{"id":389206,"date":"2018-01-05T18:16:31","date_gmt":"2018-01-05T18:16:31","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/citifmonline.com\/?p=389206"},"modified":"2018-01-05T20:58:32","modified_gmt":"2018-01-05T20:58:32","slug":"parliament-tasks-5-member-cttee-to-probe-expatriates-saga","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/citifmonline.com\/2018\/01\/parliament-tasks-5-member-cttee-to-probe-expatriates-saga\/","title":{"rendered":"Parliament tasks 5-member c\u2019ttee to probe ‘expatriates saga’"},"content":{"rendered":"
The Speaker of Parliament, Prof. Mike Aaron Oquaye, has set up a five-member committee to investigate claims that the Trade Ministry extorted $100,000 from expatriates to allow them to sit close to the President during the Ghana Expatriates Business Awards held in the country.<\/p>\n
According to the Speaker, the Committee is expected to submit its report to the House “as soon as possible, one day after our recall which is 24th [January 2018].”<\/p>\n
The Committee has three members of the Majority namely Ameyaw Kyeremeh, Majority Chief Whip, who will Chair the Committee, Dr. Assibey Yeboah, Chairman of the Finance Committee of Parliament, and Yaw Buabeng Asamoah, MP for Adentan.<\/p>\n
On the Minority side are James Klutsey Avedzie, Deputy Minority Leader, and Dominic Ayine, the MP for Bolgatanga East.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
On why the Speaker of Parliament allowed the motion to pass despite the irregularity concerns raised by the Majority, Prof. Oquaye said he does not want the Parliamentary processes to be abused.<\/p>\n
\u201c…We should be careful of the rights provided us so that it does not become a tool for promoting that which is frivolous, vexatious or otherwise an abuse of the process of Parliament. Our good nation cannot be allowed to sink into insecurity and confusion, and that is why I have allowed this to come on notwithstanding the incompetence in irregularities.\u201d<\/p>\n
Members of Parliament were recalled from recess for a special sitting\u00a0 today, Friday, over the issue upon the request of the Minority Chief Whip, Muntaka Mubarak.<\/p>\n
Muntaka had prayed the House to set up an adhoc committee to investigate the matter, adding that \u201cIt is important that these matters are investigated properly\u2026I believe that as a House we will do what we think is right.\u201d<\/p>\n
This committee has become necessary despite President Akufo-Addo declaring that there was no wrongdoing, after he tasked Trade and Industry Minister, Alan Kyeremanten, to offer him some explanations.<\/p>\n
Throw out ‘incompetent’ motion<\/strong><\/p>\n Prior to the formation of the committee, there were heated arguments from both sides of the Chamber over the motion when the Majority Leader, Osei Kyei Mensah-Bonsu raised issues with the letter accompanying the motion.<\/p>\n The Majority Leader had disclosed that, Muntaka\u2019s name was not part of the 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.<\/p>\n He described it as a \u201cclear case of misrepresentation\u201d because the letter said the \u201cunder listed have appended their signatures.\u201d<\/p>\n