Helen Adjoa Ntoso, MP for Krachi West
The NDC Member of Parliament (MP) for Krachi West, Helen Adjoa Ntoso, yesterday left her colleague lawmakers in fits of giggles when she announced on the floor of Parliament that the washrooms in the House were without toilet rolls.
The House was dealing with the Business Statement for the Fifth Week ending Friday, July 7, 2023, when the MP jumped into the fray, claiming that she had been unable to lay hands on any toilet roll in the various washrooms since Thursday, after attending to nature’s call.
“I don’t know who is in charge of making sure that the washrooms are fitted for use. I have to talk about it. It is very embarrassing,” she asserted.
The Krachi West MP continued, “Mr. Speaker, if you go to the washrooms there are no toilet rolls. Since yesterday [referring to Thursday], there have been no toilet rolls in the washrooms. I just want to draw the attention of this House.”
First Deputy Speaker, Joseph Osei-Owusu, who was in the chair, intervened and asked the MP to pipe down and address the issue with her leaders, but Madam Ntoso would not budge.
“Yes, Mr. Speaker, we are talking about the business of this House and it is very important. The way we have visitors [coming here] and [when] they go to the washroom there are no toilet rolls. It is embarrassing to Parliament,” she insisted.
Majority Leader, Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu, who presented the Business Statement, observed that as much as the issue raised by his colleague might be legitimate, it was irrelevant to the subject matter on the floor.
“She was relating to matters connected to sanitation. Mr. Speaker, with the greatest respect, let me draw the attention of the Hon Member because you [Speaker] tried to intervene and she was persistent.
“Our rules are clear. After we present the Business Statement, comments should relate to this; it should be relevant to this and my colleague should know this. She is an elder in this House,” he submitted.
By Ernest Kofi Adu, Parliament House