Audio By Carbonatix
The Parliamentary Affairs Minister has explained why he challenged the Speaker of Parliament for admitting the petition filed by former owners of defunct UT Bank and UniBank on behalf of the House.
Osei Kyei Mensah Bonsu who was speaking on Joy FM’s Top Story Tuesday, noted that although the legislature is opened to hearing and accepting petitions from the citizenry, never in the country’s history has the Speaker been the one accepting such petitions.
The Suame MP said Mr Bagbin's action could be detrimental to the speakership position.
“The Speaker says that, as a Speaker, there is nowhere in the Constitution or standing orders, debarring him from admitting petitions. So he is open to every petition and I can’t believe that.
“This is because the House will then be inundated with petitions from left, right and center if the Speakership is to be reduced to a mere conveyer belt. So I disagree with the Speaker,” he told host Evans Mensah.
On Friday, a former Finance Minister Dr Kwabena Duffuor and the CEO of defunct UT Bank petitioned Parliament over the Bank of Ghana (BoG)’s revocation of their banking license.
The former Governor of the central bank petitioned the legislature to investigate the conduct of BoG in the takeover.
And asking Parliament to direct the restoration of the banking license of Unibank Ghana Limited by BoG and remedying the harms done to the shareholders’ property rights as a result of the conduct of the central bank.
But in his view, this particular case is a subjudice, as such, the Speaker should not have admitted it in the first place.
He insisted that it could disrupt judicial process into the matter.
“I expressed my opinion, I said to the Speaker that I disagree with the recourse that he is resorting to because a matter is before the Court.
“The Court has not exhausted the processes and the cases are being heard by the Court and from the Court, the two people run to Parliament to seek cover and petition Parliament,” he stated.
However, Mr Kyei Mensah Bonsu says despite his disagreement, he will comply with the directive of the Speaker and perform his duties as required of him to ensuring that the petition is deliberated on.
Latest Stories
-
WAFCON 2026: South Africa fight back to earn dramatic draw against Côte d’Ivoire
19 minutes -
We should not over-commercialise football – Eric Alagidede
22 minutes -
GFA should reject FIFA’s World Cup sale proposal – Eric Alagidede
28 minutes -
Ghanaian woman jailed 5 years in US for $1.6million romance scam
43 minutes -
Parliament passes Energy Sector Levies Amendment Bill to tighten fuel subsidy regime
1 hour -
Unique by Design project launched to promote disability inclusion in Ghana’s fashion industry
3 hours -
Joseph Paul Amoah finishes seventh in Commonwealth Games 200m final
3 hours -
Mahama urges Dagbon Regent to preserve peace and continue late Ya-Na’s development legacy
3 hours -
RANA asks Parliament to restrict MP Yakubu Mohammed child engagements until safeguarding training is completed
3 hours -
Rights group warns against exposing schoolgirl to fallout from MP’s comment
4 hours -
Family of Bukom crash victim visits Gender Minister ahead of funeral
4 hours -
An apology is not a safeguarding policy – RANA demands Parliament’s action over MP’s comment to schoolgirl
4 hours -
Prince Adu-Owusu: The August that changed everything
4 hours -
Ato Forson announces ‘New Economy’ policy for 2027 budget, promises shift to growth-focused spending
4 hours -
Obaa Yaa Frimpong: Parliament owes this child more than an apology
5 hours