Parliament was thrown into a tense exchange yesterday (16 June) after a sharp response from the Minister for Health, Kwabena Mintah Akandoh, reignited debate over government spending priorities between healthcare infrastructure and market development.
“I am under oath of secrecy and therefore I can’t say what I discuss at Cabinet with the President here.”
That was the Minister’s response when the Ranking Member on Parliament’s Local Government and Decentralization Committee, Francis Asenso-Boakye, pressed him to support a possible redirection of funds towards the completion of Agenda 111 hospitals instead of the proposed 24-hour market projects.
The remark immediately shifted the mood in the House, drawing strong reactions from Minority Members, who described it as unfortunate and inconsistent with the spirit of parliamentary accountability.
The exchange had been triggered when Hon. Asenso-Boakye, in a supplementary question, urged the Health Minister to make a case to the President to consider and redirect 24 hour market funds in completing the Agenda 111 hospital projects.
He argued that several districts across the country have expressed reservations about the 24-hour market initiative, noting that many already have functioning market infrastructure and do not consider additional markets a priority now.
“Can the Minister make a case to the President to consider using the funds to invest in the Agenda 111 healthcare projects rather than duplicating market infrastructure?” he asked.
According to him, healthcare delivery should take precedence, particularly at a time when a number of Agenda 111 facilities remain incomplete and many communities continue to struggle with access to quality health services.
The Minister’s response, however, triggered immediate pushback from Minority Members, who insisted that it fell short of the level of accountability expected on the floor of Parliament.
The Minority Leader and several former Ministers argued that Parliament is a separate arm of government with the constitutional authority to demand clear answers on matters of public policy and expenditure.
Former Lands and Natural Resources Minister, Samuel Abu Jinapor, also intervened, stating that Ministers who appear before Parliament are obligated under the Standing Orders to respond to questions and cannot hide behind Cabinet confidentiality.
He described the “oath of secrecy” reference as misplaced in the context of parliamentary scrutiny and called for the statement to be withdrawn and an apology rendered to the House.
Beyond the procedural dispute, the exchange has reopened a wider national conversation about how government prioritizes development projects.
At a time when many Ghanaians are calling for the swift completion of Agenda 111 hospitals, critics argue that healthcare infrastructure should take precedence over new market developments, particularly where existing facilities already serve those communities.
Hon Asenso-Boakye maintained that his concerns were not political but practical, insisting that investment in healthcare delivers a more immediate and direct benefit to citizens than duplicating market infrastructure in districts where such facilities already exist.
Source: asaaseradio.com
