Deputy Majority Chief Whip reacts to abrupt halt of PAC proceedings

Second Deputy Majority Chief Whip and MP for Bia East, Richard Acheampong, has dismissed claims by the Majority MPs that they have neglected their parliamentary duties.

He clarified that they were absent from the chamber because they were fully engaged in committee work.

His remark follows accusation by the Minority in Parliament that the Majority Caucus deliberately disrupted a crucial probe into a special audit report involving GH¢68 billion in government arrears.

The withdrawal of Majority members from the sitting at the Public Accounts Committee (PAC), forced the committee to suspend its work midway through proceedings.

Speaking on Adom FM’s Dwaso Nsem on March 26, 2026, Acheampong said parliamentary scheduling is deliberately structured to allow both committee and plenary activities to proceed efficiently.

He argued that MPs cannot be in all places at once though both are equally important.

“If you want all of them at committee meetings, how then do you expect them to return to the chamber to address quorum issues? You can’t eat your cake and have it,” he said.

He explained that committee meetings typically begin at 8 am, with plenary sessions starting at 10 am, allowing MPs to fulfill both responsibilities.

Acheampong said the Minority have repeatedly raised the issue of quorum on many occasions arguing that the absence of legislators disrupts parliamentary work and creates unnecessary tension.

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He further accused them of attempting to embarrass the Majority despite understanding the House’s operations.

Citing recent proceedings, he noted that committees such as Finance and Foreign Affairs were in session posing the problem of them getting a quorum in the chamber.

Acheampong stressed that the Majority holds the numbers across committees and should not be faulted for deploying members to various assignments.

He also recounted recalling members to the chamber to pass key legislation, including the Money for Value Bill.

“I watched quietly during confrontational moments because if I had reacted, it would have been bad,” he said.

He urged that while political differences exist, relationships among MPs should be guided by mutual respect.

“They cannot take our members to committee meetings and later return to disgrace us in the chamber, claiming our MPs don’t come to work,” he said.

MRA/VPO

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