Asikuma/Odoben/Brakwa questioned the rationale behind the
second reading of the bill without working on the Petroleum
Exploration and Production Bill. He argued that the first thing to do was to work on the Petroleum
Exploration and Production Bill to give the basis for the passing of
the Petroleum Revenue Bill.
He questioned that, if Ghanaians did not know what they
produce, how would they determine the revenue that would be
derived from it. He called on the leadership of the House to accept working on
the Petroleum Exploration and Production Bill first before thinking
of the Revenue Management Bill. Mr Ambrose Dery Deputy Minority Leader said government
must not be in a hurry to pass the bill but must be careful to ensure
that “our national interest was safeguarded”. Mr Avoka said papers for the Petroleum Management Bill was
laid about six months ago, and discarded the notion that government
was in a haste to pass the bill. He said he was aware that the Petroleum Management Bill would
be passed before the Petroleum Exploration and Production Bill, but
urged the house to exercise restraint and allow the papers for the bill
to be laid, so that the joint committee working on the bill would
determine, which of the two bills to be passed first. 12 Nov. 10
Source: GhanaWeb
