Cash-For-Seat Committee Gets Extension
Parliament’s five-member adhoc Committee, investigating the cash for seat allegation has been given a one-week extension to enable it complete its work and present a report to the House for consideration.
The Committee, which was expected to present its report today, January24, has been given up to 31st January to submit the report due to its inability to complete its work on the scheduled time.
Minister for Parliamentary Affairs, Osei-Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu, disclosed this on the floor of Parliament when he presented the business statement for the first week of the first meeting of the second session of the seventh Parliament of the fourth republic.
Osei-Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu explained that the extension was reached based on a mutual agreement among leadership of both sides of the House following a request by the Committee.
“Mr. Speaker, Leadership is informed that the Committee has not been able to conclude their public sittings on the matter and wants an extension of time to finish the inquiry. Leadership has accordingly agreed to the request and granted them one more week.
“In the event, the Committee is required to submit their report not later than Wednesday, January 31, 2018”, the Majority Leader announced.
The expatriate businesses last week Tuesday, January, 16 failed to appear before the adhoc Committee forcing the Committee to cut short its work on the day.
Several representatives of the expatriate businesses were expected to appear before the Committee to assist with investigations into the cash-for-seat claim.
Chairman of the Committee, Kwesi Ameyaw-Kyeremeh prior to the adjournment gave an assurance that the expatriates businesses would be reengaged at a later date.
On January 5, 2018, the Minority Chief Whip, Muntaka Mohammed Mubarak moved a motion at an emergency Parliamentary sitting, calling on the House to investigate the alleged levies collected by the Ministry of Trade & Industry of the Ghana Cedi equivalent of various sums up to US$100,000.00 from expatriate businesses and related matters during the recently held Ghana Expatriates Business Awards in Accra.
According to him, the documents at his disposal clearly showed that some monies were collected from expatriates, noting that such was unethical.
The motion was seconded by the MP for North Tongu, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa.
The Speaker subsequently constituted the five-member adhoc Committee to investigate the matter.
The members are; Majority Chief Whip, Kwesi Ameyaw Cheremeh, Chairman, MP for Adenta, Yaw Buabeng Asamoah, MP for New Juabeng South, Dr. Mark Assibey-Yeboah, MP for Ketu North, James Klutse Avedzi and MP for Bolgatanga, Dominic Ayeni.
The terms of reference for the committee include;
- When did the matter under consideration arise?
- Can it be perceived in terms of what the lawyers normally describe as Novus Actus Intervenus – is it something new that has arisen?
- Will the matter has been raised during the regular sitting session with prudent vigilance?
- Has the matter been raised in any form or whatsoever during the session and why raise it in the moment Parliament goes on recess?
By: Christian Kpesese/ thePublisher
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