First Deputy Speaker of Parliament, Joseph Osei-Owusu, has rejected a motion by the Minority for a thorough investigation into the use of Covid-19 funds.
The motion was moved by Ranking Member for the Finance Committee, Cassiel Ato Forson who prayed the house to constitute a bi-partisan Parliamentary Committee to be chaired by a member of the Minority Caucus.
The Committee would be tasked to enquire into the expenditures made by the Ghana Government in relation to Covid-19 since the outbreak of the pandemic in 2020.
In moving the motion Dr. Ato Forson argued the government has been incoherent in accounting for Covid-19 funds.
The Minority Chief Whip, Muntaka Mubarak, in seconding the motion pointed out that the government deliberately scattered information about Covid-19 expenditure in the 2022 budget in order to evade accountability
Deputy Majority Leader, Alexander Afenyo-Markin however, raised preliminary objection arguing the move will amount to parliament usurping the powers of the Auditor-General as prescribed by the constitution.
He accused the NDC MPs of an attempt to confuse Ghanaians and paint the government black. The Effutu MP, therefore, asked the first Deputy Speaker to throw out the motion.
Minority leader, Haruna Iddrisu rejected the assertion from the Deputy Majority Leader arguing what the NDC MPs want to be done is inquiry and not an audit.
Majority Leader, Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu also kicked against any such move of a probe into the use of Covid-19 funds.
Consequently, first Deputy Speaker, Joseph Osei-Owusu threw out the motion arguing the demands of the motion fall directly under the ambit of the Public Accounts Committee (PAC).
He argued the motion shouldn’t have been admitted by the Speaker of Parliament, Alban Bagbin.
Addressing the media after proceedings, Minority Leader, Haruna Iddrisu expressed disappointment in the first Deputy Speaker arguing the matter will be revisited in the nearest future.
In a sharp rebuttal, Deputy Majority Leader argued that the Deputy Speaker’s ruling was apt.
Source: Ghana/Starrfm.com.gh/103.5/Ibrahim Alhassan
