PARLIAMENT on Tuesday approved the composition of three committees because of their critical nature in the facilitation of the business of the House and that of the government.
They are the Committee of Selection, chaired by the Speaker, Mr Edward Doe Adjaho; the Business Committee, chaired by Dr Benjamin Kunbuor, and the Appointments Committee, headed by the First Deputy Speaker, Mr Ebo Barton Odro.
The composition of the committees was based on the ratio 55 per cent for the Majority, 45 per cent for the Minority.
The debate on the adoption of the report was characterised by heckling and boos from both the Majority and Minority sides.
Contributing to the debate, the NPP Member of Parliament (MP) for Manhyia, Dr Mathew Opoku-Prempeh, cautioned the newly constituted Business Committee to ensure that ministers of state availed themselves to the House to answer questions.
His contribution, however, attracted jeers from the Majority, who argued that ministers were yet to be appointed, for which reason his argument was out of order.
The NDC MP for Ketu North, Mr Fiifi Kwetey, contributing to the debate, commended the report for including new MPs on the Appointments Committee, since their involvement would afford them the opportunity to learn the work of Parliament from more experienced hands.
That, however, attracted comments from the Minority, who said Mr Kwetey's comment implied that the previous Appointments Committee failed to live up to expectation.
The NPP MP for Akwapim North, Mr William Ofori Boafo, appealed to the Speaker to ensure the Majority Leader furnished the House with the list of caretaker ministers of state at the various ministries, in line with the Presidential Transition Act.
According to the act, the President is supposed to furnish the House with caretaker ministers until the appointment and approval of new ministers of state.
The Speaker ruled that the Majority Leader furnish the House with the list of caretaker ministers and other appointees.
Earlier, the Majority Leader, Dr Kunbuor, had informed the House of the decision of the three independent MPs and the PNC MP for Builsa North, Mr Alhassan Azong, to do business with the Majority in the House.
That followed the call by the MP for Sekondi, Papa Owusu Ankomah, on the four MPs to declare which side of the House they intended to do business with.
The Speaker subsequently informed the House of a memorandum to the effect that the four MPs had decided to align themselves with the Majority.
SOURCE: Della Russel Ocloo, Daily Graphic, Wed, Jan 7, 2013
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