The Member of Parliament for North Tongu, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, says he cannot do anything than to give the Speaker, Rt. Hon. Prof. Aaron Michael Oquaye, a thumbs up for hauling him before the Privileges Committee of Parliament.
He told Kasapafmonline.com in a statement copied to their outfit, Tuesday, that he is unfazed by the action of the Speaker, believing that he will come victorious no matter what the charges against him may be.
“I am not one to be intimidated in the discharge of my constitutional duties, therefore, I can’t wait to appear before the Privileges Committee or any other Committee as the Speaker may so direct considering that I am of the fullest conviction and the clearest of conscience that the facts and the truth are and have always been on our side. Truth stands”, his statement in part read.
On Tuesday, Rt. Hon. Prof. Oquaye, hauled the Members of Parliament for Asawase and North Tongu, Mohammed-Mubarak Muntaka and Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, before the Privileges Committee.
The duo are to appear before the Committee and defend various documents they tendered in evidence when they appeared before the five-member Adhoc Committee that probed the cash for seat saga.
The directive was given by the Speaker at a sitting to adopt the report of the Adhoc Committee which was laid on the floor on Friday, February 2, 2018.
The ruling was spurred by the findings of the Committee which exonerated the Ministry of Trade and Industry from any wrong doing during the Ghana Expatriate Business Awards which was recently held in Accra.
On January 5, 2018, Muntaka moved a motion at an emergency Parliamentary sitting calling on the House to investigate the levy and collection by the Ministry of Trade and Industry of Ghana Cedi equivalent of various sums of money up to US$100,000.00 from expatriate businesses and related matters during the recently held Ghana Expatriate Business Awards in Accra.
According to him, some documents at his disposal clearly showed that some monies were collected from expatriates, noting that such was unethical.
The motion was seconded by Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa.
But the Committee in it’s report told members that there was no merit in the allegation levelled against the Trade and Industry Ministry.
The Committee further indicted Hon. Muntaka who is the Minority Chief Whip for forgery.
The Speaker, having listened to the evidence submitted before the House ruled that the allegation against the Trade and Industry Ministry by the duo was just an abuse of due process of Parliament’s oversight responsibility.
“An allegation should not simply be thrown into the air and ask Parliament to investigate. They must be substantial and not an abuse of due process. I direct that all documents tendered in evidence at the Committee be referred to the Privileges Committee for full investigation as well as any other matter that may arise worthy of investigation in the view of the Committee should be duly I investigated and appropriate action taken against whoever”, he noted.
It is likely that some other members who appeared before the Committee and tendered in some documents may be called to appear before the Privileges to also substantiate their documents.
