The Minority in Parliament has accused the Attorney General and Minister of Justice Godfred Yeboah Dame of snubbing his duties in the lawmaking chamber.
According to the NDC MPs, the A-G’s preoccupation is seeing his political opponents in jail through prosecution rather than personally shepherding bills from his Ministry.
When Minority Chief Whip, Governs Kwame Agbodza raised the matter on the floor of parliament during presentation of the business statement on Friday July 7, 2023.
Mr. Agbodza further questioned the failure of some Ministers to attend to the House when needed.
The Deputy Minority Leader, Alexander Afenyo-Markin on his part argued that the Minority should also take the blame since Ministers were ready to answer questions on the day of their boycott in solidarity with Mr. Gyakye Quayson.
“Mr. Speaker yesterday for instance all the Ministers were here to answer questions. Unfortunately the Minority side were absent for reasons best known to them,” Mr. Afenyo-Markin stated.
The Adaklu MP however emphasized that Ministers like Godfred Yeboah Dame should not only take delight in prosecuting cases at the law courts but do the same in parliament too.
“Mr. Afenyo-Markin got me totally wrong. Indeed I suggested that there are Ministers that have been diligent in responding to the business of the floor. Let me give you an example, the Attorney brought a number of bills to this house but he hardly turned to the house, it was only his deputies.
“I am saying but he is always in court doing other businesses. So I am saying that the same interest he has with court cases, he should prioritize his business on the floor that’s all I’m saying. Yesterday, he was in court prosecuting colleagues he should come and prosecute business on the floor as well,” Mr. Agbodza stated.
Speaker of Parliament Alban Bagbin on his part asked both the executive and the judiciary not to make his work too difficult if they do not intend making it easier
“I can only plead with the Executive if they cannot make my task here much easier for me, they should not make it weightier for me. I accept cooperation from other arms of government, the Executive and the Judiciary for us to perform our duty here.
“After all democracy is about Parliament, democracy is not about the Executive it is not about the Judiciary, it is about the people,” Mr. Bagbin stated.
Source: Ghana/Starrfm.com.gh/103.5FM
