News:
January 10, 2021
As names of possible New Patriotic Party (NPP) Members of Parliament (MPs) who are alleged not to have voted for the candidature of the former Speaker Professor Aaron Michael Oquaye popped up, MP for Hemang Lower Denkyira, Bright Wireko-Brobby has denied allegations that he was one of those who snubbed the former speaker.
According to him the rumours making round on social media should be disregarded as it has come to his attention of some videos with misleading commentary about Thursday, December 7, 2021 dawn voting in parliament for a selection of speaker of the 8th parliament.
“The video on social media seeks to paint an impression that as soon as I took the ballot paper, I went straight to put the paper in the ballot box without ticking any choice, and that I may be the source of the rejected ballot”.
Mr. Wireko-Brobby issued a statement on Friday, December 8, 2021 to set the record straight by adding that it is a fabrication, a distortion of the events that unfolded and can be considered contemptuous of parliament.
And its Standing Orders 29 (h) is categorical that the publication of false perverted, misleading, distorted, fabrication or scandalous report as books or libels reflecting on the proceedings in parliament constitute breach of privilege or contempt of parliament.
“I did not cast my vote as is narrated in the video. It could not have been true because all votes were cast and secondly, for the records, I voted for Professor Aaron Oquaye, again four different MPs can testify to this”.
He further justified his point by noting that, his voting was live on UTV, he was the last but three voters who were called and has blue attire with a white face mask in the video when he stood up from his seat. “I took a pen from Ayawaso Central MP, Henry Quartey, I then walked to go and collect my ballot paper and walk towards the podium, I slowed down and paid particular attention to the names of the two people on the ballot paper”.
“Again, I used the pen I took from my colleague to tick professor Oquaye as my choice”. He pointed out that not everyone who voted actually made use of the voting booth by going to stand in before, ticking their choice.
In addition, NDC MPs and NPP MPs like myself who had pens in our hands just went ahead to tick after picking up the ballot, and then walked up stairs to go drop it in the ballot box, as they did not have to write the names of the people on the ballot paper, all they had to do was tick, a process that took less than 5 seconds for him to do whilst he was walking up the podium.
“Professor Oquaye showed us over the last four years that he is a compassionate, loving and competent handler of the affairs of the house, and, I have strong admiration for him as the best person to steer the affairs of this parliament which is why I voted for him”, he added.
“I am still baffled anyone would want to fabricate such outright lies against me, let us not allow such lies to thrive, our party shall rise from these difficult moments, long live the parliament of Ghana and long live the New Patriotic Party”.
Kwaku Sakyi-Danso/Ghanamps.com