Pandemonium broke out in Parliament on Thursday during a debate which saw the Speaker walking out on the members while the minority shouted “Shame, Shame” as he walked out. The Guide says tempers were so high that members argued fiercely among themselves with a number of members from the minority openly challenging the Clerk of Parliament, Mr Rex Owusu Ansah, for not calling the Speaker.
The Majority Leader, Mr J.H. Mensah had moved the motion that the House adopts the third report from the Committee of Selection on Amendments to the First report of the composition of Standing Committees and urged the Speaker to pose the question.
When he did so and asked those in favour to respond “Yes,” the Majority responded but when asked those against the motion to say “No,” the Minority answered with a shout and he ruled that the “Yes” had won the motion.
The minority is said to have got infuriated and Hon Amos Burtey, MP for Ada challenged the ruling and called for a head count but the Speaker grew adamant.
The Hon J.H. Mensah who tried to debate on the issue, attracted shouts of “No, No” and beating of tables from the peeved Minority who protested vehemently.
“Then started the chaos as members confronted each other in a disorderly manner, thereby bringing proceedings to a temporary halt.”
In the ensuing chaos, the Minority held an emergency Press Conference expressing their dissatisfaction at the Speaker’s behaviour accusing him of indecent conduct by his walkout.
Source: GhanaWeb
