You are behaving like a colonial-era lawyer — Ekow Assafuah ‘attacks’ Ahiafor

The Member of Parliament for Old Tafo, Vincent Ekow Assafuah, has criticised First Deputy Speaker of Parliament, Bernard Ahiafor, describing his behaviour as arrogant and intolerant.

This follows a heated exchange in Parliament on Tuesday, June 10, between Mr Ahiafor, who is also the NDC MP for Akatsi South, and Dr Nana Ayew Afriyie, the Ranking Member on the Health Committee.

The confrontation happened after Mr Ahiafor accused Dr Ayew Afriyie of abusing the privilege of making an urgent statement while discussing the ongoing strike by the Ghana Registered Nurses and Midwives Association (GRNMA). Mr Ahiafor then ordered the Marshal of Parliament to remove Dr Ayew Afriyie from the chamber.

Reacting on Facebook, Mr Assafuah condemned the Deputy Speaker’s actions, calling them undemocratic and outdated.

“Ahiafor is behaving like a colonial-era lawyer. We are in a democracy in the contemporary world, for Christ’s sake,” he posted.

He questioned why a fellow MP should be denied the opportunity to speak simply because someone else is presiding over the session.

“How can your colleague Member of Parliament not be allowed to speak simply because you are sitting in the chair today? And resorting to the use of Marshals at the slightest provocation? When did he become this arrogant?” Assafuah asked.