Robert Apodolla
Robert Apodolla, a Deputy Clerk to Parliament, died on Friday, February 19, 2021 after a short illness, it is reported.
Mr. Apodolla, who was a member of the Society of Clerks-at-the-Table in the Commonwealth Parliaments, was not known to be suffering from a serious illness.
His death has sent shock waves among past and current Members of Parliament (MPs), with the immediate past MP for Kumbungu, Ras Mubarak, describing him as “go-to person on rules of the House.”
In a Facebook post to mourn Clerk Apodolla, Mr. Mubarak said Parliament had lost “one of its unsung icons, a dedicated servant of Parliament who knew his work inside out, and discharged his duties diligently.”
“I’m very sad to hear about the death of my friend and go-to person on rules of the House. Robert Apodolla, one of Parliament’s most dedicated clerks, who passed away yesterday. My prayers and thoughts are with his family in this difficult moment,” he wrote.
He continued: “In my time in Parliament, there were three persons whose opinions and suggestions I sought frequently – Rt. Hon. Speaker Alban Bagbin (then a Deputy Speaker), Opare Ansah of Suhum, and the late Robert Apodolla.”
“If I couldn’t find Mr. Speaker or Opare, it was Robert I ran to for suggestions on a motion I was preparing to move or interpretation of any of the rules I wasn’t clear about.
“In January when I was researching for an article I was writing about Speakers of Parliament, Robert was available as always, to share his experiences of working with all past Speakers of Parliament of the Fourth Republic.
“We spoke at length about his farm up north, his health, family and what I was doing after Parliament. And I remember Robert encouraging me to prepare and run again for the Kumbungu seat,” the former MP noted.
He stated that it was a shame that Mr. Apodolla “was passed over for the position of Clerk to Parliament,” and added that the man took “this injustice in his stride and insisted that God’s time is best.”
According to Ras Mubarak, the Parliament of Ghana owes Mr. Apodolla a befitting funeral.
By Ernest Kofi Adu