Speaker scolds media for granting Minority interviews during proceedings

The Speaker of Parliament, Prof Aaron Mike Oquaye has ordered journalists to desist from granting interviews and participating in press conferences when there is an ongoing sitting.

Prof Oquaye made it clear that reporters are to grant interviews in any other vain, only when proceedings in the chamber are over.

“It is forbidden for the media to go outside the chamber and do some other work other than coming to cover proceedings. You are here as guests. Any such humiliation will make you unwelcomed guests,” He noted.

The call follows a complaint by the Majority in Parliament, who registered displeasure about the media’s absence during a debate on the State of the Nation Address delivered by President Nana Akufo-Addo last week.

Journalists were invited by some members of the Minority in Parliament to speak on utterances by President Akufo-Addo they disagreed with.

While Former Energy Minister, Emmanuel Armah Kofi Buah, refuted claims by President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo that the NPP government made the oil sector better, Member of Parliament of the Sarinagu Constituency, A.B.A Fuseini insisted that the President was not the one who restored peace in Dagbon like he claimed.

According to Osei Mensah Bonsu, it was wrong for any group or individuals to engage the media during proceedings.

“Something dramatic happened in the house yesterday... The media, instead covering the proceedings the debate was ongoing were nowhere to be found. This is not right,” registering his complaint before the August house.

However, Minority Leader responding said “we are entitled to the media not just the parliamentary media” adding that “we asked based on your past anticidents.”

Haruna Iddrisu agreed that the media was supposed to cover the proceedings.

The Speaker of Parliament thus advised Parliamentarians not to fall on past events as an excuse to repeat the same thing.

He indicated that such attitudes by the MPs affects both the Minority and Majority and does not promote progress.

“I feel very sad when references are made to things that happened in the past especially when I was not the Speaker. Let’s make progressive development such that we do not display practices that happened in the past, if any.” He averred.