Parliament Rises Without Ala Adjettey

As is characteristic of Parliament, 28th March was a very buy day as the Whips were kept on their toes, busily lobbying Members of Parliament to vote in favour or against motions on the floor of the house.

In all 29 motions, four resolutions and seven papers were put before Parliament for consideration. Prominent amongst the lot were the Tema Oil Debt Recovery (Tema Oil Refinery Company) Fund Bill, the Appropriation Bill for the year 2003 and the adoption of the eighteenth Report of the Appointments Committee on the nomination of Professor Kodzo Paaku Kludze by President Kufuor, to the Supreme Court.

The Minority in their usual enthusiastic manner, protested against the Tema Oil Debt Recovery (Tema Oil Refinery Company) Fund Bill. The Bill is to afford government raise revenue to pay off the TOR debt.

The Minority contended that government had started collecting the taxes in contravention to the constitution. This they claimed undermines the authority of Parliament, in its function of having the authority over the executive in financial matters.

They further argued that the passing of the bill would be unconstitutional, as it would have retrospective effect. In reply the Majority agreed that government has already started collecting these monies but the monies had been placed in an escrow account pending the approval of Parliament. After much heckling, the bill was passed with voting done on partisan basis.

The adoption of the report of the appointments committee on Professor Kludze also attracted a lot of debate. Whilst the Minority rejected the report on the basis that Professor Kludze is too old and would not be on the Supreme Court for more than a period of nine months. The Majority insisted that the professor is a lawyer of no mean repute and that he was more than qualified to be on the Supreme Court. The Minority further contended that allegations leveled against the professor was not properly investigated hence the committees inability to determine conclusively as to whether he was innocent of the allegations leveled against him. The Appropriation Bill was the last to be passed.

At about 9:30pm all business before the house had been accomplished. It was time as tradition demands for the leaders of both sides and Mr. Speaker to address the house.

The Minority Leader was the first to address the house. He reiterated the minority’s of not compromising on issues of good governance and due process. He wished the outgoing Majority Leader, Paapa Owusu Ankomah well on his elevation to cabinet status as the Attorney General and Minister of Justice. He also welcomed the new Minister for Parliamentary Affairs, Felix Owusu Agyapong and assured him of the support of the minority.

The Majority Leader in turn appealed to all well meaning Ghanaians to help consolidate Parliamentary democracy, by being accommodative of other views. This he said would ensure that the democratic process is not derailed. With this attitude he said Ghana is assured to achieve a middle-income status by the year 2020.

The First Deputy Speaker, Hon. Freddy Blay, who was presiding at the time, expressed his gratitude to the staff of Parliament who under severe working constraints have worked tirelessly to ensure that work at Parliament carries on unimpeded. He was particularly grateful to the Press for not only bringing Parliament closer to the people but for also accommodating the idiosyncrasies of Members of Parliament.

This was the first occasion Parliament was rising without the Rt. Hon. Speaker, Peter Ala Adjettey. Hon. Freddy Blay as well as the leaders of the Minority and Majority wished Mr. Speaker speedy recovery. The house is expected to resume sitting during the first week of May.