News:
February 16, 2025
Amenfi West lawmaker Eric Afful has raised concerns about the growing disorder in parliament anytime the Rt. Hon Speaker, Alban Bagbin is not presiding over affairs in the House.
According to him whenever the two deputy Speakers, Bernard Ahiafor, and Andrew Amoako Asiamah are in the chair the House seems to lack decorum, particularly the 2nd deputy Speaker.
“The Minority becomes more hostile; it is not the best and should not be entertained, hence my call for the House to be sitting in the afternoon from two o’clock. By then the Speaker himself would have been around; and Members of Parliament can have time to be on the floor. Professionals among us like doctors and lawyers can also go about their duties in the morning and comeback to the chamber for business. Again traffic will not be an issue for us to have the numbers to transact business” he stated in an interview.
Again, one benefit we will have is that we avoid seeing students travel from very long distances like Northern Ghana to the House to observe proceedings; rather they can observe behind television sets from their schools.
Additionally, our constituents can have the opportunity of watching live proceedings by the afternoon as those who are farmers as well as others who manage shops can go about their duties in the morning but make time to observe proceedings from two o’clock to eight o’clock.
Mr Afful further revealed that when he raised the matter on the floor of the House, staffs of Parliament have issues with the time he was proposing on the floor of the House on Friday, February 14, 2025, and approached him on it, indicating that their closing time will be late when the new proposal is adopted.
He however, added that the Parliamentary staff need to assist them on this because any new policy one will encounter the merit and demerit, but one needs to choose the best option that can help solve the problem.
Kwaku Sakyi-Danso/Ghanamps.com