$100k Expats Saga: Emergency sitting unnecessary – Majority

The Majority in parliament has described as “unnecessary” the House’s recall over the $100.000.00 fee charged expatriates to share a table with President Akufo-Addo at an award ceremony last year.

Members of Parliament returned Friday, January 5, 2018, to the House after being summoned by the Speaker, Prof. Mike Oquaye for an emergency sitting over the controversial fees.

The recall was at the behest of the Minority in Parliament who want a bi-partisan probe into the case.

“I don’t think it is necessary. They just want to get even. They thought maybe we brought them here two times on the Smartys and Ford saga so they went to get even. I believe bringing us here on this matter is a waste of time,” New Patriotic Party (NPP) MP for Jaaman South Yaw Aful told Starr News’ Parliamentary Correspondent Ibrahim Alhassan.

Also, the Majority leader Osei Kyei Mensah-Bonsu dismissed the Minority’s call last year as lacking merit and an abuse of parliamentary procedures.

“The question to ask is whether this request falls in that category. Is it a matter that has suddenly arisen? No. It has been with us. If it has been with us was any attempt made by any member of the Minority to request that maybe some oversight [should] be conducted in this case?

“Then, if the Speaker refuses to accept it and the matter is of urgency and parliament is requested to sit on the matter that could be acceptable. Except that in this case no such request was made…and so it appears to me that in this case it is an abuse of the processes,” he stated on Morning Starr Thursday, December 28, 2017.

However, the Minority insists there is a need for a probe into circumstances leading to the monies charged questioning the presidency’s exoneration of the Trade and Industry Minister in connection with the matter.