News:
February 17, 2012
The controversy surrounding the creation of new districts and its legality was this morning further deepened as the minority in parliament raised issues with the manner in which it was laid on the floor of the House.
The Minister of Local Government and Rural development Samuel Ofoso Ampofo on Thursday February 9, laid a Legislative Instrument (LI) in parliament for the creation of new districts and the elevation of some existing ones.
The constitution requires that within 21 days after papers had been laid before the house, parliamentarians should have studied the report and be ready for a debate on its approval.
However days after the Minister had laid the LI, the Minority today drew the attention of the speaker and the House at large to the fact that MPs are yet to have copies of the document put before the House.
The objection raised by the Minority on the issue which defies the constitution caused a stalemate for a while, as some MPs requested that the laid papers should be withdrawn for them to have their copies before it is laid again.
The Majority Leader Cletus Avorka drew the attention of the house that copies of the document had been made available to him and that he had requested for more copies to be given to all MPs for their study by Tuesday, February 21.
The speaker on her ruling on the matter questioned why members failed to indicate at the time the LI was laid before the House. She therefore asked that members exercise restraint for the report to be made available to them by Tuesday.
Kwadwo Anim/ghanamps.gov.gh