News:
June 12, 2018
In its quest to deepen parliamentary democracy, Parliament has opened up it Committee on the Whole meeting with officials of the National Identification Authority (NIA) as against provisions of Order 199 of the Standing Orders of Parliament.
Order 199 provides that ” No stranger shall be admitted to any meeting of a Committee without the consent of the Chairman, unless the Committee decides that such meeting shall be held in the public: Provided that the Chairman of a Committee may, wherever he thinks fit, order the withdraw of strangers from any meeting which is being held in public “.
The meeting supposed to provide opportunity for officials of the NIA to brief Parliament on the roll out plan for the nationwide national Identity Cards.
The Minority NDC lawmakers boycotted the ongoing registration exercise in Parliament until the meeting with the NIA which is expected to provide answers to their concerns.
The Minority indicated that it will continue with its boycott if the answers provided are not satisfactory.
Christian Kpesese/ ghanamps.com.