South Sudan’s Ministry of Agriculture says it has not refused a summons by the National Parliament on Tuesday, citing lack of coordination as the reason for the minister’s failure to show up to answer questions from parliamentarians.
Parliamentary proceedings were adjourned earlier this week when the minister failed to turn up to present a national agriculture policy as scheduled.
Speaking to Radio Miraya, Deputy Agriculture Minister Martin Tako said a letter notifying the parliament that the minister was in Ethiopia on official business arrived late.
Martin said it was not deliberate. “We agree with them that there was lack of coordination. You all know there used to be the Minister of Parliamentary Affairs. The Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs is the bridge or the coordinator. So this is the situation.”
“The minister was not in the country and was not doing any other function. The minister was not deliberately absent or did not refuse to go to the parliament as required by the August House. The minister was simply just not in the country.”
“Therefore on behalf of the ministry I categorically reject statements by individual members that the minister deliberately rejected or refuse to appear before the parliament,” Martin told the UN radio.