News:
Dr. James Klutse Avedzi
December 21, 2021
The Minority Caucus in Parliament has described as unfortunate allegations by the Deputy Majority Leader, Alexander Afenyo Markin’s that the Speaker, Alban Bagbin was deliberately conniving with the minority to obstruct government business when he failed to be present to preside over proceedings in the evenings of Monday, November 20, 2021.
The majority had cause to accuse the Speaker of not showing leadership when he failed to be present to preside over critical government business like the consideration of the Electronic Transaction Levy Bill, forcing one of the deputy Speakers to preside over proceedings.
That decision reduced the voting numbers of the Majority by a critical one vote and the Majority did not take kindly to the development.
But addressing the media, the Deputy Minority leader, James Klutse Avedzi refuted that allegation, stating that the Speaker’s absence was purely on health grounds.
He asserts that Mr. Bagbin just returned from medical treatment and would have to obey his doctor’s instructions and directives, because his life is very important.
He said the agreement on Friday before the adjournment of the House was that the business on Monday would be purely on E-levy. And instead of the scheduled time of 10am, the House started sitting around 4-5pm. “And Mr. Speaker, somebody who is now about to rest enough, so that he can regain his health you cannot put him through all these issues for him to go through all these hustle waiting for long.
Eventually, when the House sat, they introduced new business and the Speaker couldn’t wait that long.
We are surprised that the deputy leader, Hon. Markin should be calling on the Speaker of parliament to show leadership. We do not see anything that the Speaker of parliament is doing that shows that he is not showing leadership. in fact if we want to talk about the Speakers of parliament, and in the immediate past Speaker of the 7th parliament as compared to the current Speaker of the 8th Parliament, if you want to talk about who is showing leadership, it is honourable Bagbin who is showing leadership”.
Citing the way Mr. Bagbin handled the way things unfolded in his absence for medical attention, he said but for his leadership skills, the Speaker would have reversed everything that was than; but because he wants the country to move on so “he only said he was not going to do anything to turn, or overturn those decisions”.
Describing the Speaker as an experienced politician and former member of parliament, Mr. Avedzi said the Speaker is the only person who has served the parliament of Ghana for 28 good years up to the 7th parliament, and “we are fortunate to have him as the Speaker of the 8th Parliament where he is putting before the entire country, his experience as a former member of parliament.
He, thus called on all and sundry, to disregard all the comments by Mr. Afenyo Markins in relations to the leadership style of Mr. Bagbin.
Dominic Shirimori/Ghanamps.com