The Minority in Ghana\u2019s Parliament has threatened to sue the Minister of Local Government and Rural Development, Collins Dauda, for allegedly amending a portion of the standing orders for District, Municipal and Metropolitan Assemblies (MMDAs).<\/p>\n
The amendment will enable an\u00a0assembly to elect one of its members to preside over\u00a0assembly meetings if the members are unable to elect a substantive presiding member.<\/p>\n
But the Minority argue it will be illegal and unconstitutional for assembly members to carry out such an act because that contravenes portions of Article 244 (2) of the Constitution.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe so-called amendment by the Minister to the standing orders of the assemblies to have a member elected to preside before the election of a substantive presiding member to approve of the budget of the assemblies,\u00a0seeks to undermine and subvert the letter and spirit of Article 244 (2) of the 1992 constitution of the Republic Ghana.\u201d<\/p>\n
“The Minister is engaging himself in an unconstitutional and illegal venture by circumventing the constitutional requirement of two-thirds of all the members of an Assembly to elect a presiding Member,” the Minority argued.<\/p>\n
The Minority therefore called on the Minister to retract the directive or face their wrath.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt is our strong contention therefore that the Minister\u2019s directive cannot be allowed to stand. Accordingly, we call on the Minister to retract that directive. Any activity carried out by any assembly pursuant to the directive of the Minister, must be deemed to be void and of no effect. We also call on the assemblies to resist the illegality. We serve notice that every legitimate action will be taken to straighten up the Minister and the government.\u201d<\/p>\n
Reacting to the Minority’s allegations, Collins Dauda explained that he is embarking on that move to fill vacancies that might be created by the absence of presiding members.<\/p>\n
He believes his move is a step in the right direction.<\/p>\n
“The modules I sought to amend remain standing orders. It is a guide and assemblies may adopt the module of standing orders. They can modify the standing orders depending on the circumstance, that is the way to go and that \u00a0has to be adopted by the Assembly”.<\/p>\n
Asked whether he was ready to meet the minority in court over the matter, \u00a0he responded “I believe in my action.”<\/p>\n
–<\/p>\n
By: Marian Efe Ansah\/citifmonline.com\/Ghana<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
The Minority in Ghana\u2019s Parliament has threatened to sue the Minister of Local Government and Rural Development, Collins Dauda, for allegedly amending a portion of the standing orders for District, Municipal and Metropolitan Assemblies (MMDAs). The amendment will enable an\u00a0assembly to elect one of its members to preside over\u00a0assembly meetings if the members are unable […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":14,"featured_media":131508,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[],"tags":[43,38],"yoast_head":"\n