When President Akufo-Addo was addressing the nation on Friday March 27, 2020 on measures he has put in place to contain the spread of Covid-19, he admitted that the pandemic would cause discomfort and difficulties over the next couple of weeks.
Based on this, he directed the Minister of Finance, to prepare for approval by parliament, a Coronavirus alleviation Programme to address the disruption in economic activities, the hardship of the people, rescue and revitalize industries.The Minister would right after the parliamentary approval make available a minimum of one billion cedis to households and business.
In this regard, Members of Parliament (MPs) were expected to be in the House on Saturday, March 28, 2020 to approve the document prepared by the Finance Minister to enable him make available the money to help households and industries.
But it looks as if the Minority MPs want to deprive the ordinary Ghanaian from benefiting from this package as they failed to show up in parliament on Saturday to approve the stimulus package.
Apart from the MP for Kumbungu, Mr Ras Mubarak, who showed up and later left the chamber, the 105 members of the minority side failed to turn up even though they were informed that the Finance Minister would be in the House.
As a result, the Minister for Finance had to reschedule his presence in the House for Monday where both sides are expected to be present. Per Ghana’s constitution and Parliament own Standing Orders, the House cannot take certain decisions when it doesn’t form a quorum or have one-third of its members present.
Osei Kyei-Mensah’s response
When Majority Leader, Mr Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu, was asked why the minority didn’t show up, he indicated that he had not gotten any official communication from his colleagues regarding their absence.
He recalled that just after he had presented the business statement to the House on Friday March 27, which indicated that there would be a sitting on Saturday, the minority opposed it and told him they would not be part of such a meeting. However, he indicated that since no official communication has been presented to the House, the absence cannot be justifiable.
Speaker Oquaye’s response
The Speaker, Prof Aaron Michael Oquaye, who was not happy with the development, called on members to be patriotic and sacrifice for the nation. He noted that the country is not in normal times hence the legislative body should learn to be patriotic and sacrifice for the country.
“I have realized the attendance of members on my right on this unusual day of sitting. We must all be mindful of the fact that for very obvious reasons, this nation is in the state of emergency and emergencies measures including sacrifices are expected in such circumstances.”
“Elsewhere, some are laying down their lives that others may live. In hospitals and in homes, I will pray that we continue to show this kind of sense of patriotism in the light of our present circumstance. If we cannot sacrifice at this time, I don’t know when we can die for our nation. This is very, very important,” he added.
Speaker Oquaye also indicated that the Finance Minister had to postpone his coming to the House because members of the minority were not in the House. According to him, there are days where members would want to see the Minister in the House and when he was ready at this crucial time, such an unfortunate incident had happened. He praised the majority for showing up and urged the legislative body to show good examples for other citizens to replicate.
By Agnes Ansah / www.thechronicle.com.gh
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