There was a slightly heated argument between the Speaker of Parliament, Alban Bagbin, and the Minister of Communications, Ursula Owusu, during parliament’s conclusive deliberation on the banning of certain imported items, as proposed by the Minister of Trade and Industry, K.T. Hammond.
The proposition had been opposed by the Minority Caucus on grounds that the invoking of the import restriction bill would intensify economic pressures on Ghanaians, coupled with the assertion that it would breed corruption at the Ministry to superintend its implementation. However, Madam Ursula, who seemed to have been dissatisfied with the proceedings in the wake of discussions about the bill, questioned the Speaker’s directive.
According to her, she had no idea what the house was debating, in that there was nothing before the house, which justifies the Minority Caucus’s opposition to the bill. This, she argued, the Speaker should have laid before the Minority Caucus.
“I have no idea what we are debating in this house today. There is nothing before the house, so as you indicated to the Minister that we are not yet there, I was of the opinion that you would tell my colleagues on the other side that there’s nothing before us,” she argued.
Having gone back and forth at length with the minister, the speaker instructed Madam Ursula Owusu to resume her seat, cautioning her that such conduct would not be tolerated in the house.
“Minister, do you really listen to yourself when you are talking? If you were here from the very beginning before we started, why did you say no, when I asked if you were here from the beginning… This is not the Ministry of Communications; this is Parliament. Resume your seat.”
Watch the video below, as posted by JoyNews.
Meanwhile, the Trade Minister, K.T. Hammond, and the Ministry of Trade and Industry have been given the green light to assume the implementation of the import restriction bill.
Quite a number of items will be affected, and people could lose their livelihoods given that many Ghanaians are involved in the import business.
Over the years, there have been advocates to stop the importation of certain food items, as it is believed that the government could help produce same in the country.
Many experts firmly believe this would help cut unnecessary costs. Implementation of the bill will commence on Thursday, November 30, 2023, after the ministry has concluded all necessary procedures to that effect.
Source: Dehotpress
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