There appears to be confusion in Parliament as members debate not the content of a bill, but whether or not the bill was passed into law. Such is the controversy that has characterised the infamous Chinery Hesse report recommending two houses, six cars, GH¢460,000 a year for former Presidents and other accompanying privileges. Even though the Clerk of Parliament Emmanuel Anyimadu in a letter to the Chief Staff states categorically that the committee’s report was passed into law, some members appear to be in a state of amnesia. Those who fully remember what happened the day on which the report was passed, have different tales to tell on what actually happened. “Who moved the motion, who seconded it and who approved it,” an outraged MP for Asikuma-Odoben-Brakwa, PC Appiah Ofori, demanded of a Joy Correspondent on Tuesday. Describing the whole process as “thievery”, Hon Appiah Ofori has threatened court action to challenge the approval of the bill. Even more interesting is the account of Hon John Tia, Deputy Majority Leader and MP for Talensi. He had earlier agreed that Parliament was privy to the presidential emoluments and even suggested that the privileges would eradicate the tendency for African leaders to hang on to power. Just a day after his admission, Hon Tia told Joy News’ Matilda Asante that the MP’s were not briefed on the package for the President but only approved that of the MPs. The MPs, according to the same Chinery Hesse report, are entitled to GH¢56,000 and other privileges. But the Minority leader Osei Kyei Mensah Bonsu insists Parliament approved the bill. He said the house could not have approved their own entitlement, as Hon. John Tia would have the public believe, insisting the house duly approved the Presidential emoluments only. Parliament approved that of the executive and the executive for parliament, he noted. Listen to excerpts of the interviews with the parliamentarians in the attached audio. Story by Nathan Gadugah

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