No Covid fund accountability, no MoF business in parliament – Bagbin to Ofori-Atta.
Speaker Alban Bagbin has put all parliamentary work touching the finance ministry on hold due to the minister's inability to appear in parliament on Thursday, June 16, 2022 to brief the house on several difficulties within his ministry.
Mr Ken Ofori-Atta was supposed to answer 16 questions and make an important remark on the floor, but he asked to be excused at the last minute.
Among the questions he must address is the government's use of COVID-19 monies.
"We will not consider that motion until we go through the accountability process," Mr Bagbin said in the parliament on Thursday, adding, "Today, he has another request before us."
"That, too, will be impacted," he said.
"We will not entertain any business from that ministry until he responds to the questions and submits the statement explaining how the money has been applied," Mr Bagbin announced.
"He appealed that he should see them [the questions], study them, understand what the technical people have provided, and if there are any further items to be added on, he does so," Majority Leader Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu said, defending Mr Ofori-Atta. in order for him to be able to provide a full response."
"I fear to fathom how anyone could conclude that the minister is avoiding accountability," the parliamentary affairs minister continued.
Mr. Ofori-appearance Atta's before the house has been delayed for Wednesday, June 22.
A 75 million Euro credit for a COVID-19 response program was postponed a few weeks ago pending receipt of the account statement by the house.
read also: The Ghana Card cannot be used for travelling to other countries' - Ayorkor Botchwey.
Immigration Service announces Ghana Card can be used for foreign travel
Foreign Affairs minister appears before parliament
Govt in talks with ECOWAS to make Ghana Card a travel document
Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey, the government's foreign affairs spokesman, has resolved the uncertainty about whether the Ghana Card may be used as a passport substitute, allowing citizens to travel outside the country with it.
The Ghana Card, according to the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration, is not equivalent to a passport and so cannot be used to replace one, at least for the time being.
According to myjoyonline.com, she made the clarification in response to a query from Haruna Iddrisu, the Minority Leader in Parliament.
Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey, on the other hand, was eager to point out that the Ghana Card has a place in international travel because it may be used as an alternative to a biometric passport.
"It is important to note that the passport and travel certificate are the only permitted travel documents for Ghanaians, and they are internationally recognized."
"At the moment, the Ghana Card cannot be used to travel to other countries, either inside or outside of ECOWAS, because this would necessitate bilateral agreements with nations' governments to allow the card to be accepted as a travel document." "To achieve this, the Ministry is in active discussion with ECOWAS member states as well as our bilateral partners," she stated.
It will be recalled that the Ghana Immigration Service (GIS) stated in February 2022 that legitimate Ghana Cards would be accepted by Ghanaians and dual nationals on entry in the country beginning in March.
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