I’ll serve Parliament fairly – Bagbin

The newly elected Speaker of Ghana’s 8th Parliament, Alban Bagbin, has pledged to discharge his duties to Parliament and Ghanaians fairly and to the best of his ability.

In an acceptance speech after his shocking victory, the former MP for Nadwoli-Kaleo thanked his party members and promised to uphold the integrity of Parliament in the discharge of his duties.

“I will submit myself to the will of this House and pledge to serve my dear country and all Ghanaians fairly and to the best of my ability. I will also conscientiously discharge my duty as speaker of this parliament.”

Mr Bagbin in a laborious and dramatic process Thursday dawn polled 138 votes as against 136 for former Speaker Professor Mike Oquaye. The election of Mr Bagbin sent shockwaves across the aisle where NPP members of Parliament were sitting.

Soldiers storm parliament

Soldiers Thursday dawn stormed Ghana’s parliament over a protracted stalemate between MPs-elect over the election of a new Speaker of the House.

The election went into a near-violent hold up after leadership of the NDC in the House accused their colleagues from the NPP of violating the secret ballot rule of the election by showing their ballot to themselves.

Details on Chaos 

Chaos erupted in Parliament over the court injunction directed at the MP-elect for Assin North James Gyekye Quayson.

Both sides of the House have been in protracted verbal exchanges over the legality or otherwise for the MP-elect to partake in the election of a Speaker for the 8th Parliament.

While the NDC MPs insist their the summon was not properly served on the clerk of Parliament who is chairing the sitting, the NPP MPs argue the MP-elect cannot be allowed to vote since the court injunction bars him.

Background

The Cape Coast High Court has granted an injunction against the Member of Parliament for Assin North James Gyekye Quayson restraining him from holding himself as NDC MP-elect for the constituency over dual citizenship.

This follows a petition against the MP-elect by one Michael Ankoma-Nimfah, a mason and resident of Assin Bereku.

Giving his ruling on Wednesday, January 6, 2021, the presiding judge, Justice Kwasi Boakye said Mr. Quayson was “restrained from holding himself out as Member of Parliament-elect for the Assin North constituency within the Central Region of the Republic of Ghana and further presenting himself to be sworn in as Member of Parliament-elect as such until the final determination of the petition.”

Mr Quayson had dismissed the claim when it was earlier brought up by the New Patriotic Party.

The NDC in a statement following the allegation said MP-elect upon a petition presented to the Electoral Commission was invited where he defended himself by providing the needed documents to prove that he has renounced his Canadian Citizenship.

However, the complainant said the MP-elect still held on the Canadian citizenship when he was filing to contest in the December polls.

Source: Starrfm.com.gh