Minority in Parliament has accused the Majority Caucus of deliberately disrupting a crucial probe into a special audit report involving GH¢68 billion in government arrears, leading to a sudden halt in investigations on the matter.

The dispute follows the abrupt withdrawal of Majority members from a sitting of the Public Accounts Committee (PAC), a move that forced the committee to suspend its work midway through proceedings.

Chair of the committee, Abena Osei Asare, described the incident as a major setback, noting that the committee had already begun work within the timeline set for the investigation.

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“The audit was referred to the Public Accounts Committee (PAC), and we were given some time frames within which we have to work and then bring back our findings,” she told the House.

She explained that the invited stakeholders were present and the proceedings had started as scheduled before the disruption occurred.

“We began today. It was advertised and we began today at 9:00. Around 11:15, one of the whips from the Majority side walked in and said we have to excuse their members,” she said.

Without key members present, she noted, the committee could not continue.

“…because if you don’t have an available ranking, we cannot continue with the proceeding. So today we had to halt it and ask the invitees to leave, and then come back at another time,” she added.

Concerned about meeting deadlines, she appealed for direction on how the committee should proceed given the disruption.

“So, I want to seek your indulgence. What is the way forward? One, since it’s been referred to us, two, we have been given some time frame to do this, and three, we have called the invitees. They were all seated and waiting,” she said.

But the Majority has pushed back against claims of deliberate obstruction. Majority Chief Whip, Rockson Nelson Dafeamekpor, insisted the decision was purely due to scheduling pressures in Parliament.

“The impression that we are not interested in the committee’s work is not accurate,” he said.

He explained that a prior agreement had been reached to pause committee sittings temporarily to allow MPs to focus on plenary business.

“We met yesterday and took a decision that because of the heavy nature of business for plenary, committee activities should be suspended until Friday, so that after Friday, the committees can sit,” he stated.

He added that alternative arrangements had been proposed to balance both responsibilities.

“Indeed, we even suggested that after adjournment, the committees can work, or alternatively, if the committees can sit from 8:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m., before the plenary starts,” he said.

According to him, overlapping schedules could affect quorum in the House, but he maintained that the committee still has enough time to complete its assignment.

“The Public Accounts Committee by all means has the time to do their work, and they have a timeframe within which to present their report back to plenary, and that has not been affected in any way,” he said.

The development highlights the growing friction between both sides as Parliament works through a demanding legislative schedule while handling high-stakes financial oversight.

NA/VPO

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