Ambulances: MPs bemoan late invitation to Commissioning ceremony

Even though Members of Parliament (MPs) were expected to represent their constituencies at the commissioning of ambulances by President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo at the Black star Square on Tuesday, they are clearly unhappy about the late invitation extended to them.

Subsequently, they have voiced out their displeasure about what the late invitation has caused them and prayed this does not repeat in future events.

MPs from the Minority side raised their concerns on the floor of Parliament on Tuesday when the Majority Leader and Minister for Parliamentary Affairs, Osei-Kyei Mensah-Bonsu, announced that the day’s sittings has been scheduled to be brief because Members are required to be at the commissioning ceremony which was in the next half.

He announced in the Business Statement on the first day of sitting of Parliament after the Christmas holidays that, “today’s sitting would be brief, in view of the commissioning of Constituency ambulances by H. E. the President by 12:00 Noon. All Members would be expected to represent their Constituencies at the occasion to be held at the Black Star Square. The House would therefore adjourn by 11:30 a.m. to enable Hon. Members move to the Black Star Square for the event.”

The Minority Leader, Haruna Iddrisu, retorted during his contribution that there has not been any formal invitation to MPs on the minority side to be at the event.

He however, urged the Ranking Member on Health Committee of Parliament to join the President at the ceremony since according to him, “it is a national event and ambulances are useful.”

The Minority MPs including Richard Quashigah, Ras Mubarak, Alhaji Inusa Fusseini, among others questioned the bases for the invitation of MPs at the short notice when the ambulances being commissioned were supposed to be for the constituencies.

“Mr. Speaker, we have not received any invitation to be at the Black Star Square and Mr. Speaker knows that this House and Members of this House are very important and critical in the governance architecture of this country, and if the President finds it meaningful and important for Members of this House to be present when he is distributing ambulances, Mr. Speaker, the proper thing to do in the circumstances is to invite us officially,” Alhaji Inusa Fuseini stated.

The President later commissioned some 307 ambulances for distribution to all 275 constituencies in Ghana in fulfilment of the Akufo-Addo government’s 2016 election campaign promise. It is to help improve emergency healthcare delivery in the country.

Source: Clement Akoloh || africanewsradio.com