News:
June 30, 2019
Member of Parliament for North Tongu, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa has indicated to the House that, he would file an urgent question on the issue of visa waiver agreement to Jamaica and four other countries.
According to the Ranking member he had raised the issue at the committee level, and indicated to the House that when President Nana Akufo-Addo went to the Carrabin’s he did indicate a new visa waiver he had signed.
On Friday after the presentation of the Business statement, he did draw the attention of the Speaker that he is bringing the issues up because the agreement would take effect on July 1, 2019.
He recounted Article 75 of the 1992 Constitution and the Supreme Court ruling that all international agreements should come before Parliament.
“Mr. Speaker, indeed there are four of this visa waiver agreements that have been programmed for this particular meeting; Columbia, Chile, India and Hungry, when I raise the issue I was told the Ministry of Foreign Affairs would fast truck it for the agreement to be brought to us to ratify before the 1st of July, 2019”.
Speaker Professor Aaron Michael Oquaye pointed out to the North Tongu lawmaker to do the proper thing by filling for the sector Minister to come to the House to address the issue.
“If the Minister has not submitted the agreement, you a worthy MP to ask her questions, Honorable please file a question’.
The North Tongu lawmaker indicated to the Speaker that he would be well guided and follow the advice of the Speaker by filing a question on the floor of the House.
Kwaku Sakyi-Danso/ghanamps.com