National Health Insurance Bill deferred

Accra, July 25, GNA -The National Health Insurance Bill programmed to be passed before Parliament on Friday July 25, has been deferred on the advice of the Leadership, Chairmen and Ranking Members of the Health and Finance Committees in consultation with the Business Committee. The leadership accepted the request by the Joint Committee on health and Finance to be given four more days to complete the study of the Memoranda and the proposed amendments to the Bill so as to present their final report.

Mr Felix k. Owusu-Agyapong, Chairman of the Business Committee, Majority leader and Minister for Parliamentary Affairs said this when he presented an explanatory memorandum on the Business Statement for the first week of the Third Meeting ending October 17.

He said, based on the request by the Joint Committee, Leadership has asked the Committee to complete its report and make same available for distribution to Members.

The Leadership further decided that on receipt of the report of the Joint Committee, a Special Meeting of Parliament may be convened between August 18 to 22 this year to consider the stages of the passage of the Bill when the House would have been on recess.

This directive brought a lot of protests from most Members who felt it was not right for the Leader to have included it in the Business of the Week when members would have been on recess.

Mr Cletus Avoka, NDC- Bawku West said he did not see the urgency of the Bill to require a special meeting when the House would have been on recess and said there was the need for policy to be followed in such matters.

Mr Johnson Asiedu Nketiah, NDC- Wenchi West said it was the Speaker who had the authority to recall the House for Special Meetings and that it was wrong for the leader of the House to have done so.

Mr Doe Adjaho, NDC- Avenor and Minority Chief Whip said the leadership never agreed on a specific date for the reconvening of the House to discuss the Bill.

The Senior Minister, Mr J.H. Mensah said since procurement bills were important for social development of the country it was necessary that the National Health Insurance Bill was giving an urgent solution. The Leader of the House said financial matters required urgency since there was a section of financial matters that needed to be considered in the Bill and that the request was provisional and only meant to give an idea to the Members to plan and prepare adequately towards an urgency meeting.

The House rose sine die after lengthy discussions on the amendments to the Labour and Juvenile Bills laid before the House and is expected to resume on October 14, 2003.

Mr Isaac Adjei-Mensah, Deputy Minority Leader commended the leadership, the Clerks office and members of the Parliamentary Press Corps for their dedication to ensuring that the Legislature played its role.

He prayed that the break period would enable Members to interact with their constituents and prepare them towards their socio-economic development.

The Majority Leader said the business of the Third Session has been very successful with the House able to go through a number of Bills, Motions, Resolutions and questions from Members.

Mr Freddie Blay, First Deputy Speaker on behalf of the Speaker, Mr Peter Ala Adjetey thanked members for their devotion to duty that has ensured that they played their role as legislators very effectively and efficiently.

He called for a little more of commitment and dedication to the work of the House by all to ensure the socio-economic development and growth of the democracy in the country.