A tense back-and-forth broke out at the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) meeting on Monday, May 18, between the Minister for Communication, Digital Technology and Innovations, Samuel Nartey George, and Committee Chairperson, Abena Osei-Asare, during a probe into alleged poor service from MTN Ghana.
The clash began after the Minister blamed telecom service problems on what he called flawed policy choices, poor governance and leadership failures under the former erstwhile Akufo-Addo government.
“Private businesses are about making profits and those profits they paid to you over eight years at the Finance Ministry as corporate taxes,” he said, speaking directly to the Committee Chair.
“Policy decision and policy leadership ought to make sure that we take steps to protect the customer. I am saying that under this Reset Agenda and under a responsible government, we have done so,” he added.
But the Chairperson, who was a Minister of State at the Finance Ministry in the previous administration, cut in and warned him against making remarks she deemed offensive, urging him to stay focused.
“I am not heckling you, but we beg you, just go straight to the point,” she said.
The interruption drew a sharp reply from the Minister, who asked the Committee’s Ranking Member, Samuel Atta Mills, who was chairing the session, to rein her in.
He accused her of acting unruly and trying to derail his answer. “This is unbecoming of a Member of Parliament, please stop doing this. You have asked a question, I have the floor, you will let me answer the question. Let me finish. If it is your committee then don’t invite us. Respectfully, let me land,” he said.
The Chairperson stood by her interjection, saying it was meant to keep the discussion focused and clear and not to undermine the Minister.
“When you come here and we address issues, it is not that we want to talk anybody down, never. But Minister, the situation is serious and that is all the sentiments I am trying to put across,” she said.The spat briefly stalled the session, but proceedings resumed afterward.
