I’m sorry – KT Hammond begs

Member of Parliament for Adansi Asokwa in the Ashanti Region, K.T. Hammond, has apologized for his unruly behaviour in Parliament on Wednesday.

“I want to use your platform to express my unqualified apology to the good people of Ghana. I am sorry and I apologize to all of them (Members of Parliament) and indeed to the good people of Ghana and to my very good friend, the Speaker,” he told Citi FM yesterday.

Mr Hammond went ballistic when he rained insults on Majority Leader Dr. Ben Kunbuor who addressed the issue of corruption among politicians in the country.

According to Kunbuor, “corruption is seen as the disease of the political elite of this country”, saying it had been confirmed by the “drill ship and Woyome placards” on the floor of Parliament.

However, K.T. Hammond was offended by the comparison with Woyome, saying that there was no corruption in the drill ship case.

The Adansi Asokwa MP, who subsequently apologized to his colleague MP, the Majority Leader, took a step further to grant a radio interview showing remorse about his conduct.

He said although the issue of the drill ship was a very sensitive one to him because it had been linked to corruption, his outburst was still not of the “best behaviour”.

“… To really sally the brand the way I have contrived in my own way to do, I think calls for some sort of apology to those who have created the brand,” he added.

He described the Speaker of Parliament, Doe Adjaho, as someone who had always supported him and therefore deserved an “unqualified apology”.

“I don’t like the way it came about,” he said, adding that “it was not my best performance”.

Mr Hammond, a Ranking Member on Energy and Petroleum, had taken strong exception to a comment made by Dr Kunbuor to the effect that the Woyome scandal could not be anything different from the drill ship saga when it comes to the issue of corruption.

The comparison infuriated the Adansi Asokwa MP, who uttered words like “stupid, foolish, useless and nonsensical”, amidst confusion in the House.

“Mr. Speaker, this is the most disgraceful statement that has ever been made by any member in this house; it is insulting, it is foolish and should never be allowed in this house,” Mr. Hammond said.

He added, “I ask for the statement to be withdrawn immediately…Mr. Speaker, I ask for the stupid and useless and foolish statement to be withdrawn immediately…it is palpable nonsense,” KT Hammond fumed.