According to Muntaka, the Speaker has on several occasions refused to give the Minority the opportunity to make their views on some issues that come up for discussion on the floor, although they have such rights.

Muntaka made the remark in a Citi News interview today [Friday], March 2, 2018, after the House approved the controversial Legal Profession Regulations 2017 L.I. through a voice vote.

Among notable changes, the Subsidiary Legislation Committee recommended that the Ghana Legal Council should not be allowed to conduct interviews for entrants into the Ghana School of Law.

The Committee, however, said the entrance examinations for admission into the school would continue.

[contextly_sidebar id=”PT1uLQsi4qScVoUF3MPvd9kquQ9rXeCN”]Muntaka had insisted that the House should have done division voting where every Member of Parliament (MP) is given the opportunity to vote the way they wanted, but claims that he was completely ignored by the Speaker.

The LI was drawn up and laid in Parliament on December 22, 2017, in response to the Supreme Court order directing a parliamentary approval for the admission process into the Ghana School of Law and to the Ghana Bar.

Some concerned law students had earlier put pressure on Parliament not to pass the L.I. claiming it was not in the best interest of LLB students and potential lawyers in the country.

The Asawase MP had also opposed the entrance exams as a prerequisite for entry into the Ghana School of Law as captured in the L.I.

Muntaka according to Citi News’ Parliamentary Correspondent, Duke Mensah Opoku, stood on his feet for close to 20 minutes trying to catch the attention of the Speaker to make his point after the approval of the L.I, but was ignored.

According to Duke, Muntaka had wanted to challenge the vote and ask for a procedure of division on the voting of the L.I. but he was not given the opportunity.

Minority members who were also not happy with the issue hooted at the Speaker and chanted loudly in Parliament.

Muntaka in a Citi News interview expressed disappointment in the Speaker, and called on civil society groups to speak against Professor Oquaye’s actions.

“Civil society should be concerned about how the Speaker is conducting himself, it is so terrible. As for listening to us, you have to listen to us and make your ruling. If we want to challenge your ruling we know what to do, but to deliberately, continuously do what he is doing, I think he is a biggest threat to our democracy.”

Muntaka insisted that per Parliament’s Standing Orders “a member has the right to challenge the vote and ask that you [Speaker] should do either a head count or to go for division.”

“It is not for nothing that when we were voting from four years back to three years [SHS system], Paapa Owusu Ankomah knew that they did not have the numbers in the House, but he wanted it to be on the record that when this thing came to the House, this is what happened. That is why sometimes we call for the votes, but the Speaker deliberately just refused to see any of us.”

“The way he is behaving, I think all of us need to be concerned and be very worried about because it is too much unbecoming of the Speaker. As somebody who has written so many books on theory, now he has the opportunity to turn the theory into practical, and he is completely messing up. I doubt whether Mobutu [Sese Seko] or even Iddi Amin will be behaving the way he is doing. It is too shameful that the Speaker continues to do this and disregard the rules of the house,” the Asawase MP added.

I will disrespect you if you dare me – Haruna threatens Speaker

Minority Leader, Haruna Iddrisu, had expressed similar sentiments against the Speaker whom he said ignored him when he wanted to make a comment on the Floor of the House.

Haruna Iddrisu threatened to disregard the authority of the Speaker of Parliament if such actions persist.

This followed what he describes as the Speaker’s failure to recognize him when he wanted to make an intervention during the debate on the Special Petroleum Tax last month, February 2018.

“I am sad at the way you have treated me as Minority Leader. I stood up before the Majority Leader. You owe me that courtesy and that respect. Mr. Speaker, even after hearing him [Majority Leader], you have still not decided whether to hear me or not,” he said.

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By: Godwin Akweiteh Allotey/citifmonline.com/Ghana
Follow @AlloteyGodwin

The post Prof. Oquaye is a threat to Ghana’s democracy – Muntaka fumes appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

Despite the Committee’s conclusions to allow the exams but reject the interviews, Mr. Mubarak said on Eyewitness News that “they have rules and I respect what they have done but I disagree with them.”

