Minority raises red flags over ‘legality’ of coronavirus National Trust Fund board

The Minority in Parliament has raised red flags over the appointment of the board of trustees for the Covid-19 National Trust Fund.

The bill setting up the fund was laid in parliament Wednesday and the House is debating it for approval.

The Bill, when passed into law, will give legal backing to the establishment of the Covid-19 National Trust Fund to complement the efforts of government in the fight against the disease.

The fund will receive donations for disbursement to individuals who have been negatively impacted by the disease.

The Bill will also make provisions for how the fund should be managed.

According to Member of the Constitutional, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs Committee, Bernard Ahiafor, it is out of place for the President to appoint the board before Parliament legally establishes the fund.

“If the law is not in place, what then is the basis of the President constituting a board and constituting its chairperson?” he quizzed.

He further stated on the floor of the House Thursday that, “this Bill is just calling on the House to legalize the illegal act of the President.”

But Speaker of Parliament, Prof Mike Oquaye, believes the President’s move is only an “expression of intention” awaiting the legal backing to facilitate the actual establishment of the board.

“The president is entitled to say ‘I am going to have a particular board established and I am taking legal steps to establish it. When I finally do, I propose that these will be in charge and that will also follow’,” he said.

He called on Mr Ahiafor to take his seat while emphasizing that the country is in serious times.

The Akatsi South MP, however, expressed his readiness to consider the Bill as a matter of urgency and pass it to back the act of the President.