News:
July 12, 2021
Deputy Majority Leader, Alexander Kwamena Afenyo Markin has absorbed the Business Committee of parliament from any blame regarding the continues delay of the Finance Minister, Ken Ofori Atta to the House to answer questions on the president’s travel to France, Belgium and South Africa.
According to him, the appearance of the finance minister lies with the Speaker who has directed that at the appropriate time the finance minister would be invited to respond to the said question.
The Member of Parliament (MP) for North Tongu, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa last Friday, expressed his displeasure at the special treatment being extended to the finance minister when the business statement for the ensuring week failed to capture his question for the finance minister who is supposed to adhere to a simple request to appear before the House to answer questions on the cost of the president’s travel to the three countries, France, Belgium and South Africa.
According to him the impression should not be created as if the finance minister is above the law. He should comply with Order 64 of the House which give a time frame by which a minister should appear before the floor of the House to answer questions.
“I wrote a memo to the business committee drawing their attention to this development where the finance minister is asking for more time to come before the House to answer a question, will that be in perpetuity I have gone through the business statement for next week my question has not been programmed?”
He stated that the sports minister and the health minister were reprimanded by the Rt. Hon Speaker when they were late to answer questions on the floor of the House, and wondered why the finance minister’s case is different.
Kwaku Sakyi-Danso/Ghanamps.com