Name & shame evil beings in Parliament …Afenyo-Markin tasks media, civil society

Instead of making  sweeping  general statements that elected Lawmakers have become troublemakers in the Chamber of Parliament, the specific bad nuts that have developed an addiction for trouble mongering ought to be singled out, named and shamed to deter them from their incessant hooliganism, Alexander Afenyo-Markin, the Deputy Majority Leader has suggested.

Afenyo-Markin, who represents the Effutu Constituency in Parliament, was referring to the recent confusion and chaos in the House during which the Member of Parliament for Ashaiman Constituency, Ernest Norgbey, was seen snatching the seat of the Speaker of Parliament.

It took the intervention of the Marshals to restrain Ernest Norgbey and return the seat to where it ought to be while his colleagues went on a verbal rampages, waged their forefingers in anger and yelled in a manner unbefitting of learned adults.

The said chair-snatching MP has remained unapologetic and rather defended his actions.

Speaking on Joy FM’s News File last Saturday, Afenyo-Markin lamented: “You see, some people have made themselves gentle souls but they are the most poisonous. They would incite and pretend that they are calming. I won’t mention their names; they know themselves. And if you the media, you pay attention to movements and posture, you would know that those are the real evil beings in the Chamber.”

“People are talking about Parliamentarians embarrassing themselves and all that. I would urge the public to strongly, especially you the media, call individuals out. I am really tired of the verbal abuse. They have been abusing us all the time; insults; the NDC, side.

“Get the tapes. That day, Joe Osei- Owusu (received) insults upon insults; we would be quite and watching them. When he was about ruling; they rehearsed. I saw them. I have been in the chamber, I know movements. People changed positions and some people walked out.

“Sometimes I sit in the Chamber, and I fear for my life because the smallest thing we are debating then you [NDC MPs] threaten someone that I will beat you, I will beat you. Really, you should call them out”, Afenyo-Markin noted.

Way Forward

The Deputy Majority Leader explained further: “Let me come to the issue of the 20-man Committee headed by me, yes we have agreed to deescalate.  Some elders in the Chamber, Senior Members were of the view that these things should not happen. I am happy our colleagues from the other side obliged that position.

“We have had two meetings and it has been well. I think gradually members are beginning to appreciate the position that we do not need to go physical and all that.

“If per the approach, we all agree that the best way is to arm yourself with your Standing Orders, get your Constitution and go by the rules of the House, it would help our democracy.

“When we were in opposition, anytime that we disagreed on the Floor and Mr. Speaker ruled against us, we went to the Supreme Court. Today I see people referring to some of the decisions, many of them.

“The Electoral Commission case, the NPP would go to the Supreme Court, we would not come ad pick the Mace, we would not come and take Mr. Speaker’s Chair, we would not insult Mr. Speaker.  Go and check the records whether we ever abused Doe Adjaho or whether we verbally abused Bamford-Addo, the former Justice of the Supreme Court who became Speaker under Professor Mills.

“But check the records and you would see even with my respected Honourabe Harruna Idrisu verbally abusing Mike Oquaye. Check the records and the tapes they are there. We would not verbally abuse Mr. Speaker, we disagree with him. But on their side, look at what they did to Joe Osei-Owusu, such a thing should never have happened”, Afenyo-Markin stated.