Ministers, not deputies - Minority

The Minority in Parliament on Wednesday launched another attack on the Majority front bench for encouraging Deputy Ministers to answer questions on behalf of their superiors in Parliament.

Mr Alban Bagbin, the Minority Leader, said it was becoming the rule rather than the exception for Deputy Ministers to take the despatch box rather than full ministers. The member complained after Dr Matthew Antwi, a Deputy Minister of Agriculture, had on the leave of the House completed a question time slated for Major Courage Quashiega (rtd), Minister of Food and Agriculture.

Mr Bagbin said government should recognise the fact that Deputy Ministers were not in charge of the various ministries and should not appear before the house as such. Papa Owusu Ankomah, the Majority Leader, described the complaint as "a hit below the belt".

He said he sought leave of the House for the Deputy Minister to stand in for his superior. "Government is fully aware of its responsibilities towards Parliament and would not encourage that attitude. Full Ministers are sometimes out of the country or out of town so we have to allow their deputies to stand in for them." The Leader said the Minority had been not treated the Majority front bench fairly.