Outgoing Majority Chief Whip, Mubarak Mohammed Muntaka says Parliament would be unable to pass the Right to Information Bill (RTI), less than 24 hours to the dissolution of the House.
He said discussions between New Patriotic Party (NPP) and National Democratic Congress (NDC) Members of Parliament (MP) over the passage of the bill were not positive.
Speaking to Evans Mensah, host of Joy FM’s Top Story programme Thursday, the Asawase Constituency MP was doubtful if the bill would see the light of day before midnight of January 6.
Outgoing President John Mahama has charged MPs to build consensus and ensure the passage of the RTI bill before them when he delivered his final State of the Nation Address.
He thanked the House for passing the many bills his government has brought before it, saying Ghanaians would be proud if the longest bill in the history of the country is passed into law.
But Mohammed Muntaka said it would be difficult for the outgoing President’s wish to be honored because of the lack of consensus between both divides of the House.
“I doubt with all sincerity and apologise that we will not be able to do the wish of the outgoing President,” he said.
Ranking Member of Parliament’s Legal and Constitutional Affairs Committee, Joe Osei Owusu described the outgoing President’s wish as laughable.
He said President Mahama’s call for the passage of the RTI bill was coming at the wrong time when he failed to make a point for the passage of the bill during the eight years of the NDC government.
“It is a wish, but didn’t come in good time to be respected.”
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