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Tag: Ato Forson

  • Minority leadership saga: There were no consultations under 7th Parliament – Ras Mubarak defends NEC

    Minority leadership saga: There were no consultations under 7th Parliament – Ras Mubarak defends NEC

    Former Member of Parliament for Kunbungu Constituency, Ras Mubarak, has stated that the NDC’s national executive board’s recent shuffle of the leadership of the minority in parliament demonstrates how they vary from the NPP.

    Ras Mubarak asserted that nobody was consulted prior to the appointment of the minority leader in the 7th Parliament and that he shudder to understand the criticism that the application of the same principle has generated this time around.

    “In the 7th Parliament, some people wanted Mahama Ayariga to be Minority Leader. Others wanted Muntaka Mubarak while others rooted for Haruna Iddrisu. Who consulted us in the 7th Parliament when that decision was taken? In the end, the party’s wisdom was respected. And the leaders got the very maximum support,” he said.

    In a Facebook post, he stressed the need for party members to respect and accept the judgment of the National Executive Council led by Johnson Asiedu Nketiah.

    “In a time like this, what we require is maturity and not emotions and tantrums. We elected Chairman ASIEDU Nketia believing that he and the team would take some good but tough decisions. They may be doing just that.

    “It is important to give him and the rest of the team the benefit of the doubt, respecting the soundness of their judgment.

    “The signal the National Chairman and his team are sending is that the NDC is different from the NPP. The NPP is the only party where non-performance is rewarded. Have we not had cause to complain about the soundness of the decisions of the previous leaders and a need for changes ahead of 2024?”

    The former Kunbungu member of parliament further questioned the motives of individuals who are opposing the new development.

    “For those who are up in arms against the reshuffle, what moral authority would they have to question the continued stay in office of the likes of Ken Ofori-Atta who’s run the country to the ground through his wrong-headed economic policies, goaded by the President and the economic management team,” he asked.

    He continued by saying that all agitations must be put on hold in order for the party to accept Ato Forson as their new minority leader.

    “We need power. Asking for the decision to be reversed is bizarre. Such flip-flopping would be more fatal, with disastrous consequences to the tenure of the ASIEDU Nketia led Executives. It’s bait to get them to start on a catastrophic note.

    “If we truly want power, we must put this behind us and rally behind the Ato Forson-led Minority group.

    “The NDC is bigger than any individual in the party. We can’t have on our hands a situation where hell breaks loose when seemingly untouchables are reshuffled. It would be disastrous for a future NDC government. We can weather this storm together. Let people come to terms with the fact that the ship has sailed, and use their energies towards kicking out the NPP, whose tenure has been nothing but a calamitous failure,” he added.

    The NDC in a statement signed by the General Secretary, Fifi Kwetey announced that it has made changes to the leadership of the minority in parliament.

    The former Deputy Minister of Finance, Dr Cassiel Ato Forson, has been appointed as the Minority Leader in the 8th Parliament of Ghana’s Fourth Republic.

    Kofi Armah Buah is also the Deputy Minority Chief Whip. Kwame Agbodza takes over as Chief Whip.

    Ahmed Ibrahim, MP for Banda, has been maintained as the First Deputy Minority Chief Whip, while Comfort Doyo Cudjoe-Ghansah, MP for Ada, is the Second Deputy Minority Chief Whip.

  • ‘Haruna Iddrisu is irritated’ – Muntaka over Minority leadership reshuffle

    ‘Haruna Iddrisu is irritated’ – Muntaka over Minority leadership reshuffle

    Member of Parliament for the Asawase Constituency and Minority Chief Whip, Muntaka Mubarak, has revealed that Minority leader Haruna Iddrisu is upset by the NDC Executive’s decision to not go by the agreed measure to address a leadership reshuffle.

    Muntaka revealed that discussions between Mr Iddrisu and newly appointed Minority Leader, Cassiel Ato Forson were not fruitful.

    “I can tell you that the meeting was not fruitful. He mentioned some measures that they had to take, but that was not done. I can tell you that he was irritated at the meeting,” Muntaka said during a press conference on Thursday.

    Mr Muntaka advised the new minority leadership to be patient and allow consultations to be held before they assume their roles.

    Dr Ato Forson on Thursday promised to do everything within his power to unite the caucus before he eventually assumes his position on February 7 when Parliament resumes from recess.

    His comment contradicts claims by Dr Ato Forson who said that he had held fruitful discussions with his former leader following his appointment by the party.

