Member of Parliament for Ajumako-Enyan-Essiam, Cassiel Ato Forson has not filed a question on the expenditure returns of the GH¢280.3 million allocated for the fight against the Coronavirus, according to Parliament.
Ato Forson had claimed on Joy FM’s 6:00pm news on Monday 1st June 2020 that a question he filed during the lockdown period is yet to receive response three weeks after it was filed.
This was after he admitted he intended to file the question but did not do so as at the time he spoke to the media and made the allegation of possible embezzlement of the funds.
The Public Affairs Directorate of Parliament has, however, rebuffed the claims indicating records in Parliament show no specific question with the said amount has been filed by the MP.
In a release, the directorate noted that per the rules and practice of Parliament, questions are not filed in the name of, or by Caucuses.
“Rather a Member seeking a response to a specific issue would file a Question in his or her name, signed by the Member as provided for in Standing Order 64.”
“The Office’s interaction with the Honourable Member does not disclose that he had filed an earlier Question,” the release said.
According to the House, reference is made to a question filed by a Minority member seeking to, “Ask the Minister of Health what emergency preparedness and response plan the Ministry has put in place to help contain the spread of COVID-19 virus and the details of how the US$100 million announced by the President will be spent.”
The Directorate assured that once Mr. Ato Forson files the question, it will be processed in accordance with the rules of the House.
No creation of new constituency announced
In a related development, Parliament has denied reports that Majority leader and Chairman of the Business Committee, Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu, has hinted of the creation of new constituencies in his presentation of the Business Statement last Friday.
“In fact, the Majority Leader in the said presentation stated categorically that the Committee on Subsidiary Legislation should endeavour to submit its report on the Public Elections (Registration of Regulation of Voters) (Amendment) 2020 for the consideration of the House on or before the coming into force of the Instrument.”
“He insisted that the Committee must submit their report to the House by Wednesday, June 3rd, 2020 for consideration on Thursday June 4th, 2020.”
The Directorate stressed that the attribution to him with regards to the creation of new constituencies is therefore wrong.
