News:
December 3, 2019
Majority Leader and Minister of Parliamentary Affairs, Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu has said the withdrawal of the bill meant to decide if political parties should present candidates for district level elections has not breached any provision of the constitution or Standing Orders of Parliament, neither has the process of the withdrawal interfered with the workings of the Electoral Commission as said by his colleagues Minority Leader, Haruna Iddrisu on the floor of the House on Monday 2nd of December 2019. `
He noted at a press conference just after the Attorney General, Gloria Akufo withdrew the bill leading to the process of the referendum was an assignment directed by the President and added that the process does not amount to interfering with the work of the Electoral Commission.
“The President has not done such a thing, bills can be introduced in Parliament which can come in the instance of either the President. Parliament as an institution or from a Member of Parliament, as Minister exit to help the President run the country effectively”.
In respect of Article 55 (3) is constitutional amendment it has entrenched provisions, and because of that it is referred to the Council of state for their advice and goes through consideration stage.
For the entrenched provisions when it comes to Parliament nothing is done, the Speaker only announce that the bill has come to the House, it goes to the Council of state and they submit their advice within one month.
And referred to the proper authority for the conduct of a referendum gazette and referred to the EC for the conduct of a referendum. Parliament is then empowered to go on or not if the outcome is NO that means no to Parliament if the outcome is YES then it means Parliament can go ahead with the amendment process of the provision of the constitution.
“The Minister who introduced the bill has the capacity to withdraw the bill at whatever stage, as the AG assigned by the President has done on the floor”.
Kwaku Sakyi-Danso/ghanamps.com