Speaker of Parliament angry; adjourns sitting for lack of quorum

The First Deputy Speaker of Parliament Tuesday adjourned sitting after most members of the House failed to show up for business of the day.

Mr Edward Doe Adjaho before leaving the chamber however expressed his dissatisfaction with the MPs' conduct.

He said people who fight tooth and nail to win elections and come to Parliament must recognize that they owe their constituents “to attend upon this House to transact business of this House.”

Adom FM's Listowell Fordjour, who was in Parliament, told Joy News papers regarding some loans being contracted by the government were supposed to be laid before the House but the Finance Minister, Dr Kwabena Duffuor failed to turn up.

He said a Deputy Finance Minister, Mr Seth Terkper who appeared before the House to lay the papers faced objections from the Minority who contended that the deputy minister had just returned from a trip and had probably not even read the documents he was about to lay before the House.

He could not lay the papers.
The MP for Abuakwa North, Prof. Samuel Amoako, quoting Order 48 of the Standing Orders of Parliament which requires there to be at least one-third of MPs before decisions can be taken doubted whether the number of MPs in the House formed a quorum.

The Deputy Speaker after allowing a 10-minute period adjourned sitting.

Listowell Fordjour said the Public Health Bill which at the Third Reading stage and was expected to be passed was put on hold.

Both the Chairman of the Health Committee, Alhaji Mohammed Muntaka Mubarak and his deputy, Mr Wisdon Gidisu, were not even on the floor of the House to move the motion for the passage of the bill into law.

There were only 40 MPs in the 230-member House.