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General News of Wednesday, 9 January 2013

Source: Abdul Karim Naatogmah

Barton-Odro is unfit for 1st Deputy Speaker- P.C. Appiah Ofori

The outspoken New Patriotic Party (NPP) former Member of Parliament for Asikuma-Odobeng –Brakwa, P.C. Appiah Ofori has described as a misplaced priority, Ebow Baton-Odro’s elevation to the position of first Deputy Speaker of Parliament.

Until his elevation, the Cape Coast North National Democratic Congress (NDC) Member of Parliament, Barton-Odro served as a Deputy Attorney General.

Before his appointment, it was speculated that MP for Kumbungu and also acting Minister for Foreign Affairs, Alhaji Mohammed Mumuni was tipped for that position.

Speaking in an interview, the NPP firebrand, P. C. Appiah Ofori opined that Barton-Odro lacked the Parliamentary experience to carry out the duties of first Deputy Speaker of Parliament.

He said, “This man knows nothing about Parliamentary procedures because within the period that he was in Parliament he was not regular in Parliament and anytime he came, he sat for a few minutes and left so he does not have vast Parliamentary experience to run the office of First Deputy Speaker of Parliament.”

Nevertheless, P.C. Appiah Ofori suggested that Barton-Odro should have been retained as Deputy Attorney General.

“As I am saying he has got his experience there and I know him personally: when he was practicing in Cape Coast he was a very skillful lawyer in Court so that is where his experience is and so if he was retained it would have been better than moving him to the position of First Deputy Speaker of Parliament.”