Bagbin calls for violence free elections in Akwatia
The Speaker of Parliament, Mr. Alban Bagbin, has expressed the hope that unlike the violence that took place in the recent re-running of elections in Ablekuma North, the by-elections in Akwatia, would be peaceful.
He urged MPs to remove violence from their political lives.
The Speaker was speaking after the swearing in of the NDC MP for Ablekuma North, Ewurabena Aubynn, now the youngest member of Ghana’s parliament.
The event was boycotted by the minority NPP, who walked out of the chamber in protest over her emerging the winner of the Ablekuma North elections, which the NPP did not participate in.
Mr. Bagbin charged the NDC MPs, who now have two-thirds majority of seats in the ninth parliament, not to use this advantage to bully the NPP minority in parliament.
He reminded the NDC side of the house not to also use their majority to silence the minority but allow their colleagues to have their say in all businesses of the house.
He said the two-thirds NDC majority must be used to advance the business of the house and for the good of the country.
Mr. Bagbin took notice of the growing violence not only related to elections in Ghana but in parliament.
He touched on the use of intemperate language and submissions during business on the floor of parliament.
Mr. Bagbin also took time to admonish the newly sworn-in MP to learn, put up a good behavior and remember that she’ll have to go back to her constituents after her term of office to seek their support again.
Meanwhile, parliament has by resolution approved the re-constitution of the representatives of the members of the parliament of Ghana to the Pan-African parliament.
Mr. Bernard Ahiafor, the first deputy Speaker, will be the leader of the delegation to the continental parliament.
The others are Mr. Rockson Defeamekpor, MP for South Dayi, Alhaji Collins Dauda, MP for Asutifi South and Dr. Zanetor Agyeman-Rawlings, MP for Klottey Korle.
The rest are Mr. Frank Annoh-Dompreh, MP for Nsawam Adoagyiri and Mr. Patrick Boamah, MP for Okaikwei Central.
By Eunice Menka