Alban Bagbin
The Majority Leader in Parliament, Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu has disclosed that the Speaker of Parliament, Alban S. K. Bagbin is not responding to calls and messages to his cell phones after absenting himself from Parliament on Monday, December 20, 2021 evening.
The Speaker was nowhere to be found as Parliament had intended to vote for the passage of the controversial E-levy bill and appears to be adopting the same modus operandi again for the subsequent day meeting.
The Majority Leader speaking on Joy News revealed that all efforts to reach the Speaker has proved futile.
“I called him a couple of times, but I couldn’t reach him and I sent a message including WhatsApp messages but I have not had any response,” Osei Kyei-Mensah Bonsu said.
However, the Majority believes that the move from Alban Bagbin is an attempt to reduce the 138 Majority as the First Deputy Speaker, Joseph Osei Owusu [Joe Wise], will have to step in for him.
This will make the majority have an equal number with the 137 minority.
The Minority had earlier contended that per parliament’s standing orders, the Speaker of Parliament does not have a casting vote, however, Joe Osei-Owusu indicated that he would still vote.
In the process, the Minority clashed with the Majority with members of both sides exchanging blows.