Dr. Cassiel Ato Baah Forson, the Minority Leader in Parliament, has asked Speaker Bagbin to grant MPs more time –at least 10 minutes –to make contributions to the Finance Minister on the DDEP.
He says he needs 20 minutes as the caucus leader to respond to Ken Ofori-Atta on the Domestic Debt Exchange Programme (DDEP) due to the severity of the matter that was being discussed.
This was after Speaker Bagbin gave lawmakers five minutes each to make submissions on the presentation by the Finance Minister.
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“This is a major threat to our economy, grant us that opportunity to make this appropriately. As the Minority give me 20 minutes,” Dr Forson requested of the Speaker.
But his request was challenged by Deputy Majority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin.
Mr Afenyo-Markin said the Standing Orders of Parliament did not support the request of the Minority Leader.
“Mr Speaker has given his ruling let us go by it.”
Speaker Bagbin after listening to their argument said “after listening to you, I will not be able to grant the 10 minutes but I will add some 3 minutes, so 8 minutes each. I will stick to 8 minutes per person. The leaders will not get 20 minutes as requested, I will give them 15 minutes, which should be sufficient.
“Our rules are very clear, this is a statement on government policy. Order 72 is very clear on it, the comment should be very brief. I am ever ready to admit a motion for a debate on it,” he noted.
Regarding the presentation, the Finance Minister told Parliament he has met the pensioners who have been picketing to protest their inclusion in the DDEP three times.
He said he has explained to them the terms of the new bonds.
Briefing Parliament Thursday, February 16, he said “government is committed to the wellbeing of our senior citizens and pensioners. The government will honour their coupon payments and maturing principles.”
He added “I have met with them on three occasions where I explained the terms of the new bonds. I subsequently wrote to their convener to let him know that all pensioners who did not participate in the bond offerings are exempt.”
Source: 3News.com|Ghana
