Minister of Communications and Digitalization, Ursula Owusu-Ekuful, has expressed disappointment at claims by the Minority members on the Committee of Communications that consideration of estimates for the Ministry has been suspended.
According to her, the ‘supposed suspension’ was just for 30 minutes to enable the Ministry to produce the 2017 Annual Report of the National Communication Authority (NCA), which had mistakenly been forgotten at the office after she presented copies of the 2015 and 2016 reports at the meeting
“I am surprised to hear that sitting was suspended for the day and that we were sacked and told to go away until we presented all the reports. Mind you, I was not the Minister in 2015 and 2016.”
“So this process started a long time ago before the NPP came to power but I am the Minister now and it is my responsibility to ensure the annual reports of my agencies are laid before Parliament, and I indicated at the vetting I would ensure they are laid as soon as I receive them. I never said anywhere that I have them and they are before parliament and ready to be laid,” she stated.
The Minister said these during an interview on Tuesday to clarify what transpired when her Ministry appeared before the Committee on Communications in response to allegations of suspension by the Minority Caucus.
She conceded that annual reports being outstanding for six years is a problem but stressed as a responsible Minister, it is her duty to ensure the NCA does its work as required by law.
“But if I don’t receive the annual report, the law enjoins me to present it to Parliament within one month of receipt but as I speak to you, all those composite reports that were outstanding, I got them today.”
“If one month from today I have not presented them to Parliament, then I would be in breach of the law and that is what we explained to the Committee.”
The Minister assured that there is no problem and that what the Minority put out to the public is not a reflection of what truly transpired and is not entirely accurate.
She indicated that three Reports of 2015, 2016 and 2017 would be laid in Parliament today Wednesday 15th December 2021.
She assured that the 2019 and 2020 reports are currently being printed and as soon as they are finished she will do the needful and lay them too.
Hon. Ursula Owusu assured the Committee particularly the Minority caucus that the Ministry stands ready to cooperate with them for the full performance of their duties and added, “I’ll ensure that all my agencies as well do the needful.”
Source: Mypublisher24.com
