Parliament resumes to consider 5 bills, vet deputy ministers

The 8th Parliament of the Fourth Republic will on Tuesday, May 25, 2021 resume for the second meeting after going on recess for a month.

The House is expected to consider five key bills which include; Ghana Standards Authority Bill, 2021, Exemptions Bill 2021 and the Consumer Protection Bill, 2021.

The others are; Petroleum Revenue Management (Amendment) 2021, Advertising Council Bill, 2021.

A statement issued by the Public Affairs Department of Parliament also indicated that the Appointments Committee will resume public vetting of President Akufo-Addo’s nominees for appointment to Ministers of State and Deputy Ministerial positions.

It further indicated that the Budget Performance Report of the Ministry of Youth and Sports as well as that of the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources for the period between January and December, 2020 will be presented to the House.

The Public Accounts Committee of Parliament will also hold a public hearing to scrutinise the report of the Auditor-General’s Department.

The first meeting of the 8th Parliament was very eventful.

First, chaos erupted in the Chamber prior to the dissolution of the 7th Parliament during the election of the Speaker, with the then MP-elect for Yapei-Kusawgu kicking ballot boxes whilst Carlos Ahenkorah snatched and bolted with ballot papers.

The Minority also on several occasions attempted to put the government and its policies in check

The Minority MPs on the Appointments Committee vehemently rejected three ministerial nominees including Kojo Oppong Nkrumah, Dr Afriyie Akoto and Hawa Koomson but failed to marshal enough numbers at the Plenary to get their decision through.

But the second meeting is expected not to be different as the Minority has served notice it will be critical of government policies and programmes.

The second meeting will end July 2021.