The Majority in Parliament has asked the Minority to offer the Finance Minister, Ken Ofori-Atta, an opportunity to be heard following the motion of censure filed against him.
The Speaker Alban Bagbin last week admitted a motion of censure filed against the Minister despite an objection raised by the Majority.
The Minority is accusing him of conflict of interest and fiscal recklessness leading to the current economic hardship.
However, speaking on the floor of Parliament, Deputy Majority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin raised some additional concerns about the motion.
“The Minister is entitled to be heard. You cannot take away the right to a fair hearing from a respondent. So Mr. Speaker, my view is that we have a serious matter as censure and the applicants have not served the Minister neither have they served the basis on which they mounted their application.”
Reacting to concerns raised, Minority Leader Haruna Iddrisu said, “The Speaker has ruled, and we must show respect to the Speaker. If there are any disagreements with the ruling, they know what to do. Ordinarily, in any civilized democracy in the world, you don’t even need a motion for the Minister of Finance to go home. He, upon self-appraisal of where he has led the country and economy to, in all conscience, will bow out and save the nation. So, we have brought a competent motion.”
Second Deputy Speaker Andrew Asiamah Amoako, who presided, ruled that the Speaker’s ruling on the matter be maintained.
“The issue of censure motion has already been discussed. These issues were raised, and the Speaker ruled that, the motion was appropriate, so I think that we will patiently wait as the motion matures.”
By: Rainbowradioonline.com/Ghana
