Majority Leader Condems Walk-Out

Accra Mr J. H. Owusu-Acheampong, Majority Leader, has condemned the principle of boycotting parliamentary business to register a disagreement. "The principle of boycotting business in the house is not good enough. it is anachronistic and outdated, and must not be allowed," Mr Owusu-acheampong said in reaction to the walk-out by a section of the Minority in parliament today. He cautioned against such acts, saying it is important to participate and register disagreements rather than walking out. The Minority staged a walk-out just as the Speaker, Mr Justice D.F. Annan, invited Mr Simon Abingya, deputy minister of Mines and Energy, to make a statement on the fuel shortage in the country. Led by their leader, Mr J.H. Mensah, members of the Minority group except two PCP members, questioned Mr Abingya's eligibility to make the statement, saying it was not prepared to hear him in a ministerial capacity, following a ruling by the Supreme court yesterday.

Mr Owusu-Acheampong referred to the two Minority members and said their decision not to boycott the proceedings indicated their preparedness to help build a good democracy for their people. He said there may come a time when the opposition would have a good point to push through the House and if the Majority decides to stay away, it would not be good for Ghana's evolving democracy. Gri