Mahama ministers dodge parliamentary scrutiny

Two ministers summoned before Parliament for questioning Wednesday failed to appear before the House, thereby angering the law makers who have prepared a barrage of questions for the government appointees.

But before tempers could rise, the Deputy Majority leader, Hon. Alfred Agbesi, stood on his feet and explained to the House that the ministers, including the Minister of Finance, Seth Tekper and Minister for Food and Agriculture, Clement Kofi Humando, as well as their deputies were attending to other official businesses outside parliament, and as such could not be present.

His stance was heavily supported by the Speaker, Rt. Hon. Edward Doe Adjaho, who told the legislators that the House has given all the Ministers of State sometime to cool off.

"Hon. Members, I am giving this week as honey-moon for all ministers of state", he noted to the amazement of the law makers.

He further went on to tell the members that if nothing at all, Hon. Clement Kofi Humando should be exempted from incurring their wrath, since he has been "honouring all the invitation of the House".

His comment was after the Hon. Members for Old Tafo and Wenchi, Dr. Akoto Osei and George Gyan Baffour had complained bitterly about the failure of the above mentioned ministers of state to honour the invitation of the House for questioning on issues relating to their ministries.

"Just yesterday, we were told by Mr. Speaker that this meeting would be a hectic one and that is why we have been called back to the House, even though we needed more time to rest, but if the meeting begins like this, where ministers of state are failing to appear before the House, then it is not the best", Dr. Akoto intoned.

On his part, Hon. Gyan Baffour called on the Speaker to call the ministers to order, explaining that the businesses to be conducted by the said ministers was supposed to have been done before the House went for break, but due to the ministers failure to honour parliament's invitation, it was deferred to their current sittings.

"Mr. Speaker, don't give them honey moon, two weeks from now we will be considering the budget and we will not have time to do other things", he lamented.

But in a swift response, the Speaker said there was business to be done in the House, so members should not conclude that they have been called back without any work to be done.