Chaos erupts in Parliament
Sports Minister suffers heavy punches
The E-levy discussion has been rescheduled in Parliament.
The Majority Leader in Parliament, Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu, has revealed that convincing First Deputy Speaker, Joseph Osei-Owusu (Joe Wise), to take over as Speaker after substantive Speaker, Alban Bagbin, resigned on Monday, December 20, 2021, took a long time.
On Tuesday, December 21, 2021, the Minister of Parliamentary Affairs indicated on Okay FM that Joe Wise was concerned about his health and would not accept the position.
The MP for Suame stated he appealed with Joe Wise to take over the seat and temper proceedings because he doubted the Second Deputy Speaker’s ability to do so.
Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu claims that he reached an agreement with the Bekwai MP that he would vacate the seat once it became unbearable for him to continue to act as Speaker.
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“When the Speaker rose, Osei (First Deputy Speaker) had to assume the seat. Osei is sick and his medical records can attest to that. Osei was not well so I pleaded with him to take the Speaker seat because with all due respect to the Second Deputy Speaker, Osei is more experienced than him so he could moderate proceedings and interpret the rules better. I told him to relax a bit and if he is okay in a while, he can assume the seat. He assumed the role and then rose for the Second Deputy,” he said.
Joe Wise indeed took over the seat and moderated debate on the controversial Electronic Transaction levy.
Everything was going well until a division had to be called on whether the E-levy bill should be admitted under a certificate of urgency.
With both sides locked on 137-137 following Joe Wise’s ascension unto the throne of the speakership, confidence was rife in the camp of the minority that they were going to have their way.
The bombshell was however dropped when Joe Wise announced that he will take part in the headcount.
The arrangement was that he was going to vacate his position for the Second Deputy once he is counted.
The Minority MPs protested briefly before allowing the process to continue but just when the Second Deputy Speaker was about to take over from Joe Wise, all hell broke loose.
MPs from both sides engaged in fisticuffs with some blows, slaps, and kicks from both sides.
Eventually sitting was suspended to Tuesday, December 21, 2021.
