{"id":2193,"date":"2025-06-19T19:55:11","date_gmt":"2025-06-19T19:55:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/parliamentnews360.com\/?p=2193"},"modified":"2025-06-19T19:55:16","modified_gmt":"2025-06-19T19:55:16","slug":"south-dayi-mp-insists-on-ec-chairpersons-presence-to-answer-urgent-questions","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/parliamentnews360.com\/index.php\/south-dayi-mp-insists-on-ec-chairpersons-presence-to-answer-urgent-questions\/","title":{"rendered":"South Dayi MP Insists on EC Chairperson\u2019s Presence to Answer Urgent Questions"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Accra, June 18, 2025<\/em> \u2013 A heated disagreement erupted in Parliament on Wednesday following the absence of the Chairperson of the Electoral Commission (EC), Jean Mensa, who had been scheduled to respond to two urgent questions filed by the Majority Chief Whip and Member of Parliament for South Dayi, Hon. Rockson Nelson Dafeamekpor.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The EC Chair, through formal communication to Parliament, indicated her \u201cunavoidable unavailability\u201d<\/strong> and delegated her deputy to appear in her stead. However, the Majority Chief Whip objected to the arrangement and requested for his questions to be rescheduled until such time the EC Chair could appear personally.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Citing Standing Order 79<\/strong>, the MP argued that the nature and gravity of his questions required a direct response from the head of the Electoral Commission<\/strong> and not a delegated official.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI insist that the questions be addressed by the Chairperson herself,\u201d he stated on the floor of Parliament. \u201cThese are matters of high public interest that require full accountability and cannot be delegated.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Minority Bench Pushes Back<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Members of the Minority Caucus disagreed with the Chief Whip\u2019s position, drawing his attention to Standing Order 88(6)<\/strong>. The provision grants the Speaker authority to permit a Deputy Minister or Deputy Head of an independent constitutional body to respond to questions in the absence of the substantive officer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Order reads: \u201cIn the absence of the Minister, Member, or Head of the Independent Constitutional Body to whom the Question is directed, the Speaker may permit an authorised person to respond to the Question.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Minority warned that blocking a deputy from representing a constitutional body would set a dangerous precedent<\/strong>. \u201cAre we now saying Deputy Ministers cannot appear when Ministers are unavailable?\u201d the 1st Deputy Minority Whip, Habib Iddrisu questioned.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Speaker Intervenes<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Presiding Speaker, Hon. Andrew Asiamah, ultimately ruled in line with Standing Order 88(6), indicating that the Deputy Chairperson of the Electoral Commission would be allowed to respond<\/strong> to the questions unless the questioner chose to withdraw them altogether.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe choice is clear,\u201d Speaker Asiamah ruled. \u201cEither you withdraw the question, or we proceed with the Deputy Commissioner who has been duly delegated.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Majority Chief Whip aquiesced. He went ahead to ask the question and the Deputy Chairperson of the Electoral Commission, Dr. Bossman Asare provided the responses.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The issue underscores ongoing tensions in Parliament over accountability, representation, and the appropriate interpretation of parliamentary procedures.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Source: Clement Akoloh||parliamentnews360.com<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

A heated disagreement erupted in Parliament on Wednesday following the absence of the Chairperson of the Electoral Commission (EC), Jean Mensa, who had been scheduled to respond to two urgent questions filed by the Majority Chief Whip and Member of Parliament for South Dayi, Hon. Rockson Nelson Dafeamekpor.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":2194,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[51],"tags":[1307,1305,1306,1304],"class_list":{"0":"post-2193","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-general-news","8":"tag-dr-bossman-asare","9":"tag-ec-chairperson","10":"tag-hon-rockson-nelson-dafeamekpor","11":"tag-jean-mensa"},"yoast_head":"\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\t\n\t\n\n\n\t\n