The only independent Member of
Parliament of the 8th Parliament of the Fourth Republic was on January 7, 2021,
elected the Second Deputy Speaker of Parliament.
Andrew Asiamah Amoako who has
stated publicly that he will be caucusing with the NPP side in Parliament was
nominated by Mohammed-Muntaka Mubarak, the NDC’s Chief Whip and seconded by
Alexander Afenyo Markin, the NPP’s Deputy Leader.
Speaking to Joy News in a
report, the Asawase MP revealed
the NDC’s strategy as they went into the election of a Speaker for the 8th
Parliament.
He disclosed that he used more
than two weeks convincing MPs on both sides as to why Alban Bagbin should be
elected Speaker of Parliament.
He explained that Bagbin will
help in Parliament’s oversight responsibility on the Executive which has been
enshrined in the 1992 Constitution.
Muntaka explained that after the NDC’s nominee was
elected Speaker, the party decided to be magnanimous with the victory because
they had indicated within their caucus that if Bagbin did not win the
Speakership position, Bernard Ahiafor, Akatsi South MP and Dr Dominic
Akuritinga Ayine, Bolgatanga East MP would be proposed for the Second Deputy
Speaker position.
Muntaka further indicated that after Alban Bagbin was
elected Speaker of Parliament amidst the chaos that had happened earlier, the
MPs came to a consensus that they did not want to spend another three hours or
more on each round of voting for the first and second deputy Speakers of
Parliament, since this would have further delayed the inauguration of President
Akufo-Addo and Vice President Dr Bawumia, therefore, they agreed with the NPP
side to propose the first Deputy Speaker unopposed so that they, the NDC, would
likewise propose the second Deputy Speaker.
Muntaka disclosed that the NPP side insisted on proposing
both nominees for the first and second deputy Speakers but the NDC referred
them to the Constitutional provision that the first and second deputy speakers
must not be members of the same political party. At this stage, they, the NDC,
decided that it would be prudent to give that slot to the independent MP.
“We came together and had to
convince our General Secretary…and agreed that we nominate the independent [MP]
instead of nominating our own.
“We had to rush back and talk to
Dominic Ayine and Bernard Ahiafor…they understood what [was] at stake because
we needed to carry the house [along with us]…they all agreed and we gave it
out,” Muntaka further revealed.
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