Parliament has explained why it paid tribute to victims of New Zealand tragedy but not to victims of a fatal road accident in Ghana that killed at least 64 people.

The Speaker of Parliament, Prof. Mike Oquaye, said it was because the MP billed to give a statement was not in the House.

Parliament on Monday observed a minute silence for victims of two tragedies that captured the world’s attention.

A gunman shot and killed 50 Muslims inside a Mosque in Christchurch, New Zealand while the Southern Africa, a cyclone across Mozambique, Zimbabwe and Malawi has left more than 750 dead.

The tragedies occurred on March 14 and March 15, 2019, respectively.

Here at home, a road carnage on the Kintampo-Techiman highway in the Bono East Region last Friday left at least 59 dead. Another road crash at Ekumfi in the Central region same day, claimed nine lives.

NPP MP for Offinso South, Ben Abdallah Banda, delivered a statement on the New Zealand tragedy while NDC MP for North Tongu, Okudzeto Ablakwa, delivered a statement on the southern African disaster.

There was no statement on Kintampo and Ekumfi road carnage, attracting criticisms on social media. “We had good reason”, the Speaker of Parliament said on the floor of the House Tuesday.

The Kintampo South MP in whose constituency the tragedy occurred, had been booked to give a statement yesterday, he said. A copy of votes and proceedings showed the Kintampo South MP Felicia Adjei was present.

The Speaker explained the MP had to be “outside Parliament” to the site of the tragedy.

Although Kintampo has two MPs – Kintampo North and South, the parliamentary leadership had agreed Felicia Adjei was best situated for the statement, Prof. Oquaye said.

The Speaker said Parliament was “very, very much concerned with such matters”.

The MP Felicia Adjei went ahead to deliver a statement recounting how breast-feeding mothers and children were among 35 who were burnt beyond recognition.

She called for greater commitment to law enforcement and a crackdown on indiscipline on Ghana’s roads.