Bagbin’s absence is on health grounds – Klutse Avedzi explains Speaker’s absence
Deputy Minority leader James Klutsze Avedzi has come out to clarify that the Speaker of Parliament’s absence from the house on Monday was not a deliberate attempt to frustrate government business.
He revealed to the press on Tuesday, December 21 2021 that the Speaker’s absence was purely based on health grounds.
Mr Avedzi clarification was in response to the Deputy Majority Leader’s claims that the Speaker’s absence was part of a scheme by the Minority to frustrate the approval of the E-levy.
“He [Afenyo Markin] said Bagbin’s absence was a deliberate act to frustrate government business. That is a complete lie. It is not true. We all know Bagbin just returned from Dubai where he went for medical treatment, and he must obey the instructions of his doctors,” Mr. Avedzi said.
He also debunked Afenyo-Markin’s assertions suggesting that Alban Bagbin had failed to show leadership amid the controversy surrounding the passage of the 2022 budget.
“If Bagbin was not showing leadership, he would have reversed the wrongs by the First Deputy Speaker, but for the fact that he wanted the country to move on, he said he will not do anything to overturn the decisions, so for Afenyo-Markin to say that Bagbin is not showing leadership is very surprising.”
“He is the only person who has served Parliament for 28 good years. Everybody should disregard the comments from Afenyo-Markin in relation to the leadership style of Bagbin.”
Deliberations on the controversial E-levy bill yesterday in Ghana’s legislature was expected to bring finality to an arguably long-standing disagreement over the 2022 Budget, but it ended up in a brawl as some MPs exchanged blows.
As votes were being cast on whether the E-levy bill should be taken under a certificate of urgency, the Minority got incensed over an attempt by the presiding Speaker, Joe Osei-Owusu to leave the chair to cast his vote.
The Minority caucus argued that perPparliament’s standing orders, the Speaker of Parliament does not have a casting vote, however, Joe Osei-Owusu indicated that he would still vote, and that resulted in a brawl in the chamber.
By: Stella Annan | myactiveonline.com Twitter @activetvgh
