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6/9/2007 |
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All eyes were on parliamentarians on Friday to debate the almost one-year-old energy crisis.
But the leadership of the House postponed the debate to next week Wednesday. National Democratic Congress (NDC) MP for Tamale South, Haruna Iddrisu, Abokobi Madina MP Alhaji Sorogho and the South Dayi MP, Dr. Kwame Ampofo filed the motion two weeks ago calling for a debate on what they said is the mishandling of the crisis by government.
Public interest in the debate was heightened following the minority''s calls on the energy minister to resign. But there was no show in parliament today.
Some MPs who would rather not be named said they suspect the leadership of both sides connived to step down the debate. Some supporters of the opposition NDC are also angry at their representatives in Parliament because they believe the debate presented a good opportunity for them to score some strong political points especially as the same was done to them when they were in government.
But Minority Leader Alban Bagbin told Joy News the leadership was compelled to postpone the debate.
“Leadership discussed the issue and thought that Parliament would not be doing justice to the question that is confronting the whole nation within 30 minutes period. So we decided that we should come by a substantive motion which would give ample time for MPs to express their views on the situation and try to give some directions to government as to which way forward,” he said.
Mr Bagbin said a substantive motion is crucial at this time to enable majority of members to debate the issue at stake as well as provide alternatives to solving the energy crisis.
“I disagreed with the half hour motion. The nature of half hour motion is so strict and does not give room for amendment,” he said.
The Majority Leader, Mr Felix Owusu-Adjapong concurred with Mr Bagbin. He said the right decision was taken and the postponement would create a platform for all or most MPs to share in the debate.
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