House approves nomination of Mensah-Bonsu

Page 31, Dec 19, 2007

Story: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah
PARLIAMENT on Monday unanimously approved the nomination of the Deputy Majority Leader, Mr Osei Kyei- Mensah-Bonsu, as a minister of state.
The approval followed the adoption of the report of the Appointments Committee presented to the House by the Minority Leader, Mr Alban Bagbin.
Presenting the report, Mr Bagbin said the leadership of the House had agreed to separate the report on the appearance of Mrs Vicky Bright and Mr Ken Noworsu who were designated deputy ministers from that of Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu.
He said when Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu appeared before the committee, he distinguished himself, hence the decision of the members to unanimously approve his nomination.
Supporting the motion, the Majority Leader, Mr Abraham Ossei Aidooh, said there was no doubt about the capabilities of Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu as an MP.
“He is a distinguished MP not only in Ghana but also in the ECOWAS Parliament,” he stated.
He said it was important for the front bench of the Majority to be empowered to ensure the smooth running of government business in the House.
Mr Aidooh explained that until the current provision in the rules which enabled only ministers to lay papers in the House was changed, both the Majority Leader, his deputy and the Majority Chief Whip could hold ministerial positions.
“I have no doubt, however that the appointment of Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu will not diminish his forthrightness,” he added.
When he caught the eye of the Speaker, the MP for Lawra-Nandom, Dr Benjamin Kumbuor, said he was one of the people who were of the opinion that the existence of the Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs was unnecessary.
“But having listened to Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu’s explanation when he appeared before the committee, I have become convinced about the need for the ministry,” he said.
The Ashanti Regional Minister and MP for Kwabre West, Mr Emmanuel Owusu-Ansah, described the nominee as efficient, firm, hard-working and an MP whose performance had had a positive impact on his colleagues.
For his part, the MP for Jomoro, Mr Lee Ocran, said both MPs from the Majority and Minority sides of the House admired Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu’s in-depth knowledge about rules governing the House.
In another development, Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu called for measures to ensure that the Disability Act benefits people with various forms of disabilities.
He noted that the passage of the Act alone would not be enough; “we should add our voices and hands to the ratification, which would bond us with other countries and organisations to promote, protect and project persons with disabilities”.
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Boasu made these remarks in a statement he presented on the floor of the House on Monday.
He stated that the quest of Ghana to attain the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) required the need to include persons with disabilities in its development agenda.
“Without their participation, it would be impossible to have poverty and hunger reduced to half by 2015 as envisioned in the MDGs,” he said
Mr Alban Bagbin called for the review of the 10-year grace period to enable people to comply with provisions in the Disability Act.
For his part, the MP for Asutifi North, Mr Paul Okoh, who is also Chairman of the Select Committee on Social Welfare, Employment and State Enterprises, said it was unfortunate that some key institutions were not complying with the Act.
He stated that at a current inspection tour undertaken by the committee, it came out that institutions such as Parliament and the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) had not made provision for persons with disabilities in their newly constructed buildings.
Meanwhile the House deferred the approval of the 2008 budget estimates of the Audit Service for consultations.