    Some NDC MPs have petitioned the party leadership over recent changes on their front bench in the lawmaking house.

    The legislators believe the reshuffling is premature and does not augur well for the opposition party going into the next elections given the lack of consultation.

    Addressing the media on Thursday, January 26, 2023, at the behest of the NDC parliamentarians, MP for Zebilla East and former Majority Leader, Cletus Apul Avoka stressed that only a decision arrived at after broad deliberations will be accepted.

    “The basis for our prayer is that the party suspends the reshuffling as indicated by the General Secretary until such a time that a holistic meeting of stakeholders with consultations before a decision is taken.”

    “It is on this backdrop that the national executives of the party a few weeks ago decided that all appointees in the party and parliament should remain in office after we conclude the parliamentary and presidential primaries. We are therefore surprised that the reshuffling is reaching the caucus in Parliament. We think that this is premature.”

  • This is not the time to make a nobody somebody – Cletus Avoka on Ato Forson’s elevation

    This is not the time to make a nobody somebody – Cletus Avoka on Ato Forson’s elevation

    The Member of Parliament for Zebilla East, Cletus Apul Avoka, has raised concerns about the timing of the NDC’s leadership reshuffle in parliament.

    According to him, the party should have galvanized the party for the fight against the NPP to win the 2024 elections instead of making heroes out of nonentities.

    His remarks come after the party decided to replace Minority Leader Haruna Iddrisu with Cassiel Ato Forson, MP for Ajumako-Enyan-Essiam.

    The party also replaced Deputy Minority Leader James Klutse Avedzi with Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah, MP for Ellembelle.

    Speaking on Citi TV the lawmaker said, “this is not the time to make nobody a somebody, this is not the time to make nobody a somebody, this is the time to galvanise all of us to fight the NPP so that we can win elections not to make heroes out of nonentities, this is not the time,” Citi newsroom quoted.

    Aside from Cletus Avoka, the Member of Parliament for Tamale Central also raised concerns about the party’s failure to involve the caucus in the leadership reshuffle.

    According to Murtala Mohamed, the leadership reshuffle has caught everyone off guard, including those who are taking on new responsibilities.

    Source: Ghanaweb

  • Akufo-Addo has no moral right to increase VAT by 2.5% – Minority

    A small group of lawmakers have questioned President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo- Addo’s moral authority to raise Value Added Tax (VAT) by 2.5%.

    The Minority Leader in Parliament reportedly questioned why President Akufo-Addo, who led the Kumepreko rally in 1995 to voice his opposition to economic suffering, now imposes more levies on Ghanaians.

    He emphasized that the market price of products and services will automatically increase as a result of the 2.5% increase in VAT.

    This will cause further suffering for Ghanaians during the current economic downturn, he claimed.

    Addressing journalists on Monday, December 5, 2022, Haruna Iddrisu said, ” whilst whittling away the little we have as a country in this intransigent manner, the Akufo-Addo/Bawumia government has decided to pile more hardships on the people of Ghana through the introduction of more taxes in the 2023 Budget presented to Parliament. What moral right does President Akufo-Addo have to increase VAT by 2.5% when he led the “KUMI PREKO” demonstration in 1995 resulting in the loss of five lives?”

    “As sure as night follows day, this will worsen the hardship faced by Ghanaians, as the prices of almost all items will increase instantaneously once this tax comes into effect,” he added.

    Haruna Iddrisu further said the Minority in Parliament have detected 22 additional tax and revenue measures in the 2023 budget read in parliament by the Minister of Finance, Ken Ofori-Atta.

    The additional taxes, he bemoaned, will make life more unbearable for Ghanaians.

    “At a time when people are facing the worst economic crisis and hardships in their lifetime, the last thing that is desired is further taxation,” he said.

    Government, on Thursday, November 24, 2022, announced an increment in Value Added Tax (VAT) by 2.5 percent for consumers of goods and services.

    The move, according to government is expected to improve its domestic revenue measures while seeking to reach an IMF deal to restore macroeconomic stability.

    Economic Crisis Ghana Will Need 15 Years To Recover – Ato Forson

  • Marriages collapsing under Akufo-Addo’s government – Ato Forson

    A ranking member of the Parliament’s Finance Committee, Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson, has claimed that a number of marriages have broken down and others are on the verge of doing so as a result of the current economic difficulties.

    Mr. Forson noted that many marriages had failed because spouses couldn’t care for their homes.

