron Michael Oquaye was compelled to ask the Majority Leader to ensure that finality is brought to the matter.
Mr. Osei-Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu pointed out that the Minority Leader was the vice chairman of the special budget committee which made invitation to the EC and he has been updating his colleague.
Again, the Minority Ranking Member of the Business Committee had raised the issues there and he updated him on the matter hence he finds it unfortunate that he still has to raise the matter on the floor of the House.
“Initially the EC said they would be in the House on June 16, 2020; I was thinking they could be here on the 9th but they are working at the various districts on a pilot registration for new voters ID”.
He further explained to the House there has been a new development where the EC had been directed by the Supreme Court to avail themselves on Monday June 8, 2020 and would follow up with them to find out if they can avail themselves to the House before they get back to the districts.
Speaker Oquaye intervene and asked when the EC would be in the House to brief it of its preparation ahead of this year’s Presidential and Parliamentary elections?
Mr. Mensah-Bonsu told the speaker he want to further engage with the EC to see if he can talk to them to be in the House on the June 9, 2020 but compelling them would be difficult.
Kwaku Sakyi-Danso/Ghanamps.com