Recall not for impeachment of President - Majority

By Ken Sackey/Benjamin Mensah, GNA
Accra, Aug. 31, GNA - Mr Alban Kingsford Sumana Bagbin, Majority Leader in Parliament on Wednesday said the expected recall of Members of Parliament to the plenary on Thursday, September 1, is not for the impeachment of President John Dramani Mahama.

Rather, the recall is for the House to consider a motion filed by the Minority, through its leader Mr Osei Kyei- Mensah Bonsu, seeking Parliament to constitute a special committee to investigate the controversial receipt of Ford Expedition vehicle by President Mahama from a Burkinabe contractor.

The motion, filed on August 3, also seeks to establish if the receipt of the vehicle by the President infringed on any of the Laws of Ghana and on his (President's) Code of Conduct.

'This, recall of Parliament has been occasioned by the Minority in Parliament invoking Article 112 (3) of the 1992 Constitution and Order 38 (1) of the Standing Orders of Parliament,' the Majority Leader said at a press conference by the Majority Caucus in Parliament in Accra.

The conference was in convened to respond to current media discussions on the reasons for the recall, which the Minority has publicised as being a process to impeach President for 'illegally' accepting the vehicle, and further describing as an inducement.

Some legislators on the Minority Side had in media discussions suggested that the President would be impeached when he House is recalled, but the Minority Leader in another interaction with the media said he was not aware of any plans to impeach the President.

He said the motion which he signed was for House to decide on propriety of the President receiving such a gift.

Mr Bagbin described impressions generated from the discussions in the media as 'erroneous and deliberately misleading.'

The Majority Leader expressed wonder why the Minority claims publicly that they seek to impeach the President at the recall when this was not contained in their motion.

He questioned why the Minority's request to investigate the matter which was already before constitutionally mandated body, the Commission on Human Rights And Administrative Justice.

Mr Bagbin asked: 'Why did the Minority Leader who signed the motion as far back as August 3, 2016, state on Citifm as recent as this Monday the 29th of August, 2016 that he did not know the reason for the recall and that he was 'taken aback' when he heard the news of the recall from the 'grapevine' as there had been 'no prior consultation' with him? What is the Minority Leader running away from? '

Mr Bagbin said it was clear that the recall of Parliament was 'borne out of clear mischief,' and a 'desperate attempt to throw as much dirt at President Mahama ahead of the December 7 elections.'

He described the conduct of the Minority as 'certainly a needless waste of scarce state resources and precious time' when Members of Parliament ought to be engaging their constituents as election approaches.

'We assure the good people of Ghana that this notwithstanding, we in the Majority will remain alive to our constitutional responsibilities.

'We assure all that this unnecessary and obvious distractions will soon be put behind us as we resolve to continue to support President Mahama's vision of changing lives and transforming Ghana,' Mr Bagbin said.

GNA