Alban S.K Bagbin
The Speaker of Parliament, Alban S.K Bagbin has has set up an eight-member committee to determine the legitimacy of the motion of censure filed by the Minority Caucus against the embattled Minister of Finance, Ken Ofori-Atta.
Setting up a committee, according to the Speaker will provide an opportunity for the finance minister to respond to issues of conflict of interest raised by the Minority.
“The evidence will be placed before the committee. The Minister will have the opportunity to defend himself. A report will be presented to the House, and we will debate that report,” the Speaker of Parliament Alban Bagbin said in Parliament on Thursday November 11.
The committee is made up of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) MP for Adansi-Asokwa, KT Hammond as the Chair and the National Democratic Congress (NDC) MP for Bolgatanga East, Dominic Ayine as co-chair of the ad-hoc committee set up to probe allegations by the Minority.
Other members of the committee include Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, Zanetor Agyeman-Rawlings and Bernard Ahiafor from the Minority side, while Patrick Yaw Boamah, Kwame Anyimadu-Antwi and Andrew Agyapa Mercer constitute the group from the Majority side on the committee.
The Committee was set up by Mr Bagbin, after the Minority caucus moved a motion for the vote of censure against Mr Ofori-Atta.
The committee will have to present their report to the House within seven days, according to the Speaker of Parliament.
Chronicling some of the reasons for the censorship motion against the minister, Haruna Iddrisu in his presentation to the House mentioned that the record inflation rate, the depreciation of the cedi, the excessive borrowing and the reckless spending and the failure to control fuel prices are clear indications that the finance minister is not fit to continue in his role.
However, the Deputy Majority Leader, Alexander Afenyo-Markin pointed out that the call by the Minority Leader was in bad faith and not procedural.
According to him, issues raised by the Minority Leader borders on criminality, indicating that Parliament cannot arrogate to itself judicial powers to try the finance minister, and called on the Speaker to allow Mr Ofori-Atta to defend himself before any decision is made.
The Majority caucus in Parliament had earlier indicated their unwillingness to back the Minority’s vote of censure against the finance minister.
At a press conference held Thursday morning, the Majority group led by the MP for Effiduase/Asokore, Dr Nana Ayew Afriyie said they have declined a request by the Minority to back a bid to remove Finance Minister, Ken Ofori-Atta, but said they would continue to push for his dismissal.
By Vincent Kubi