Mohammed Mubarak Muntaka
The minority chief whip and National Democratic Congress (NDC) Member of Parliament (MP) for Asawase, Mohammed Mubarak Muntaka, has indicated the minority’s intention to boycott parliamentary work if the speaker continues to sideline them in the business of the house.
He gave the word of caution in response to the speaker’s call for full cooperation for parliament to effectively discharge its duties. The house re-opened for full business yesterday.
The speaker, Prof Mike Oquaye, who was welcoming the MPs back from the Easter recess, said there was the need for members from both sides to improve on their conviviality to ensure that there is always consensus on very important matters that come before them.
He called on members to attach seriousness to the business of the house, especially debate on bills that have come before it for consideration particularly, the Right To Information Bill 2018, which is at the committee stage.
Prof. Oquaye also called on the MPs to show seriousness in the fight against illegal mining, popularly called galamsey.
He said the fight is a daunting one which will need the collective resolve of parliament to help the executive to successfully nip the menace in the bud.
In a response, Mohammed Mubarak Muntaka said the minority would cooperate with the majority in carrying out the business of the house if only the speaker would not prevent them from having their say.
The majority leader, Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu, said the minority members had cultivated the habit of going to the public with issues that could potentially affect the image of parliament as an institution. He called on the minority members to refrain from that habit and use internal mechanisms to resolve any problems that they might have.
Mr. Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu also asked the MPs to devote all their time to parliamentary work to enable the house complete all its assignments for the session.
By Thomas Fosu Jnr