John Mahama, The Unsung Hero �Ford Saga Mischief Shot Down

The mischief minority Members of Parliament sought to play with a motion intended to drag the Ford Expedition gift saga for political advantage slapped them in their faces on Thursday.

An emergency session called to discuss the matter lasted less than fifteen minutes as the Speaker, a lawyer himself demonstrated his intolerance for the action which is a complete waste of time and resources.

In a brief statement after the opening remarks on the floor, Edward Doe Adjaho directed the Clerk to return the motion to the member in whose name it stood.

The Minority were dazed as the Speaker in exercising his powers on Standing Order 79, also made reference to Articles 286 and 287 of the Constitution, which gives CHRAJ the power to investigate matters of corruption and breach of the code of conduct.

The Speaker who has since adjourned parliament sine die, said CHRAJ had exclusive right to investigate matters relating conflict of interest and other related matters as pronounced by the Supreme Court.

He also made reference to the judgment of the Supreme Court case in which Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa and Dr Omane Boamah sued the late Jake Obetsebi Lamptey for abusing his office in his purchase of a state bungalow. 

He then proceeded….."This House is bound by the interpretation of the Constitution by the Supreme Court," It is my view that CHRAJ is the institution vested with the exclusive authority to investigate the matter relating to the Ford gift and as Speaker, I'm of firm belief that constitutional bodies must respect each other in order to avoid conflict.

Many in the public gallery looked on in admiration of his bluntness as Minority MPs left helpless, consulted themselves for the next move amidst shouts of SHAME, SHAME, SHAME from the majority side.

The smashed diabolical agenda of the NPP again exposed their desperation and strategy to use subterfuge to appeal to public opinion.

“It is clear even to the uninitiated that this recall of Parliament and the New Patriotic Party’s strategy that has heralded it has been borne out of clear mischief and a desperate attempt to throw as much dirt at President John Dramani Mahama ahead of the December 7 elections”, Hon. Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin told a news conference on Wednesday.

He explained that prior to Thursday’s proceedings, Minority MPs, through separate radio interviews, created the impression they were in to impeach President John Mahama over the Ford car gift in sharp contrast of the motionfiled in the name of the Minority leader, Osei Kyei Mensah Bonsu.

The proposed motion was calling for a Special Parliamentary Committee to investigate the following:

·        Whether the President of Ghana, John Dramani Mahama received a Ford Expedition vehicle from a           Burkinabe contractor.

·        Whether the Ford Expedition vehicle received by the President infringes any law of Ghana.

·        Whether the Ford Expedition vehicle donated to the President infringes his own code of conduct and

·        Any other matter relevant to the above subject.        

The Minority, left with very little weapon to fight on, said by the decision, the president has lost a golden opportunity to clear himself of the corruption and bribery allegations currently being hurled against him.

But President John Mahama acted in good faith by following due process for the entry of the Ford bus received on his behalf by Ghana’s Embassy in Burkina Faso, handed it over the state. He could have kept it quietly.

John Mahama has become the unsung hero today. The attempt to soil his image is failing fast and the Minority may have very little to chew as the campaign season starts.The NPP now has a huge task to embark on an issue based campaign, something experts believe leaves Nana Akufo Addo with very little other than campaign of lies and deception.

In a move to appease anxious NPP supporters, the Minority hurriedly organized a news conference only to describe the Speakers ruling as "whimsical and capricious" with an empty threat to seek other options through Constitutional means.

Source: Citizen�s Mail