The Majority Group Leader , Osei Kyei Mensah-Bonsu, has intimated that, the recent conducts by the Minority in Parliament indicates that some NDC legislators are not informed on some Parliamentary practices.
His concern, he says, comes on the back of the various opposition the incumbent government has encountered;during the approval of some ministers-designate appointed by President Akufo-Addo,;the debate on the 2021 budget statement, and the passage of the Appropriation Bill.
The Suame MP said that although he seeks to work with the Minority due to the numbers of each Caucus in the House, their actions appear to be that of an “obstructionist opposition party.
Minority informed on right process severally
Furthermore, the Majority leader revealed that on several occasions, he had to inform the Minority on the right processes to follow;in presenting their opposing views on the Floor of the House.
To him, a collective opposition through a representative to inform the Speaker on the reasons a policy cannot be accepted or should be dismissed so it is recorded in the Hansard is the best way to address matters in the House.
“I have been telling them that if on the matter of policy you disagree;when it comes to voting in the House and maybe the question is put that yes, it is a voice vote, if you say I or nay and the Speaker pronounces that the I’s have it, if you say nay and it came from one side, the nay from that side will not be registered in the Hansard.
“If you want your question to be registered in the Hansard for posterity, what you have to do, as I was doing will be to get up and say that ‘Mr Speaker, on this matter as a matter of policy, we in the NDC as collective, we oppose this on the account of 1,2,3,4. We are not able to go along with the government, let it be so registered in the Hansard’. We move on, that is how Parliamentary practice is.”
Kyei Mensah-Bonsu
Mr. Mensah-Bonsu indicated that should the Minority continue to oppose the Speaker’s voice vote declaration and insist on headcount voting,;it will be seen as a mere obstructionist and “that is not good for a party that wants to be recognized as a government in waiting.”
First parliament meeting turbulent
Mr Osei Kyei Mensah Bonsu also recounting on Parliamentary happenings so far described the first sitting of the 8th Parliament as one that was turbulent.
He further described as embarrassing the riots that characterized the election of a Speaker. majority leader
“I will say it was turbulent. With the near parative in numbers, I thought it was going to be more consultative;with whichever step we wanted to take as a ruling party with a ruling administration.”
Kyei Mensah-Bonsu
Mr. Mensah-Bonsu said the equal number of Members of Parliament belonging to the Majority and Minority Caucuses;meant that President Akufo-Addo has to be very consultative with Parliament. But, he says unfortunately, the NDC MPs in the House have demonstrated otherwise.
“What I didn’t anticipate was the mere riot that we witnessed in Parliament. I don’t want to believe that we are going to see an obstructionist opposition party. So far, you are not too sure of how to read the weather.”
Kyei Mensah-Bonsu
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