Former President John Dramani Mahama has called on Parliament to investigate the military invasion of the House and exact appropriate sanctions.
In a congratulatory message to Alban Bagbin on his election as the Speaker of the 8th Parliament of the 4th Republic, the flagbearer of the NDC in the 2020 elections also condemned MP for Tema West Carlos Ahenkorah for snatching ballot papers during the counting process to decide the Speaker of the House.
The former President who is challenging the December polls at the Supreme Court wrote on his Facebook page Thursday morning “Congratulations Rt. Hon. Alban Sumani Kingsford Bagbin on your election as the Speaker of the 8th Parliament of the 4th Republic.
“The events of last night stretching into the morning of 7th January have been both a great occasion for Ghana’s democracy and at the same time a day of infamy, which will go down as a low point in our democratic practice.
“The election of Speaker Bagbin affirms what a great democracy we can build for ourselves and how dialogue and consensus building can make us even stronger as a nation.
The attempt to snatch ballot papers by the MP-elect for Tema West and the invasion of the Chamber by armed military personnel are images one had never expected to see in our 4th Republican Parliament.
“The recent use of the military in civil democratic processes has become a major worry and gives the impression that this administration is continually seeking to resurrect the exorcised ghosts of our military past. Parliament must conduct an investigation into the two incidents and exact appropriate sanctions.
“Congratulations to the leadership of the NDC Caucus and the Caucus members for your dedication and commitment.”
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.
Carlos Ahenkorah snatches ballot papers in Parliament
Member of Parliament-elect for Tema West Carlos Ahenkorah shocked his colleague incoming lawmakers when snatched ballot papers during counting in the controversial polls to elect a Speaker for the 8th Parliament.
The MP-elect was however chased and seized from exiting the chamber with the snatched ballots by MPs from the NDC aisle of the House. The papers have since been redeemed.
Source: Ghana/Starrfm.com.gh
