Why undue delay in answering urgent questions? - asks Minority Leader

Business statement for the third week

Accra (Greater Accra) 1^st June '99

There was a debate in Parliament on Friday between the leaders of the House on who should answer urgent questions.

While Dr. Kwabena Adjei, Majority Leader contended that "unless there is a real emergency or crisis situation that threatens our survival, an urgent question should and must be answered by the respective minister in whose name it stands."

Contrary, Mr Joseph Henry Mensah, Minority Leader, said since "ministers are agents of the President" and only appear in Parliament to respond to members' questions on his behalf, the House should adopt a mechanism whereby urgent questions can be answered for ministers in their absence".

He was of the view that if this is not done, the situation will lead to undue delays in members having their questions answered, thus impacting negatively on the work of Parliament.

Mr Mensah filed a question at the beginning of the second meeting of the third session of Parliament last week to be answered by the Minister of Defence.

Seeing its importance, the Speaker admitted the question as urgent. It sought to ask the Minister: "On whose orders did Armed Forces personnel take part in the AMA's exercise to demolish the Pier Hotel and whether those orders were lawful in terms of the Armed Forces Act; and what was the military aspect of the demolition exercise, that GAF personnel were sent to handle".

To his surprise, his question has been deleted from the order paper for more than once.

Explaining the reason for the deletion, Dr. Adjei said the responsible Minister, Lt-Col (rtd) E.K.T. Donkoh, who was to appear before the House to answer the question, is out of the country.

Dr. Adjei could not, however, tell the House when the Minister will be back from his trip.

The Minority Leader was not satisfied with the explanation and referred to Standing Order 60 (3) of the House which states that a Minister shall not take more than three weeks to respond to a question from the House.

Giving his ruling on the matter, Mr Kenneth Dzirasah, First Deputy Speaker who was in the chair, charged the leadership of the House to ensure that urgent questions before the House are treated as such.

GRi../

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Accra (Greater Accra) 1^st June '99

Four ministers are slated to appear before the House next week to answer questions.

They are the ministers of Health, Communications, Works and Housing, and Trade and Industry.

This was announced by Dr. Kwabena Adjei, Leader of the House, when presenting the business statement for the week ending June three.

According to the statement, there will be a motion on Tuesday, June one, for the adoption of a report from the finance committee on an 80.4-million-dollar loan agreement between Ghana and Overseas Economic

Co-operation Fund of Japan to co-finance the rehabilitation of the Achimota-Anyinam road.

On the same day, the House will take a resolution for the approval of a 9.3 million-dollar development credit agreement between Ghana and the International Development Association.

Another resolution will also be taken for the approval of a global environment facility fund grant agreement for 8.7 million dollars between Ghana and the International Bank for reconstruction and development.

The two loan facilities are to be used for the implementation of the first phase of the National Resources Management Project.

On Wednesday, June two, two reports from the committee on Environment, Science and Technology will be laid before Parliament.

One is on the ratification of the joint-convention on the Safety of Spent Fuel Management and Radioactive Waste Management, and the other on the Montreal Protocol on Substances that deplete the ozone layer.

Also to be presented to the House on that day is a concessional loan agreement for 10 million Deutsche Marks between Ghana and the German Reconstruction and Development Bank to finance the replacement and refurbishment of electrical equipment and materials in Accra and Kumasi, and the procurement of energy meters.

A report from the committee on Lands and Forestry on the Forestry Commission Bill will be laid before the House on Thursday, June three.

On the same day, a motion will be moved for the adoption of a report from the finance committee on a 4.1 million-dollar loan agreement between Ghana and the Arab Bank for Economic Development in Africa (BADEA).

The loan is for the rehabilitation of the Bolgatanga Regional Hospital.

During the week, the speaker may allow statements from members, and committees will sit.

In view of it being a statutory public holiday, there will be no sitting on Friday, June 4.

GRi../
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