The Member of Parliament for Akwapim South and Deputy Minister for Local Government, Decentralization and Rural Development, Osei Bonsu Amoah, has asked stakeholders and lawmakers to seek interpretation of the provisions of the Constitution to prevent a fight over the number of MPs who approved the budget in Parliament.
Speaking on recent development in Parliament, he averred that using abusive words in Parliament is not right. Commenting on the MP for Ashaiman, Ernest Norgbey, who dragged the seat of the interim Speaker of Parliament, he described it as an affront to the dignity of Parliament.
“You’re there to debate and make laws, you’re there to take decisions, and at the end of the day, if it goes one way or the other and you’re not able to reverse it, we have the courts to assist especially, the Supreme Court to interpret the provisions of the Constitution”.
Osei Bonsu Amoah
Mr. Amoah described the current happenings regarding the approval of the 2022 Budget Statement as embarrassing.
“The issue of what we have been doing in Parliament, as far as I’m concerned, is very embarrassing. This should not happen at all and if you know the history of the House, the pedigree of Parliament, those who sit in Parliament should behave and behave well”.
Osei Bonsu Amoah
I’m a Member of Parliament- First Deputy Speaker to Parliament
Mr. Amoah’s comments come after Parliament recorded chaotic scenes on Wednesday December, 1, 2021 after the First Deputy Speaker, Joseph Osei-Owusu, threw out a motion from the Minority side of the House. The Minority moved the motion for the House to reverse its decision of Tuesday 30th November, 2021 which approved of the 2022 Budget.
According to the First Deputy Speaker, Joseph Osei Wusu, the Standing Orders of the House were clear on the numbers that meet the terms for the quorum needed to commence proceedings and the quorum for taking decisions.
The ruling caused chaos as members of the Minority challenged the outcome, leading to the House being suspended for an hour. Afterwards, the MP for Ashaiman, Ernest Norgbey, then dragged the Speaker’s chair from its position into the walkway after sitting was suspended.
Peace Council calls for consensus building
Meanwhile, the National Peace Council (NPC) has called on the Majority and Minority in Parliament to resort to dialogue and consensus building to resolve the impasse surrounding the approval of the 2022 Budget. The NPC made the call after meeting both parties to find an amicable solution to the recent development in Parliament.
“The Council in pursuit of the above appeals to both sides of the House, to continue the path of dialogue in resolving the current impasse and those that may recur in the future”.
National Peace Council
A statement issued by the NPC also called on the media and all those who make statements on the matter, to exercise maximum restraint in their pronouncements to protect the peace, stability and the integrity in the country.
The National Peace Council revealed that both sides have made concessions and a committee of 20 members drawn from both sides have been set up to dialogue and possibly find a solution to the impasse as soon as possible.
