“You don’t even know what I am going to say, what is this?” – Kyei Mensah-Bonsu and Bagbin’s tense moment in Parliament
During Monday’s legislative session, the Speaker of Parliament, Alban Bagbin, disregarded Majority Leader Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu during deliberations on the Criminal Offences Bill modification.
Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu stayed on his feet for about two minutes, and Speaker Bagbin ignored him the entire time.
Alban Bagbin vehemently condemned President Akufo-Addo’s decision not to consent to the Criminal Offences Amendment Bill and the Ghana Armed Forces Amendment Bill during that time.
Bagbin accused the President of being “tragically wrong” and “ill-informed” in his reasoning for rejecting the legislation in an emotional address to Parliament.
In a letter, President Akufo-Addo highlighted financial consequences for the state’s consolidated fund as well as probable violations of Article 108 of the Constitution as reasons for his refusal. He especially mentioned the Ghana Armed Forces Amendment Bill, supported by MP Francis-Xavier Sosu, as having financial implications for replacing the death sentence with life imprisonment.
Bagbin, on the other hand, angrily denied these worries, claiming that the President was mistaken in his appraisal of the laws’ financial effects.
After making his submission, a disgruntled Majority leader stated that “You don’t even know what I’m going to say.”
The Speaker indicated that he should not be interrupted while making his statement or that a point of order or information be made – a gesture that we cannot confirm Mr Kyei-Mensa-Bonsu utilized based on the video saw.
“Majority leader, you are not a first-timer in this House,” the Speaker said.
The Majority leader quickly replied, “I know” and was quickly told to resume his seat by the Speaker.
The two individuals, who would no longer listen to each other began speaking at the same time. The Speaker continued with proceedings while the Majority leader kept saying “What is this that you are seeing in Ghana’s Parliament. What is this?”
After receiving no attention from the Speaker, Mr Kyei-Mensa-Bonsu resumed his seat.