Haruna Iddrisu has described as irresponsible and unnecessary Kojo Oppong Nkrumah’s “Papa no” comment on the floor of the House.
According to Haruna Iddrisu, the concerns being raised by the Minority MP Abu Jinapor was a serious one which does not need the Information Minister to introduce any unnecessary diversion.
“I think it is important that Ghanaian public appreciate what probably accounted for the… lack of coolness and calmness on my side. The business of governance and the business of oversight must be taken seriously especially by Ministers and Members of Parliament and Parliament as an institution. What the Minister for Information introduced… of the reference on social media quote was an irresponsible and unnecessary diversion from serious issues that were being raised and with respect to matters of the government wanting to mortgage mineral royalties in the name of Agyapa Royalties incorporated only on the 10th of August to which the government of Ghana and as a Republic is vesting its royal intake annually which rakes in 120 to 140 and probably to 200 million dollars of gold revenue and gold royalties to Agyapa Royalties.”
“The foundation to which this approval was given is predicated on an amendment to The Mineral Income Investment Fund which law is yet to receive a presidential assented requirement to the provision Article 106,” he added.
Minister for Information, Kojo Oppong Nkrumah after the confusion on the floor of the House said his “Papa no” comment was not intended to offend anybody.
Oppong Nkrumah requested of the Speaker to expunge the word from the records of the House.
“Mr Speaker earlier I was trying to catch your eyes to request that the use of my expression which caused some apprehension on the other side be expunged from the record, I did not mean to offend anybody… and if anybody took offence to it let the records reflect that it has been expunged.”
Confusion in Parliament over “Papa no”
There was drama in Parliament on Friday after Information Minister Kojo Oppong Nkrumah described former Deputy Energy Minister John Jinapor as “Papa no.”
This phrase ‘Papa no’ has become popular on social media after actress Tracey Boakye used it repeatedly to describe a married man she claims she and musician Mzbel are in the same relationship with.
Well, it found its way onto the floor of parliament late Friday night as the house approved the Agyapa Royalties Limited agreement.
“Mr Speaker, I want to encourage my colleagues on the other side. I want to encourage my good friend who just spoke (John Jinapor). In my hometown, we will say, ‘Papa no.’ ‘Papa no.’ I want to encourage ‘Papa no’ to take some time and follow the structure of this conversation and support,” the Ofoase Ayirebi MP told the House.
Minority leader Haruna Iddrisu demanded he withdraws the comment else they wont recognise him as minister, and referred to him as ‘Maame no’. He does not understand why the minister will introduce popular phrases being used on social media in the house.
“You come to parliament to employ those words used on social media, we take strong objection to it. If you don’t withdraw, we won’t recognize you today as minister. We will not. Do what you will do,” Haruna Iddrisu said.
“From today, we won’t recognize you as minister of this republic. And we will not accord you any respect as minister. Let’s throw it to the dogs. What do you take us for? So, ‘Papa no’ accepted. But from today, we will not.
“We will give you a name. We will give you a name. And we are serving notice, he was elected just like you. And his constituents respect him. Because you people use ‘Papa no’ on social media. We know what it means. We will match you. You have lost my respect as Minority leader from today. We will match with you. We too, we will call you ‘Maame no,” Mr. Iddrisu added.
Minority MPs banged the table whilst Majority MPs shouted ‘Papa no’ in the background as the debate continued.
Eventually, First deputy Speaker of Parliament Joe Osei Owusu ruled that sleeping dogs should be allowed to lie.
“The honourable minority leader’s anger, I pretended to overlook it because I think it’s in the spur of the moment. And knowing this house, tomorrow, we will get over it. But some insist on making an issue over it.
“I don’t think we will gain anything as a house by pretending this is new. And the threats don’t come to anything. So, the house will proceed,” he said.
The debate on the deal continued after that. Eventually, the Minority MPs walked out of the house in protest of the deal. But the majority went ahead to approve it.
