A heated exchange broke out at Parliament’s Public Accounts Committee (PAC) sitting on Monday (18 May) between the Minister for Communication, Digital Technology and Innovations, Samuel Nartey George, and Committee Chairperson Abena Osei-Asare over concerns about telecom service delivery, including issues linked to MTN Ghana.
The confrontation emerged after the Minister attributed challenges in the sector to what he described as weak policy decisions and leadership gaps under the previous Akufo-Addo administration.
“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.
The remarks prompted an immediate interruption from Abena Osei-Asare, who cautioned the Minister against what she described as offensive remarks and urged him to remain focused on the subject under discussion.
“I am not heckling you, but we beg you, just go straight to the point,” she said.
The intervention triggered a sharp response from the Minister, who called on the Ranking Member of the Committee, Samuel Atta Mills, who was presiding, to rein in the Chairperson. He accused her of being disruptive and attempting to derail proceedings.
“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.
Abena Osei-Asare, however, maintained that her intervention was aimed at ensuring clarity and focus, denying any attempt to undermine the Minister.
“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 said.
The brief disruption delayed proceedings momentarily before the session resumed.
Source: asaaseradio.com
