The Minority in Parliament has strongly condemned the First Deputy Speaker, Bernard Ahiafor, accusing him of extreme partisanship following his refusal to admit an urgent statement on the ongoing nationwide strike by nurses and midwives.
Parliament was abruptly adjourned on Thursday after a heated confrontation between the Minority and the Speaker’s chair over the refusal to allow a statement on the ongoing strike by the Ghana Registered Nurses and Midwives Association (GRNMA).
The confrontation intensified to the point where parliamentary marshals nearly had to physically escort the Ranking Member on the Health Committee, Dr. Nana Ayew Afriyie, out of the chamber.
The tension flared up after the Majority Leader proposed adjourning the session following the completion of regular parliamentary proceedings.
Clearly upset, Dr. Afriyie stood up to insist on an immediate debate regarding the GRNMA strike, which has severely disrupted healthcare services across the country since June 4.
Speaking to journalists at Parliament, Dr. Nana Ayew Afriyie, Ranking Member of the Health Committee and a leading voice of the Minority, criticized the First Deputy Speaker’s handling of the request.
According to Dr. Afriyie, the refusal contravened the provisions of the parliamentary standing orders and undermined the Minority’s constitutional role.
“The First Deputy Speaker has been extremely partisan this evening, disregarding the standing orders of this House,” Dr. Afriyie said.
“Order 93(1) clearly allows for statements on matters of urgent public importance to be admitted. We pleaded with him to exercise the highest form of discretion, but he failed to do so.”
Dr. Afriyie contrasted Mr. Ahiafor’s approach with that of the Speaker of Parliament, describing the latter as “extremely liberal” and supportive of parliamentary oversight.
“The Right Honourable Speaker encourages the execution of the standing orders, but the First Deputy Speaker denied the Minority the right to perform our duties on this critical strike issue,” he added.
The Minority had submitted a joint statement earlier in the day, co-signed by Dr. Afriyie and Member of Parliament Jerry Ahmed, to formally register their position on the strike in the parliamentary record (Hansard).
“This is our official work, beyond the press conference we held. The only way to make this formal was through an urgent statement, but the First Deputy Speaker refused to admit it,” Dr. Afriyie explained.
He emphasized the gravity of the situation, noting that the strike has resulted in loss of lives and is of urgent public concern. “If this is not important, then what is the business of this House?” he questioned.
Dr. Afriyie also revealed that the First Deputy Speaker threatened to expel him and his colleagues from the chamber during the proceedings.
Despite this, the Minority remains committed to urging both the government and striking nurses to seek a peaceful resolution.
“We are a reasonable Minority. We are not playing politics like the Majority often does on health issues. We recognize the nurses’ rights and the legitimacy of their grievances. However, we are appealing to the nurses to be merciful and to the government to be reasonable in its negotiations,” he stated.
The Minority’s frustration centers on what they describe as the “partisan media” influence surrounding the Deputy Speaker’s decision, which they claim stifled parliamentary debate on a matter affecting millions of Ghanaians.
“We came here to speak for Ghanaians, to urge nurses to return to work, and to call on the government to act responsibly. The refusal to admit our statement is a setback for parliamentary democracy,” Dr. Afriyie concluded.
Source :www.kumasimail.com
