The Minority in Parliament has waged a spirited defense for the Speaker of Parliament, Right. Hon. Alban Bagbin, saying the Speaker’s absence from Parliament was on health grounds.
In a press briefing after a sine die adjournment of parliament, the Majority Leader and Minister of Parliamentary Affairs, Hon. Osei Mensah Bonsu questioned the Speaker’s commitment to government’s business.
He observed that the Speaker’s absence from Parliament on December 21, 2021, which led to the adjournment of Parliament, smacks bad faith.
‘‘Parliament cannot be held to ransom, by one person,’’ he stated.
But reacting to the Majority Leader’s charge, the Deputy Minority Leader, Hon. James Afedzi stated that the Speaker’s absence was due to medical imperatives.
In a spirited fashion, Dr. Afedzi noted that the Speaker of the eighth parliament has shown better leadership than the Speaker of the seventh Parliament, Prof. Mike Aaron Oquaye.
‘‘The Speaker is going through Medical treatments. He needs to obey the instructions of his doctors and rest after going through that treatment. …Members of the Majority group cannot put him through this torture, where at the end, his health will fail,’’the Keta North Member of Parliament stated.
He refuted suggestions that the Minority in Parliament was up to executing a political design meant to frustrate government’s business.
Meanwhile, Parliament has deferred the consideration of the E-levy to January 18, 2022.
