General News of Thursday, 30 January 2003

Source: Chronicle

Parliamentarians "Boycott" Parliament

For two days running, Parliament has recorded more empty seats than ever before. When the second Deputy Speaker was marshalled into the chamber at exactly 10 am on Wednesday, only 46 out of the 200 honourable members had taken their seats.

Out of the number, only 17 were from the Majority side and the rest from the Minority side. At 11.30 am, the number rose to 29 for the ruling party while the minority reduced to 23 members.

Moments later, Minority Leader, Alban Bagbin bowed out, followed intermittently by other minority members rendering the august House virtually empty. That also seemed to have effect on the public galleries. They were virtually empty.

Two statements were however presented. The first was in the name of Hon Victor Gbeho on the sudden worm infestation in the Keta District, while the second statement was on the issue of divesting of lands by the honourable MP for Asunafo North, Benjamin Osei Kufuor.