Hawa takes Speaker on

Tourism Minister and Member of Parliament for Bawku Central, Madam Hawa Yakubu has accused the Speaker of Ghana’s Parliament, Rt. Hon. Peter Ala Adjetey of rudeness.

Madam Yakubu said the Speaker’s attitude to her uring last Friday’s Parliamentary forum held in Accra was an exhibition of total lack of respect to her dignity as a woman and a Member of Parliament who has a legitimate duty to let the House know the problems of her constituents.

Madam Yakubu made the accusation in a telephone conversation with “The Evening News” in Accra shortly after the forum

According to her, she passed a note to the Speaker requesting to be allowed to comment on the Bawku conflict which claimed so many lives and property and also left many homeless about a month ago.

She said the Speaker who did not allow her to comment on the issue instead, announced to the public that a member wanted to comment on the Bawku issue but he would not allow because time was far spent.

According to the Bawku MP, the Speaker’s attitude was that of complete rudeness and caused a lot of embarrassment to her as a Member of Parliament for the area then under discussion.

The Minister said while members of the House including herself appointed the Speaker, she was elected by the people in the constituency and every opportunity should be given to her to carry the sentiments of the people who elected her to the House for redress.

Madam Yakubu called on the Speaker to change his attitude towards members of the House for proper Parliamentary democracy to be established.

She said the issue she had wanted to comment on was very dear to her heart and the people of Bawku in general and wondered why the Speaker found it unnecessary for her to comment on it.

The recent conflict at Bawku caused the lives of more than 100 people and the destruction of property worth millions of cedis, but nothing had been done for the victims.

According to her, she had spent over ?50 million on the victims who always come to her for assistance and thought that the forum offered an opportunity for her to draw the attention of the country to the people in the area.

Madam Yakubu said a positive change in the behaviour of the Speaker, particularly to members of the House would go a long way to make Parliamentary work more easy and efficient.

She expressed regret that the Speaker was using his position to prevent members from airing their views and comment on issues bothering the people in their constituencies.