Govt Suffers First Defeat In Parliament

Government on Friday suffered its first defeat in Parliament when it lost a vote on a resolution for a contract agreement. The agreement was between the government and four companies for destination inspection of imports. Eighty members voted in favour, while 56 abstained.

The companies are the Inspections and Control Services, Ghana Link Network Services (GLNS), Gateway Services Limited and Bivac International.

Earlier in the debate, Alhaji Mohamed Mumuni, NDC-Kumbungu, called on the Minister of Trade and Industry to withdraw the bill because it could not pass as an international agreement.

He said the Minister could contract the said companies to carry out the inspection work without parliamentary approval. It is flawed fundamentally. There is no jurisdiction foundation to invoke the authority of the House on the matter, he said.

But Dr Kofi Konadu Apraku, Trade Minister, said there was an international dimension to the agreement since most the companies did business with foreign partners that involved the transfer of foreign currency. Any action that imposes financial obligation on government must seek parliamentary approval, he added.But his explanation was received with a pinch of salt by some of the members who decided to abstain from voting.