Audio By Carbonatix
The Majority Leader Cletus Avoka has assured of a smooth, healthy relationship with the Speaker of Parliament despite a minor fracas Friday which forced the Speaker out of the House.
The Speaker, Joyce Banford Addo walked out of Parliament, albeit temporarily, when her leadership qualities were challenged by the leadership of the Majority in the House.
The Deputy Majority Leader, Rashid Pelpuo, on the floor re-echoed a private discussion he claimed to have had with a Zimbabwean MP in which the said MP had described Ghana’s Parliament as chaotic.
Rashid Pelpuo said the behavior by some of his colleagues on the floor lends credence to the assertions by the Zimbabwean MP.
The Speaker Joyce Bamford Addo took serious exceptions to the comments which sought to create an impression she has lost control of the House.
She maintained the House under her leadership cannot be described as chaotic and demanded an immediate retraction and apology from the deputy Majority Leader.
The situation took a turn to the worse when the Leader of the Majority, Cletus Avoka rose to the defence of his deputy. He did not see the need for an apology.
That angered the Speaker who then staged a walk out from Parliament. She only returned after the intervention from the Minority Leader and the leadership of the Majority.
On her return she demanded the apology from the Wa MP before proceedings of the day continued.
The incident, analysts explain, may affect the relationship between the leadership of the Majority and the Speaker, but the Majority Leader Cletus Avoka does not think so.
The Minority Leader, Osei Kyei Mensah-Bonsu in an interview with Joy News described the incident as unfortunate.
He did not think the House is chaotic, if anything, it is boisterous.
But the Majority Leader Cletus Avoka said when the House becomes too boisterous it impedes activities in the House.
He said by the Standing Orders of the House, nobody could speak if he/she has not been given the power to by the Speaker; everybody would have to assume his/her seat and listen with rapt when the Speaker is speaking but he noted the contrary happens sometimes.
He said the intervention by his deputy was not to challenge the integrity or indict the Speaker but to draw attention to the provision of the House that gave respect and dignity to the chair.
Cletus Avoka believes the walk out by the Speaker sends a good signal and appealed to his colleagues to take a cue from what happened today and respect the provisions of the House.
He downplayed assertions the incident may have ignited bad blood between the Majority and the Speaker.
He told Joy News the Majority respect her and the Chair a lot.
Play the attached audio for excerpts of the interview
Story by Nathan Gadugah/Myjoyonline.com/Ghana
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