Speaker of Parliament Professor Mike Aaron Oquaye has set up a five-member Committee to probe the alleged sale of presidential seats to expatriates by the Trades Ministry.
The decision followed a thorough debate on the floor after an urgent motion was filed by the Minority and duly signed by 15 percent of its members who demanded a full-scale investigation into the matter.
After an earlier “procedural irregularities” in the motion, which led to the suspension of sitting, the Speaker has granted the wish of the Minority.
The Investigative Committee will be chaired by Sunyani East MP, Kwasi Ameyaw-Kyeremeh with representation from both divides of the House.
The members include:
(a) New Juabeng South MP – Dr Mark Assibey Yeboah
(b) Adetan MP – Yaw Buabeng Asamoah
(c) Ketu North MP and Deputy Minority leader – James Klutse Avedzi
(d) Bolga East MP – Dr Dominic Ayine
Th terms of reference given the Committee include:
1). When did the matter under consideration arise.
2). Can it be perceived in terms of what is described as Novus actus interveniens (meaning is this something new that has arisen?).
3). Could the matter have been raised during the regular sitting session with prudent vigilance?
4). Has the matter been raised in any form whatsoever during the session and why raise it in moment Parliament is on recess.
Majority leader, Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu had asked the Speaker to dismiss the motion after he cited a number of irregularities on the motion paper.
But Minority leader, Haruna Iddrisu countered his argument, saying the motion was fit for consideration in the House.
After a brief suspension of the sitting to allow the Minority to amend errors in its memo, the opposition lawmakers came back adamant insisting their procedures were accurate.
They challenged the ruling of the Speaker, an action Professor Oquaye overlooked and set up the Committee.
“I have studied the Constitution very carefully and I am convinced that the recall provided for 112(3) is mandated that once the petitioners have signed as appropriately provided by law [the motion must be admitted],” he explained his action.
He told the MPs he did not see any discretion in the law and “notwithstanding the incompetence, I have allowed it [motion] to pass.”
Speaker sets up 5-member C’ttee to probe cash-for-seat saga after thorough debate
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