Muntaka wants Parliament to sanction ‘disrespectful’ Alan Kyerematen

According to him, the Trade Minister has clearly shown his disregard for Parliament by refusing to appear before the House on three occasions.

Mr. Muntaka warned that he would soon trigger Order 180 of the standing orders of the House on the vote of censure to remove Alan Kyerematen from office.

The Asawase MP said it’s time the Speaker stops treating Ministers who put up such behaviours with “kid gloves”.

Trade and Industry Minister, Alan Kyerematen Pulse Ghana

“He has no respect for this House. He has no regard for this House. In the spate of one month, he asked that his questioning be postponed. Mr. Speaker I believe that this treating of Ministers with kid gloves is long overdue. They have no respect for this House,” the Minority Chief Whip said.

“Even when you reschedule and ask them to reappear, they will say they cannot be here because they think that an executive function is more important than a legislative function.”

His comments come after Mr. Kyerematen once again failed to show up in Parliament to answer some questions on Tuesday.

The Trade Minister was conspicuously missing when the House began proceedings yesterday, although he had permission to absent himself.

Responding to Mr. Muntaka’s comments, the Deputy Majority Leader, Adwoa Safo, said the motion lacks justification.

According to her, the motion by the Minority is against the Standing Orders of Parliament, adding that the Trade Minister’s absence is not deliberate.

“It is not deliberate on the part of the Trade Minister to avoid answering questions in this House. It is not as if the Trades Minister does not respect this House. There is nothing to avoid,” she added.