Patrick Yaw Boamah, the lawmaker for Okaikoi Central, has criticized Rockson-Nelson Dafeamekpor, the lawmaker for South Dayi, for voicing worries about the absence of a quorum on Wednesday, July 19.
Following a request for postponement by the MP for South Dayi, Parliament had to defer its sessions on Wednesday, due to a shortage of the 92 lawmakers necessary for business to be conducted in the House.
Patrick Yaw Boamah declared during a debate in Parliament that Dafeamekpor’s bad behavior needed to be looked into.
“Once you are within the precincts of Parliaments, you are deemed to be present undertaking business, as you are so directed. So, for a member who belongs to a committee with its activities being televised to leave it and enter the Chamber to raise an issue of quorum, for the whole country to think that this Parliament is not a serious House, smacks of mischief.
“We are in this country together and we want to run the country as a civilized one. And we believe that members ought not to stray into other areas that will present Parliament in a bad state and so, this ought to be looked into.”
Patrick Yaw Boamah
With his plea for an adjournment on Wednesday, Dafeamekpor refuted the accusation of being “prankish”, claiming that the records at hand suggested that the property was not properly prepared for business activity.
“My brother, Patrick Boamah makes the point that members come to sign and go for committee meetings. But he has forgotten that when you attend committee meetings, your attendance is marked again. So, that is not the argument because the Supreme Court says that anytime Parliament is convened, there should be a quorum to be determined.”
Rockson-Nelson Dafeamekpor
Second Deputy Speaker complains over absenteeism in Parliament
In order for business to be conducted in Parliament, the leadership of both sides of the house has been challenged by the Second Deputy Speaker, Andrew Amoako Asiamah, to act properly.
Due to insufficient attendance to begin parliamentary business in the chamber, the house has been forced to adjourn sittings on numerous occasions.
In response to concerns about quorum voiced by Rockson-Nelson Dafeamekpor, a member of parliament for South Dayi, the Second Deputy Speaker Andrew Amoako Asiamah, who presided over the meeting, said that members of parliament must take their duties as officers of the house seriously.
“I think that we have to take the house seriously. If you have been following the media over the weekend, they all descended on Parliament; the fact that we don’t get the members to do business and I think it is becoming unbecoming. So honorable members, today will be the last day that we will raise this issue, so I am urging you to do more.”
Andrew Amoako Asiamah
However, in relation to MPs skipping parliamentary sessions, Kwadwo Appiagyei-Atuah, a law professor at the University of Ghana, added that the boycott of Parliament by the minority in opposition for the ongoing prosecution of Assin North MP, James Gyakye Quayson is harming the people of Ghana.
According to Professor Appiagyei-Atuah, the minority should not be boycotting the legislature because they have vital matters to take care of for the nation. Moreover, he added that it seems that is the only way they believe they can air their complaints and grievances. It all boils down to the argument being made, he continued, stating that the Attorney General should submit a nolle prosequi to release the accused.
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