Common Fund: You can decide to boycott Parliament - Majority Leader jabs Minority

Majority leader and Minister for Parliamentary Affairs, Osei Kyei Mensah Bonsu says the minority in parliament can decide to boycott parliament if they so wish or desire.

According to him, they have been elected by their constituents to represent them in parliament to enact laws so if they are boycotting parliament, they will be left answerable to their constituents.

The minority in parliament has served notice to boycott parliament if the government refuses to pay their common fund arrears that is stalling the activities of the district assemblies over a period of time.

However, speaking on Okay FM’s 'Ade Akye Abia' program, he explained that though they admit there have been delays in the payment of the common fund, the government has started making payment for the second quarter of the common fund to the various municipal and district assemblies.

Parliament has, however, informed all members of parliament to liaise with their various assemblies to ensure that they are able to access their share of the fund for their various projects.

He added that the government will gradually honour all arrears of the delayed funds.

Barring any last-minute changes, the Finance Ministry is expected to appear before the August House to present the budget.

The Ministry of Finance (MoF) has granted letters of commencement to the three development authorities to commence the full implementation of the $1-million per constituency pledge under the Infrastructure for Poverty Eradication Programme (IPEP) for the 2020 fiscal year.

The commencement certificate makes available GH¢1.66 billion (the equivalent of $320 million) for the 275 constituencies across the country.

This covers $275 million for the 275 constituencies and $45 million for outstanding commitments.

The IPEP, commonly known as One Million Dollars Per Constituency, is a government initiative aimed at meeting critical infrastructural needs identified by local actors at the constituency level.