Majority told to be sure of publication on parliamentary agenda

Accra, May 26, GNA - Mr Edward Doe Adjaho, First Deputy Speaker of Parliament on Thursday, advised the Majority Leader to be sure, definite and ready for what is published on the Order Paper for smooth parliamentary business.

The advice followed the motion to adjourn the House earlier than expected because of the absence of the Health Minister, Mr Joseph Yieleh Chireh, whose presence was needed to commence the consideration stage of the Health Institution and Facilities Bill 2010.

The basis for the adjournment was to allow more winnowing to be done to the bill, which was already on the order paper for consideration. According to Mr Adjaho, calling for winnowing while the bill was already replete with tonnes of proposed amendments was untenable.

In his view, winnowing preceded the publication of proposed amendments and must be done before those that demanded plenary debates were published. Papa Owusu-Ankomah, New Patriotic Party (NPP) member for Sekondi, said the attitude of the Majority showed that they were not serious with the business of the House.

"Is the government really serious," he asked adding that Government= did not give the inkling of being focus.

"We only come and adjourn. I appeal to the Government and those in leadership that Ghana deserves better," he said.

Mr Cletus Avoka, Majority Leader, who accepted the advice in good faith, rather refuted the Minority claim that Government was not focus.

He said members of the Government and Parliament were focus, serious and committed to the business of the House.

He said his call for adjournment was to allow more work to be done on the bill and the absence of the Minister, who wanted to be present in person before debates at the consideration stage of the bill.

Mr Frederick Opare-Ansah, Minority Chief Whip, wondered why deputy ministers should not be allowed to stand in for the ministers as was the case for the Finance Minister, whose deputies were always in the House deputizing for him.

Mr John Tia Akologo, Minister for Information, explained that parliamentary discipline was in two fold involving the Majority and that of the Majority. He accused the Minority for massing out of the Chamber while some of their colleagues demanded for quorum before certain decisions were taken.

Mr Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu, Minority Leader, did not agree with the Information Minister and said some Majority members were also seen moving out of the Chamber, which also meant they did not take the business of the House serious.