    Mr Akufo-Addo lamented the government’s lack of attempts to address the hurting economy and said that the high cost of living is taking a severe toll on the populace.

    Debating the 2023 budget statement on the floor of Parliament on November 29, 2022, the Ranking Member on the Finance Committee of Parliament said, “Mr. Speaker, the mood out there on the streets is hopelessness, the situation out there calls for urgent action, but unfortunately, Mr. Speaker, we are not seeing that.”

    “There’s a massive cost of living crisis. Mr. Speaker, it will surprise you to know that, marriages are collapsing because of this government. Marriages are collapsing because the cost of living is becoming so high due to where we find ourselves. Mr. Speaker, businesses are collapsing”.

    With the increase in Value Added Tax (VAT), Dr. Forson made fun of the government for being insensitive to the plight of the typical Ghanaian, adding that the Minority would be scrutinizing the new tax.

    “Mr. Speaker, this budget introduced 23 different tax measures, it’s from taxation to more taxes, as if you don’t care about the people of this country. If you want to introduce tax policy, you do proper analysis, taxes have galloped. They have increased the VAT by 2.5%, this VAT rate is the worst in Africa, no country in Africa has a VAT rate in excess of 20%. This policy rate must be thoroughly debated and scrutinised. This is not the time to heap more taxes on Ghanaians,” he asserted.

    The VAT was raised by the government to 2.5% in the 2023 budget statement, but the E-levy was reduced from 1.5% to 1%.

    Given the rising costs of gasoline, products, and services, the cedi now trades at Gh15 to $1.

    As a result of the large number of MPs who were absent during the 2023 budget discussion, Parliament was essentially empty.

    The Finance Minister, Ken Ofori-Atta, was unable to appear before Parliament, according to Speaker of the House Alban Bagbin, who said that Ofori-Atta was required to attend to official obligations.

  • Minority raises concerns over Ofori-Atta’s absence during 2023 budget debate

    The minority in parliament has raised concerns over seeming failure of the Finance Minister, Ken Ofori-Atta to make an appearance for the 2023 budget debate.

    At the time the Speaker gave the guidelines for the commencement of the debate, the Deputy Minority Whip, Ibrahim Ahmed said there was a need for him to be present in the chamber as he needs to take note of their input.

    “Mr Speaker, conspicuously missing on the floor is the mover of the motion and it Is not for nothing that the constitution says the finance minister can lay the budget on the floor on behalf of the president. So, you can’t just move the motion and remain there. It is appropriate that the minister must be here, Mr Speaker if he is not ready to do the job, he should let the house know. He must be here to hear our input.”

    Ranking Member of the Finance Committee, Ato Forson said this is becoming quite characteristic of the finance minister. He therefore urged that the house should not debate on the budget until their input is considered by the finance minister.

    Speaking on the matter, the majority leader said the constitution does not provide any where that the economic policy and the budget statement should be submitted to this house by the Minister of Finance.

    Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu also said that the president can choose any minister to lay the budget before the house and the minister is not obligated to speak to it.

    He however stated that the finance minister had given prior notice that he would be absent from the country but indicated the availability of the two-deputy ministers to take note of suggestions.

  • Akufo-Addo was dishonest when he said there will be no haircut – Ato Forson

    A representative for the parliamentary minority referred to the president’s claim that there wouldn’t be a haircut on financial instruments as dishonest.

    “I also want to ensure all Ghanaians that no individual or institutional investor, including pension funds, in government treasury bills or instruments would lose their money as a result of our continuing IMF negotiations,” the president declared in a speech on October 30, 2022.

    There won’t be any “haircuts,” so I implore you to disregard the untrue rumors, just as the Government made sure the 4.6 million depositors impacted by the exercise didn’t lose their money during the banking sector clean-up.

    However, during the presentation of the 2023 budget, the Finance Minister announced that due to Ghana’s unsustainable debt levels, there will be a debt exchange programme.

    Ato Forson stated that the government is about to impose a haircut on both domestic and external debtholders.

    “I heard the deputy minister say that the only debt instrument that will not be affected by a debt restructuring is Treasury bills. This simply means that if you are a domestic debt holder, bonds are going to be affected by the restructuring. As long as it is domestic, it is going to be affected.

    “The Eurobonds are going to be affected; term loans are going to be affected. Loans are going to go through a haircut. So clearly, the president was not honest to the people of Ghana when he announced that there will be no haircut,” he told journalists on November 25, 2022.

