Ofori-Atta always treat Parliament with contempt – Ablakwa

Member of Parliament (MP) for North Tongu, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa has accused Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta of treating the House of Parliament with contempt. 

According to the lawmaker, Ken Ofori Atta has always been finding excuses for the House anytime he is to appear to respond to some queries from MPs.

Speaking on Good Morning Ghana Friday morning, Ablakwa said the Finance Minister must know that Parliament does not belong to him, therefore he must be ready to answer questions anytime the need arises.

He cited Ken Ofori-Atta’s continuous postponement when he filed an urgent question about the country’s presidential jet.

“The usual excuses here and there, he always treat Parliament with contempt. Is so upset. The Finance Minister must know that Parliament does not belong to him. It’s not like the boys quarters at the Ministry of Finance. The disrespect, last minute then he starts calling with excuses. This thing since last week, the media has reported, you have 16 questions, it has been discussed extensively, it is even advertised in the provisional paper, then a day to the day you have to come to Parliament, then you start calling leadership, Speaker, that you’re not ready. We should give you up to next week Wednesday. This not the first time. He did same to my question about the Presidential jet, you don’t do that. Our standing orders are clear on how many days you have for urgent questions. He has become a law into himself” he said on the show.

This comes after refusal of the Finance Minister, Ken Ofori Atta to appear before Parliament on Wednesday, June 22, 2022, to answer some 16 urgent questions tabled by members of the house.

The Minister was scheduled to answer questions and deliver an important statement on the floor on Thursday before he put in a late request for the session to be postponed.

Meanwhile Speaker Bagbin has directed the Minister to appear before the House on Wednesday, June 22, 2022.

“Definitely, Wednesday will be a day he will have to answer all the questions and respond to the outstanding issues accounting for the utilization of the COVID-19 money. I hope the majority leader who is responsible for government business will communicate to the Minister responsible for Finance.”

“Until we go through the accountability process, we will not take that motion… Today, he has another request before us. That will also be affected. Until he comes to respond to the questions and to submit the statement giving an explanation as to how the money has been applied, we will not entertain any business from that Ministry,” Mr. Bagbin added.