The Minister for Communication, Digital Technology, and Innovations, Samuel Nartey George, and Committee Chairperson Abena Osei-Asare got into a heated argument yesterday, Monday, May 18, at the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) meeting over alleged subpar service provided by Ghanaian mobile network operators.
Tension arose as the Minister blamed the former Akufo-Addo administration’s “weak policy decisions, poor governance, and leadership gaps” for the difficulties in providing telecoms services.
“Private businesses are about making profits, and those profits they paid to you over eight years at the Finance Ministry as corporate taxes,” he said, addressing the Chairperson of the Committee.”
“Policy decision and policy leadership ought to make sure that we take steps to protect the customer. I am saying that under this reset agenda and under a responsible government, we have done so,” he added.
But the Minister was interrupted by the Committee Chairperson, who had been a Minister of State in the Finance Ministry during the previous administration. She warned him not to make what she called offensive remarks and urged him to be direct.
“I am not heckling you, but we beg you, just go straight to the point,” she remarked.
The Minister reacted sharply to the interruption, asking Samuel Atta Mills, the Ranking Member of the Committee in charge of the meeting, to call the Chairperson to order.
She was disruptive and trying to sabotage his answer, he said.
“This is unbecoming of a Member of Parliament, please stop doing this. You have asked a question, I have the floor, you will let me answer the question. Let me finish. If it is your committee then don’t invite us. Respectfully, let me land,” he said.
However, the Chairperson insisted that she was not trying to discredit the Minister and that her intervention was meant to guarantee clarity and focus in the proceedings.
“When you come here and we address issues, it is not that we want to talk anybody down, never. But Minister, the situation is serious and that is all the sentiments I am trying to put across,” she stated.
The discussion resumed after the brief interruption caused by the exchange.
Source: newsthemegh.com