[contextly_sidebar id=”WgCcVdcBME9vBLwou2Fk4TPhULXzJspR”]After a meeting with the General Legal Council and the Attorney General’s office over the controversial Legal Profession Regulations 2017 LI, the Subsidiary Legislation Committee decided to also reject petitions for the scrapping of the entrance examinations for admission into the school.

The Committee has said that its decision to back the entrance exams, despite the opposition from law students and some observers is because the exams will be conducted within the remits of the law by the General Legal Council.

The Legal Professions Act 32 makes provision for preliminary, intermediate and final examinations.

But Mr. Muntaka argued that “it is not only when there are inconsistencies in law that Parliament decides to reject things.”

The MP made reference to Parliament’s decision to shelve the Plant Breeders Bill, which was met with some opposition from some stakeholders within the agriculture sector.

“We represent the people and  we need to listen to them at all times and because of that, Parliament had to suspend the proceedings on the Plant Breeders Bill not because there was anything wrong with it.”

Speaking to Citi News earlier, the Chairman of the Subsidiary Legislation Committee, Mahama Ayariga, indicated that the General Legal Council has received some Cabinet backing for the Bill amending the legal professions Act, Act 32 to the satisfaction of critics.

He told Citi News that this was done to enable the Ghana School of Law process admissions for 2018.

“Those two Bills, when they come, will address the wider concerns of the public and the law school” Mr. Ayariga said.

But Mr. Muntanka responded to thi saying the committee was putting the cart before the horse by passing the LI, then later amending the Act.

“I am still optimistic of Parliament that the generality of members of Parliament will look at this issue as a serious concern that is being raised by the ordinary citizen of this country and we cannot just push it away because it is a real issue… I will strongly oppose it and I will continue to encourage members to oppose it.”

The LI was drawn up and laid in Parliament on December 22, 2017, in response to the Supreme Court order directing a parliamentary approved admission process into the Ghana School of Law and calls to the Bar.

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By: Delali Adogla-Bessa/citifmonline.com/Ghana

The post I’ll not support law school entrance exams – Muntaka appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

“Mr President, we have heard you on your state of promises, and Mr. President, we have heard that at least sole sourcing is still lawful in Ghana,” he said.

[contextly_sidebar id=”bHdaqqNHIE45sG4LVGr6CPfSTGlJh0ur”]On the back of the Minority Leader’s comment, Minority Chief Whip, Mohammed Muntaka Mubarak, said the President’s address was more of a campaign speech and all the president did was talk about what he is going to do instead of what his outfit has done so far.

“Virtually, he was just talking as if he was on a campaign trail, still making promises. Instead of him to be telling us exactly what he has been able to do in 2017, the President wasted all the time talking about what he was going to do,” he said.

Minister of Communications, Ursula Owusu, in reaction to Muntaka’s claims, said once they are in opposition, the minority will never be satisfied with government’s efforts at developing the country.

“It is typical that in opposition you have to rubbish everything that is right under your nose. Even he [Muntaka Mubarak] would have to admit that the improvements in the indices as indicated by the President are remarkable. You will marvel at it and so I am not surprised that he is saying he heard nothing,” she said.

She challenged some of the information put out by the Chief Whip, saying they were inaccurate.

“Unfortunately, all the facts that he claims he has put out are nonfactual and are bombs, and I challenge you to do a fact check,” she said.

The state of the nation address

President Akufo-Addo touted the achievements of the government in stabilizing the economy, implementing the Free SHS and clearing a huge chunk of debts owed by National Health Insurance Scheme and contractors in the past one year.

He also reiterated the efforts and strategies underway to put the economy on a sound footing, improve agriculture, enhance road network, revive the country’s rail network, the health sector, as well as give real meaning to the fight against corruption.

