Mr Speaker, let me thank you for the opportunity to contribute to the Motion.
Mr Speaker, I would want to refer you to some words in the Committee's Report. I particularly quote the last paragraph: which with your permission states:
“Accordingly, the Committee hereby determines that even though there is high public interest in the matter, the Bill should be taken through the normal legislative process in accordance with article 106 of the Constitution.”
So when we take it through article 106 (13), is it not still part of the article 106 legislative process? We should be mindful of the words that we use. Article 106 is such an important provision. When we say “normal legislative process” -- [Interruption] Mr Speaker, I say this so that the House would be better guided.
Article 106 (13) only provides exemptions when we want to do away with the requirements in article 106 (1) and (2) and, in particular, article 106 (2) (a) and (b). When we introduce a Bill before this august House, first, we must satisfy the requirement that, it is accompanied by an explanatory memorandum, the policy principles, the defects in the law and more importantly, article 106 (2) (b), published in the Gazette.
The particular Bill which was laid, as the Hon Chairman has carefully referred to on 29th March, 2018, was not gazetted. Therefore, it did not meet the requirement in article 106 (1) and (2).
Mr Speaker, we all know that, this Bill is of enormous public interest and it is not a Bill for which we should apply the rules of urgency. It needs thorough scrutiny and consultation with stakeholders, because it remains one of the strongest weapons to combat corruption. It is said by governance experts that what corruption needs is darkness. So, this is part of what is called “sunshine legislation” in order to throw light so that we deepen openness and accountability.
Mr Speaker, I am sure that the Hon Majority Leader can be a Messi in this matter. He was just responding to media effect. The President at the Independence Day had announced how this Bill would be introduced and passed by Parliament. So, to meet that requirement, he was in a hurry to come and lay the Bill and announce to the public that the Bill had so been laid.
Mr Speaker, when he comes in a hurry, he should know that the import of article 106 (13) is to provide for exemptions and that should not even be the path that this House should walk. So Hon Chairman, I agree with you on “normal legislative process” so that, we are not seen as abating the processes. I share the view of the Hon Chairman of the Committee.
Mr Speaker, what it means is that, he has come back to what we advised him on 23rd March, 2018, that he should lay the Bill on the Right to Information, a Bill so gazetted that we can count back the number of days that the Constitution requires as minimum for us to be able to proceed. One could not have imagined
that with an important Bill such as this, we would even contemplate that the Committee should make a determination of its urgency, but understandably, to be able to meet that requirement --
Mr Speaker, I trust that the leadership of this Committee would do a good job and it should be the legacy of the Seventh Parliament that you head that finally, Ghana has a dedicated Right to Information Bill, one that reflects the aspirations of the Ghanaian people.
Mr Speaker, the Hon Majority Leader should come again. He was in a hurry with the Right to Information Bill, 2018 -- Mr Speaker, once we adopt this, it would mean that he would then lay a Bill so gazetted. It means that we are excusing those exemptions in article 106 (13).
Thank you.
