Mr Speaker, first, on the issue raised by the Hon Okudzeto Ablakwa, he said that, in the third paragraph of the introduction, I added the “Office of the Special Prosecutor”. Indeed, on the fourth line of the third paragraph, we would see, “for example”. The operative words there are, “for example”. The list then is not exhaustive. [Hear! Hear!]
Mr Speaker, we all do know -- I was flashed back to let us know that this was considered and indeed referred. Indeed, at the Business Committee, we had spoken to this. So, when it did not appear, I thought that, for the avoidance of doubt, I should state it for the records. But as I said, what the operative words, “for example”, mean is that the list cannot be exhaustive.
Mr Speaker, the Hon Member also asked whether I could give any indication about when the Budget Statement might be presented to the House. Yes, indeed, I can; and I would tell him that it will be presented on either the 8th of November, 2017 or, worst case scenario, 15 th of November, 2017.
It would depend on how early we are able to transact Business on the referrals; in particular, the Zongo Development Fund Bill, the Northern Development Authority Bill, the Middle Belt Development Authority Bill and the Coastal Development Authority Bill, plus, for emphasis, the Office of the Special Prosecutor Bill. If we are able to finish with them, it would pave way for them to be factored into the Budget Statement and then it will be introduced. So, that is it.
Mr Speaker, I believe in your anteroom, we spoke about who had the respon- sibility to summon Parliament. I have never assumed that responsibility, except that, I have been accused of running Parliament
as a blue kiosk -- [Laughter] -- and that even when I want to visit the washroom, I lock the door and put the key under my armpit. That certainly cannot be true, and I alluded to that at the pre-Sitting meeting.
In fact, Mr Speaker, on the last day, at the pre-Sitting meeting, we dialogued on the reopening day; the date for reconvening. So, in my own Closing Remarks, I alluded to that. [Interruption.] My Hon Colleague is saying no, but I alluded to that.
For the avoidance of doubt, here is the Official Report of August 2, 2017, column 3179, I beg to quote:
“Parliament would be recalled early enough to consider these relevant Bills before the presentation of the Budget.”
I said:
“In all likelihood, the reconvening date may not be later than 3 rd
October, 2017.”
The word, ‘likelihood' has been construed to be, ‘likehood'. The word is ‘likelihood'.
So, that information was given to me and I never said that Parliament was going to be summoned. This is because, as rightly posited by the Hon Minority Leader, that authority does not lie with me. So, I chose my words carefully. I said, “In all likelihood, the date for reconvening may not be later than 3rd October, 2017”. I knew what I was talking about. I have never attempted to usurp the authority of the Rt Hon Speaker.
So, Mr Speaker, when the House was adjourned sine die -- the Hon Minority Leader had repeated what I just said in
your anteroom. Sine die is a Latin expression which means without a date. In this instance, in your own anteroom, we had come to that determination that Parliament was going to reconvene on the 3rd of October, 2017. So, technically, we knew when Parliament would resume. So, technically, it was not sine die.
Mr Speaker, the reason we give ourselves two weeks' notice is that, we adjourn sine die, and because we do not know when the Hon Speaker makes the determination, two weeks before the time, this House must be informed appro- priately. Except that on this occasion, we knew when Parliament would resume.
So, technically, it was not even sine die. [Interruption.] -- I said “technically”; if he listened to me well, and it is not a matter of laughter. [Laughter.] So, Mr Speaker, that was the point at which we left this House.
In any event, as I keep saying, Hon Members of Parliament are like the members of the Armed Forces. We stand ready to operate, in rain, in sunshine, in daylight and in darkness. This is why Standing Order 32(2) provides that, and I beg to quote:
“Not later than fourteen days before the commencement of a Meeting the Clerk shall give written notice of the Meeting to each Member, except when Parliament is adjourned to a specified date which is not more than fourteen days from the date of such adjournment, or in cases of emergency in which case the Clerk shall give notification by such means as the urgency of the matter requires.”
Mr Speaker, I told our Hon Colleagues that in the pre-Sitting meeting -- I wonder why this should be resurrected here.
Mr Speaker, about 10 days ago, the President summoned just what we are doing today. He requested whether it would be possible for Parliament to be recalled to deal with just that matter, which is indeed an emergency. I said to him that, because it was in our programme to be back on 3rd October, 2017 -- to transact just one Business, go back and come back within one week would be at a huge expense to the State.
So, we could wait comfortably and transact this Business today; the 3rd of October, 2017. That is why the referral has been made. Indeed, before we could even come to it, we made an application supported by the Hon Minority Leader himself that, we varied the order of Business for the day to enable the Committee deal with the matter.
Mr Speaker, we recognise the emergency contained in this Business that, the Committee is going to transact for and on behalf of the House. If they make the determination that it is urgent, we may even have to suspend Sitting, deal with it and close the chapter.
Mr Speaker, so, nothing untoward has been done. I would want to assure you that nothing untoward has been done. I agree with my Hon Colleague that we should be very consensual, going forward, to involve Leadership in the determination of when Parliament would resume.
I entirely agree with him, except to say that for eight years, I was never consulted. That does not mean that we cannot improve our circumstances. [Uproar] -- It does not mean that at all.
