Parliament suspense sitting due to lack of quorum
Criminal Code Amendment Bill passed
Ghana, Nigeria support free movement of goods and people
Deputy Minister-designate calls on President to annul his appointment
House passes Papa Owusu-Ankomah
Second meeting of Parliament ends
Accra (Greater Accra) 30 July 2001
The Speaker, Mr Peter Ala Adjetey on Friday suspended sitting of Parliament due to lack of quorum.
There were about ten minority members and 60 from the majority side. A long list of programmes including approval of loan agreements had been lined up for the day.
The House, which was scheduled to rise on Friday for its second meeting of the first session to come to a close has gone into Committee of the Whole (all members without the Speaker and the press) to iron out their partisan attitude towards work, that affected the proceedings of Parliament on Thursday.
It was unable to take decision on the appointment of a deputy minister because the Majority who feared losing the vote, technically deserted the House to starve it of a quorum. There were only ten members on the Majority side yesterday with the Minority having 82 members present.
As if to pay the Majority back in its own coin the Minority side also decided not to attend the meeting in their numbers this morning.
Just after the Attorney-General and Minister of Justice, Nana Addo Dankwa
Akufo-Addo had taken the Marriage Ordinance and the Companies Code Amendment
Bills through the consideration stage and the Speaker was about to put the question for a voice vote, Mr John (Tia NDC Talensi) and Deputy Minority Chief Whip drew attention of the House to lack of quorum.
Mr. J.H. Mensah, Majority Leader and Minister of Government Business said work in the House could continue since the decisions to be taken were not of a nature that would breach the Constitutional provision on quorum.
Mr. Adjetey, in reaction, said he would not do anything unconstitutional and that if the constitution demanded a quorum then that law must be obeyed adding, "let justice be done even if the sky will fall."
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Accra (Greater Accra) 30 July 2001
Parliament on Friday unanimously passed the Criminal Code Amendment Bill, which repeals the Criminal Libel and Seditious Laws.
The President would give his assent within seven days after presentation of the Bill into law or state his reasons to the Speaker for not assenting to it.
Other bills passed are the Marriage Ordinance (Amendment), Companies Code (Amendment) and the Casino Licensing (Amendment).
The rest are the Gambling Machines (Amendment), Arms and Ammunitions
(Amendments), the Incorporated Private Partnership (Amendment) and Gold Mining Products Protection Ordinance (Amendment).
Members unanimously approved the Formula for the distribution of proceeds of the Ghana Education Trust Fund. The formula favours the allocation of the biggest chunk to tertiary education.
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Accra (Greater Accra) 30 July 2001
Ghana's Parliamentary Committee on Foreign Affairs and their visiting Nigerian counterparts on Friday expressed their support for the implementation of the treaty on the free movement of goods and people as well as a common currency to speed up integration of the sub-region.
This is part of a 15-point communiqué issued in Accra after a five-day session between the two groups.
The 14-member delegation of the Nigerian House of Representatives visit is a follow-up to a visit paid by their Ghanaian counterparts in September 2000 in Abuja, Nigeria.
The communiqué asked that the executive branch of governments of the two countries consult their legislatures when formulating treaties and protocols on international relations and ensure the speedy ratification of existing ECOWAS protocol and treaties.
According to the communiqué, official bodies charged with the implementation of such protocols and treaties should periodically brief the legislatures on their activities.
"Both sides reaffirm the earlier decision to take steps to build confidence between the Francophone and Anglophone countries in the sub-region, but stressed the need for Ghana and Nigeria to consolidate their relationship first."
The communiqué said both sides commended the Conference of Speakers of the ECOWAS Parliaments on their recommendation for the introduction of French and
English languages in first and second cycle schools in the sub-region.
They reaffirmed their support for the West African Monetary Institute, which seeks to establish a common currency among non-UEMOA countries by 2003.
The communiqué re-emphasised the need for the Parliaments of Ghana, Togo, Benin and Nigeria to intensify their support for the West African Gas Pipeline Project and the proposed Lagos-Accra Railway line.
According to the communiqué, the two sides expressed their support for the
OAU's transition to Africa Union.
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Accra (Greater Accra) 30 July 2001
Mr Benjamin Osei Kuffour, Deputy Minister of Lands, Forestry and Mines designate on Friday in a sober mood called on the President to revoke his nomination to the ministerial appointment.
