<<Print>>

FIFI KWETEY, a Deputy Minister for Finance and Economic Planning, was yesterday prevented by the Minority in Parliament from answering two urgent questions on behalf of the sector minister, arguing that the issues were above him. The first question was by Simon Osei-Mensah, MP for Bosomtwe, who asked the Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning about what had caused the impasse between the National Lottery Authority (NLA) and the Lotto Sellers Union. The second one was from Kwaku Agyeman-Manu, MP for Dorma West, who quizzed the ministry why parliamentary approval was not sought before bonds were issued to settle the TOR debt. However, the Minority group stopped Fifi Kwetey when he stood up in the House�s chamber to answer the questions, arguing that he was not the right person to tackle the issues. According to Minority Spokesperson on Finance, Dr. Anthony Akoto Osei, the questions would have to be answered by Minister Kwabena Duffuor as they were policy decisions that were taken by cabinet. Akoto Osei, who is also a former minister of state at the Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning and MP for Old Tafo, submitted that Fiifi Kwetey might not be apprised of the full facts regarding the issues because as a deputy minister, he did not attend cabinet meetings. Deputy Minority Leader, Ambrose Dery, who is also the MP for Lawra/Nandom, and Prof. George Yaw Gyan-Baffour, MP for Wenchi, supported the argument that Dr. Duffuor would have to appear before the House to answer the questions. Not even pleas by Deputy Majority leader, Alhaji Abdul-Rashid Pelpuo could soften the minority�s stance. The deputy minister was however permitted to answer three other questions from John Agyabeng, Anthony Evans Amoah and Ben Abdallah Banah, MPs for Agona East, Mpohor Wassa East and Offinso South respectively.