Gabby Asare Otchere-Darko has continued his reflections and reactions to ongoings in the Parliament relative to the rejection of, reversal and subsequent approval of the 2022 Budget.
In a social media post, he laments how the current Parliament by the actions of its members was gravitating towards denting a reputation as a democratic shining light.
“Ghana’s Parliament since January 6 appears committed to shedding its proud image as a shining light for democracy to something uncharacteristically disgraceful. It is as if we have to have our way by arguments or fisticuffs. There can be more order on a playground of toddlers,” his tweet read.
In another tweet, he wrote: “Parliament is a chamber of intellect and not a chamber pot for brawlers.”
Wednesday, December 1, 2021, served as a continuation of chaotic disagreement in the House relative to the passage of a rejected budget the previous day.
Members on the Minority side moved a motion seeking to reverse the November 30, 2021, passage of a budget they had voted to reject on November 26.
But the presiding Speaker and MP for Bekwai, Joseph Osei-Owusu turned ruled against the motion and subsequently adjourned the sitting triggering chaotic scenes on the floor.
Gabby’s reference to January 6, is two violent scenes in Parliament on January 6 when the 7th Parliament was dissolved to make way for the constitution of the current Parliament.
The night started with a seating brawl as the opposition NDC took the side meant for the Majority. The real crisis kicked off when the time came to elect the Speaker of the House.
A standoff that saw MPs openly engage in name-calling and even physical confrontations forced a military contingent to intervene at a point when all was said and done, the NDC’s candidate and former Nadowli Kaleo MP, Alban Bagbin beat the NPP’s candidate in person of Prof Aaron Mike Oquaye.
A number of MPs have since publicly apologized for the incidents which attracted weeks of condemnation by the public on traditional and social media platforms.
ghanaweb.com