Minority MPs walk out of Parliament over AMERI deal

Graphic.com.gh Politics Aug - 01 - 2017 , 15:03

The Minority in Parliament yesterday walked out of Parliament over what it described as a flawed admission of an urgent motion requesting Parliament to rescind its decision to approve the AMERI power deal for gross misrepresentation.

It said the admission of the urgent motion by the Speaker of Parliament, Professor Aaron Mike Oquaye, and referring it to the Committee on Mines and Energy for consideration without allowing a debate on it was against the Standing Orders and procedures in the House.

The Minority Leader, Mr Haruna Iddrisu, told journalists that the boycott was also for the Minority to register its protest against the conduct of the Speaker for stifling and disrespecting its leadership.

He said the boycott was only for yesterday, which indicated that the Minority Members of Parliament (MPs) might be in the House today, the scheduled last sitting of the Second Meeting of the Seventh Parliament.

Trigger of boycott

The Member of Parliament (MP) for Adansi Asokwa, Mr K.T. Hammond, moved the urgent motion for Parliament to rescind its decision to approve the Build, Own, Operate and Transfer (BOOT) agreement between the government and the Africa and Middle East Resources Investment Group (AMERI Energy) for the installation of 10 GE TM2,500+ aero derivative gas turbines, operate, maintain, transfer and provision of support services that the House took on March 20, 2015, for reasons of gross misrepresentation.

But before he moved the motion, Mr Iddrisu stood on a point of order and raised some legal issues to indicate that the motion had no basis in law.

He referred to the Supreme Court ruling in the case of Ndebugri versus the Attorney General in which the Supreme Court indicated that once Parliament had approved a contract, it became the property of the Executive.

He said in the view of the Minority, admitting the motion would be "veering into the realm of the Judiciary".

But the Majority Leader, Mr Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu, countered that and indicated that there was no motion yet before the House, and that the motion could only be debated after the motion had been moved and seconded.

Urgent motion moved

The Speaker then ruled that the motion be moved after which contributions could be made.

Mr Hammond then moved the motion and it was seconded by the Deputy Majority Leader, Ms Sarah Adwoa Safo.

Thereafter, the Speaker referred the issue to the Committee on Mines and Energy for consideration and report.

He asked the committee to speak to all relevant authorities including MPs and AMERI officials.

He said when the report was presented to Parliament, "then Parliament at its plenary can consider the matter".

Minority Leader 'faults' process

But Mr Iddrisu rose on a point of order, and indicated that per the Standing Orders of Parliament, once the motion had been moved and seconded, MPs should comment on it before it could be referred to a committee for consideration.

He also raised some legal arguments to indicate that the call for Parliament to rescind its decision to approve the AMERI power deal for gross misrepresentation had no grounding.

The Minority Leader said the 1992 Constitution hinged on the hybrid of separation of powers, and cautioned that "this Parliament should not veer into the realm of the Judiciary".

He said the appropriate place to go and challenge misrepresentation of a contract was the court.

Mr Iddrisu said the President must convey what his official position was on the AMERI contract.

He cautioned Parliament not to proceed with the urgent motion as it could serve as a bad precedent for MPs to bring any agreement to Parliament for rescission.

Mr Hammond rose on a point of order and indicated that once the Speaker had given a ruling on the matter, Mr Iddrisu's comment would amount to challenging the Speaker's ruling.

The Speaker then indicated that all matters of law, privacy of contract and all information either by the Executive or elsewhere would be best determined by a committee of Parliament.

He said the plenary did not determine a matter without the determination by a committee of Parliament.

The Speaker then called for the other item on the addendum to be taken.

It was at that stage the Minority MPs started some agitations, and Mr Iddrisu signalled them to walk out, which they all complied with.

Media interactions

Mr Iddrisu told journalists that the Speaker was not following the Standing Orders and the laid down procedures.

Besides, he said, the Speaker had made attempts to disallow the Minority from having its say.

For instance, he said the Speaker limited his question to one during question time when in the past Minority Leaders had the opportunity to ask between five and 10 questions.

Majority defends Speaker

Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu said the decision by the Speaker to refer the request for the rescission of the AMERI contract to a committee without allowing for a debate agreed with the Standing Orders.

He said once the Speaker did not allow Mr Hammond to make any further comments on the matter, it was in line with the fact that he did not allow comments on the issue.

Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu said it was crucial for the Minority to use the procedures to address their concerns.