News:
October 28, 2015
The upcoming presidential and parliamentary primaries of the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC) Wednesday had a telling effect on Parliament when the legislature was forced to adjourn its sitting to Thursday because of the absence of some key members.
The members, some of who are Ministers of State and chairmen of various committees and representing the NDC on the Majority side of the House were scheduled to move various motions on the floor for the advancement of the government business but were absent.
For instance, Chairman of the Finance Committee, James Klutse Avedzi who was expected to move the motion for the adoption of the Report of the Finance Committee on the 2013 Reconciliation Report on the Petroleum Holding Fund was absent.
Mr. Avedzi is seeking for re-election on the ticket of the NDC for Ketu South Constituency.
Dr. Rashid Pelpuo, Minister of State In-Charge of Public Sector Reform who was also scheduled to present a paper on the African Charter on Values and Principles of Public Service and Adminsitration was also not present.
Dr. Pelpuo is seeking for re-election as the NDC parliamentary candidate for Wa Central Constituency.
Minister for Employment and Labour Relations, Haruna Iddrisu acted in his absence.
Mahama Ayariga, Minister for Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation, who is seeking for re-election as NDC parliamentary candidate for Bawku Central was also expected to present a Paper on the Host Country Agreement between the Government of the Republic of Gfhana and the Centre for Agriculture and Bioscience International (CABI) Regarding the Establishment of a sub-Regional Office of CAB International in Ghana but was absent.
Minister of Defence, Dr. Benjamin Kunbuor acted on his behalf.
That aside, Chairman of the Public Accounts Committee, Kwaku Agyeman-Manu who was scheduled to move the motion for adoption of the Report of the Public Accounts Committee on the Performance Audit Report of the Auditor General on the Regulation of Residential Homes for Children (Orphanages) by the Department of Social Welfare (DSW) was also absent.
Mr. Agyeman-Manu, MP for Dormaa West is a member of the Minority side of the House.
Speaker of Parliament, Edward Doe Adjaho who was not enthused about the turn of events feared the situation if allowed to continue would impact negatively on the performance of the House.
He has therefore urged the leaders (both Majority and Minority) to institute measures to curtail the challenge they are being confronted with.
“I called the House so that we can come and transact business so that in the face of the challenges because of the primaries of the majority, how that will not affect the business of the House. We should not deceive ourselves. We are confronted with serious challenges during this meeting. So, I want us to find ways and means of trying to put things together,” he said.
He also proposed bringing inviting some former leaders of the House to bring their expertise to onboard to help address the challenge.