Gov’t bills face bipartisan scrutiny, not Parliament’s Finance Committee chairman’s orders – Adongo

Parliament's Finance Committee Chairman, Isaac Adongo, stated that government bills undergo bipartisan scrutiny, with committee members shaping decisions rather than his personal orders. Speaking on Joy News' PM Express Business Edition, Adongo emphasized that he cannot dictate the committee's conclusions. He assured that the committee's experience so far has provided no reason for concern, noting that almost every bill has been scrutinized on a bipartisan basis.

Adongo credited opposition members on the committee, including former Finance Minister Dr Amin Adam and deputy ranking member Dr Stephen Amoah, for their critical and sharp insights. He explained that while they largely agree on most aspects, disagreements are addressed by allowing members from both sides to voice their views. Adongo cited the Gold Board bill as an example, where opposition members expressed concerns over some provisions while agreeing with the principle.

He defended the committee's decision to proceed with the legislation, acknowledging that potential shortcomings could be identified and addressed through a future review if necessary. Adongo expressed confidence that opposition members would support such a review if the executive brought proposals to amend the bill.