The Majority Leader in Parliament, Osei Kyei Mensah-Bonsu, has described as shameful and embarrassing moment in Parliament when Members of Parliament (MPs) were engaged in a free-for-all fight over the Electronic Transaction Levy (E-levy) bill.
Addressing the media in Parliament, Mr. Mensah-Bonsu urged his colleagues in the House to render an apology to Ghanaians for the incident that happened in Parliament on Monday.
“Let me begin by first of all apologizing for and on behalf of the Members of Parliament for what happened in the House. I am speaking in my capacity as the Majority leader and also leader of the House.
“I think this is a very shameful and embarrassing moment for us in Parliament. I think all of us in parliament must be bowing down our heads in shame for this gross dereliction of responsibility and we must apologize for the people we represent in parliament,” Kyei Mensah-Bonsu urged his colleague MPs.
Background
Chaos broke out in Parliament Monday night during consideration of the controversial Electronic Transaction Levy (E-Levy) bill as Members of Parliament (MPs) engaged in a free for all fight as the House was forced to abandon proceedings.
Second Deputy Speaker, Andrew Amoako Asiamah, was compelled to preside over proceedings in the absence of the Speaker, Alban Bagbin who left after demands for the E-Levy bill to be tabled went unheeded.
The Minority called for a division when the Speaker ruled the Majority had won a voice vote to carry a motion for adoption of the report from the Finance Committee on the bill.
This resulted in the second Deputy Speaker suspending the House to the disagreements of the NDC MPs whose leader, Haruna Iddrisu, addressed the media to register his displeasure.
The Majority through its deputy leader, Alexander Afenyo-Markin accused the Speaker Alban Bagbin of deliberately abandoning Parliament to enable the Minority to frustrate government business.
Sitting however resumed with first Deputy Speaker, Joseph Osei-Owusu presiding who announced he would partake in the voting even as he presided despite standing order 109 bars him from doing so.
This got the Minority agitated. Chaos then broke out when he handed over the chair to the second deputy speaker who had voted to enable him to vote too.
The MPs started punching and head-butting each other bringing proceedings to a halt. The house then returned to adjourn proceedings to Tuesday.
Parliament adjourned
However, Parliament has adjourned sitting sine die failing to pass the controversial E-levy.
The application for adjournment was moved by Majority leader Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu who argued the move is to ensure a serene environment for consideration of the controversial tax. It was supported by the Minority Leader Haruna Iddrisu.
Source: Ghana/Starrfm.com.gh/103.5FM/Isaac Dzidzoamenu
