The Minority in Parliament has accused the Majority Caucus of wasting valuable parliamentary time after the House was recalled for a five-day emergency sitting.
The Minority said that by the third day of the sitting, about 75 percent of the available time had already been used without Parliament dealing with some important government business.
Among the outstanding matters are the Banks and Specialised Deposit-Taking Institutions Amendment Bill and the National Petroleum Authority Bill.
Speaking to journalists after Parliament adjourned, the Member of Parliament for Walewale, Dr. Mahama Tiah Abdul Kabiru, said the government needed to take its parliamentary business more seriously.
“Today is the third day of the five days we were recalled to sit. Effectively, we have wasted about 75% of the time,” he said.
Dr. Abdul Kabiru said the Minority had agreed to the emergency recall even though it also had other important matters to raise. These included a motion calling for an investigation into alleged losses involving GoldBod.
Minority Chief Whip Frank Annoh-Dompreh also questioned why the Majority had not been able to move forward with the government’s business despite the emergency recall.
The Minority said Parliament was recalled mainly to deal with urgent government business and that the limited five-day period should be used effectively.
It wants the House to use the remaining time to consider the outstanding Bills and other important matters.
However, First Deputy Majority Whip Comfort Doyoe defended the Majority’s position. She explained that the delay was partly caused by the vetting of ministers and judges by the Appointments Committee.
“We called the House to come and sit and work and we are working, so why are they complaining?” she asked.
She said the vetting of two ministers and judges had affected Parliament’s schedule. According to her, the nominees needed to be approved after the vetting so they could return to their ministries and begin working on their budgets.
The disagreement comes as Parliament continues its emergency sitting, with both sides offering different explanations for why some of the government’s key business has yet to be considered.
