House will revisit State of Emergency on Tuesday

Accra, July 18, GNA - Parliament would revisit the extension of the State of Emergency in the Dagbon Traditional Area next week Tuesday. The House failed to get the necessary numbers to pass a motion for extension on Thursday. The House, by a vote of 97 in favour, none against and 35 abstentions, could not carry the resolution since it needed a vote of 101 to pass it.

Mr Felix Owusu-Adjapong, the Majority Leader and Minister of Parliamentary Affairs, made the announcement when he presented the Business Statement for the 12th week, ending July 25, 2003. The voting, which was on partisan lines, saw the Majority New Patriotic Party members voting in favour of the resolution while the Minority National Democratic Congress members abstained. Mr Owusu-Agjapong said the House would sit on Monday to ensure that it disposes of its outstanding businesses such as the Juvenile Justice Bill, the Labour Bill, Public Procurement Bill and the National Health Insurance Bill.

The Minority later told Journalists that they abstained because the Majority refused to postpone the moving of the resolution to Friday to enable them to make further consultations. The House is expected to rise on Friday, July 25, 2003.