Parliament has issued a statement addressing misinterpretations surrounding remarks made during the recent State of the Nation Address (SONA) delivered by President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo.
The clarification aims to set the record straight on statements attributed to the Rt. Hon. Speaker Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin and to dispel notions of partisanship.
The statement highlights a light-hearted comment made by Rt. Hon. Speaker Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin which was taken out of context, leading to misrepresentations and reports of him allegedly endorsing the chief of staff as
“the beacon of hope and support for Ghanaians from all walks of life.” The Speaker is also alleged to have expressed gratitude to the Chief of Staff for “her pivotal role in the management of the affairs of the country”.
The Speaker clarified that his acknowledgement of the Chief of Staff’s presence was not intended as a political endorsement, contrary to what had been suggested by some media outlets.
Furthermore, the statement addressed allegations of partisanship levelled against the Speaker by the Daily Guide newspaper.
“It must be noted emphatically that, at the time the Rt. Hon Speaker, the President, and the entourage entered the Chamber, almost all Members and Ministers were already seated in the Chamber. At any rate, walkouts and boycotts are Parliamentary tools used by members in the world legislatures for negotiation and parliamentary processes” it added.
Parliament refuted these claims, emphasizing that the absence of some Members at the beginning of the session was not orchestrated by the Speaker and that such actions are common parliamentary tools used for negotiation and dialogue.
Parliament stressed the importance of resolving disputes through dialogue and condemned attempts to politicize parliamentary proceedings.
Below is the full Statement
Document 49 Click here to read the ststemen
