Parliament Resumes Sitting After Brief Suspension

Sitting in Parliament has resumed after a brief suspension following concerns raised by the Minority on the Speaker’s failure to acknowledge its members.

The Minority is upset its intervention into the ongoing discussion on the government’s 2018 Fiscal Year Budget was not taken by Speaker Professor Aaron Mike Ocquaye Thursday.

Joy News reported former Energy Minister, Emmanuel Kofi Buah was called by the Speaker but the Minority Chief Whip and his deputy rose to make an intervention.

But the Speaker did not acknowledge their intervention, the reporter said.

Mr Buah reportedly said he will not speak if the Speaker did not take the intervention of his leaders.

Displeased by the former Minister’s response, the Speaker said he would give the opportunity to Majority members, a development that was not accepted by the Minority.

Feeling disrespected, the Minority registered its displeasure, with its members’ shouting in a form of protest, resulting in the suspension of proceedings.

The leadership of the House met with the Speaker over the issue and the difficulties resolved.

“Sitting resumed after the meeting,” the reporter said.

The Speaker immediately allowed the Minority to raise its concerns, which had to do with the Legislative Instrument (LI) on the creation of new districts.

The opposition lawmakers say they want the L.I to be withdrawn because there was an error during the laying process.

In another development, Energy Minister Boakye Agyarko has told Parliament the Committee set up to investigate the BOST fuel contamination saga is almost ready with its report.

He said the government will soon issue a white paper on the report which will be made available to the public.

Mr Agyarko also noted the interim measures put in place to forestall future fuel contamination has helped to sanitise the system.