The Director of the Public Affairs Department of the Parliamentary Service, Madam Kate Addo has debunked reports in the press, indicating that the Speaker, Alban Bagbin, has sidelined her outfit.

In a statement issued on Monday, she stated that contrary to the speculations in the media, the Parliamentary Service is working harmoniously with the Office of the Speaker, devoid of the alleged discordance.

According to her, the Parliamentary Service Department is committed to its mandate, without any political bias.

"Our attention has been drawn to a story circulating in the media to the extent that the Rt Hon Speaker has sidelined the Public Affairs Department and other similar Departments, while he focuses on the staff affiliated to his office for official assignments.

We would like to emphasise that the Public Affairs Department continues to remain committed to the communications management of the Office of the Rt Hon Speaker, and in the performance of any allied duties as may be assigned by the Rt Hon Speaker.

It is true that the Rt. Hon Speaker has a communications team, but it must be noted that the communications team has an entirely different mandate from that of the Public Affairs Department. The Rt Hon Speaker comes to engage with the Director on relevant issues and is keen on growing the Department and other departments of the Legislature".

Meanwhile, the Parliamentary Service has also refuted reports alleging that the Speaker has appointed Kofi Attor to serve as the acting Speaker.

In a statement issued on Monday, the Service said such reports are misleading and, therefore, should be dismissed accordingly.

"We wish to state that Kofi Attor is a former Member of Parliament who currently works in the Speaker's Secretariat as Senior Advisor.

"The Speaker assigns responsibility to him and staff of his Secretariat from time to time. In all these, he has never been assigned responsibility as acting Speaker, and those who caused the publication know this.

"In the instance under reference, Mr. Attor was assigned to receive a message, intended for the Speaker, from a delegation of Medicine Sans Frontières, an international medical humanitarian organisation.

"That assignment cannot make him the acting Speaker of Parliament. It must be pointed out that the delegation was in Parliament primarily to meet with the leadership and the Health Committee of Parliament, which they did.

"The said publication is just one of the mischievous attempts to court public disaffection and ridicule for the Speaker and bring him into disrepute. Therefore, the public is advised to ignore the mischief that was intended", the statement said.

Alban Bagbin is currently in Dubai, for his routine medical check-ups.

However, Parliament remains divided over the controversial E-levy Bill, and a ruling by the Supreme Court on Wednesday, which stated that a Deputy Speaker of Parliament can be part of the formation of quorum, and also vote, while moderating over proceedings in the House.

While the Minority have described the ruling as a 'travesty of justice', and an affront on the sovereignty of the Legislature, the Majority Caucus, led by its leader, Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu, have welcomed the decision of the Supreme Court.