    He also added that Ghanaians must brace up for extreme hardships due to the conditionalities listed in the 2023 budget.

    “This budget is going to introduce extreme austerity in the year 2023. I can only urge the people of Ghana to brace up for economic hardship worse than what we went through in 1979 and 1983.

    “To the youth of this country, there is going to be a net freeze of employment, there is no hope for you. To the ordinary trader, taxes are going to go up, and to the people of Ghana, be ready that prices of goods and services will go up because of the increase in VAT,” he said.

    Government bans the use of V8, V6 vehicles except for cross-country travel

  • Censure motion hearing: If I were Finance Minister, I won’t borrow money to collapse banks – Ato Forson

    Ranking Member on Finance, Cassiel Ato Forson, has criticised the manner in which the banking sector clean-up exercise was conducted and its subsequent ramifications on the economy.

    The 2019 exercise saw the Bank of Ghana revoke the licenses of some 347 Microfinance Companies and 23 Savings and Loans and Finance House Companies.

    Censure motion hearing: If I were Finance Minister, I won’t borrow money to collapse banks - Ato Forson

    Finance Minister, Ken Ofori-Atta, said the move was necessary because of mismanagement at these financial institutions which led to depositors’ funds being locked up with no hope of such funds ever being accessed.

    The development is said to have cost the state about ¢21 billion of taxpayers’ funds.

    This concern was, once again, brought to the fore during proceedings of the Committee hearing the censure motion against the Finance Minister.

    Addressing the Parliamentary Committee, Cassiel Ato Forson indicated that best practices were not applied by government which led to what the Minority believes is fiscal recklessness.

    The situation he said later led to unplanned debt which was subsequently borne by the taxpayer.

    Censure motion hearing: If I were Finance Minister, I won’t borrow money to collapse banks - Ato Forson

    “Ghana decided to go on a route where the burden of the banking sector clean up was transferred to the taxpayer. I think that was wrong. I think that Ghana could have decided to go for other ways in dealing with the banking sector issues,” he said in response to a question posed by North Tongu MP, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa.

    MP for Akatsi South, Bernard Ahiafor asked for more clarity on his point.

    Dr Forson retorted on Tuesday that; “If I’m the Minister of Finance, there is no way I was going to borrow money to collapse a bank.”

    Defending his side’s position at the hearing, Dr Ato Forson said the process was not well managed by government.

    The Finance Minister’s fate currently lies in the hands of an 8-member committee investigating allegations leveled by the Minority as adequate grounds for his removal.

    The Speaker of Parliament, Alban Bagbin on Thursday, November 10, constituted the Committee, which has seven days to submit its report.

    It comprises Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, Zanetor Agyeman-Rawlings, Bernard Ahiafor on the Minority side and Patrick Yaw Boamah, Kwame Anyimadu-Antwi and Andrew Agyapa Mercer from the Majority side.

    Source: Complex.com

  • ‘Akufo-Addo goofed’ – Ato Forson insists there will be ‘haircuts’ on investments

    Dr Cassiel Ato Forson, MP, Ajumako-Enyan-Esiam, has insisted that Ghana’s debt restructuring will include the country experiencing some “haircuts” in order to curb the current economic crisis.

    His view is contrary to that of the President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, who has stated categorically in his address to the nation on Sunday, October 30, that there will be no loss of funds of persons and institutions that have invested in various public schemes.

    The president noted that steps would be taken to protect the investment of citizens as the government pushes for a deal with the International Monetary Fund (IMF).

    “I also want to assure all Ghanaians that no individual or institutional investor, including pension funds, in government treasury bills or instruments will lose their money, as a result of our ongoing IMF negotiations. There will be no ‘haircuts’ so I urge all of you to ignore the false rumours, just as, in the banking sector cleanup, government ensured that the 4.6 million depositors affected by the exercise did not lose their deposits,” President Akufo-Addo said.

    But speaking on Accra-based Joy FM, the Ranking Member on Parliament’s Finance Committee, indicated that there would definitely be a ‘haircut’ as Ghana awaits a bailout from the IMF.

    “I don’t know the basis the President made that statement and if you run the maths, it doesn’t add up and I will be surprised that Ghana will get an IMF programme without a haircut.

    “I can say on authority that there would be some form of a haircut. Clearly, someone is not briefing the President properly or probably the writing did not come out well. ‘The President goofed’, he shouldn’t have said it in a categorical manner because what it has done is that, it has sent additional uncertainties to the market clearly indicating that someone is not on top of his job.

