The Minority in Parliament has abstained from participating in the debate on the State of the Nation Address (SONA).
Motion for the House to thank the President for the Message of the state of the Nation, which was delivered to Parliament last Thursday, 20th February 2020, was moved by Minister for Information, Kojo Oppong-Nkrumah on Tuesday 25th February 2020.
The Minority, however, failed to second the motion when Speaker of the House, Prof. Aaron Michael Oquaye, prompted the side for their position on the debate.
He noted that it is customary for the Minority side, which sits on the left of the Speaker, to second when such particular motion is moved on his right.
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Minority Chief Whip, Muntaka Mohammed Mubarak, in response noted that seconding the motion is not a rule but a convention and indicated the Minority has taken a decision not to participate in the debate.
“So we will not be speaking to it,” he stated.
This statement drew catcalls from members of the Majority who demanded why the Minority members bothered to enter the Chamber if they have decided not to participate in the debate.
Majority leader Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu noted that a Member is not required to be in the House to participate in the voting of any question that is put in the House.
According to him, after the debate on the SONA a question will be put on the motion.
He argued that any member who is not in the Chamber when the statement was being made is technically qualified to participate in the debate.
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He said, “Nothing prevents the Minority from participating in the debate. But the decision is totally theirs whether to participate or not.”
“Chief Whip has said they are not going to participate. That decision is theirs and must be respected,” he added.
He stressed, however, that if the Minority has decided not to participate the Majority side could still go on and debate and perhaps speak what they are thinking for the opposition.
