‘Ghanaians won’t take us seriously if we don’t stop blows in Parliament’ – Muntaka Mubarak

The Minority Chief Whip, Muntaka Mubarak, is appealing to Members of Parliament to find amicable and civilised ways of resolving their differences in the house instead of fighting.

He insists Ghanaians won’t the august house seriously if these acts are not stopped.

A decision of the First Deputy Speaker to take leave of the Speaker’s chair for the Second Deputy Speaker to take charge, allegedly to enable him to participate in voting occasioned disagreement from the Minority, and a subsequent tussle over the Speaker’s sitting area ensued.

The brawl saw dozens of the opposition parliamentarians exchange fisticuffs with their colleagues on the majority side, while some officials of parliament tried to protect the Speaker’s seat and the mace of parliament from being attacked.

But calm returned moments after, before the Second Deputy Speaker, Andrew Asiamah, adjourned the sitting.

However, the Asawase MP, speaking on the incident on Citi TV’s current affairs programme, The Point of View on Wednesday, December 22, 2021, described it as unfortunate and sad.

“It is just too unfortunate and very sad that these things keep happening in the house, and we keep coming and apologizing and yet, we keep repeating the same behaviour and actions and I don’t know whether Ghanaians would take our apology seriously and whatever we do.”

The Majority Leader, Osei Kyei Mensah-Bonsu had earlier condemned the fighting in the house.

He described the development as embarrassing and shameful.

Addressing the media on Tuesday, December 21, 2021, Osei Kyei Mensah-Bonsu said parliament and parliamentarians must apologize for the incident.

“I think this is a very shameful and embarrassing moment for us in parliament. I think all of us in parliament must be bowing down our heads in shame for this gross dereliction of responsibility, and we must apologize for the people we represent in parliament,” he said.

Source: Modern Ghana