Minority Leader, Osei Kyei Mensah Bonsu has hit back at Deputy Information Minster, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa for describing his refusal to escort President John Mills out of Parliament as an affront to the dignity of the Presidency, and calling on the House to haul him before the Privileges Committee.
“For Okudzeto Ablakwa, I do not think that there is anybody in the country who shows rudeness like him; for whatever he thinks he is worth. I do not think anybody shows rudeness to the extent that he does; even the language that he uses on radio and television. I do not need any lesson from him, no, not from him”, Kyei Mensah Bonsu retorted in response to Mr Ablakwa’s call.
Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa has described the refusal of Minority Leader in Parliament, Osei Kyei Mensah-Bonsu to be part of a parliamentary retinue to see off President Mills as an affront to the dignity of the Presidency.
President Mills was in Parliament House to deliver his 3rd State of the Nation Address but the protesting Minority Leader refused to join the Speaker of Parliament, Majority Leader and others to see the president out from the Chamber as per convention.
He told the House he was appalled by the president’s unprecedented divisive address, and later explained that his disappointment had also partly stemmed from the president’s “refusal” to acknowledge the presence of former President John Kufuor and the Chief Justice, Georgina Wood.
But Okudzeto Ablakwa said Parliament must as a matter of urgency; haul the Minority Leader before the Privileges Committee because his behaviour was shameful.
This seems to have infuriated the Minority Leader, who questioned Mr Ablakwa’s knowledge on Parliamentary proceedings.
“In any event, what does he know about parliamentary factors? In parliament, if the other side feels too offended, we could even have chosen to walk out. If we did, what would he have said? People who have scant knowledge about parliamentary affairs; I do not intend to engage them in any such civilised discussion”.
Kyei Mensah Bonsu was speaking On the Big Bite Show on Xfm 95.1, a privately owned commercial radio station in Accra.
He, however, revealed that he had apologized to President John Mills following the latter’s apology to Former President John Kufuor and Chief Justice Georgina Wood.
“When he (President John Mills) indicated to me that this is what he had done, I assured him that our own conduct was precinct upon what transpired in the chamber and with his apology, there was nothing left other than for us to assure him that it was not meant for his person but that the events in the chamber; and that once he had apologized, we also have to apologise and express regret which is what I have done”.
He therefore expressed the hope that the brouhaha surrounding this issue would be put to bed after these apologies.