MPs argue over Minister’s qualification to respond to
questions
Accra, July 2 Ghanadot/GNA
– The Minority New Patriotic Party (NPP) on Thursday
questioned whether Mr Abdul Rashid Pelpuo, Minister of State
at the Presidency, could appear before the House to respond
to questions about the Sports Ministry without official
notification to Parliament.
They said an official notification to Parliament on the new
status of Mr Pelpuo, should be given to the House and
Parliament should not rely on the official public
announcement made by the President.
The Majority side however held the view that an official
public announcement was enough notice to Parliament.
The Minority countered the arguments by saying that since
the President’s travels outside was always officially
communicated to Parliament through written communications to
the Speaker and not through general public announcements,
then it was in order that communication about Mr Pelpuo’s
new status should be done through written communication and
not mere public announcement.
Mr Simon Osei Mensah, NPP member for Bosomtwi, led his side
to raise the issue when the Speaker, Justice Joyce
Bamford-Addo, called Mr Pelpuo to the despatch box to
respond to a question on the level of preparation for the
Africa Hockey Championship.
Mr Pelpuo was asked to take charge of the Youth and Sports
Ministry, after former Sports Minister, Alhaji Mohammed
Muntaka took his leave and subsequently resigned following
some charges made against him.
Mr Alban Bagbin, Majority Leader, quoting constitutional
provisions said the President’s communications about his
travel outside the country was meant to go to the Speaker
and there was no law for the Speaker to communicate this
information to the House.
He said it was more of practice and convention to inform the
House of written communications from the Presidency about
his travels outside the country.
The Minority however interpreted the constitutional
provisions to mean that communications giving prior
information of the President’s outside travel was directly
meant for members, although it was addressed to the Speaker.
Mr Edward Doe-Adjaho, First Deputy Speaker, urged the
Speaker, however to ignore all arguments and rule on the
substantive matter of whether Mr Pelpuo could respond to
questions about the Sports Ministry.
He also cited a precedent when former Majority Leader and
Parliamentary Affairs Minister, Mr Felix Owusu-Agyapong had
to temporarily take over the Roads and Transport Ministry
and came to Parliament to respond to questions about the
sector.
Justice Bamford-Addo said she had had a letter copied to
her, informing her about Mr Pelpuo taking over Ministry of
Youth and Sports.
She said it was not every communications from the Presidency
that needed to be read to members of the House.
Mr Pelpuo later took time to respond to some questions about
the Ministry.
GNA
