Violence has never been a legitimate tool – Oppong Nkrumah to Minority

Information Minister Kojo Oppong Nkrumah has criticized the Minority over the disturbances that occurred in Parliament on Monday regrading the e-levy proposal.

He described the chaotic scenes in Parliament on Monday December 20 as unacceptable and uncalled for.

Speaking on the mid day news on TV3 Tuesday December 21, the Ofoase Ayirebi lawmaker said “The first thing we need to deal with is the we need to deal with the growing conduct of of some members of Parliament that whenever they do not agree with with something, whether it is the speaker’s rule a position of the executive or a position of member of parliament they resort to violence and physicals attacks in the chamber.

“That is the reason for which we have had to adjourn today because today Mr Speaker is still not in the House we are not able to proceed with business without rancor because what it would mean is that the First Deputy Speaker or the Second Deputy Speaker would have to take the Chair and under the circumstances if a mater comes up to a vote and he chooses exercise his casting votes which he he is entitled to, our colleagues on the other side will resort to violence .

“Everybody now sees it clearly so what next is that the Republic of Ghana needs to address this situation where some members of parliament resort to violence as a way of expressing their displeasure . It is totally unacceptable, totally uncalled for. The Marshals department under the leadership the speaker has top have a handle of this because it doesn’t matter that today, it is e-levy tomorrow it could be anything and when some particular member of Parliament is not happy with it then there will be a resort to violence and fisticuffs, that is what next to be dealt with.”

Regarding the levy, he revealed that some changes have been made to the proposal following consultations.

“If you read paragraph 361 of the budget statements the executive initially proposed inward remittances, bank transfers merchant payments Mobile money to be charged at 1.75 per cent in addition to the 2 per cent that already the telcos are charging . After all the consultations and memos and engagements, remittances had been taken out, bank transfer of business had been taken out , merchant payment had been taken out, .025 of the money moneys operators charges had been taken out , so now it is no longer going to be a cumulative, about 3.75, it has now come to 3.5.

“That is evident that there has been engagement, there has been a listening. If all of that has taken at the committee and you still think you are opposed to it and the vote has taken place and you have lost that vote you don’t come onto the floor and resort to physical violence to prevent the business of the Houses from going on and I think we must be clear on that. Let us not mixed that with consult more, violence has never been a legitimate tool,” he said.

The Majority Leader in Parliament, Osei Kyei Mensah Bonsu also chastised the Minority for the fight that occurred in the House.

Addressing a press conference on Tuesday December 21, he said lawmakers must debate with their brain-power, not brawl.

“Why the injection of violence with the Minority moving from their place to come and physically prevent the deputy speaker from assuming the chair. Why? In Parliament we debate issues with brain power not brawl , with brain power not brawl .

“So if you disagree with me , I was telling the Minority Leader yesterday , whenever the Minority Leader is speaking, we always want to listen to him. Whenever any member from the Majority we want to listen. Where form that ?,” he quizzed.






On Monday December 20 Members of Ghana’s Parliament could not hold their emotions as some exchanged brawls in the House just before the final vote on the controversial Electronic Transfer Levy Bill, also known as e-levy.

The sit-in Speaker, Joseph Osei-Owusu, had announced that a division would be followed to approve the Bill, presented under a certificate of urgency, and he was going to vote as well in his capacity as a Member of Parliament.

That appeared to have provoked the National Democratic Congress (NDC) members, who questioned his decision to vote after presiding over the night’s proceedings.

They moved to the front of the dais, issuing threats at the Bekwai MP.

This got the Majority MPs to also start agitations and immediately Mr Osei-Owusu handed the presiding role to the Second Deputy Speaker, Andrew Amoako Asiamah, the fight broke out

Source:3news.com