Consider making Majority Leader minister

Story: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah

THE Minority Leader, Mr Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu has suggested to President J.E.A Mills to consider making the Majority Leader, a minister of state, to ensure the speedy discharge of government business in Parliament.
It was his contention that in a situation where the Majority Leader, who is the leader of government business, could not present papers on behalf of his colleague ministers because he was not a minister, it would be difficult for papers to be laid if sector ministers were not present in the House.
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu made these observation when the Majority Leader, Mr Alban Bagbin had to rely on the Minister of Local Government and Rural Development, Mr Joseph Yieleh Chireh to lay a paper when the Minister of Energy, Mr Oteng Agyei was not present in the House.
The energy minister, who was scheduled to lay a Petroleum Agreement among the government, the Ghana National Petroleum Corporation (GNPC) and Vanco Ghana Limited and LUKOIL, Overseas Ghana Limited for the conduct of exploration and productions in the Offshore Cape Three points Deep Water Block, was not present in the House when the Speaker called for the paper to be laid.
“Mr Speaker, what we are witnessing is not proper”, Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu lamented and called on the President to make the conduct of business in Parliament part of the priorities of his government.
However, the New Patriotic Party (NPP) Member of Parliament for Sekondi, Papa Owusu-Ankomah disagreed with his leader and stated that, “that is how the government has decided to conduct its business in the House”.
“My Speaker, if that is how the government has decided to conduct its business in the House by incapacitating the Majority Leader who is the Leader of Government Business, so be it”, he said.
Responding, the Majority Chief Whip and NDC MP for Ningo-Prampram, Mr E.T. Mensah acknowledged the NPP era during which both the then Majority Leader and his deputy were made ministers of state to enable them perform ministerial functions in the House.
He expressed the hope that “the proper thing will be done”.
For his part, the Majority Leader, Mr Alban S.K Bagbin explained that by Parliament’s Standing Order 74, deputy ministers were not allowed to lay papers because they were not considered as ministers.
The order stipulates thus, “A paper may be presented to the House only by Mr Speaker, the Chairman of a Committee, a member or a Minister”.
He, therefore assured members of the House that their sentiments would be conveyed to the President.