Ghana’s Parliament stands adjourned till January following Monday’s scuffle over the E-Levy bill which was expected to be considered by the House under a certificate of urgency.
At the commencement of sitting on Tuesday (21 December), the Majority Leader, Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu, suggested to the First Deputy Speaker, Joseph Osei-Owusu, who was presiding to adjourn the House to 18 January since efforts to reach the Speaker by phone has not been answered and to allow “cool heads to also prevail” before taking a vote on the E-Levy.
The Minority Leader, Haruna Iddrisu seconded and reiterated the Minority’s commitment to protect the country’s democracy.
Free-for-all in Ghana’s parliament over E-Levy voting
MPs shouted at each other and engaged in an open brawl in Parliament on Monday evening (20 December) as the First Deputy Speaker, Joseph Osei-Owusu, vacated his seat to enable him also to cast a vote to pass the controversial E-Levy under a certificate of urgency.
The Minority contended that, under the standing orders of Parliament, Osei-Owusu, who was presiding yesterday, could not vote. However, the sit-in Speaker insisted that he had the right to vote and would do so.
The free-for-all ensued on the Speaker’s platform as Minority MPs attempted to seize his chair as he made his way out of the chamber in order for the Second Deputy Speaker, Andrews Amoako Asiamah, to take over.
The marshals had a tough time restoring order in the House as they wrestled with a group of MPs to protect the Speaker’s seat, his documents and the mace.
Eventually, Second Deputy Speaker Asiamah returned to the seat to adjourn sitting to Tuesday (21 December).
