Review of a delayed anti-vigilance bill for further consultations – Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu

General News of Monday, April 29, 2019

Source: citinewsroom.com

2019-04-29

The examination of the draft law on vigilance and related offenses currently under consideration by Parliament has been delayed to allow further consultations.

According to Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu, leader of the government business in Parliament and the majority, the Committee on Constitutional and Legal Affairs of Parliament informed him that a "new consultation is necessary" before the bill can be adopted.

The majority leader said the delay was also necessary to allow the Commission for Constitutional and Legal Affairs to receive the recommendations of the anti-vigilance dialogue between the ruling New Patriotic Party and the Democratic National Congress of the Opposition. , under the mediation of the National Peace Council.

"… As members may recall, the House was informed of a possible recall of the adjournment to consider, inter alia, the Vigilance and Related Offenses Bill, 2019. However, according to the indications of the Committee on Constitutional, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs required, including the report of the committee of Professor Emmanuel Asante on the draft law. In these circumstances, the bill may not be considered at this emergency meeting, "Osei Mensah Kyei Bonsu told parliamentarians on Monday.

Parliamentarians were reminded of the break to consider some pressing issues, including the 2018 Companies Bill.

"However, the Chamber would focus on the 2018 Companies Bill, the Sinohydro tax exemptions and other very important agreements that require urgent consideration by Parliament," added the leader. majority.

Last week, the stakeholder conference on the Vigilance and Related Crimes System, scheduled for April 24, 2019, was suspended for an indefinite period.

According to a press release from Parliament, the unlimited suspension was intended to ensure that every Ghanaian has the opportunity to give his opinion.

The deadline for the submission of a Ghanaians memorandum has been extended to May 13, 2019.

President Nana Akufo-Addo was committed to using legislation to combat political vigilance if the two main political parties fail to resolve it through dialogue.

The two parties, the National Democratic Congress (NDC) and the New Patriotic Party (NPP) held meetings in this regard.

The meetings are mediated by the National Peace Council.

Although more meetings are scheduled, the NPP and the NDC agreed, among other things, to end the ownership, recruitment and use of self-defense groups or militias by political members.