Minority MPs have kicked against provisions made in the Business Statement that parliament sits on Saturday, 29th September 2012.
According to report of Business Committee signed by Alhaji Abdul Rashid Pelpuo, Vice Chairman of the Committee, barring any unforeseen eventualities, the MPs would be forced to sit on Saturday, the 29th September, 2012 to make up for the 21 parliamentary sitting days required to facilitate the maturity of C.I. 78.
The vice chairman explained that this is because, Parliament will not sit on Friday 21st September, 2012 because that day is the day set aside as Founder’s Day.
This however became a bone of contention between Minority Members of Parliament and the Majority Group.
Hackman Owusu Agyeman, Veteran Politician and MP for New Juaben North argued that the good will of MPs cannot be taken for granted.
He noted that at this crucial time, every contesting MP is required to spend more time in his constituency.
However, they have been forced to come for the emergency sitting and hence cannot be made to come to Parliament on an issue which is not an emergency.
“It is inconsiderate and unfortunate that when there is no emergency sitting, we are sitting for six days. That is stretching our magnanimity beyond tolerably boundaries”, he argued.
He noted that to add Saturday is a very unreasonable application and hence advocated for the need for what is humanly acceptable to be done.
Joseph Yieleh Chireh, MP for Wa West on his part noted that, it is a matter of substitution since they are losing 21st and substituting it with 29th.
He reminded his colleagues that not only are they looking at C.I. 78 but C.I.75 which is very crucial to the 2012 elections.
He indicated that, the matter should be looked at within the national perspective and as a core duty.
Papa Owusu Ankomah, MP for Sekondi while rebutting earlier claims by the Wa West MP noted that it is very unfair for anyone to suggest that anyone who has a contrary view to the issues raised on the floor of the House does not have the interest of the nation at heart.
He noted that, the issue really is that parliament has never sat on Saturday but even if parliament should be made to sit on Saturday, then there should be a very urgent matter on the table as it stands now, there is no such urgent matter for which MPs should be stretched in that manner.
The 1st Deputy Speaker, Edward Doe-Adjaho while ruling on the matter noted that, the House has sat before on a Saturday, but could not immediately recall what occasioned it.
He noted however that, consultations be held by the leadership on the matter but in the interim, the 29th should be considered as not part of the business schedule for the week ending 21st September, 2012.
