Bagbin: We Still Have Bootlickers Around Prez Mills Despite Reshuffle

The Majority Leader in Parliament now Minister-designate for Water Resources, Works and Housing, Alban Kingsford Sumana Bagbin, says in spite of President John Evans Atta Mills’ first cabinet reshuffle announced on Monday, there are still bootlickers around the president who were not affected by the political chess-game. In the latter part of last year, the Majority Leader backed former President Rawlings, when he (Mr. Rawlings) stated that President Mills was surrounded by “bootlickers”. But speaking to Peace FM on “Kokrokoo”, Bagbin, who is also MP for Nadowli West Constituency in the Upper West Region, stressed that though some of the fawners were affected by the reshuffle, quite a few still remain within the government. “We still have some bootlickers still in government; some are also not in government. Even when I made that statement….I still meet them, we discuss and I agree that we have to from time to time, disagree with each other. I don’t mince words, when I meet them. They know and some have even come to discuss the issue with me (regarding) why I made that statement and I explained to them in detail,” he said. The Minister-designate rejected a suggestion he was part of the group of people who tried to undermine the president over certain happenings in government. According to the Nadowli West MP, he only voiced concern about the lack of opportunity being offered some members of the Executive, the Legislature and other main players who are supportive of the Party’s vision. “The government machinery was not giving enough attention to the party’s foot soldiers who helped to wrestle power from the NPP government…They were also not being briefed on what was happening in government so people felt left out… they were depending on the rumour mill and getting disenchanted. That was building up a ground swell of internal opposition… I was not criticizing the President,” he told Kwami Sefa Kayi. Bagbin argued that since he decided to alert the President on the issue, measures have been taken to “fill this lacuna.” “I think that in spite of the displeasure or dissatisfaction by individuals, I think that we’ve gained as a people and as a nation from that statement,” he said. Touching on his new appointment as a Cabinet Minister, the Water Resources, Works and Housing Minister- designate, remarked that he believes he will do better in his new environment. “It is another challenge given to me and as such I’m quite thoughtful and looking at what would happen…. I am convinced that my leadership of that sector could add some value to what my seniors, those who were there before me, have already built. I am going to build on what they have done so far,” he assured. Source: Peacefmonline

Empower Parliament to hold others accountable in government- Bagbin

Mr.Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu, the Minority Leader, and Mr. Alban Bagbin, the Majority Leader Mr. Alban Bagbin, the Majority Leader, on Friday has appealed to the executive arm of government to consider empowering Parliament logistically to be able to hold other arms of government accountable. He also called for a closer collaboration and interaction between the executive and the legislature that would enhance the structure of governance in the country. Mr. Bagbin, who was having an end of year interaction with the Parliamentary Press Corps, said a lot was expected of Parliament to deliver and yet enough in terms of finance and logistics were not offered to them. He advised the media to unite the house by avoiding stories that could create acrimony and confusion between the Majority and the Minority in Parliament since the roles of both were crucial in the democratic dispensation of the country. The Majority Leader announced that the leadership in Parliament in collaboration with the Parliamentary Service Board would by the end of March next year pass the Parliamentary Act that would empower them to undertake crucial business of Parliament independently. He said Parliament would also establish a Technical Department of Parliament where experts in various fields would be engaged to work on national policies to support the activities of Parliament. Mr. Bagbin promised that Parliament would from the next sitting allow the media to sit in and cover their committee meetings and appealed to the managements of various media houses to consider allowing their correspondents to stay longer in Parliament to enable them to acquaint themselves with proceedings of the house. Mr.Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu, the Minority Leader, urged the Parliamentary Press Corps to rise above the general news reportage and specialize in Parliamentary reporting in order to become authorities in that area. He appealed to the members to stay longer in the Press gallery in order to cover most of the proceedings in the house as most members were often not present when certain crucial issues were debated upon. Mr. Andrew Edwin Arthur, Dean of Parliamentary Press Corps, commended the leadership and the Parliament Service Board for their tremendous service to the media over the years and appealed to them to continue to support the media to play their expected role in national development. Source: GNA

Bagbin: Parliament will sack ministers if…

Alban Babgin, Majority Leader The Majority Leader in Parliament says the House may be compelled to vote out ministers who flout certain decisions of the legislature. Alban Kingsford Bagbin said Parliament, under Article 82 of the 1992 Constitution, has powers to censure “ministers of state for failure to behaving in a way that Parliament thinks can disqualify a minister of state.” Mr Bagbin said this in reference to what he said has been the persistent failure of the Finance Minister, Dr Kwabena Duffour, to release funds approved by Parliament to government institutions like the Auditor General’s Department. Mr. Babgin cautioned the Finance Minister on the floor when the MP commented on a statement by the Member of Parliament (MP) for Asawase, Alhaji Mutaka M. Mubarak, on how to resource the Auditor General’s Department to enhance its performance. The Majority Leader firmed his point even stronger in a later interview with Joy News’ Sammy Darko. “The Auditor General is not subject to the direction or control of any person or any authority. Therefore if monies are approved by Parliament, the Minister of Finance is enjoined to release that money to the Auditor General for him to perform his duties,” he said. Mr Bagbin indicated that, often times, Parliament “goes cap in hand begging for the release of his funds by the Ministry of Finance; that definitely is intolerable,” adding, “we would see Parliament implement this if our ministers fail to live up to expectation.” The Auditor General’s Department he said audits over 7000 ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs). Audit by the department has, over the years, unearthed several malfeasance in public records. Meanwhile, Dr Duffour says although he disagrees with the assertions by the Majority Leader, he would remain tight-lipped on the issues for now and come out at an appropriate time. Play the attached audio for excerpts of the interview with Alban Bagbin. Story by Fiifi Koomson/Myjoyonline.com/Ghana