Speaker Oquaye is bias –Minority

 

By Maxwell Ofori.

The Minority in Parliament has expressed their displeasure with the ‘attitude’ of the Speaker, Professor Aaron Michael Oquaye, describing it as ‘bias.’

Their cry comes on the heel of numerous incidents of supposed unfairness that they say the Speaker continuously exhibits against the Minority, in the discharge of his official duty.

Addressing journalists on Thursday, July 27, 2017, the Minority Chief Whip and Member for Asawase, Alhaji Mohammed Mubarak Muntaka argued that the Speaker was not treating the Minority fairly.

Prior to the press confab, there was ‘heated’ exchange of words between the Minority Leader, the Minority Chief Whip and the Speaker.

Expressing their disappointment, the Minority Chief Whip indicated at the press briefing that the Speaker, for some reason, refused to give the Minority adequate time to make their submission.

The last straw that broke the camel’s back was when the Speaker denied the Minority Leader an opportunity to ask the Agriculture Minister a question on the Planting for Food and Jobs Programme.

The Agric. Minister, Dr Owusu Afriyie Akoto was on the floor to answer questions tabled by members. After back benchers had asked all their questions, it was time for leadership, as usual.

The Minority Chief Whip asked a question and the Minority Leader also wanted to ask one, but the Speaker did not allow him, saying that the Chief Whip had already taken the slot.

This did not go done well with the Minority, who felt disrespected and, therefore, decided not to   contribute to the subsequent business of the House.

The Minority Leader, Haruna Iddrisu, indicated on the floor that he was going to file a substantive motion to challenge the ruling of the Speaker for not allowing him ask his question.

Order 93(5) of the Standing Orders of Parliament reads: “The conduct of Mr Speaker, Members, the Chief Justice and Judges of the Superior Court of Judicature shall not be raised, except upon a substantive motion, and in any amendment, Question to a member or remarks in a debate on a motion dealing with any other subject, any reference to the conduct of the persons mentioned shall be out of order.”

At the press conference, Alhaji Muntaka continued that: “For those of you [journalists] who have been reporters [in Parliament] for long, the Hansard would be there to guide you.

“Normally, we agree on a number of things. You come onto the floor, if you’ve observed you have the Minority Leader or a representative from the Minority standing, he won’t call you,” Muntaka complained bitterly to the press.

On the floor of Parliament, it is a normal practice that the leaders of both sides are allowed adequate time to make their contributions. It is based on this that the Minority did not understand why the Speaker did not allow the Minority Leader to ask his question.

According to him, but for the respect the Minority have for the House, they would not have taken the issue kindly. He added that there had been several complaints to the Speaker to check how he treats the Minority, but they have all fallen on deaf ears.

The Minority Chief Whip further indicated that there were options they could take against the Speaker, but they would want to use this recent incident to send a word of caution to the Speaker that should the Minority be disrespected again, “we will advice ourselves.”

 

Though the Minority was not emphatic on the action they would take against the Speaker, Order 107 talks about the removal of the Speaker or a Deputy, and it is supported by Article 95(2)(d) of the 1992 Constitution.

Meanwhile, in a quick rebuttal, the Minister for Parliamentary Affairs and MP for Suame, Mr Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu expressed shock over the behavior of the Minority.

He said the Minority should use the laid down procedure to address their grievances if there were any, whilst adding that Parliament was a House of rules and Members who ought to know better must not take the rules into their own hands.

 

 

 

  By Maxwell Ofori. The Minority in Parliament has expressed their displeasure with the ‘attitude’ of the Speaker, Professor Aaron Michael Oquaye, describing it as ‘bias.’ Their cry comes on the heel of numerous incidents of supposed unfairness that they say the Speaker continuously exhibits against the Minority, in the discharge of his official duty. […] Read Full Story