The Minority in Parliament has described as totally unconscionable, an advice to the National Security Minister not to respond to questions on the travel cost of President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo.
According to the Caucus, it is unpardonable to abandon a presidential jet that is in pristine condition and be renting expensive charted aircrafts for the President’s journeys abroad.
The advice, the NDC insists, is an affront to Parliament and undermines the authority of the Speaker who has admitted questions on the matter for the National Security Minister to answer.
The Minority’s objection followed a statement by Bryan Acheampong, Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee that he has advised the Minister not to respond to questions relating to the President’s travels.
That information, he said, is classified and therefore making it public will jeopardise the life of the President.
Member of Parliament for North Tongu, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa who has raised the matter several times and is in hot pursuit of the Minister to provide details of the President’s travel cost spoke to the media in Parliament on Wednesday.
According to him, Order 66 of the Standing Orders is clear and provides the Speaker shall be the sole judge of the admissibility of a question.
“So no member of Parliament, and no other person than the speaker can admit a question.
“And the question in issue relates to the President’s May travels to Belgium, France and South Africa, and it is a question that has been duly admitted by the Speaker. It does not lie in the mouth of the Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee to advise the Minister who only last week was expected to respond to that question.
“The Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee is totally out of order and is arrogating to himself powers that he does not have. He must stay clear of the speaker’s authority under Order 66.”
