Joseph Osei-Owusu, the First Deputy Speaker of Parliament, has asserted that the recent happening in Parliament is as a result of the politics of today.
The lawmaker, also known as Joe Wise, has said he is disappointed with the recent developments saying such things have always been resolved by leadership behind closed doors.
According to him, he is shocked at the turn of events in the House which is now in the light of the public.
Speaking on Hot Issues with TV3’s Keminni Amanor Sunday, November 03, 2024, the Bekwai lawmaker said Parliament is now majoring on the minor issues.
He said he is very much disappointed with what is happening, indicating who occupies a majority or minority should not be at the forefront of parliamentary discussions.
“It’s a reflection of the politics of today, of the things that we place emphasis on, of things that, in my view, should be in the background, of things that do not add any value to our work as MPs.
“I’m disappointed. I think those are not the things that should take the front stage when we’re discussing
“But why are we behaving as we’re doing, when in the past, in the previous three parliaments I’ve been in, such matters are discussed indoors, at the leadership level,” he stated.
He argued the situation exhibits amateurism and provides a bad reflection on Parliament.
He said the House has always has diverse opinions due to the composition of members from different backgrounds and representing various polities, the ongoing impasse leaves much to be desired.
“How is it now playing out in the open, with whipping members to be agitated and showing off their amateurism? What value does that serve?
“It is reflecting badly on Parliament, what we should do. As for having controversy, it has always been with Parliament. The reason Parliament is called Parliament is because it is a reflection of the various shades of ideas in the country,” he stated.
Ghana’s Parliament is currently on an indefinite adjournment with the Speaker hinting of reconvening next week.
He adjourned the House indefinitely after failing to attain quorum in its last sitting due to a boycott by the Members from the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP).
The NPP members have said their position as Majority caucus of the House had been taken by the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) who constitute the Minority.
Meanwhile, the NDC members say they are the Majority following an October 17, 2024 ruling by the Speaker of Parliament which reduced the membership of the NPP members to become the Minority, with the NDC assuming the Majority caucus.
Four Members of Parliament had switched their allegiance to either contesting as independent or joining a different political party in the December 2024 election, a situation Article 97 of the 1992 Constitution says renders one’s seat vacant the moment such a decision is taken.
However, the leader of the NPP caucus, Alexander Kwamena Afenyo-Markin, after the Speaker’s ruling went to the Supreme Court with an ex parte motion where the apex court stayed the ruling of the Speaker.
This was awaiting an original application which is seeking an interpretation of the Article 97. Meanwhile, the Speaker’s move to get the Supreme Court overturn its earlier verdict of staying his ruling was dismissed by the Supreme Court on Thursday, October 31, 2024.
Supreme Court is not a supervisor of Parliament – Dafeamekpor
