Former Tamale Central MP Inusah Fuseini has asked the Speaker of Parliament, Alban Bagbin accommodate divergent views. 

According to him, the Speaker must allow members to express their opinions on issues. 

As a result, he thus described as unfortunate the exchanges that ensued between the Speaker and the Minority Chief Whip, Muntaka Mubarak on Thursday, November 11. 

“I think that what happened was unfortunate. The Speaker should be more tolerant of divergent views to bring order in Parliament. 

Nothing prevents a member from disagreeing with the Speaker’s ruling on the floor of the house, except that the Speaker will remind that member that there is a rule of procedure in challenging decisions of a Speaker.”

An altercation ensued between the Speaker and Mr Muntaka. 

The issuer arose when Asawase MP in seconding the motion of censure vote disagreed with the Speaker’s decision to set up an ad-hoc to probe the allegations. 

According to him, that ruling amounted to a travesty of justice in the chamber. 

However, Mr Bagbin is defending his action, and accused the Asawase MP of attacking his ruling despite not having the authority to do so.

“Hon, you are completely out of order. Hon. Member, I don’t take my rulings lightly, please. 

You are attacking my ruling, and I think you don’t have the authority to do so. If you want to attack my ruling, come by a substantive motion,” the Speaker said. 

He subsequently asked the table of office to expunge excerpts of Mr Muntaka’s utterances. 

This, Mr Fuseini says is unfortunate.