Minority Leader, Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson, has revealed that the controversy surrounding the Minority’s boycott of parliament in support of one of its members, James Gyakye Quason’s trial, is just the beginning.

In favor of the Assin North legislature, he also said that abandoning parliamentary proceedings was just one of several acts, and he called for more boycotts, as long as the court proceedings continue.

The Minority has abstained from the House’s business twice and has accompanied their colleague to court while he is on trial for his Canadian denunciation, which was delayed until after he entered the 2020 election race.

According to the Speaker of the House, who does not appear happy about the situation, members of Parliament who boycott the legislature in support of the trials will be noted absent.

Many people have urged the Minority to abandon this strategy because it is impeding parliamentary work, but its leader said that this is just scratching the surface and that the minority have other plans in place to support its member.

“I like to say it here that boycotting Parliamentary proceedings is just the beginning and just one of our actions. We continue to do everything within the law to support our brother until he gets the justice he deserves.”
Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson

The Minority Leader clarified that his party is not opposed to the prosecution of the Assin North MP; rather, they are opposed to the daily trial, and a change in the trial date is the only thing that will make them change their minds.

As their position might be declared vacant after a certain amount of time if they continue with their action, Dr. Forson claimed that the caucus was aware of the implications of what they are doing. He added that they are well-informed, well-guided, and aware of everything they are doing.

Gov’t Called Upon To Halt TOR Lease Agreement

In order to engage stakeholders more effectively, the minority in parliament is urging the government to postpone plans to lease the Tema Oil Refinery (TOR) to Torentco Asset Management Group.

TOR, which will process up to 8 million barrels of fuel a year, will be leased to Torentco Asset Management Group for $22 million over six years. The agreement also stipulates that the organization will pay an additional rent of more than $1 million every month, in addition to the annual rent of $1 million.

John Jinapor, the Ranking Member of the Parliament’s Mines and Energy Committee, claimed that the deal’s existing structure would not be advantageous to Ghanaians.

“We believe that that contract is inimical, that contract will not inure to the benefit of Ghanaians. That contract will not benefit the ordinary Ghanaian and that contract does not meet value for money.

“We are therefore calling on the Akufo-Addo and Bawumia-led government to put a halt to this lease agreement, engage further with stakeholders, and ensure that we find a long-lasting solution to the problems confronting TOR.”
John Jinapor

Mr Jinapor said these firefighting approaches will not help the refinery as the refinery had seen five different managements under the government. “It thus appears that they are playing with the refinery. It thus appears that there is no seriousness being shown when it comes to the revitalization of the refinery,” he added.