Unhappy Afenyo-Markin throw shots at Speaker

The Majority in Parliament says they are disappointed over the move by the Speaker of Parliament Alban Bagbin to suspend the approval of Ministers and Deputy Ministers of State.

This follows the announcement by Alban Bagbin that the house will not be able to continue the consideration processes of the ministers recently nominated by President Akufo-Addo.

The Executive Secretary to the President, Nana Asante Bediatuo, earlier this week, on behalf of the President, wrote to the clerk of parliament directing parliament to desist from transmitting the recently passed Human Sexual Rights and Family Values Bill 2021 to the presidency for assent, citing ongoing injunctions on the bill.

But, the Speaker of Parliament has described the posture of the presidency as one that undermines mutual respect for the arms of government.

The behavior exhibited by the Presidency in refusing to accept the transmission of this bill not only deviates from established democratic practices but also undermines the spirit of cooperative governance and mutual respect for the arms of government,” he told parliamentarians in the house.”

In a statement signed by the Majority leader, Alexander Afenyo-Markin in response to the Speaker’s decision, he expressed worry describing the move as “very strange.”

“It’s very disappointing that after Mr. Speaker had made known his own views about the letter sent from the presidency to the clerk, he adjourned the house sine dine without giving room for the leadership of the house to even comment.

“We all know that the very issue that was raised by honourable Dafeamekpor had to do with the continuing ministers who had been reshuffled to other ministries. The issue of the constitutionality of certain nominees had been determined by way of their going through the vetting process, a report coming before the house for debate and final decision. So, for me, these are two unrelated issues,” Mr. Afenyo-Markin stated.