By South Dayi’s Member of Parliament, Rockson-Nelson Dafeamekpor, asserts that the Speaker of Parliament has not violated the Standing Orders by opting not to respond to a plea from the Majority.
His defense of the Speaker comes in response to the Majority in Parliament’s urgent request on May 3 for the house to reconvene to address critical government matters.
In a letter addressed to the Speaker by the Majority Leader, Alexander Afenyo-Markin, reference was made to Article 112(3) and Order 53 of the Standing Orders of Parliament, which allows 15% of House members to request Parliament’s recall.
The primary agenda items for the requested session include the adoption of the 34th Report of the Appointments Committee and the consideration of a motion on additional financing.
Specifically, the caucus seeks Parliament’s attention on a motion for an “Additional Financing Agreement between GoG and the IDA for an amount of US$150 million to finance the ongoing Greater Accra Resilient and Integrated Development (GARID) Project,” as well as a “Request for Tax Exemption for selected beneficiaries under the 1D1F Programme.”
Speaking on Joy FM at midday, Mr. Dafeamekpor emphasized that “The Speaker has not broken the Constitution or the Standing Orders. So let us be careful of that; the Majority knows what he has to do under the Standing Orders. The Standing Orders are very clear; if that requirement is met, then The Speaker would have to review the Standing Orders, issue a summons, and recall it within seven days. In the absence of The Speaker, we have the First Deputy Speaker, who would act; in the absence of the First Deputy Speaker, the Second Deputy Speaker would act. Is the majority leader saying that in the absence of The Speaker, nobody can act?”
He pointed out that the First Deputy Speaker has ties to the NPP, while the Second Deputy Speaker closely collaborates with the NPP in parliamentary matters, indicating no reason for apprehension.
“The First Deputy is a member of parliament on the ticket of the NPP; the Second Deputy Speaker is the independent member of parliament who is caucusing in doing business with the Majority in parliament; hence, what is the NPP’s beef?”