    “I do not know how our debt will be sustainable by the year 2028 brings to over 100 per cent…clearly indicating that we are to [remove] 50 per cent of debt without a debt restructuring, it is impossible,” Dr. Ato Forson explained.

     

    Source: Ghanaweb

  • Theres no evidence Ato Forson authorised payment of ambulances Agyeman Manu

    The Minister for Health Kweku Agyeman Manu has told the High Court in Accra that he has not seen any documents that Dr Cassiel Ato Forson authorised payments of purchase of ambulances.

    The Minister who was facing cross-examination from defence lawyers made this known on his final day of scrutiny by defence lawyers.

    Dr Abdul Basit Aziz Bamba, counsel for Ato Forson, had asked if the minister had sighted any documents at his ministry which indicated that the first accused authorised the payments of the contract sum of the ambulances.

    The Minister who is the 3rd Prosecution Witness in the ongoing trial answered in the negative.

    It was the case of counsel for Ato Forson, that, after the LCs (Letter of Credit) was established on August 18, 2014, he had not sighted any documents that indicated that A1 (Dr Ato Forson) authorised payments to be made under the LC.

    Mr. Agyeman Manu, who is the 3rd witness agreed with him, saying “I have not sighted any documents to show that A1 authorised payments for Ambulances.”

    In the last day of his scrutiny, the Minister also admitted that government failed to send its officials to inspect ambulances it was procuring before they were shipped to Ghana, contrary to the clear terms of the contract.

    Under further cross examination from lawyers for Dr Forson led by Dr Abdul Aziz Bamba on September 1, the defence confronted him with some exhibits, some of which he indicated he had not see before.

    Government failure on obligation

    Kweku Agyeman also admitted that government did not perform one of its obligations under the contract.

    “In my mind, I will say no. But my lady let me draw your attention to another fact. In that same bullet point, LCs on the sight of goods shall be established upon the signing of the contract for every 50 ambulances.

    “My lady, Exhibit V that I have, speaks about purchasing brand new 200 medical ambulances. And so my lady, the contract for every 50 ambulances that clause 4.2 talks about, was never done. And therefore, the LCs should not have been established at all,” he told the court.

    Asked again by Counsel Dr Bamba if he “will you agree with me that by the government of Ghana not complying with clause 4.2.1 in terms of the time frame for setting up the LC, the government of Ghana breached Exhibit V.“

    The Health Minister said, “That is correct.”

    Counsel again put to him that, to the best of his knowledge, did the government of Ghana conduct a pre-shipment inspection before the ambulances were shipped to Ghana, the Health Minister answered in the negative.

    He subsequently admitted that the Health Ministry reached an agreement with the supplier on a plan for rectifying the defects in the ambulances.

    He added that, some medical equipment for the vehicles shipped have never cleared from the ports.

    Asked by Dr Bamba why the equipment was not cleared, the Minister said, the Ministry did not have the funds to do so and that, he had urged the supplier to clear the items which counsel stated that, it was the obligation of the Ministry of Health to clear the items.

    Source: Starfmonline

     

     

  • Parliament does not take instruction from our foreign partners – Ato Forson to IMF

    Ranking Member of the Finance Committee, Cassiel Ato Forson, has responded to the IMF statement advising parliament to approve a $ 1 billion loan to prevent the economy from grinding to a halt.

    According to him, parliament does not take instruction from foreign partners but rather considers advice that can either be accepted or rejected depending on the circumstance.
    “Parliament does not take instruction from our foreign partners, we take advice, so advice can either be accepted or be rejected depending on the circumstance of the day. Yes, we have the document and we have to do justice with the document,” he said

    Speaking in an interview after a committee considered the loan agreement which has been rejected, Ato Forson stated that it was due to the fact that some concerns including defects in the document raised by the minority with regards to the loan have not been addressed.

    “…we met as a committee for us to consider and approve two tranches of loans. We have considered them in good fate but we have lingering concerns. First of all, we believe that the document before us has some fundamental defects because what is in the memorandum to parliament and what is in the loan agreement have some difference in the sense that in one breath, we were called upon to approve a loan of 750 million dollars but what is in the agreement has two trenches, tranche A and tranche b, one is in dollars and one in euros. So that will mean that parliament would have to amend what was brought to us.

    “A major concern to us is, what is in the budget is significantly different from what they are asking us to do. The budget is saying that in the course of the year they will be taking a term loan of 750million dollars, so why do you ask us to approve 1 billion when your own budget says 750million?

