News:
March 24, 2021
Minority Leader, Haruna Iddrisu has said as leaders of the House, they owe it a duty to support the Speaker to manage the House, and he was not at the usual morning conclave meeting with the Speaker because of consideration of budget estimates for some constitutional bodies like the Audit Service.
He made this point on the floor of the House on Tuesday, when the issue of quorum was raised on the floor of the House.
According to the Minority Leader he had fourteen of his colleagues waiting for him so that consideration of the budget estimates can start as he speaks on the floor, but he came into the chamber because he saw the Speaker entering and had to show himself before moving to the committee meeting.
He further underscored the point that around this time Committees meet early morning around 9:00am to 10:00am and rather, the leadership should have come to see the Speaker to move the plenary work to midday.
And further assured the Speaker that, there are quite a number of lawmakers in Parliament but they are at various Committee meetings considering budget estimates, and if thirty minutes is given all of them could come to the chamber.
Speaker Bagbin held on to his earlier point that he stands by the ruling of former speakers that MPs should come to the plenary before going for any Committee meetings, and he had caused the bell to be rang after ten minutes if there are no enough members on the floor, he would be forced to adjourn the House as he has to obey the standing orders.
Kwaku Sakyi-Danso/Ghanamps.com