Minority MPs threaten to boycott special Saturday Parliamentary sitting

The minority in Parliament has threatened to boycott a special parliamentary sitting scheduled for Saturday, citing health concerns among others which they say, are unjustified.

Business Committee of the House announced Friday there will be an extended sitting for members of parliament to continue with some scheduled businesses, including the Legislative Instrument for the Office of the Special Prosecutor.

Chairman for the Business Committee and majority leader, Osei Kyei Mensah Bonsu, indicated that starting from December 1 the House will sit on Saturdays to be able to complete scheduled businesses that are pending.

But minority chief whip, Muntaka Mubarak, complained it was not fair for the Committee to give the House such a short notice.

He argued the conduct of the Business Committee contravened conventions of the House.

“The practice in this House is that even when you want members to start sitting on a Monday, you give at least a one-week notice. You don’t come on Friday and tell members they will be meeting on Saturday,” he stated.

He bemoaned the directive, which he described as “unfortunate” and suggested to the House that tomorrow’s sitting be taken out.

Alhaji Muntaka advised the House to be mindful of such things, saying “Let’s be mindful of our practices, don’t let us set bad precedence”.

The Asawase MP warned that no MP should be held for absenteeism should they decline to turn up for Saturday’s sitting because the day is not a working day for them, adding their health is also at stake.

“It will be unfair for any member who does not come to be recorded as absent because this is not part of our working days and we must be mindful about our health”, he said.

We’ll pass RTI by end of 2018 – Haruna

Meanwhile, Minority leader, Haruna Iddrisu has reiterated parliament’s commitment to pass the Right to Information (RTI) Bill before the end of this year.

This follows the declaration of a #RedFriday campaign by the Media Coalition on RTI and other civil society groups to mount pressure on parliament to pass the bill.

Earlier Friday, some members stormed parliament to observe proceedings clad in their red outfits.

Speaking to the media after some members were prevented from entering the chamber of the houses, the minority leader said, parliament would work around the clock to ensure the bill is passed but insisted the necessary amendments must be done to ensure a very good bill is passed.