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By: Farida Yusif/citifmonline.com/Ghana

The post Akufo-Addo delivered ‘State of Promises’ – Minority appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

Members of Parliament were recalled from recess for today’s special sitting over the matter, upon the request of the Minority Chief Whip, Muntaka Mubarak.

Muntaka is asking the House to set up an ad-hoc committee to investigate the matter, adding that “It is important that these matters are investigated properly…I believe that as a House, we will do what we think is right.”

The heated argument came about after the Majority Leader, Osei Kyei Mensah-Bonsu, described the motion filed by Muntaka as incompetent.

The Majority Leader had argued that, the motion calling for the special sitting and an ad-hoc committee, was not properly done and thus constitutes a “gross abuse of the processes of the House,” a claim Haruna Iddrisu vehemently rejected.

Muntaka’s name not in motion for special sitting

Osei Kyei Mensah-Bonsu disclosed that, Muntaka’s name was not part of MPs who signed the letter accompanying the memorandum, adding that 28 of the MPs who were said to have appended their signatures did not do so, but only had their names captured on the letter.

He described it as a “clear case of misrepresentation” because the letter said the “under listed have appended their signatures.”

Osei Kyei Mensah-Bonsu noted that, some of the Minority MPs including Collins Daudu, Eric Opoku, Oko Vanderpuije, Zanetor Agyeman Rawlings, Inusah Fuseini, Alban Bagbin among others, have all not appended their signatures to the memo.

“There are many more names listed, and we are being told they have appended their signatures but they have not.”

Osei Kyei Mensah-Bonsu further described the motion as “incompetent” and thus called for it to be rejected by the Speaker of Parliament.

“So the issue that I raised has to do with misrepresentation and it will be a gross abuse of the processes to come and pray. The second item is that, we should come and correct votes and proceedings. Mr. Speaker, the young indeed shall grow. On the allegations, we have heard the claims put in the public domain. Today, we are witnessing a shift of goal post. The motion before us has nothing to do with extortion.”

“Mr. Speaker, you will notice that I have not attempted to respond to the issue…I’ve not gone into what they are saying…because the motion itself does not talk about that. This is incompetence. They should learn the procedures of this house.  Their motion has very wobbly legs. This is a very incompetent motion that has been submitted. So I will urge and pray that you dismiss this. When they come properly even today, we are ready to debate them,” he added.

Muntaka fights back

Unhappy with the claims by the Majority Leader, Muntaka insisted that the motion was competent, adding that “it is most shocking and very disingenuous for the Majority Leader to even imagine that what was done was wrong.”

“My colleague the Majority Leader thinks he is smart. He should read the laws well. The request is in the memo and that is where my signature is,” he argued.

Minority Leader, Haruna Iddrisu, also joined the argument, saying the motion in his possession had enough signatures to fulfill the requirement for such motions.

Speaker of Parliament rules

In his ruling, the Speaker of Parliament described the issues raised on the motion as “procedural irregularities” and suspended the House for 30 minutes in order to have the issues rectified.

“…Those applicants cannot determine the agenda for the House. The business of the house is done by the Executive. When you say I’m forwarding this on behalf of the applicants herein, and the application is attached, it is a procedural irregularity. This matter is a matter of grave importance. The procedural irregularities are being stated so that it must not be repeated. I will therefore direct the House to break for 30 minutes for the procedural irregularities to be corrected. As for those who did not sign it, it is neither here nor there. As far as the number of people required sign, it is so signed. We will suspend the House for 30 minutes and deal with the composition of the actual committee.”

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By: Godwin Akweiteh Allotey/citifmonline.com/Ghana

Follow @AlloteyGodwin

The post MPs in heated argument as Parliament sits over ‘expatriates saga’ appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

The two suspects had reportedly been gunned down by police after they attempted to escape in handcuffs.

[contextly_sidebar id=”K9mfXea8R2uwoZjPhW92DRiOeCtiFbYc”]Devastated relatives of one of the suspects, Awudu Osman, popularly called, Awudu Ninja, have said they will use all legal means to seek justice.

