THE 200-member Parliament reconvened yesterday to begin what is expected to be an exciting and hectic meeting for the year.
Coming soon after the public outcry over the proposed loan of $20,000 to the MPs to purchase means of transport, and the first Cabinet reshuffle by President Kufuor’s administration, there is every indication that the meeting will be full of fireworks.
On the agenda of the House, about 245 questions have been lined up for ministers of state.
It is during this meeting that the acting Chief Justice will be vetted while the National Reconciliation Commission Bill will also be considered by the House.
The tone was set when after a 90-minute majority caucus meeting, Mr J. H. Mensah, who before the reshuffle was Leader of Government Business, told the House that the New Patriotic Party has decided to reorganise its leadership in the House in accordance with the party’s constitution and the Standing Orders of the House.
Amidst shouts of “this morning,” “this morning” from the minority, Mr Mensah, whose entry into the chamber had been greeted with shouts of “Senior Prefect, Senior Prefect” in an apparent reference to his new designation as Senior Minister, said the party had endorsed Papa Owusu-Ankomah as its Majority Leader and Parliamentary Affairs Minister.
He appealed to his colleagues to give him the needed co-operation.
The minority had insisted that by the Standing Orders of the House, it is the prerogative of the majority party in Parliament to appoint its leadership and not that of the President.
The Minority Leader, Mr A. S. K. Bagbin, who assured the Speaker, Mr Peter Ala Adjetey, of the co-operation of the minority to ensure that democracy is entrenched in the country, said they had taken note of the fact that the NPP recognises the need to make changes to ensure that government business is not impeded.
Mr Bagbin said the minority was of the view that it was erroneous for the President to appoint the majority leader and that once the situation has been rectified, they now recognise the new leadership.
He said the exit of Mr Mensah as the majority leader will be felt and urged him to continue to put his immense experience in Parliamentary practice at the disposal of the House.
He described Mr Mensah as a well groomed and lovely parliamentarian who accommodated all and expressed the hope that his maturity will guide them.
Mr Bagbin said the minority will encourage and support the NPP to settle down to do government business but will, however, continue to keep it on its toes.
He also expressed the hope that the NPP will chart the path of democracy for the good of the country.
In his response, Papa Owusu-Ankomah thanked the minority for their support and assured them that he will endeavour to live up to expectation and chart a course that will assist them to work together.
He said it was necessary for both the Parliament and executive to introduce some innovation in their operations.
Mr Ala Adjetey commended Mr Mensah for his ability, experience and debating skills and expressed the hope that he will find time to attend to the business of the House.
Earlier, Mr Ala Adjetey, welcoming members, reminded them of the task ahead of them and appealed to them to tackle the duties the country has entrusted to them with one accord.
He said there are a number of issues which have been tackled to ensure that they perform their tasks more effectively.
The Speaker said certain matters which have cropped up during the past would be discussed at their caucus meetings and called for more consultations in order to arrive at an acceptable resolution of the problems.
He called on the Appointments Committee to act with dispatch to consider new nominations made by the President during the reshuffle.
Those to be vetted are Mr Yaw Barimah, MP for Koforidua, currently a Deputy Minister of Interior and designated as Minister of Works and Housing; Mr Edward Osei Kwaku, MP for Asokwa West, Deputy Minister of Presidential Affairs, now designated Minister of Youth and Sports; Prince Imoro Andani, currently Chief Executive of the Tamale Municipal Assembly and designated as the Regional Minister of the Northern Region; and Dr Kasim Kasanga, designated as the Lands and Forestry Minister.
During the meeting, the House is expected to discuss six bills, eight instruments, five papers while ministers will appear before it to answer about 294 members’ questions.
Mr Alex Kwaku Korankye, MP for Asante Akyem South and Chairman of the Select Committee on Food, Agriculture and Cocoa Affairs, in a statement to commemorate World Food Day, said he was looking up to the day when Ghana would produce enough to feed herself, export and donate to needy countries.
