Ministers Face Minority Wrath Over Absence in Parliament

Some Ministers of State have incurred the wrath of the Minority in Parliament after they failed to appear before the House on Thursday, July 18 to answer questions.

The Minister for the Interior, Henry Quartey; Minister for Local Government, Decentralisation, and Rural Development, Martin Adjei-Mensah Korsah; and Lands and Natural Resources Minister, Samuel Abu Jinapor were expected to answer questions on alleged illegal recruitment into the security services and private takeovers of state lands but were absent.

The Majority leadership explaining their absence said they were at a cabinet retreat.

But Ibrahim Murtala Mohammed, in whose name a number of the questions stood, insisted the excuse is “untenable.”

According to him, the absence of the ministers proves the point that “we need to be working towards insulating the legislative arm from the grip of the executive arm.”

“An urgent question ceases to be urgent any longer… Some of the ministers are also Members of Parliament, so in performing this duality of responsibility, which one should they take as important?” he asked.

“Leader, that reason is untenable and I think that should be the last time we experience that in this Parliament. They have deputies and I am sure that the deputies are not attending the same programme when they are aware that they have questions to answer.”

“I don’t think that this is a very tangible excuse to give. They need to take this House seriously,” he said.

In response, Second Deputy Speaker, Andrew Amoako Asiamah, who was presiding over the House, directed the Majority Leadership to ensure ministers are always present to answer questions.

According to him, it is "problematic" for ministers to be scheduled but not show up.

"Please let us do well to let the ministers respond to Parliament. It is very important. I am making this appeal to the government whips, it is your duty to ensure ministers destined to respond to questions come," he said.