Atwima Mponua MP causes stir in Parliament
The Member of Parliament (MP) for Atwima Mponua, Mr Isaac Kwame Asiamah, caused a stir when he stated that Parliament was broke.
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"This is highly unacceptable" he said, adding that it was sad that the House was being deliberately denied funding to enable it to exercise its oversight responsibility over the executive.
Making a comment after the business for next week had been presented by the Majority Leader, Dr Benjamin Kunbuor, Mr Asiamah last Friday said even though the Youth and Culture Committee on which he is the Ranking Member had drawn its programme for the current meeting, lack of funding had made it impossible for the programme to be implemented.
He wondered why committees were not being properly resourced to enable them to embark on some outreach programmes to make meaning of the legislature's oversight role.
However, the Speaker, Mr Edward Doe Adjaho, disagreed with the assertion of Mr Asiamah, explaining that it was harsh for the MP to assert that Parliament was broke.
"We may be going through some challenges but that does not mean that Parliament is broke," the Speaker said.
He explained that monthly releases for Parliament had been done up to May, this year while that of June was being prepared for release.
Mr Adjaho stated that part of the challenges faced by Parliament was attributable to some MPs and added that all those matters would be discussed at close-door meeting.
Contributing to the ensuing debate, the Minority Spokesperson for Finance, Dr Anthony Akoto Osei (NPP, Old Tafo), said he was aware that the Finance Committee was being funded to go about its duties and called for proper means to inform members about matters of such nature.
After the Minister of Trade and Industry, Mr Haruna Idrissu, had raised an objection to Mr Asiamah's assertion, Mr Adjaho ordered him (Asiamah ) to withdraw the word "broke" but he would not be totally defeated as he substituted it with "seriously challenged."
By Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah/Daily Graphic/Ghana
