The Minority in Parliament has just made a U-turn against the Impositions of Restrictions bill which they gave their support yesterday.
The MP for Balgatanga East and a member on Constitutional, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs Committee, Dominic Akuritinga Ayine who spoke on behalf of minority made their stands clear that, the Minority will not part take in the passage of the bill since it gives the President of Ghana broad powers to restrict freedom of movement, freedom of speech and even freedom of thoughts if the Impositions of Restrictions bill is passed.
He explained that, the NDC and the Minority is not against any laws that would be passed to put measures in checking the Pandemic Coronavirus and therefore, expect this new bill to have been channeled only to deal with the disease but considering the nature of how it has framed, it will contradict Chapter five of Ghana’s Constitution.
Prince Joe Boadi ABN Parliamentary Correspondent in an interview with Mr. Ayine explained that, there are already existing laws which could be applied in dealing with the outbreak of the disease since the constitution has many provisions for handling issues of such nature, especially with laws on public health emergency Chapter 3 clause 1D.
On the contrary, the Deputy Attorney General, Joseph Dindiok Kpemka explain why the need for this bill to be passed.
He said, the available laws which the minority claim are not far reaching enough and their not specific to things within the contemplation of everybody such as Coronavirus.
Therefore urged for a mutual support and oneness to pass the Impositions of Restrictions bill in order to deal with pandemic Coronavirus.
Kojo Oppong Nkrumah, the Minister for information was astonished over the decision taken by the Minority for not working together in passing the bill.
He pleaded with the minority to cooperate in giving this bill the certificate of urgency and put in their contributions, especially at sections they think needs to be amended when members meet to work at it in the plenary.
Prince Joe Boadi /Ahotor news/ahotoronline.com
