MPs recalled to decide on vehicle gift to Prez

Members of Parliament (MPs) have been recalled for a sitting on September 1, 2016 to consider a motion on the Ford vehicle gift to President John Dramani Mahama.

The Majority Chief Whip, Mr Muntaka Mubarak, confirmed the recall to the Daily Graphic yesterday.

Investigations

The Ford vehicle gift to the President by a Burkinabe contractor came to light following an investigative piece by Manessah Azure of Joy FM.

Following the reportage, a government statement indicated that the President had received the vehicle as a gift.

The statement, signed by the Minister of Communications, Dr Omane Boamah, stated that the vehicle had since been added to the pool of vehicles at the Presidency. 

The Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ) has initiated investigations into the matter following petitions by some Ghanaians. 

Motion

The Minority in Parliament sought for the motion on the Ford vehicle to be moved in the House during the last meeting of Parliament.

The Majority Leader, Mr Alban Bagbin, made it clear in the House that the Majority in Parliament was ready for a debate on the issue any day.

In his closing remarks at the end of the meeting, the Minority Leader, Mr Osei Kyei – Mensah - Bonsu, said once the Majority Leader had openly declared the readiness of the Majority to debate the issue, the motion should be moved for the debate.

A summon by the Speaker of Parliament, Edward Doe Adjaho directed MPs to return to the house on Thursday, September 1, but fell short of disclosing the agenda for the sitting.

However, Article 112 (3) of the Constitution says if 15 per cent of MPs sign a petition, Parliament must sit to consider it. The current Parliament has 275 MPs, with 148 (National Democratic Congress), 121 (New Patriotic Party), three (Independent), one (Convention People's Party) and one (People's National Convention).