Debates of 4 Jun 2021

MR FIRST DEPUTY SPEAKER
PRAYERS 10:41 a.m.
VOTES AND PROCEEDINGS AND THE OFFICIAL REPORT 10:41 a.m.
Mr First Deputy Speaker 10:41 a.m.
Hon Members, Correction of Votes and Proceedings of Thursday, 3rd June,
2021.
Mr First Deputy Speaker 10:41 a.m.
Hon Members, the item listed 4; Business Statement for the Third Week.
Mr Alexander Kwamena Afenyo-Markin (Deputy Majority Leader) 10:41 a.m.
Mr Speaker, the Chairman of the Business Committee is unavoidably absent; I am however, able to do his job in his stead. Mr
Mr First Deputy Speaker 10:41 a.m.
Leave granted; you may please proceed.
BUSINESS OF THE HOUSE 10:41 a.m.
Mr First Deputy Speaker 10:41 a.m.
Hon Members, the Business Statement for the Ensuing week has been presented
by the Business Committee. Any comments?
Mr Haruna Iddrissu 10:51 a.m.
Mr Speaker, I am aware that Rt Hon Speaker admits Questions. I have filed two Urgent Questions for more than a week and I have raised this issue because Urgent Questions have merit of time. The Table Office has indicated to me that one has been captured on page 4 of the Business Statement for Thursday, 10th June 2021 but I want to know the fate of the second one [Interruption] - the second Urgent Question has also been captured on pages 1 and 2.
Mr Speaker, with regard to the other issue, it was advertised as a Motion last week which seeks to amend article 97 of the Constitution. The Hon Majority Leader is not in the House but the Hon Deputy Majority Leader, is in the House and I appreciate that being a good lawyer himself -- [Interruption] I raised questions that should be a Motion for an important subject matter of constitutional amendment not to be led by the Attorney-General and Minister for Justice and . Even though we have broken the ice on Private Members' Motions, matters of constitutional
amendments in my view are weightier and essentially on the strength of article 291 and 292 and in particular, Standing Order 95, and with your indulgence, I beg to quote.
“It shall be out of order to anticipate a Bill by discussion of a motion dealing with the subject matter of the Bill…''
Mr Speaker, we were informed that it was not a Bill but a Motion, which seeks to amend article 97 of the Constitution to allow for incumbent Hon Members of Parliament to be elected as Rt Hon Speakers. This means that Rt Hon Speakers would have voting rights. It is still my contention that this Private Members' Motion offends our Standing Order 95 because it anticipates a Bill for constitutional amendment. Our rules are against the anticipation of a Bill. So, apart from my objection on whether a weighty matter like a constitutional amendment -- [Interruption] In order not to water down the powers of Hon Members, -- [Interruption]. The Constitution provides that -- [Interruption] --
Mr First Deputy Speaker 10:51 a.m.
Hon Members, the Business Committee has scheduled it and accidently, the Hon Minority Leader, is a member of
Mr James Klutse Avedzi 10:51 a.m.
Mr Speaker, I also filed an Urgent Question on the acute water shortage in a town called Dzodze which is the capital of my constituency but it has not been captured in the Business Statement for the ensuing week. I want to find out from the Hon Chairman of the Business Committee, when the Hon Minister would be scheduled to respond to my Urgent Question -- [Interruption] -- It is supposed to be admitted because it is an Urgent Question and “Urgent Questions'' are “Urgent Questions''.
Mr Speaker, I want to know from the Hon Chairman when my Question would be captured. Probably, the Table Office should provide some information. This is about water. The people need water, so they cannot say that it should not be admitted.
Mr Alhassan Suhuyini Sayibu 10:51 a.m.
Mr Speaker, the Business Committee has outlined a number of activities to be done by Hon Ministers of State. However, article 70 (1) of the Constitution stipulates and with your permission I beg to quote.
“The President shall, acting in consultation with the Council of State, appoint --
(a)the Commissioner for Human Rights and Administrative Justice and his Deputies;
(b) the Auditor-General;
(c)the District Assemblies Common Fund Administrator;
(d) the Chairmen and other members of --
(i) the Public Services Commission;
(ii) the Lands Commission'' -
- 10:51 a.m.
Mr First Deputy Speaker 10:51 a.m.
Hon Member, do you want to propose that it should be proposed as a Business of the House?
Mr Sayibu 10:51 a.m.
Yes, Mr Speaker. If the Hon Majority Leader, draws the Government's attention to this anomaly, I am sure it would be minded to ensure that we do not just file the Questions and get answers that would not lead to any impact because Boards are not in place to take decisions at the agencies that are responsible to implement some of the issues that are raised in our Questions.
Mr Afenyo-Markin 10:51 a.m.
Mr Speaker, the Hon Deputy Minority Leader, raised an issue with an Urgent Question that he has filed and I want to draw his attention to Order 66, that once it has been admitted -- [Interruption] and he knows that the Rt Hon Speaker is the sole judge in the admissibility of Questions, so we cannot blame so much the Table Office. However, he may have to follow up with the Rt Hon Speaker, to ensure that it is done. Once is has been admitted, the Business
Committee would have no hesitation at all to consider it.
Mr Speaker, I would resist the temptation to debate the Hon Minority Leader, because the Motion that has been filed has nothing to do with anticipation. However, I would hold my energies for that great day that he would bring it up.
Mr Speaker, with no further issues in contention, I move, that the Business Statement as submitted be approved.
Mr First Deputy Speaker 10:51 a.m.
Hon Members, the Business Statement for the ensuing week is hereby adopted for implementation.
Hon Members, our situation today is such that we cannot conduct any of the Businesses unless the Hon Deputy Majority Leader, is ready to present the Papers as has been enumerated.
Hon Deputy Majority Leader, are you ready to present the Papers listed in item numbered 6?
Mr Afenyo-Markin 10:51 a.m.
Mr Speaker, unfortunately, these Papers are not ready. Leadership has agreed that in view of the other assignments we have and the fact that there are many committee meetings -- [Interruption].
Mr First Deputy Speaker 10:51 a.m.
I am aware that the Appointments Committee actually had to defer so that we could preside over the Sitting in plenary.
Mr Afenyo-Markin 10:51 a.m.
Mr Speaker, I therefore move, that this House adjourns till Tuesday, 8th June at 10.00 o'clock in the forenoon.
Mr Avedzi 10:51 a.m.
Mr Speaker, I know that you are inching to go for your Committee meeting to vet the Deputy Ministers, so I second the Motion.
ADJOURNMENT 10:51 a.m.