Approval for Fuzzy's nomination to wait
Create the environment for the people to
stay home – MP
Approval for Fuzzy's nomination to wait
Accra (Greater Accra) 11 October 2000
The Minority group in Parliament on Tuesday managed to put on hold approval of the nomination of Mr. Fuzzy Torbay as a minister of state after opting out of a consensus motion deal brokered earlier with the Majority.
Mr. Ken Dzirasah, Chairman of the Appointments Committee, had prayed the house that the report of his committee on Mr. Torbay, who was vetted last week, be considered via that motion, which meant that members would not have to vote but just approve it.
But the course of events changed when Squadron Leader Clend Sowu, NDC-Anlo, apparently displaying party loyalty, cited the NDC catch phrase, "continuity in change".
The member was reacting to an assertion by Mr. Gabriel Yaw Amoah's, NPP-Bosome-Freho, that the government was being insensitive to the plight of the people by making that appointment as it had financial implications.
Dr. Kofi Apraku, NPP-Offinso North, asked that Sqr. Ldr. Sowu withdraw his words before the Minority could go along with the wishes of the Majority but he refused.
Mr. Joseph Darko-Mensah's, NPP-Okaikoi North, then stated that the Minority would shoot it (motion) down, saying "we want a debate and voting on the issue".
The Minority's ego got a further boost when they realised that the Majority did not have enough members in the house to win a simple majority vote.
The Speaker, Mr. Justice Daniel Annan, had no choice but to defer the matter. Attendance in the house has not been encouraging during this meeting, particularly for the majority.
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Create the environment for the people to
stay home - MP
Accra (Greater Accra) 11 October 2000
Mr. Hackman Owusu Agyeman, NPP-New Juaben, on Tuesday urged the government to pay more attention to the economy to make Ghana more pleasant to live in.
He said Ghanaians have for far too long been forced to endure ridicule, molestation and harassment in foreign lands because they cannot easily come home to face inadequate economic opportunities.
The member said this in a statement to drive home the plight of the recently deported Ghanaians from Libya and the suffering of other nationals domiciled abroad.
He urged government to open negotiations with the Libyan authorities to ensure that those who lost their possessions in the strife are compensated.
"To evacuate the refugees back home without their hard earned property will not only amount to a serious aggravation of the economic situation but may sew the seeds of the desire for revenge at some point."
The ranking member criticised government officials for blaming Ghanaians resident in Libya for creating the mess that resulted in the riot.
Mr. Owusu-Agyeman stated: "I wish to caution, however, against being too hasty to draw the conclusion that opens Ghanaians to the blanket criticism that some us seem to have concluded".
"After all, the average Ghanaian as we all know is a hard-working, law-abiding person wherever he finds himself."
He said "this is not, however, to say that there were no bad nuts among the large force of our countrymen and women in Libya since such characters can be found in every society".
Other Members reacted by calling on all Ghanaians to be receptive towards the returnees and help them rebuild their lives.
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