News:
May 14, 2014
The Majority Chief Whip in Parliament, Alhaji Mohammed Muntaka has described as unnecessary and petty, the Minority in Parliament’s accusations against the Speaker of Parliament, Edward Doe Adjaho.
Mr Adjaho is alleged to have taken decisions on the Constitution Review Commission’s recommendations on entrenched provisions without seeking the consent of Parliament.
The Speaker reportedly failed to also present the recommendations being proposed by government to the House.
The Minority says Mr. Adjaho’s actions are unconstitutional and inappropriate, adding that, “the whole process of constitutional amendment is turning out to be nothing other than an executive review of the national constitution.”
But speaking on Eyewitness News, Alhaji Muntaka downplayed the accusations the Minority levelled against Mr. Adjaho.
He said he is convinced that “Mr. Adjaho consulted both the Majority and Minority in Parliament before taking his decision.”
According to him, Mr. Adjaho had every right to refer the matter to the Council of State.
The Asawase MP opined that the press briefing organized by the Minority MPs smacks of partisanship; a development which should not be encouraged when discussing serious state matters.
Meanwhile, a Legal Practitioner, Yaw Oppong backed the Minority’s claim that the the bill was not appropriately referred to the Council of State since it was not in accordance with the constitution.
He explained that “until the bill is gazetted for six months, introduced to Parliament, then Parliament refers to the Council of State, the bill cannot be said to have been properly referred to the Council of State.”
Quoting Article 291 of the 1992 Constitution, Mr Oppong said: “A bill to amend the provision of this constitution which is not an entrenched provision shall not be introduced to Parliament unless it has been published twice in the gazette with the second publication being made at least three months after the first and at least ten days after the second publication.”
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