Speaker of Parliament, Prof. Mike Oquaye, has denied receiving a letter from Minority Leader, Haruna Iddrisu, on how the House can deal with the spread of novel coronavirus.

Minority Leader Haruna Iddrisu in a March 20 letter suggested, among other things, the establishment of a bipartisan committee to deal with the spread of the virus.

But the Speaker said he is surprised that the letter has been making the rounds in the public because the Minority Leader was not around for sitting on Saturday -- when the letter was said was allegedly written.

He also said no one brought the letter to his attention at a pre-sitting meeting on Monday.

He is also surprised that Mr Iddrisu did not go through the right channel, per the dictates of the House in getting his concerns across.

“If it is only a matter of a bill, the Minority Leader knows the processes that must be followed with regards to the business of this House. I will like that in this House, we go by the rules,” the Speaker said.

Majority Leader Osei Kyei-Mensah Bonsu and the Speaker criticised Haruna Iddrisu for suggesting in the letter that he disagrees with provisions in the Imposition of Restrictions Bill, passed by the House last Friday.

"If we have to proceed from there, that a bill that Parliament has fashioned and you are saying that you disagree, then that becomes a challenge,” Mr Osei Kyei-Mensah Bonsu said.

The Majority Leader, however, said he has not had time to read the letter.

"I will apply myself to it to see the content," he said.

Parliament on March 21, 2020, passed the Imposition of Restrictions Bill despite opposition by the Minority.

The Imposition of Restrictions Bill will give the President the powers to impose restrictions on the movement of people in the event of a disaster or emergency.

The legislation was laid in the House under a certificate of emergency in accordance with Article 21 (4) (c) and (d) of the Constitution.

After the third reading of the Bill on Friday evening, a voice count favoured its passage into law.