Attorney General Apologizes To NDC Minority In Parliament

The Attorney General and Minister for Justice Nana Akuffo-Addo on Thursday acceded to the request of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) minority in parliament and apologized for what the minority described as insulting statements he made in the house.

The minority walked out of parliament and demanded the apology in reaction to statements made by Nana Akuffo Addo while summing up the debate for the second reading of the National Reconciliation Commission Bill about three weeks ago.

The Attorney General's apology has paved the way for a unanimous adoption of the the motion for the second reading of the bill, which had stalled since the day of the walk out. Nana Akuffo Addo in his apology to the house said he did not intend to cause any offence by his statements by his intervention that day.

He noted that he has decided to apologise in order not to delay the passage of the reconciliation bill. "I apologise to the house," he stated.

The Speaker of parliament Peter Ala Adjetey who coincidentally has not been in the chair since the walk out, said he was glad the minister had apologized to end the impasse.

The Majority Leader, Papa Owusu Ankomah had earlier told the House that the Attorney General has done nothing wrong and was only going to apologise because the business of the House will be affected without the apology.

This was after the Minority leader Alban Bagbin had insisted that his side would only participate in any further debate on the bill if the minister apologises.