He said his decision is to allow for the normal business of Parliament to continue since his nomination and vetting has created a lot of hue and cry and allegations of his conduct.
Mr Kuffour thanked the President members of the ruling party, Parliament and his family for the trust reposed in him and prayed that the unfortunate situation would not be allowed to continue.
He said since the work of the House has come to a standstill because of the approval of his nomination he would as a statesman and a politician humbly withdraw from the position.
The Majority side on Thursday walked out of the House during discussions on the nomination of the member of Asunafo North when they realised their number was not enough to carry the vote and which compelled the House to adjourn its sittings.
On Friday when proceedings of the House resumed, there were only a handful of members of the Minority side, which prevented the House from forming a quorum to take a decision on the nomination of the deputy minister-designate.
Mr Peter Ala Adjetey, the Speaker said since there were no members to form a quorum he called for the adjournment of the house to allow the House of the Whole to meet and come with a compromise position on the issue.
When the House resumed after about a four-hour break there were only about eight members of the Minority side and this prompted the Deputy minister-designate to stand up to address the House.
Mr Kuffour said even though there are a number of bills to be passed by the House before it goes on recess, business cannot continue because of the situation and pleaded to be excused to step down to save government business.
Mr Adjetey thanked the member for taking such a stand and said it is a honourable decision, which is a reflection of the courage of the member to take such a stand and a decision.
Mr J.H. Mensah, the Majority Leader commended the member for his statesmanship saying, it would be in the records for the use of politicians and scholars in the future.
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Accra (Greater Accra) 30 July 2001
Members of Parliament by a unanimous decision, on Friday approved the nomination of Papa Owusu-Ankomah as the Minister of Youth and Sports.
Papa Owusu-Ankomah, who is the Deputy Majority Leader, was an obvious favourite of the House as other nominees whose approval preceded his this week, had to go through the bitter and tiresome secret ballot voting.
One such nominee, Mr Ben Osei Kuffuor, NPP-Asunafo North whose case drove the House into deadlock, had to annul his nomination to help the Majority and Minority to find common grounds to continue today's business.
The Minority had made it clear since his vetting on Wednesday, that they found Papa Owusu-Ankomah's integrity and capability unsoiled.
Meanwhile, the House by a unanimous decision approved a 4.1 million-dollar loan being contracted by government from the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) Fund, for the supply of equipment and services for the ecological restoration of the Korle Lagoon.
It also approved an I8.3 million Netherlands Guilder loan being contracted by government from DAF Bus International for the importation of 100 DAF/Neoplan buses to support the public transport programme of government.
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Accra (Greater Accra) 30 July 2001
The Second Meeting of the first term of the third Parliament of Ghana on Friday went on recess after about three months of its normal sessions.
Mr Alban Bagbin, Deputy Minority leader said neither the Majority nor
Minority can claim to have any advantage of strength in the discussions and debates of the House but that it was gratifying that consensus building has been the guiding principle.
He said the level of co-operation amongst members of the House had been encouraging and that he was confident that with the minority changing positively the majority too has to change progressively.
The Minority Leader said both sides have appreciated the efforts and contributions of the Speaker in bringing order to a rather difficult and sometimes uncompromising House.
Mr Bagbin said the problems facing the Members have sometimes been trying and challenging but he was optimistic that following the level of co-operation members would be up to the task.
He also thanked the media for playing their role as the Fourth Estate of the Realm and said even though there had been a number of disagreements about certain reports, the media has played its role.
Mr J.H. Mensah, The Majority Leader said Parliament has been able to assist the executive to save a substantial amount of money, which could be used judiciously in its development programmes.
He said members should be looking forward to the completion of certain projects, which are essential to the socio-economic development of the country.
Mr Mensah entreated the Media to be fully involved in the work of Members of Parliament not only in the House but also at the constituency level to highlight their contributions.
Mr Peter Ala Adjetey, the Speaker, said even though it seems he has been accused of over participating in the proceedings of the house he has done that in the substance of issues and only offers guidance in matters of technical relevance.
He commended members for their show of commitment to ensure the completion of business of the meeting and called for its sustenance.
The Speaker also commended the Media personnel for assisting the house in playing its expected role.
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