Speaker Shoots Down Minority's Motion To Investigate Mahama�s Ford Gift

The Speaker of Parliament, Edward Doe Adjaho has single-handedly dismissed the motion filed by the Minority calling for a probe into the controversial Ford gift saga.

Mr Adjaho, exercising his powers, rejected the motion and ordered the Clerk of Parliament to return the motion to the Member of Parliament (MP) who filed it.

The Minority in Parliament brought a motion seeking a Parliamentary probe into the controversial ford gift given to the president by a Burkinabe contractor.

The Minority, among other things, wanted Parliament to find out if the president by his acceptance of the Ford breached any part of the constitution and whether it infringed the president's own code of conduct.

Exercising his powers as the Speaker, Hon Doe Adjaho said “Ordinarily, having regard to standing order 79(4), I would have returned the motion to the member in whose name it stands as being inadmissible. But the motion was tied contemporaneously to the request for the recall of the house understanding order 38(1) which derives from article 123 of the constitution and therefore leaves me with no discretion in recalling the house. Standing order 79(4) also provides as follows: Every notice shall be submitted to Mr. Speaker who shall direct that it be printed in its original terms or with such amendments as he shall direct or that it be returned to the member submitting it as being inadmissible. I am therefore unable to admit this motion. I hereby direct the clerk to return the motion to the member in whose name it stands in line with standing order 79 (4).

According to Peace FM's correspondent, Emmanuel Akorli, the Speaker also directed the Minority to make use of institutions in the country; especially those in charge of investigating such issues; adding the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ) had received three separate petitions concerning the same issue and was already looking into the matter.

The House was then adjourned sine die.