<\/p>\n
The Minority in Parliament has accused the Speaker, Rt. Hon Prof. Mike Oquaye, of frustrating efforts of the opposition to hold government accountable.<\/p>\n
Minority Chief Whip and Asawase MP, Alhaji Mubarak Muntaka complained, the National Democratic Congress (NDC) MPs have observed the Speaker sidelines key NDC MPs during debates.<\/p>\n
He said the Minority Leader once stood up for almost 15 minutes but the Speaker refused to call him. It also happened to him on Wednesday during a debate on the procedure for laying two bills before Parliament.<\/p>\n
\u201cFor a long time he refused to call me\u201d, Muntaka lamented and said he later privately spoke to the Speaker about these concerns.<\/p>\n
\u201cIn less than 24 hours, he is still repeating the same thing\u201d, the Minority Chief Whip said.<\/p>\n
Things got to a head at Thursday\u2019s sitting after the Speaker denied the Minority Leader an opportunity to ask the Agricultural Minister more than one question\u00a0when he appeared before the House.<\/p>\n
Muntaka Mubarak got up to angrily, banged the table and accused the Speaker of disrespecting the Minority Leadership.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou have to give us space! If the Speaker thinks we should not be here, we will walk out\u201d he reacted on the floor of the house.<\/p>\n
The caucus was in an uproar backing Muntaka\u2019s threats to stage a walk-out over its persisting attitude to ignore the Minority.<\/p>\n
The backbenchers pushed for a walk-out.<\/p>\n
He said the Majority Leader on an occasion joined the Minority Leader to speak to the Speaker about his posture towards the NDC.<\/p>\n
\u201cHow many times must we remind him?\u2026what else should we do?\u201d<\/p>\n
He said for the past six months since the Speaker was elected, Rt. Hon Prof. Michael Oquaye has been \u201cclosing the space. making the space so narrow that it is difficult for the minority to even have their say.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou can\u2019t have your way, you can\u2019t have your say. That is just unbearable for us\u201d, Muntaka fumed.<\/p>\n