Most Majority MPs absent from Parliament

Papa Owusu Ankomah, Member of Parliament (MP)for Sekondi, on Monday urged Members on the Majority side in Parliament to take the business of the House serious and stop the foot-dragging attitude because it undermines governance.

The House was to approve the 2011 budgetary allocation for the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development but was virtually empty because most members from the Majority side were absent.

Papa Ankomah said, “What we are dealing with is government business and it is important that members especially the majority must be present,” and added that it was important the President put his feet down to ensure things were done right.

Mr Haruna Iddrisu, Minister for Communications, said some members were attending committee meetings outside parliament.

He said, however, that it was the not the duty of the Majority alone to be present but the totality of the House was needed to transact government business.

Mr Balado Manu, MP for Ahafo Ano South, said that the majority side were only interested in the collateralization of the oil revenue because when it was time for voting on that bill they were packed in the House which resulted in a vote count of 97 from the Majority side against 87 from the Minority side.

“Today, where are the 97 members from the Majority?”, Mr Manu questioned.

The Speaker, Mrs Bamford Addo who did not agree to adjourn the House, said there was a lot of unfinished business but most members were often not present. She indicated, therefore, that the House would go on with another motion belonging to the Ministry of Women and Children’s Affairs.

She said when the House formed a quorum she would put forth the question for the approval of the Ministry of Local Government’s budget.

The House was on Monday forced to adjourn due to the absence of the Finance Minister.

Source: GNA