MPs summoned to sit on Friday over ‘expats levy’

Members of Parliament have been summoned by the Speaker of Parliament to cut short their New Year festivities to sit on Friday January 5, 2018.

The house rose on December 22 for the Christmas break and were expected to resume on 23rd January 2018, but a communication from the Office of the Speaker dated December 29 ordered the members to cut short their break.

“Summoning Parliament in Pursuance of Article 112(3) of the Constitution of the Republic and Order 38(1) of the Standing Orders of Parliament, I, Right Honourable Professor Michael Aaron Oquaye, Speaker of Parliament, do hereby summon Parliament to sit on Friday, the 5th day of January, 2018 at twelve o’clock noon, at Parliament House, Accra,” the Speaker’s statement said.

It did not expressly state the reason for summoning the 275 Members of Parliament.

However, the Minority National Democratic Congress this week petitioned the speaker to investigate the 100,000 dollars charged expatriates by the Trade Minister at an event.

The petition was signed by 80 MPs which constitutes more than fifteen percent (15%) of all the members of parliament.

A memorandum signed by the Minority Chief Whip and MP for Asawase, Mohammed Mubarak Muntaka on Wednesday, which was seconded by the MP for North Tongu, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, stated:

“We the undersigned Members of Parliament from the respective constituencies indicated against our names and comprising of more than fifteen percent (15%) of all the members of parliament, HEREBY, request for a meeting of parliament and humbly request of the Speaker of Parliament to summon a meeting of Parliament for the consideration of the following proposed urgent Agenda.”