Dubai Parliamentary Service Board meeting worrying – Ablakwa takes on Bagbin, others

Member of Parliament(MP) for North Tongu Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa has indicated that it is worrying that the Parliamentary Service Board will travel to Dubai for its meeting for the convenience of the speaker.

MyNewsGh.com last week exclusively reported that the Parliamentary Service Board was flown to Dubai for their meeting with the Speaker of Parliament because the Speaker was receiving medical care in Dubai.

The members of the board after the meeting were flown back to the country at the expense of the Government of Ghana.

Reacting to the travels, Okudzeto Ablakwa indicated that “Media reports of a recent Ghana Parliamentary Service Board meeting held in Dubai must be of concern to all of us, particularly, Members of Parliament who are at the heart of any legislative system”.

He said “if the meeting couldn’t wait for their return perhaps because urgent matters had to be discussed, couldn’t this board meeting have been organized virtually so other members of the board participate from Ghana? It would be most disconcerting if it emerges that truly there was no virtual component to this board meeting”.

The lawmaker said as an Arm of Government responsible for financial oversight, especially, over the executive, this doesn’t look good if it’s being profligate.

“We must admit that as the arm of government responsible for financial oversight, especially, over the executive, this doesn’t look great if confirmed, more so, when Parliament has been trying with much difficulty in recent times to rein in an unhinged profligate executive.”

He called on the Parliamentary Service to address the issue with a statement because it puts Parliament in a bad light.

“Probably, there’s a superior explanation to address the legitimate anxiety being expressed by many Ghanaians. If there is, we can only urge the Parliamentary Service to put out a statement clarifying matters, since for now, the optics do not do the image of Parliament any good.”

Read His Full Statement Below

Media reports of a recent Ghana Parliamentary Service Board meeting held in Dubai must be of concern to all of us, particularly, Members of Parliament who are at the heart of any legislative system.

We know the Rt. Hon. Speaker. Alban Bagbin and the Majority Group Leader, Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu were both at some point in Dubai receiving medical attention, however, the fundamental question is: if the meeting couldn’t wait for their return perhaps because urgent matters had to be discussed, couldn’t this board meeting have been organized virtually so other members of the board participate from Ghana?

It would be most disconcerting if it emerges that truly there was no virtual component to this board meeting. We must admit that as the arm of government responsible for financial oversight, especially, over the executive, this doesn’t look great if confirmed, more so, when Parliament has been trying with much difficulty in recent times to rein in an unhinged profligate executive.

Probably, there’s a superior explanation to address the legitimate anxiety being expressed by many Ghanaians. If there is, we can only urge the Parliamentary Service to put out a statement clarifying matters, since for now, the optics do not do the image of Parliament any good.

Source: MyNewsGh.com/ 2021

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