Ghana's longest-serving deputy Attorney-General has been approved by Parliament as the Special Prosecutor tasked to fight corruption.
Martin Amidu got support from both sides of the House after a grueling eight hours of vetting at the Appointments Committee of Parliament last week.
MPs from both sides of the House praised the one-time National Democratic Congress (NDC) Vice-Presidential candidate as a man of principles and integrity.
But the Minority MPs still found space to point out some personality flaws of the 66-year old politician.
Watch: Parliament approves Martin Amidu today
Speaker whistles 'play on' after Ayine cries foul in Amidu approval debate
Speaker of Parliament, Prof Mike Ocquaye, directed debate continues on the approval of Martin Amidu as Special Prosecutor despite a suit in court.
Rising on a point of Order, Bolgatanga East MP, Dominic Ayine drew the Speaker's attention to a suit challenging the eligibility of Mr. Amidu for the position.
The deputy ranking member on parliament’s Constitutional and Legal Affairs Committee, who filed the suit last week says, the 66-year old nominee is not qualified for the post.
This is because he is past the statutory age limit of 66 for public service.
Quoting the relevant portions of the Standing Orders of Parliament, Dr. Ayine requested that the Speaker rules on whether the House can debate an issue which is before a court of competent jurisdiction.
But Majority Leader, Osei Kyei Mensah-Bonsu, rebutted explaining that the NDC MP's intervention was premature.
This is because, by Standing Orders 81, the motion has to be moved and seconded before any discussion including Ayine's intervention can be entertained.
But rising to Ayine's defence, the Minority Leader, Haruna Iddrisu, rejected the Majority Leader's intervention.
Haruna Iddrisu
He said during the debate on the reduction of the Special Petroleum Tax he was told his intervention was belated.
The same Majority Leader told him, he should have spoken before the motion was moved and seconded.
Haruna Iddrisu wanted the Majority Leader to allow the Speaker to rule on Dominic Ayine's Point of Order.
The Speaker, ruling on the matter said: "If a mere filing of a writ in any court should stop Parliament from doing its work then of course, Parliament is subjugated automatically to the court."
"There must be mutual respect between all arms of government…
"There is nothing before me to persuade me that the matter allegedly before the court….is such that Parliament cannot do its work," Prof. Oquaye ruled.
Backing the Majority Leader's explanation of the proper procedure, the Speaker reiterated that a motion must be moved and seconded before an MP can raise an objection or refer to it.
"We must learn to learn," he said and dismissed Ayine's Point of Order.
Latest Stories
-
Nigerian Tunde Onakoya attempts to break chess marathon record
2 mins -
We have to focus on Premier League now – Jurgen Klopp
15 mins -
Oil price rises as US says Israel has struck Iran
22 mins -
MPs open up about growing financial pressures and health challenges
26 mins -
Nigerian music star Simi talks charting her path to stardom, and why she still engineers her own music
29 mins -
You’ve got no power to impose fines on us – ECG board members to PURC
43 mins -
Ghana to host Ghana-Cote d’Ivoire Cocoa Initiative Headquarters
53 mins -
Olympism365: IOC, WHO and PATH hold stakeholder engagement in Ghana
55 mins -
War can devastate nation, let’s be thankful for the peace we have – Kofi Sarpong
1 hour -
Ghanaian athletes in Côte D’voire for U-20 Championship
1 hour -
Made in Taadi must happen this year by hook or crook – Kofi Kinaata
2 hours -
Labour unions contemplate May 2 strike over unpaid Tier-2 pension dues
2 hours -
Sedina Tamakloe’s arrest: MoF, MASLOC board can’t be left off the hook – Analyst
2 hours -
Three JHS boys arrested for allegedly gang-defiling 15-year-old colleague
2 hours -
Today’s front pages: Friday, April 19, 2024
2 hours