The Minority in Parliament has walked out and boycotted the swearing-in of the newly elected Member of Parliament for Ayawaso West Wougon, Lydia Seyram Alhassan, following the violence during the Parliamentary by-election at the La- Bawaleshie Presbyterian School.
The Minority expressed their dissatisfaction on the outcome of the by-election and the unfortunate assault of the Member of Parliament for Ningo-Prampram, Mr. Samuel Nartey George on Thursday, January 31, 2019.
When preparations were underway to swear in Madam Seyram Alhassan at the Plenary, some Minority MPs shouted in protest against the ceremony, as the Speaker of Parliament read the summons from the Electoral Commission on the election declaration of the winner.
As the Speaker of Parliament, Professor Mike Oquaye, continued to read the summons, the Minority caucus raised placards with the inscriptions “bloody widow”, in reference to the incidents of brutality from some National Security personnel during the by-election.
The Minority Chief Whip and Member of Parliament for Asawase, Alhaji Muntaka Mohammed-Mubarak, in expressing his grievances on behalf of the Minority, pointed out that they are disappointed on the brutalities of some innocent citizens and a member from the Minority side.
Mr. Muntaka explained that the Minority cannot take part in the ceremony, since some citizens were unnecessarily brutalised by some National Security persons.
“In commiseration to support our comrades and citizens that were unnecessarily hurt and brutally assaulted. I am sorry to say we cannot indulge in this. Our side of the house cannot be here to witness this swearing in”, Mr. Muntaka lamented.
The Minority subsequently walked out of the Plenary, in “black and red” costumes, to show their displeasure.
However, the ceremony took place as Madam Lydia Seyram Alhassan was sworn in as the Member of Parliament for Ayawaso West Wougon, after the demise of Mr. Kyeremanteng Agyarko.
Majority’s response
The Deputy Majority Leader and member Parliament for Dome Kwabenya, Ms. Sara Adwoa Safo chided the Minority’s walkout exercise.
She averred that the posture of the Minority is disappointing, and that it is a bad precedent that should not be entertained.
Ms. Adwoa Safo added that the Majority is not perturbed by the walkout exercise and the absence of the Minority.
“Business will continue as usual because all the constitutional requirements have been satisfied by this House and by the Electoral Commission”, she concluded.
Source: GhanaJustice/S.Ayisi
