The Minority in Parliament has expressed disappointment and disagreement in government for delaying hand-over notes and yet recruiting and contracting loans.
Addressing the press at Job 600 of the Parliament House Thursday, Minority Leader Osei-Kyei Mensah-Bonsu said, “we in the NPP Minority Caucus notes with considerable consternation the attempt to procure new loans in the transition period, especially after the conduct of the Presidential [elections] and the general process is bewildering and does not betray good faith”.
He stressed that “we are not oblivious of the constitutional imperative contained in Article 66 (1) which provides that a person elected as President shall…hold office for a term of four years beginning from the date on which he was sworn in as President”
The Presidential Transition Act provides for a preparation of handing-over notes covering the term of office of the President as the executive authority and the presentation of same to the Administrator General not later than thirty days before a general election.
According to the Minority, Act 845 provides in Article 6 (2) that the handing-over notes in question shall include the activities of:
i) the office of the President and the office of the Vice President and the agencies under the portfolios of the President and the Vice President
ii) The Ministries, Departments and Agencies and
iii) the Regional Ministries and the District Chief Executives.
They explained also that Parliament, under the Act, is required to be served with copies of the handing-over notes.
The projections of government as expressed in the handing-over notes submitted to Parliament will help Parliament to determine what outstanding businesses to conduct.
Significantly, Parliament has not been presented with handing-over notes from the Administrator General covering the activities of the Presidency, the MDAs the Regional Ministers and District Chief Executives. Neither has Parliament been given any report relating to the projections of developments that government envisages in the transition period.
The Minority Leader stated that over 90 per cent of businesses that are conducted in Parliament is public or government business.
Their worry is that without the report of the accurate developments which have taken place during the tenure of the Presidency of John Dramani Mahama and clear statement on what is projected to be done, Parliament cannot suo moto decide on which business to transact including the approval of new loans.
They said in the circumstances, “we in the NPP Minority Caucus would want to register and indeed hereby register our deepest disgust at unilateral decisions being taken to have Parliament approve of loans , Supplier’s Credit Agreement and Project Implementation Agreement , the latter of which process is unknown to the rules of procedure of Parliament in this period of transition”.
“We regret to state that we cannot be part of processes and decisions which in our conceded opinion are illegitimate.”
Onua news asked the Minority Leader if this has been the reason why they resisted the debate on the Right To Information Bill, but he said “the Minority members have contributed and made more input when it comes to the Right To Information Bill than the Majority”.
“The evidence is clear but everybody including the President must respect our laws,” he added.
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