Speaker suspends sitting as ministers fail to turn up

The Speaker of Parliament, Mr Peter Ala Adjetey on Thursday suspended sitting for about 30 minutes because three ministers who were scheduled to perform some duties in the House were absent.

Mr Yaw Osafo-Maafo, Minister of Finance, who was to move an urgent motion and Minister of Health, Dr Kwaku Afriyie and Mr Kwadwo Baah-Wiredu, Minister of

Local Government and Rural Development who were to answer questions were not present.

Mr Osafo-Maafo was to move that the House endorsed the mid-year review of the budget statement for this year while Dr Afriyie was to answer four questions from members pertaining to his former ministry.

Mr Baah-Wiredu was to answer questions on the importation of Galloper Station Wagons and 10 sanitation vehicles for which over 14 billion cedis had been paid to African Automobile Limited.

Mr Adjetey apparently infuriated by the absence of the ministers said he stood by the declaration of the House to keep to time as an example to the public and to do away with "African time."

The majority leader Papa Owusu Ankomah made a futile effort to persuade the Speaker that the ministers would show up. The House then suspended sitting to reconvene after 30 minutes.