Minority Chief Whip Frank Annoh-Dompreh, has expressed displeasure over the indefinite postponement of his question to the Governor of the Bank of Ghana (BoG), insisting that public officials must show respect for Parliament and its oversight role.
His frustration followed an announcement by Majority Leader Mahama Ayariga, who informed the House that the BoG Governor would not be able to appear to respond to the question regarding recent dismissals at the central bank.
“There may be the usual formal communications by the Right Honourable Speaker. Questions will be asked of ministers. There is an indication here that the Governor of the Bank of Ghana, but unfortunately, the Governor will not be able to come and answer those questions, so that is where I indicate an amendment,” Mr. Ayariga told Parliament.
He added, “If I had seen it earlier before being given a copy of the report, I would have raised it. But earlier on, I did not notice it when I signed the report. So I just thought to draw attention that the Governor will not be able to come.”
In response, Annoh-Dompreh questioned the precedent being set, warning against what he sees as growing disregard for parliamentary procedures.
“The Bank of Ghana Governor was scheduled to be here two weeks ago,” he said. “He wrote a letter to Parliament and said that he’s engaged in an equally important matter and hence cannot come. Then the same question was rescheduled. Then the Governor again wrote another letter that we should reschedule. Fine. But Speaker, I’m worried and I intend to ask.”
He continued, “Is it the case that when the Table Office goes through the motion of filing a question and the ministers cannot come, the minister can sit in his office, an independent constitutional body, and write that ‘I cannot come’ and decide not to come? because the writing of these letters from ministers to parliament should be at the discretion of Parliament. Parliament must grant that request.”
Annoh-Dompreh further argued that such decisions must lie with the legislature, not with officials themselves:
“In other words, I’m saying that when ministers write letters seeking the rescheduling of these programmed questions, they should wait on Parliament to grant that request before deciding not to show up.”
He revealed that Parliament had received 16 such letters in just two weeks, including two from the BoG Governor alone.
“ You cannot just write a letter and decide not to come. Within two weeks, we have received 16 letters, and the BoG this is the second time he is writing. To the respect to BoG Governor, when he writes to Parliament for one reason or the other, he should wait for Parliament to grant that request,” he stressed.
“I oppose that. I oppose the Bank of Ghana just saying that ‘I cannot come.’ This is the people’s representative,” Annoh-Dompreh said firmly. “ He must respect us.”
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