Speaker of Parliament, Professor Aaron Michael Oquaye, has reportedly denied the Volta Caucus opportunity to read a statement on the murder of the Assemblyman for Sogakope South, Marcus Mawuli Adzahli.
Mr. Adzahli was shot multiple times at his home on March 1, 2020, in what residents suspect to be contract killing.
The incident sparked violent protests by the residents who say security in the area was poor.
According to the Caucus, the Speaker insisted the House had ‘more important and serious’ business to conduct.
Speaker Mike Oquaye was said to have initially admitted the Statement from MP for South Tongu, Kobbina Mensah Woyome on Tuesday to be read the day after.
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It was, however, postponed to Thursday 12th March but was subsequently shelved after the Speaker supposedly decided the ‘statement does not merit the attention of the House’.
Members of the Caucus disclosed this to the media at a press briefing and stressed they were compelled to address the matter in the media after the Speaker consistently found excuses to refuse reading of the statement on the floor of the House.
Mr. Woyome, who addressed the media lamented the development and pointed out that other members were given the platform to make statements on similar circumstances in the past.
He cited the murder of the nurse, Ruth Eshun, in Kumasi in February as an example for which statements from MPs for Berekum East and Juabso were admitted.
According to Mr. Woyome, he even agreed for the statement to be edited, which was not the norm, in addition to several other censures because he wanted to bring the matter to the fore for the necessary actions to be the taken and to reassure the family their interest is being attended to.
“So using the formal institution of Parliament to really bring to the fore the matter cannot just be wished away. That was why by Monday a statement to that effect was ready.”
“We discussed and submitted it on Tuesday and the Speaker admitted it and our leader Muntaka Mubarak informed us only to hear it should be the following day.”
“Later they said there were certain issues that needed to be ironed out because there were some controversies. I sent the statement to them to go through, which should not have been the case but I did.”
“I was assured the statement would be taken on Thursday morning but the Speaker later told me there was serious and important business for the House to conduct.”
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“But look at the time we adjourned. The Speaker, even at a time, was asking for more business,” he lamented
The South Tongu legislator noted that the minority is not being treated with the same standard to express their views over such an important matter, especially when it has to do with security and murder.
MP for North Tongu, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa expressed disappointment at the development.
The minority, he said, did not wish to be accused of mischief or playing to the gallery hence followed procedures to make the statement on the floor of the House.
However, after constant delays and the eventual denial from the Speaker they were compelled to address the matter on the sidelines.
The Minority, he said, assured the family of the victim they will take the matter to Parliament and request the Speaker to directive the Committees of Defence and Interior take up the matter within the formal structures of the House.
He said, “But we had no option because of the constant delays and the final excuse given to speak to you on the sidelines.”
“It is unfortunate. There ought to be standards and the same principle should apply for all MPs, all constituencies and all crimes that take place. This is really unfortunate,” he stated.
