Roads Minister praised for ‘respecting’ Parliament

The Minority Leader in Parliament was full of praise for the Roads and Highways Minister Mr. Kwasi Amoako Atta on Friday for standing out among his colleagues in committing to Parliamentary affairs.

The commendation comes on the back of incessant complaints by parliamentarians about wanton disrespect shown them by some ministers who are invited by the august house to answer questions bothering on national issues.

Commending the minister, Minority Leader Haruna Iddrisu noted that it is a “worrying situation” where Ministers of State charged with responsibilities fail to show commitment when the need arises.

“We have particularly noted that every Friday the Minister for Roads and Highways is here to answer road questions”, he said, “We labour to get other ministers to come to this house and that attitude must change”.

According to Haruna Iddrisu, although the Ministry for Roads and Highways does not have money, the sector minister tries as much as possible to be “responsible” in coming to answer questions.

He criticised other ministers who fail to show up for important obligation such as defending budgetary allocation to their ministries and have developed the habit of sending subordinates to move motions on their behalf.

Coming in person as a minister is “how you can contribute to the vision of the president and government”, he reminded the ministers.

On Thursday for example, the first deputy Minority Whip Ahmed Ibrahim was compelled by the situation to say in Parliament that if the NPP administration is not ready to govern the country, it should hand over power to the opposition NDC.

The Banda MP statement was in reference to the fact that five ministers of state failed to appear before the house of representatives to answer and provide details to important questions that have been filled by Members of Parliament.

One Minister, who has been very consistent since the beginning of the Seventh Parliament is the Minister of Roads and Highways Amoako Atta.

The Minority Leader Haruna Iddrisu who himself was a former minister of state has earlier stated that when MPs are deprived of their privilege to ask and have answers to questions relating to the development of their constituencies, it creates a “big issue that must be tackled”.

Later in an interview with the Minister of Roads and Highways, Mr. Amoako Atta told Onua News’ parliamentary correspondent that it is incumbent on him to be answerable to the people of Ghana.

Though he admitted that ministers have not made themselves available enough for media interviews in matters relating to their various ministries, he charged the media to continually ask probing questions and demand answers from those in authority.