The former President and 2020 Presidential Candidate of the largest opposition party NDC John Dramani Mahama has called for an investigation into the military invasion of Parliament last night during the election of the speaker of Parliament, for sanctions to be meted out to persons found culpable.
“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 investigate the two incidents and exact appropriate sanctions” Mr. Mahama said in a congratulatory statement issued Thursday morning to Rt. Hon. Alban Sumani Kingsford Bagbin on his election as the Speaker of the 8th Parliament of the 4th Republic.
Mr. Mahama lamented that “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”
He congratulated the leadership of the NDC Caucus and the Caucus members for their dedication and commitment”.
Alban Bagbin was sworn into office as Speaker of the 8th Parliament.
The opposition party in Ghana- the National Democratic Congress (NDC) Caucus in Parliament won the third most powerful position in the country -the Speaker of Parliament.
The experienced former NDC Member of Parliament for Nadowli-Kaleo, Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin was elected as the new Speaker of the 8th Parliament of the 4th republic of Ghana in a chaotic election Thursday dawn.
Mr. Bagbin polled 138 votes as against 136 polled by the former Speaker Professor Mike Oquaye presented by the ruling party caucus Parliament. One spoilt ballot was recorded.
The results have come as a surprise to the ruling party considering that they were in pole position with their 137 MPs plus an Independent Candidate who promised to side with them.
Hon. Alban Bagbin has subsequently been sworn-in by the Chief Justice -Justice Annin Yeboah.
In his acceptance speech, he thanked all those who supported and even those who did not support his bid to become the speaker.
He assured to use his 27 years of experience as a parliamentarian to help conduct the affairs of Parliament.
He was then sworn in the 275 Members of Parliament elect.
Source: Mybrytfmonline.com/Obed Ansah