The situation prompted the Asawase Member of Parliament, Muntaka Mubarak, to raise the matter on the floor of the House, where he requested that the Interior Minister be made to appear before MPs to speak to the matter.

According to Muntaka Mubarak, who is also the Minority Chief Whip, he tried, in turn, to contact the Ashanti Regional Police Commander, the Interior Minister and National Security Minister when news broke of the death of his constituents; Awudu Osman and Lookman.

However, after he failed to reach any of them, the incident was finally confirmed to him by a Deputy Interior Minister, who revealed that the handcuffed pair had been aiding the police with their investigations but were shot after they tried to escape.

“After the police had arrested three others, the names of the two were mentioned that they were aiding them with guns. The police went in to arrest them but after a search of their residence, they couldn’t find any guns. They had been in custody as the police tried to get information. They will lead them to an area where the police would search, but find nothing. At the fourth place they went according to the deputy minister, the gentlemen tried to abscond and were shot dead,” Muntaka said.

‘We’ll not get anywhere with the police’    

The MP criticized the police for the incident, suggesting that they had failed to give the suspects fair hearing before a court.

He called on Parliament to take up the matter as he feared the case might not see a suitable resolution if it is left to the police to deal with.

“Is it the court that remanded the [suspects]? How many police went with them and what led to their death? Now the family is really devastated. I want to take this opportunity to request that the House gets the Interior Minister to come to the House, probably next week to brief the House on the circumstances to enable the House take firm decisions. I am worried that if we leave this to the police to investigate we may never get anywhere,” Muntaka added.

Family wants justice

Relatives of Osman maintain that, he was innocent and have vowed to use all legal means to seek justice.

His pregnant widowed wife, 33-year old Humu Musah, could not hold her tears as she narrated that the Police officers who came to search the house tasered her deceased husband, hit him with the butt of their guns and subjected him to severe beatings.

Humu said she fell in the process when the police ordered her to the exact place the weapons were hidden.

She fears she could suffer a miscarriage as a result.

“I have left everything to God. It’s God who will seek vengeance for me. Let’s even put my husband’s death aside, but the inhumane treatment the police subjected me to without considering my condition was pitiful. They pushed me to show where the pistols were and dragged me anyhow. Will they have treated their pregnant wives the same as they did to me? I leave everything to God. He will judge us all” she said.

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By: Edwin Kwakofi & Duke Mensah Opoku/citifmonline.com/Ghana

The post Parliament summons Dery over suspected robbers’ killing appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

According to the Minority, the House lacked the quorum at the time of the budget approval.

In a Citi News interview, the Minority Chief Whip, Muntaka Mubarak, accused the Speaker of Parliament, Mike Ocquaye of exhibiting bias in the matter.

“What he [Speaker] did was very unfortunate, and we are considering whether we should not come with a substantive motion about the conduct of the Speaker,” Mr. Mubarak said.

“With the greatest respect to him… what he did was wrong. He abused the Minority which was just not fair. We are going into a caucus meeting to determine whether we can come using our rules.”

The Minority Chief Whip also suggested that, Majority MPs were not serious about government business.

“If they knew they were going to approve their policy, by 10:00am, all the 169 Majority MPs should have been here. We should not have been struggling over the numbers,” he stated.

The passing of the budget took place after the Minister of Finance, Ken Ofori-Atta, presented four Bills to Parliament for the proposed tax cuts in the 2017 budget.

The bills presented were; the Income Tax (Amendment) Bill, Special Petroleum Tax (Amendment) Bill, Special Import (Amendment) Bill and Customs and Excise (Petroleum Taxes and the Petroleum Related Levies (Repeal) Bill.

The 2017 budget is seeking to abolish and review 15 key taxes, but the proposed tax cuts can only take effect after it has received parliamentary approval through amendment of existing Bills.

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By: Delali Adogla-Bessa/citifmonline.com/Ghana

The post 2017 budget approved amidst Minority protest appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.