Speaker walks out MP from chamber
The Speaker of Parliament walked out Alhaji Alhassan Suhuyini, Member of Parliament (MP) for Tamale North over excessive heckling in the chamber of Parliament.
Mr Suhuyini was heard shouting on top of his voice during the debate over the Minority boycott of the swearing-in of Ms Lydia Seyram Alhassan, the new MP for Ayawaso West Wuogon, where some members were holding placards with inscription “bloody widow”.
The First Deputy Speaker, Mr Joseph Osei-Owusu sitting as the Speaker had earlier called on the Minority leadership to apologize for the “bloody widow” placards of the Minority members.
Mr Suhuyini who was unhappy with the request on the minority to apologize for the placards was heard shouting and urging the leadership of the minority not to apologize.
Mr Osei-Owusu during the sitting cautioned members on both sides of the House to refrain from excessive heckling in the chamber, which tend to distort debate on the floor.
He found out that Mr Suhuyini’s conduct was improper and un-parliamentary and therefore ordered him to be dismissed from the chamber, which he obliged.
Alhaji Mohammed Mubarak Muntaka, Minority Chief Whip speaking on the floor condemned the tagging of the new Ayawaso West-Wuogon MP as ‘bloody widow’ by the minority caucus of the House.
He said the action of the Minority was targeted at the wrong person which was unfortunate and however called on Parliament to standardise the procedure on things members could do in the House including; the holding of placards.
“Let us all not pretend to be hypocrites; when it happening on your side then, it is good, when it is happening on the other side, then you cry foul. Let us standardise what we do. Mr Speaker let me say that what we did yesterday was within the parliamentary procedure.
“If others had placards it is wrong, just as it has always been happening in this chamber and we keep condemning.
“But when people want to narrow it to our dear colleague Honorable Lydia Alhassan, let say that is very unfortunate because she does not control the security agencies, she doesn’t influence anything. We need cool heads and take the issues that have happened without trying to sideline the main issues with some of the people lying in hospitals,” he said.
Ms Adwoa Sarfo, Deputy Majority Leader expressed her displeasure at the wielding of placards against the new Member of Parliament adding that such tendencies could discourage women participation in party politics.
GNA