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17.03.2009 NDC

ET tells NDC supportersAtta Akyea can`t be removed… From Appointments Committee

17.03.2009 LISTEN
By Stephen Odoi Larbi - Ghanaian Chronicle

The Member of Parliament for Ningo-Prampram and Deputy Chairman of the Appointments Committee, Mr. Enoch Teye Mensah has ridiculed the demand by the Forum for Setting the Records Straight (FSRS) for the removal of the MP for Abuakwa-South, Hon. Samuel Atta Akyea from the Appointments committee of Parliament.

“He cannot be removed from the Appointments Committee for asking questions”, he said.

He said one's removal from the committee would have to be determined by the group (Minority or Majority) that he or she belongs to, who would then furnish the Chairman of the Select Committee, Justice Joyce Adelaine Bamford-Addo, who doubles as the Speaker of Parliament for consideration.

Speaking on Peace FM's 'Kokrokoo' morning show programme, in response to claims by the FSRS, that they are pushing for the removal of the Abuakwa-South legislator from the Appointments Committee, Mr. E.T Mensah said the Speaker in turn would discusses the issue at the Select Committee level, and then lay it on the floor of Parliament for deliberations, where the outcome will become the final decision of the House.

According to him, it was only when a member violates the Standing Orders of the House that he/she can be removed from the Committee. In the case of Mr. Atta Akyea, he noted that it is only the Minority who can decide his removal from the Appointments Committee when he flouts the Standing Orders of the House, since he belongs to that group, stressing that “it would have to pass through a whole lot of processes.”

Considering the fact that everybody has the right and freedom to join any association of his/her choice, he noted that the group can still go ahead with its petition to the Chairman of the Select Committee for redress.

Mr. Atta Akyea and other members from the Minority have come under severe criticisms from sections of the general public, especially from the NDC fraternity, who seem not to be comfortable with his hard-line of his questioning.

Some have labeled him as trying to score political points rather than facing the realities and competence of the nominee, Mr. Fiife Kwetey, who appear before the Committee to be vetted for deputy Minister designate for Finanace. The Minority Leader, Hon. Osei Kyei Mensah-Bonsu supported E.T Mensah's position, describing the demand of the FSRS as “impossible and laughable.” According to him, a person can only be removed from the Appointments Committee when he/she is in obvious breach of the Standing Orders of Parliament, adding that “the action of the FSRS shows how ignorant they are.”

At a press conference last Friday, the Forum for Setting the Records Straight called on the Speaker of Parliament to remove Atta Akyea from the Appointment's committee for making false presentations about Mrs. Betty-Mould Iddrisu and Fifi Fiave Kwetey, during the ongoing vetting of Ministerial nominees.

The group believes that the removal of Mr. Atta Akyea would restore credibility at the Appointments Committee.

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