Feud In Parliament Between The Speaker And The Minority
All is not well with Ghana's democracy as Parliament which is one of the three arms of government is constantly under siege with the Minority having either to walk out or embark on a silent protest. The last time this occurred was on Wednesday March 7 when the Minority National Democratic Congress (NDC) embarked on a sit down strike. Several times the Minority has had a cause to accuse the Speaker, Rev. Professor Mike Aaron Ocquaye of being bias against them. The latest in the fracas between the two started when the Minority leader Haruna Iddrisu rose up with the intent of catching the eye of the Speaker to make an intervention during a presentation to the House by the Deputy Minister of Agriculture, Kennedy Ohene Nyarko. The Minority leader was however ignored by the Speaker paving the way for the Deputy Agric Minister to conclude his presentation with the Speaker giving the floor to the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration, Shirley Ayorkor Botchway to make a statement. There have been similar situations like this but it is important to recall that the Minority in one instance had to walk out en bloc during deliberations on the controversial 510 million dollar Ameri power deal.
It is said, the Minority can have its say but the majority would have its way. This is true but when the Speaker who is considered father of the house and meant to be an impartial arbiter in controversial issues before the house is perceived to have taken sides then it raises cause for concern. Also when the minority or majority unduly shows disrespect to the Speaker, then something might be wrong. The Speaker according to British Parliamentary traditions which Ghana copied from, the Speaker is the Chief Officer and highest authority in the House of Commons and is expected to remain politically impartial at all times. Though the Speaker would probably be a member of a political party, he or she should not discriminate between government and opposition members in taking decisions. The Speaker in all jurisdictions keeps the order and calls MPs to speak and finally gives his opinion on the issue. He makes sure MPs follow the rules of the House which includes directing an MP to withdraw remarks if for example they are abusive. He can suspend the sitting of the House due to serious disorders and can suspend MPs who are deliberately disobedient, so in this regard, the Speaker commands the respect of both sides of the House and indeed every member. Given all his powers, the Speaker is expected to operate beyond suspicion else he loses that respect which is essential in holding the house together.
Ghana's Parliament is acknowledged as one of the best in Africa because of the way the house operates and how members carry themselves about. In some Parliaments, for example in India, South Africa and just recently Uganda we had MPs engaging in fisticuffs on the floor of parliament. These could have happened because the Speaker perhaps might have lost control. Ghana is a citadel of decency and cannot afford to go the way of boxer parliaments. Leadership of Ghana's legislature must rise up to the occasion and identify what has gone wrong since consensus building is a basic tenet of parliamentary democracy. The hiccups that have beset our parliament in recent times is one too many and the earlier the two sides sat together to thrash out issues the better. We cannot allow bickering, name-calling and hooliganism to take hold of our parliament. The minority must do self-introspection to identify where they also fall short. Respect for rules governing the House is non-negotiable and the earlier people are made to tow the line the better. If two elephants fight, it is the grass that suffers. The bad blood between the Speaker and the Minority is denting the image of the country and must be resolved once and for all.
BY: JUSTICE MINGLE, A JOURNALIST.
It is said, the Minority can have its say but the majority would have its way. This is true but when the Speaker who is considered father of the house and meant to be an impartial arbiter in controversial issues before the house is perceived to have taken sides then it raises cause for concern. Also when the minority or majority unduly shows disrespect to the Speaker, then something might be wrong. The Speaker according to British Parliamentary traditions which Ghana copied from, the Speaker is the Chief Officer and highest authority in the House of Commons and is expected to remain politically impartial at all times. Though the Speaker would probably be a member of a political party, he or she should not discriminate between government and opposition members in taking decisions. The Speaker in all jurisdictions keeps the order and calls MPs to speak and finally gives his opinion on the issue. He makes sure MPs follow the rules of the House which includes directing an MP to withdraw remarks if for example they are abusive. He can suspend the sitting of the House due to serious disorders and can suspend MPs who are deliberately disobedient, so in this regard, the Speaker commands the respect of both sides of the House and indeed every member. Given all his powers, the Speaker is expected to operate beyond suspicion else he loses that respect which is essential in holding the house together.
Ghana's Parliament is acknowledged as one of the best in Africa because of the way the house operates and how members carry themselves about. In some Parliaments, for example in India, South Africa and just recently Uganda we had MPs engaging in fisticuffs on the floor of parliament. These could have happened because the Speaker perhaps might have lost control. Ghana is a citadel of decency and cannot afford to go the way of boxer parliaments. Leadership of Ghana's legislature must rise up to the occasion and identify what has gone wrong since consensus building is a basic tenet of parliamentary democracy. The hiccups that have beset our parliament in recent times is one too many and the earlier the two sides sat together to thrash out issues the better. We cannot allow bickering, name-calling and hooliganism to take hold of our parliament. The minority must do self-introspection to identify where they also fall short. Respect for rules governing the House is non-negotiable and the earlier people are made to tow the line the better. If two elephants fight, it is the grass that suffers. The bad blood between the Speaker and the Minority is denting the image of the country and must be resolved once and for all.
BY: JUSTICE MINGLE, A JOURNALIST.
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