    “Parliament does not take instruction from our foreign partners, we take advise, so advise can either be accepted or be rejected depending on the circumstance of the day. Yes, we have the document and we have to do justice with the document. A major concern to us is, what is in the budget is significantly different from what they are asking us to do. The budget is saying that in the course of the year they will be taking a term loan of 750million dollars, so why do you ask us to approve 1 billion when your own budget says 750million?” he said.

    Source: Ghanaweb

  • Minority shoots down one-billion-dollar loan despite IMF plea

    The Minority has shot down the approval of a 1 billion dollar syndicated loan at the committee meeting despite IMF advice that it should be approved to prevent the economy from grinding to a halt.

    According to the Ranking Member of the Finance Committee, Ato Forson, their decision was due to the fact that some concerns including defects in the document raised by the minority with regards to the loan have not been addressed.

    He insists that until the right things are done, the minority side will not approve the one billion dollar syndicated loan despite the IMF plea.

    Speaking in an interview, he said, “…we met as a committee for us to consider and approve two tranches of loans. We have considered them in good fate but we have lingering concerns. First of all, we believe that the document before us has some fundamental defects because what is in the memorandum to parliament and what is in the loan agreement have some difference in the sense that in one breath, we were called upon to approve a loan of 750 million dollars but what is in the agreement has two trenches, tranche A and tranche b, one is in dollars and one in euros. So that will mean that parliament would have to amend what was brought to us.”

    When asked why they ignored the advice of the IMF, he said they only take advice from foreign partners and not instructions.

    “Parliament does not take instructions from our foreign partners, we take advice from them, advice can either be accepted or rejected it depends on the circumstances on the day,” Ato Forson added.

    Source:Ghanaweb

  • Ato Forson retains Ajumako Enyan Essiam seat for a fourth term

    The incumbent Member of Parliament for Ajumako Enyan Essiam Constituency in the Central Region who also doubles as the Minority Ranking Member on Finance Hon. Cassiel Ato Forson has won the seat with a huge margin.

    He polled 39,229 to beat his closest contender Dr. Rashid Kwesi Etuaful who secured 28,669 votes.

    Before the 2020 poll, Hon. Ato Forson said 2020 parliamentary will be the easiest election he will ever contest since he became a Politician, adding that his opponent Dr. Rashid Kwesi Etuaful was very light hence he will win massively.

    “I have twenty years to spend on the Ajumako Enyan Essiam Constituency seat as a Member of Parliament before going on retirement, so I am not going to stop contesting the seat.

    According to Ato Forson, the NDC party has seized the Ajumako Enyan Essiam Constituency seat for 60 years so NPP should not attempt to wrestle it as they are bound to fail.

    “The people of Ajumako Enyan Essiam Constituency retained me due to my hard work in terms of developmental projects I have brought in my Constituency and I am promising my Constituents to watch out for more developmental projects coming year.”

    Source: Kasapa FM

  • Ato Forson yet to file question on GHS280.3M COVID-19 expenses Parliament

    Parliament has clarified that the Ranking Member of the Finance Committee of Parliament, Cassiel Ato Forson, is yet to file a question on the expenditure returns of GHS280.3 million allocated for the coronavirus fight.

    Mr. Forson had reportedly claimed on Accra-based Joy FM that he filed the question during the partial-lockdown period.

    These concerns from Mr. Forson had been highlighted earlier on Monday when he called on the Auditor-General to undertake a special audit into the GHS280.3 million that was allocated by the government for the provision of food, water and sanitation under the Coronavirus Alleviation Programme (CAP).

    Parliament, however, says, from its records, there is no specific question on the GHS280.3 million on its file.

    The statement further noted that Mr. Forson admitted he was yet to file the question.

    “Upon further consultation with the Honourable Member [Cassiel Ato Forson], he indicated that he intends to file a question today [Tuesday] on the matter raised in the media.”

    “Once it is filed, it will be processed in accordance with the rules of the House,” the statement added.

    New constituency allegations

    Parliament also noted that Majority Leader, Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu, was alleged to have alluded to the creation of new constituencies in a presentation on May 20.

    It refuted such claims saying “no such presentation has been made by the Majority Leader.”

    “In fact, the Majority Leader in the said presentation stated categorically that the Committee of Subsidiary Legislation should endeavour to submit its report on the Public Elections 2020 for the consideration of the House on or before the coming into force of the instrument.”

    Source: citinewsroomÂ