News:
July 19, 2017
Leader of government business in Parliament, Mr. Osei Kyei Mensah-Bonsu has justified the laying of Office of the Special Prosecutor Bill, 2017 and Zongo Development Fund Bill, 2017 saying nothing untoward happened. in an interview.
Former Deputy Attorney General and MP for Bolga East, Dominic Ayini argued that the Bills were not properly laid because due process had not been followed.
According to him, the requirement for a bill to be laid was for it to be gazetted in the Ghana Publishing Company, 14 days before it is brought to the floor of the House.
But the Majority leader quoted Article 106 (13) “Where it is determined by a committee of Parliament appointed for the purpose that a particular bill is of urgent nature, the provisions of the preceding clauses of this article, other than clauses (1) and paragraph (a) of clause (2) shall not apply, and accordingly, the President shall give his assent to the bill on its presentation for assent”.
Clearly the former Deputy Attorney General had not adverted his mind to this provision, in the Constitution are backed by our standing orders, order 119
He revealed that the former Deputy AG latter came to him and acknowledge that Article 106 (13) addresses the issues that he raised on the floor of the House.
The Suame legislator further revealed that, in his long stay in the House, this will not be the first time that such Bills will be introduced in the House under a certificate of urgency. “Parliament has been resorting to this vehicle since I came to the House, I am surprise that all of a sudden the Minority are resorting to this” he said.
He advice Journalist who had gathered around him to question why the rush in introducing the two Bills, not to behave like the Minority Members of Parliament but rather, go through the constitution critically and educate themselves.
By: Kwaku Sakyi-Danso/ghanamps.com