The Minority in Parliament has criticised the Majority for failing to make effective use of the five-day emergency sitting convened by the Speaker, saying important government business remains pending.
With Parliament already into the third day of the recall, the Minority said key legislation, including the Banks and Specialised Deposit-Taking Institutions Amendment Bill and the National Petroleum Authority Bill, had yet to receive attention.
Walewale MP Dr Mahama Tiah Abdul Kabiru said the situation amounted to a significant loss of parliamentary time.
“Today is the third day of the five days we were recalled to sit. Effectively, we have wasted about 75% of the time,” he said.
He noted that the Minority had agreed to the recall despite having other matters it wanted Parliament to consider, including a motion seeking an investigation into alleged losses involving GoldBod.
Minority Chief Whip Frank Annoh-Dompreh similarly challenged the Majority to account for the limited progress made since the emergency sitting began.
The Majority, however, rejected the criticism.
First Deputy Majority Whip Comfort Doyoe said Parliament had been actively engaged, explaining that the Appointments Committee’s vetting of two ministers and judicial nominees had affected the schedule.
“We called the House to come and sit and work and we are working, so why are they complaining?” she asked.
She said the nominees needed parliamentary approval so they could assume their respective responsibilities, including working on their ministries’ budgets.
