Gbeho Abandons Constituents - Joins NDC Boycott

Mr. Victor Gbeho, independent MP, Anlo constituency, has joined the Minority Group (NDC MPs) in boycotting proceedings in Parliament. Sources close to Parliament have confirmed that Mr. Gheho is the only independent candidate who has joined the 4-day NDC boycott.

The MPs are protesting the arrest and questioning of Mr. E.T. Mensah former Sports Minister and MP for Ningo Prampram by the BNI last week for his alleged role in instigating rioting against the Police in the Accra suburb of Nima. He has since been released on self-bail.

When Parliament sat last Tuesday, the day the boycott started, Mr. Gbeho, who was one time Ghana's Foreign Minister, was conspicuously absent from his seat.

Mr. Gheho had a rough time with the NDC during the Election 2000 campaign period to the effect that the party officially refused to endorse him as their parliamentary candidate. He contested as an independent candidate and won against the NDC candidate, Clend Sowu.

The Majority Group in Parliament has expressed disappointment over the decision of the NDC MPs to abstain from the work of Parliament for 4 days.

Speaking to The Accra Mail moments after the boycott was announced, the Deputy Majority Leader, Mr. Paapa Owusu-Ankomah said they were surprised to learn about the intended action of the minority only on radio.

"They have not made any official complain to the Speaker of Parliament. I just heard it on radio," he said.

Mr. Ankomah noted that Parliament has its own procedures to deal with matters that concern the members such as the infringement on the rights of a member, which the minority could have taken advantage of, instead of choosing to abstain from the proceedings in the House.

He said the Speaker is very much interested in the fair treatment of all the members adding that when the Speaker heard about the arrest of Mr. E. T. Mensah, for instance, he asked the clerk to go and find out about his welfare and report back to him.

According to Mr. Ankomah, Parliament would continue with the scheduled business for the week, however, the absence of the Minority Group would only deny the house the opportunity to hear divergent views from their side on the matters currently under the consideration by the house. "The arrest has nothing to do with Parliament but their action will rather disable the house and make it unable to effectively carry out its official functions."

Explaining walkouts in the last parliament, he said, "all the actions taken by the then minority were centered on issues that happened on the floor of the house and not outside."

Sitting was delayed on the first day of the boycott for over thirty minutes because the NDC MPs were not in the chamber.

According to Mr. Ankomah, when he contacted the office of the Minority Leader, he was told that they were having a meeting but after sometime the Speaker insisted that sitting should start for them to join later.