News:
Minister for Communications and Digitalisation, Ursula G. Owusu Ekuful
December 15, 2021
Minister for Communications and Digitalisation, Ursula G. Owusu Ekuful has expressed surprise at the conduct of the Minority members on the Communications Committee for rushing to organise a hurried press conference, when there was an understanding that sitting be suspended for thirty minutes so that, the National Communications Authority (NCA) annual report for 2017 could be presented.
According the Minister whiles at the Committee on Tuesday, December 14, 2021 she had an annual report of the NCA for 2015 and 2016 which she showed to the Committee and are supposed to be laid on the floor of the House on Wednesday, December 15, 2021.
“Four agencies under the Ministry presented their estimate for 2022 to the Committee; 2018 annual report of the NCA was also being printed to be presented, I explained to the Committee, I was not the Minister in 2015 and 2016 this thing started long before the NPP came to power but I am the Minister now and it is my responsibility to ensure that the annual report of my agency are laid before Parliament and i indicated at my vetting that I would ensure it is laid before parliament as soon I receive them”.
She further pointed out at a press briefing that she never said anywhere that she has the annual report and it’s before Parliament and added that she had given an explanation on the NCA annual report which was satisfactory to the Committee.
Again, she explained that it is her responsibility to ensure that the NCA does it work the way it is required by law, “I am working very hard putting pressure on the NCA to ensure they present the composite report so that I can also present it to parliament majority of the members were satisfied”.
The Minister told members of the Parliamentary Press Corps (PPC) she would be happy, if journalists can contact chairperson or vice of the Communication Committee to ascertain the veracity of her explanation with the hurriedly organised Minority press conference whiles they suspended for thirty minutes.
“I do not want to use any strong language, I am at a lost why they would put that information when that is not what transpired at the committee level, I have finished producing the ministry’s estimate, our budget for 2022 the rest of the agencies are ongoing, we stand ready to cooperate with the committee fully to conduct all the oversight responsibility”, she added.
In addition she explained that, so far as it is in her powers she would ensure that all the agencies and departments abide by their legal obligation, indicating that sometimes not all of them do so, but “I kept telling them if any stage of the way if I am unable to provide them with the information they seek I would come and tell them why I am unable”.
Kwaku Sakyi-Danso/Ghanamps.com