Accra:Parliament's Finance Committee Chairman, Isaac Adongo, has clarified that the decisions made by the committee on government bills are based on thorough scrutiny by members from both sides of Parliament, rather than personal relationships, such as his friendship with Finance Minister Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson.
According to Ghana Web, Adongo emphasized in an interview on Joy News that the committee has not found any reason to raise concerns about the bills presented to it so far. He addressed questions regarding his ability to challenge the Finance Minister and reject proposals that exceed what Parliament has approved, affirming that the committee operates on a bipartisan basis.
Adongo further elaborated that the committee's position is not solely determined by its chairman. He stressed that proposals are examined collectively, with decisions made in consideration of the national interest. He highlighted the experience of opposition members, including Ranking Member and former Finance Minister Dr. Amin Adam, Deputy Ranking Member Dr. Stephen Amoah, and Dr. Gideon Boako, as indicative of the expertise within the committee.
He noted that while members have the opportunity to raise objections, consensus has largely been reached on the bills considered. He cited the legislation establishing the Ghana Gold Board as an example, explaining that although opposition members supported its principle, they raised concerns about certain provisions. Adongo defended the passage of the bill, crediting the Gold Board with significant impact, while also acknowledging that potential weaknesses in the law may necessitate future amendments.
Adongo expressed confidence that opposition members would back amendments if the Executive proposes changes to address specific issues in the legislation.