Leading Member of the NPP, Gabby Otchere Darko
MPs fight over e-levy
Ghanaians criticize MPs conduct
Parliament adjourns sitting indefinitely
A leading member of the governing New Patriotic party (NPP), Gabby Asare Otchere Darko, has charged both the majority and minority members of parliament to desist from fisticuffs in the Chamber to avoid damaging the furniture in the House.
Members of Parliament on both side of the divide on Monday December 20, 2021, threw punches at each other with the Sports Minister, Mustapha Yussif, reportedly receiving a hefty slap from an unidentified MP.
The brawl broke out on the floor when presiding Speaker, Joseph Osei Owusu, attempted to recuse himself for second deputy speaker, Andrew Asiamah, to take his seat while he goes to participate in a voting process to determine whether or not the contentious e-levy bill should be considered under a certificate of urgency.
This is the third major chaos in Ghana’s august house described as a hung parliament.
Reacting to the brawl that happened, Gabby Asare Otchere Darko entreated MPs to always remain calm in the House in order not to damage parliament’s properties.
“Surely, Parliament’s post-2020 dual role as a boxing ring as well cannot be allowed to continue for the next 3 years, for at least the sake of the furniture. The dignity of Members is best tested in a hung Parliament. 137+1 vs 137, with a Speaker who was leader of the Opposition!” he tweeted.
Surely, Parliament’s post-2020 dual role as a boxing ring as well cannot be allowed to continue for the next 3 years, for at least the sake of the furniture. The dignity of Members is best tested in a hung Parliament. 137+1 vs 137, with a Speaker who was leader of the Opposition! pic.twitter.com/eFS4o8llTC
— Gabby Otchere-Darko (@GabbyDarko) December 21, 2021
In a separate tweet, the NPP stalwart expressed concerns over the disparities existing between the role of deputy speakers in the country compared to other jurisdictions.
“The peculiarities of our democracy bring up new challenges. In legislatures where the Speaker represents a constituency (as MP), she exercises a casting vote while presiding. Here our speaker is not an MP but his deputies are,” he wrote.
The peculiarities of our democracy bring up new challenges. In legislatures where the Speaker represents a constituency (as MP), she exercises a casting vote while presiding. Here our speaker is not an MP but his deputies are.
— Gabby Otchere-Darko (@GabbyDarko) December 21, 2021
Meanwhile, Parliament has indefinitely adjourned sitting to facilitate broader consultations on the e-levy bill which the Minority caucus has vowed to oppose.
The bill, if approved in its current state, will see a 1.75% charge slapped on all electronic transactions including mobile money.