Bagbin: Parliament Will Sack Ministers If�

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 Duffuor, to release funds approved by Parliament to government institutions like the Auditor-General�s Department. Mr. Bagbin cautioned the Finance Minister on the floor when the MP commented on a statement by the Member of Parliament (MP) for Asawase, Alhaji Muntaka Mubarak, on how to resource the Auditor General�s Department to enhance its performance. Mr. Bagbin indicated that often times, Parliament �goes cap in hand begging for the release of this 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 malfeasances in public records. Meanwhile Dr. Duffuor says although he disagrees with the assertions by the Majority leader, he would remain tight-lipped on the matter.