Accra, June 13, GNA- Mr. Edward Salia, MP for Jirapa, on Friday asked why a question he had filed at least for three years, was still not included in the questions listed for next week's business of Parliament.
He told Parliament after the reading of the business statement for next week, which did not include that question in those listed that the question had been unduly delayed.
He said further delay to list the question and provide a response would not serve the purpose for which the question was intended.
The Speaker of the House, Mr. Ebenezer Sekyi Hughes however, assured the MP that his concerns would be addressed.
Later in an interaction with the Ghana News Agency, Mr Salia, one time Minister of Transport and Communication, in the government of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) said his question was on the Highly Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC) Initiative for which the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) led the nation to subscribe to when it assumed office.
Mr. Salia said the question had been listed as question number 231 on the agenda for the second meeting of the Fourth Session of the of the Fourth Parliament of the Republic of Ghana, which commenced on May 20, 2008, but the question was rather still not advertised to be asked. Quoting from the agenda for the second meeting, Mr Salia said the question was: "To ask the Minister of Finance and Economic Planning what was the total amount of the funds received since Ghana joined the HIPC Initiative in 2001 and what is the regional and sectoral distribution of the HIPC Funds so far received?"
Listed on the Agenda for next week's sitting are three questions to be answered by the Minister of Finance and Economic Planning, two for the Minister of Defence, two for the Minister of Harbours and Railways, one for the Minister of Tourism and Diasporan Relations, five for the Minister of Health and seven for the Minister of Transportation. Mr Abraham Ossei Aidooh, Minister of Parliamentary Affairs said Papers, Reports might be laid and presented for the consideration of the House.
Bills might also be presented to the House, and those already presented might be taken through the various stages of passage. The Speaker might also allow Statements duly admitted to be made in the House and Motions might also be debated.
Mr Aidooh, who is also the Majority Leader and Chairman of the Business Committee of the House reminded Parliamentary Committees with outstanding referrals to expedite action on them. He also reminded Members of the House of a workshop on climate change due for the La Palm Royal Beach Hotel on June 21, 2008.
