Former NDC Kumbungu MP, Ras Mubarak has described as unfortunate and uncalled for, attacks on the Speaker of Parliament, Alban Bagbin after Wednesday’s vote in Parliament to confirm some ministerial nominees.
This comes on the back of the failure of the NDC Minority to carry through their move to reject some nominees of President Akufo-Addo.
The nominees for Information, Kojo Oppong Nkrumah; Fisheries, Hawa Koomson and Agriculture, Dr Owusu Akoto Afriyie sailed through after they failed to be passed by Parliament’s Appointments Committee.
Per the Standing Orders of Parliament, they plenary was supposed to vote for them to sail through.
After hours of debate and eventual secret voting on Wednesday, the three nominees were passed pending the President swearing them in to start work.
After news broke that they have been passed some NDC leaders and supporters have attacked the Minority leadership in the House and the Speaker, saying they could have done more to advance the interest of the NDC.
Notable among the critics is the National Communications Officer of the NDC, Sammy Gyamfi who posted on Facebook.
He wrote, “Comrades, the betrayal we have suffered in the hands of the Speaker of Parliament, Rt. Hon. Alban Bagbin, the leadership of our Parliamentary group, particularly Hon. Haruna Iddrissu and Hon. Muntaka Mubarak, and dozens of our own MPs, is what strengthens me to work hard for the great NDC to regain power.”
He added “it’s about time we understood, that we don’t have any NDC Speaker of Parliament. No we don’t! We have a Speaker who rode on the back of the NDC into Office to pursue his own parochial agenda and nothing more. You trust them, at your own peril.”
But speaking to JoyNews, Ras Mubarak noted that “it was not the Speaker of Parliament who held the hands of some NDC members to vote in the manner they did.
“So, it’s completely wrong for somebody to seek to attack the integrity of the Speaker of Parliament for the turn of events in parliament.”
He attributed the failure of the NDC Caucus to have its way to a lack of leadership on their side and called for an overhaul of the Minority front bench.
Source: MyJoyOnline