The New Patriotic Party (NPP) Minority Caucus in Parliament has urged President John Dramani Mahama to consider a ministerial reshuffling following the absence of some ministers from parliamentary proceedings.
The call comes after Madam Lydia Lamisi Akanvariba, Minister of State in Charge of Public Sector Reforms, and Mr Eric Opoku, Minister for Food and Agriculture, previously failed to appear in Parliament to respond to questions relating to their sectors.
Speaking on the Floor of Parliament on Tuesday, Mr Frank Annoh-Dompreh, the Minority Chief Whip, expressed frustration over the delay in addressing the questions, noting that some had remained on the Order Paper for an extended period.
“Mr Speaker, these are questions for the minister in charge of public sector reforms. It has been on the Order Paper for a very long time. So, we have to take these questions because we are rising on Friday. Otherwise, it is going to be a problem,” he said.
Mr Annoh-Dompreh, also the NPP Member of Parliament for Naawam/Adoagyiri, raised concerns about the absence of the Food and Agriculture Minister, stating that while the minister had officially written to inform Parliament of his unavailability, arrangements should have been made for his deputy to appear.
“Besides, the minister for agriculture just wrote to us that he cannot come. He has been a very dutiful person, but his deputy must be here,” he added.
The Minority Chief Whip suggested that members of the Majority caucus who were willing and ready to serve should be given the opportunity, urging the President to take note of developments in Parliament.
“Mr Speaker, the President must be watching; the first reshuffle must happen,” he said.
