James Klutse Avedzi and Mohammed Hardi Tuferu
The chairman of the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) of Parliament, James Klutse Avedzi, who is also the Deputy Minority Leader, had an embarrassing moment on the floor of the House yesterday when the deputy ranking member of the committee vehemently challenged his plan to move a motion on the committee’s report.
The committee’s report on the Auditor-General’s report on the public accounts of ministries, department and agencies of the central government ending December 31, 2015 had been advertised in yesterday’s Order Paper for the motion to be moved by the chairman, but the deputy ranking of the committee and New Patriotic Party (NPP) Member of Parliament for Nanton, Mohammed Hardi Tuferu strongly objected to the motion.
Mohammed Tuferu said the chairman did not do enough consultations on some changes that were made in the report.
According to the deputy ranking member of the committee, the report on the edited accounts of the ministries, department and agencies of the central government should not be rushed through Parliament because of its importance.
He said that the report, which was previously laid during the latter part of the last meeting for parliament to consider at the plenary, was withdrawn because of some errors and changes that needed to be made for it to be re-laid.
He said the chairman never consulted with the majority of members on the changes made in order for a consensus to be built on those new changes before parliament eventually considers the report.
He told the speaker that he was surprised to see an advertised motion on the supposed new report in yesterday’s Order Paper because majority of them did not have prior knowledge of it.
He, therefore, pleaded with the speaker to step the motion down to allow members appraise the new report for a consensus to be reached before the motion is taken.
The chairman, who is also the National Democratic Congress (NDC) Member of Parliament for Ketu North, revealed that if the deputy ranking member wants to embarrass him on the floor he would not succeed because he met other members of the committee on several occasion over the new report, and that if the deputy ranking was not present he should not present the case as if he was not consulted.
The Speaker of Parliament, Prof Mike Oquaye, said the banter between the two was an embarrassment to parliament and that for a consensus to be reached; the report should be withdrawn for the necessary consultations to be done.
He, therefore, asked the leadership of majority and minority to ensure that the right thing is done before the report is laid for consideration at the plenary.
By Thomas Fosu Jnr