Policy think tank, Strategic Thinkers Network-Africa, STRANEK-Africa, are calling for investigations into the chaos that erupted in Parliament on January 7, 2021.
This was when Members of Parliament were voting for a new Speaker and deputies.
However there were some unfortunate incidents that characterized the whole proceeding.
Some security personnel numbering about 20 on Thursday stormed Parliament following several commotions recorded during the inauguration processes for the 8th parliament commenced.
Aside from the military invasion, there was chaos and scuffles before the election of Speaker of Parliament Alban Bagbin.
The NDC side kicked ballot boxes and the highlight of the chaos was exhibited by Member of Parliament for Tema West Carlos Ahenkorah who attempted to snatch ballot papers and bolt with it.
STRANEK says records must be set straight and the only way this can be done is by investigating the matter.
Below is the release
INVESTIGATE PARLIAMENTARY MELEE- STRANEK-Africa
After every election, we look forward to our President-elect, Speaker of Parliament and two Deputies to be sworn in but this year was something else.
Opposition politicians clashed in Ghana’s Parliament prompting military intervention. Could it be that the two major political parties want to show how powerful they are?
Legislators were voting to choose the next Speaker of Parliament and chaos erupted after a lawmaker from the ruling party to seized the ballot papers.
STRANEK-Africa is however appalled by the actions of the Member of Parliament (MP) for Tema West who was beaten for snatching ballot papers on the floor of Parliament.
This act we consider to be very criminal, undemocratic, un-parliamentary and dishonorable and he must face the full rigours of law. An apology from him is not enough.
A 39-year-old fisherman Christian Nukpeta has been sentenced to three months imprisonment for engaging in similar actions in the just-ended general elections at the Sene West constituency in the Bono East Region. Indeed, what is good for the goose must be equally good for the gander.
The second unfortunate happenings was, how armed combatants of the Ghana Armed Forces moved into Parliament. Who instructed for such actions? For what purpose? Why were they armed? This matter begs for answers and a full blown investigation will suffice in that regard.
Ghana undoubtedly has become the bastion and a beacon of democracy across African and the nearing 3 decades of the 4th Republic is a show of much fidelity. Hence, taking punitive measures against the embarrassing moments will serve as a deterrence for further reoccurrences.
We are all involved in building our motherland.
Signed.
Eyram Norglo
Deputy Director of Research
+233 26 611 9773
Nii Tettey Tetteh
Executive Director
+233 55 904 2914
