In a spirited submission on the floor of Parliament, the Minority Chief Whip and Member of Parliament for Nsawam-Adoagyiri, Frank Annoh-Dompreh, deliv
In a spirited submission on the floor of Parliament, the Minority Chief Whip and Member of Parliament for Nsawam-Adoagyiri, Frank Annoh-Dompreh, delivered a strong call for transparency, accountability, and responsiveness from key state institutions — particularly the Ministry of Finance and the Public Utilities Regulatory Commission (PURC).
His remarks came during Thursday’s parliamentary sitting, where he addressed growing public concerns over delayed statutory payments, rising utility tariffs, and the need for urgent parliamentary oversight.
Annoh-Dompreh began by acknowledging the excitement that had filled the Majority benches, noting that even some backbenchers appeared eager about the unfolding parliamentary developments.
In a light moment, he teased the Majority Leader’s absence while commending the acting leader who stood in his place.
But his tone quickly shifted to one of urgency as he laid out his expectations ahead of the scheduled Committee of the Whole meeting.
According to the Minority Chief Whip, the Minister of Finance must appear before the Committee with full preparation and clarity.
He stressed that Parliament must be given prior notice not only of the meeting itself but also of the specific issues to be discussed. These, he hinted, are matters of national importance that cannot be left vague or handled casually.
One of the most pressing issues he highlighted was the Ministry of Finance’s reported nine-month debt owed to the Office of the Administrator of Stool Lands.
The arrears, he emphasized, directly affect chiefs and traditional leaders across the country, many of whom depend on these statutory allocations for community development and administration.
The delay, he said, has generated widespread discontent and raises questions about the government’s commitment to supporting the traditional governance structures.
The Nsawam-Adoagyiri MP also referenced Order 6 of the Standing Orders of Parliament, which defines independent constitutional bodies whose autonomy must be respected.
He noted that such bodies include the Electoral Commission, CHRAJ, the NCCE, the National Media Commission, the Auditor-General’s Office, and the Bank of Ghana, among others.
He argued that the PURC falls squarely within this framework, making parliamentary scrutiny even more crucial when decisions from these bodies affect millions of Ghanaians.
Turning to the PURC, Annoh-Dompreh expressed deep concern over recent increases in electricity tariffs.
He noted that the Commission, in cumulative terms, had already raised tariffs by 18.34 percent, with an additional 9.8 percent increment announced recently.
These hikes, he warned, were causing widespread public anxiety, especially among businesses struggling with operational costs. The rising tariffs, he argued, could have severe implications for national productivity and the cost of living.
He therefore demanded that the PURC appear before the Committee of the Whole to justify the increments and explain the cost drivers behind them — including the often-cited depreciation of the cedi against the dollar.
Parliament, he insisted, must hear directly from the Commission to provide clarity and ensure accountability to the public.
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