Minority Group In Parliament Walks Out

Accra, May 29 The Minority group in Parliament today staged a walk-out, refusing to listen to a statement from Mr Simon Abingya, Deputy Minister of Mines and Energy. "Shame, Shame" and "the tradition goes on" the majority bench shouted while the minority replied with "you don't know the law," as they filed out of the chamber. The Minority's position was that Mr Abingya's position as a deputy minister is in doubt following the ruling of the supreme court yesterday on the status of ministers retained from the first t "Our position is unambiguous. We cannot hear people whose position in our view is in doubt," Mr J.H. Mensah, Minority leader, said. Mr Abingya was in Parliament to make a statement on the fuel situation in the country. The minority side has filed an urgent question to the minister of mines and energy on the same issue. Mr Mensah argued that pending the study of the ruling, the House should not do anything that may put it in conflict with the Supreme Court. Even though Mr Justice Daniel Francis Annan, Speaker, had ruled that the jurisdiction of the House had not been impinged upon by the court's ruling, Mr J.H. Mensah pleaded that the House deals wi "We of the Mnority plead that the House do all business that is not affected potentially or actually by the decision of the court," Mr Mensah stressed. "Aden nti na wo ha adwen saa?" he said in Twi in apparent frustration that his arguments were not getting home

Mr Justice Annan said he is bound by this decision of the House. . "Until it is established that this decision of the House is uncon

The Speaker said he has instructed the Clerk's office to obtai Until then, he said, he cannot presume that the ruling has an Mr J.H. Owusu-Acheampong, Majority Leader, agreeing with the spe In any case, he said, the judgement did not negate the procedu The Majority Leader further argued that since by a procedur "Abingya is in his right capacity to speak to the house and we o Gri