Member of Parliament for Hemang Lower Denkyira has asked Ghanaians not to pay heed to videos making rounds on social media suggesting he did not vote for Prof Mike Oquaye to be the Speaker of the House.

According to Bright Wireko-Brobby, the commentary accompanying the video is misleading, adding that it points to him as the cause of the rejected ballot found while votes were being counted.

"Nothing can be further from the truth. It’s a fabrication, a distortion of the events that unfolded, and can be considered contemptuous of Parliament."

"In the first place, I think that assertion that I didn’t cast my vote as is narrated in the video could not have been true because all votes were cast," he added.

Mr Wireko-Brobby added that 4 people can also attest to the fact that he voted for Prof Mike Oquaye to be the Speaker of the 8th Parliament.

His statement comes barely a day after the MPs voted Alban Sumana Bagbin as the Speaker of the House.

He won a chaotic, closely contested secret ballot in the Chamber of Parliament on Thursday against former Speaker, Prof Aaron Mike Oquaye.

Bagbin, one of the oldest serving MPs, polled 138 votes against his predecessors 136 with one legislator failing to vote. With both NPP and NDC having 137 members each in parliament, is it asserted that two members from the NPP voted for the NDC's choice Alban Bagbin.

Mr Bagbin makes history for being the first Speaker of Parliament who is not selected by the governing party.

Mr Wireko-Brobby explained that the former Speaker of Parliament, Mike Ocquaye, has shown during his time that he was compassionate and competent in handling the affairs of the House.

He added that he has had a strong admiration for him as the best person to steer the affairs of 8th Parliament "which is why I voted for him."

"I am still baffled anyone would want to fabricate such outright lies against me. Let us not allow such lies to thrive. Our party shall rise from these difficult moments. Long live the Parliament of Ghana and long live the New Patriotic Party."

Read his statement below:

My attention has been drawn to a video with misleading commentary on social media about Thursday dawn’s voting in parliament for a Speaker.

The video and commentary seek to paint the impression that as soon as I took the ballot paper, I went on straight to put the paper in the ballot box without ticking my choice, and that I may be the source of the rejected ballot. Nothing can be further from the truth.

It’s a fabrication, a distortion of the events that unfolded and can be considered contemptuous of parliament. Parliament’s Standing Orders 29 (h) is categorical that the publication of false, perverted, misleading, distorted, fabricated or scandalous reports, books or libels reflecting on the proceedings in Parliament constitute breach of privilege or contempt of Parliament.

In the first place, I think that assertion that I didn’t cast my vote as is narrated in the video could not have been true because all votes were cast. Secondly, for the records, I voted for Prof. Mike Ocquaye. And there are at least 4 different members of parliament who can testify to this.

As this attached video of my voting which was live on UTV shows, I was the last but three voter who was called. I am the one in the blue attire wearing a white face mask in the video. When I stood up from my seat, I took a pen from Ayawaso Central MP Hon. Henry Quartey.

I then walked to go collect my ballot paper. As I walked towards the podium, I slowed down and paid particular attention to the names of the two people on the ballot paper. As I climbed the stairs to the podium, I slowed down further and used the pen I took from Hon. Henry Quartey to tick Prof. Mike Ocquaye as my choice.

Not everyone who voted actually made use of the voting booth by going to stand in it before ticking their choice. A number of NDC MPs and NPP MPs like myself who had pens in our hands just went ahead to tick after picking up the ballot, and then walked up stairs to go drop it in the ballot box.

Mind you, we did not have to write the names of the people on the ballot paper. All we had to do was tick, a process that took less than 5 seconds for me to do whilst I was walking up the podium.

Prof. Mike Ocquaye showed us over the last four years that he is a compassionate, loving and competent handler of the affairs of the house. And I have strong admiration for him as the best person to steer the affairs of this parliament which is why I voted for him.

Disregard any rumours that I did not vote for him and disregard any rumours that I did not tick the ballot paper. I voted Prof. Mike Ocquaye.

I am still baffled anyone would want to fabricate such outright lies against me. Let us not allow such lies to thrive. Our party shall rise from these difficult moments. Long live the parliament of Ghana and long live the New Patriotic Party.

Signed
Bright Wireko-Brobby
MP, Hemang Lower Denkyira