The minority asks the government to publish the report of the Emile Short commission

Thursday, May 30, 2019 Policy

Source: ghananewsagency.org

2019-05-30

The minority in Parliament on Wednesday called on President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo to immediately release the report of the Emile Short Commission that was investigating the violence in the by-election of Ayawaso West Wuogon.

While agreeing that the Chairman had a discretion and a six-month time limit for the publication of such a report, the Minority, at a press conference held in Parliament , said the immediate release of the report would contribute immensely to discussions on vigilance and justice. Related Offenses Bill, 2019.

The bill, with the aim of dissolving party supporters groups of political parties and banning acts of vigilance in the country, was introduced in the House on April 11, 2019 by the Attorney General under the law. an emergency certificate, but has been suspended for more and more consultations.

After the introduction of the bill just one day before the Parliament adjourns for the Easter holidays on Friday, April 12, the Speaker, Professor Aaron Michael Oquaye, informed members that the House would be recalled for consideration and adoption because of the urgent nature of the Invoice.

However, during the recall from April 29 to May 3, 2019, the review was not conducted, however more extensive and more extensive stakeholder consultation and input is required.

The press conference of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) comes a day before the announcement by the House, according to a provisional agenda, that the draft law on vigilance and related offenses would be presented in the House by the President of the Constitutional Council, Legal and Parliamentary Committee on Thursday, May 30, 2019.

James Agalga, a member of the Parliament's Defense and Interior Committee and Member of Parliament for the constituency of Builsa North, spoke to reporters about why Justice Brobbey's report , which had investigated the creation of new regions in 2018, was still not published. .

Citing part of President Akufo-Addo's speech on the state of the nation, Agalga recalled that the President had expressed hope that the conclusions and recommendations of the Emile Short Commission would allow Ghanaians to chart the way to to put an end to violence of a political nature.

He added that the fact of sticking to the report of the Committee of Emile Short would have the effect of undermining the work of Parliament when the President himself would have asked the Parliament to work diligently on the proposed bill.

Any attempt by the executive to prevent Parliament from adopting legislation on political vigilance without resorting to the Emile Short Commission report could only lead to the adoption of the law. "Half-cooked legislation does not solve the problem enough," said Agalga.

"It is in this context that we call on His Excellency President Akufo-Addo to ensure that the report of the Emile Short Commission following the work of the Parliament on the pbading or not of vigilance and related offenses is immediately published. . Bill."

Mr. Agalga, who cited provisions of the 1992 Constitution of Ghana, said that if the report of an investigating commission was not to be published, the President should make a statement to that effect, indicating the reasons why the report should not be published.

The minority called on the president to defend the principles of good governance by publishing the report in the public interest.

The minority also questioned the content and volume of the bill, which included 10 articles.