You can't intimidate us – Minority to Speaker

The Minority Leader in Parliament Haruna Iddrisu has served notice that his side of the house will not be intimidated by Speaker of Parliament Prof Mike Aaron Oquaye.

According to him, the people of Ghana expect the Minority to put the government on its toes, therefore, no amount of intimidation will prevent them from doing so.

His comments follow a caution thrown to the Minority by the Speaker that they should be mindful of the way they address him on the floor of the House. While welcoming criticisms of his style of leadership on Wednesday, August 2, Prof Oquaye urged the MPs to do it respectfully.

“There is a way of talking in the church which is different from the Makola market and I will like to say the way you say a thing, where you say it, how you say it should be part of parliamentary ethics. Your right to have a say, of course, does not include unbridled gesticulations. That which the ordinary Ghanaian does say cannot be done in the chief’s palace. I think this is what our people expect from us. …The dignity of Parliament should be the key throughout our discourse. We should definitely adhere to laid down rules for the resolution of our grievances if any, in advance and the appropriate way at the appropriate time,” he stated.

But reacting to this comment, Mr Iddirsu said the Minority will not be cowed and called on the Speaker to safeguard the Minority’s right to expression in the house.

“Let me assure you Mr. Speaker that we’ll remain a firm Minority and we’ll continue to discharge our duties without fear or favor and we will not be intimidated in the pursuit of that endeavor. We shall implore all available parliamentary and constitutional means towards the realization of the goal for the good of our country. …Mr. Speaker, in the last few days it’s as if there have been major disagreements and conflict, yes, there is. The Minority should have its say and the Majority its way is a known established political cliché and we are aware that we are a party in the Minority possibly working into the future into the Majority. The people of Ghana expect that the Minority will keep an eye and an ear on public concerns and matters of public interest. We will support you in this House to maintain order, but our ‘right to say’ must be safeguarded by you as the chair of this House.”