Election of Speaker: Some MPs Need Mental Examination- NPP 2nd Vice Chairman

The Second Vice Chairman for Suame Constituency of New Patriotic Party (NPP), Mr Richard Akwasi Asante, says some Members of Parliament (MPs) in the 8th Parliament should be subjected to mental examination by psychiatrists.

The behaviour exhibited by some MPs during the election of the Speaker of Parliament, according to him, clearly shows some legislators should seek treatment at recognized psychiatric hospitals.

Mr Asante, who was speaking to a section of the media, described it as a shock and disgrace to the legislature, as an arm of government.

He said the decision by the NDC MPs to preoccupy the seats of the NPP MPs, who were in Majority of the 7th Parliament, needs to be questioned by all and sundry.

According to him, the NDC MPs ought to have known better that musles are not used to determine both majority and minority caucuses of the house.

Such act, he said, was provocative and if NPP MPs have revenged it, the outcome could have halted the swearing-in of President Nana Akufo-Addo, on 7th January 2021 in accordance with the 1992 Constitution .

Mr Asante, disclosed the manner in which some NDC MPs kicked ballot box and other materials in the mid of chanting and singing has created a bad image for the house in the eyes of Ghanaians and foreign dignitaries who watched what he termed as ‘ill- mental drama’.

He said, the decision by Hon Haruna Iddrisu, MP for Tamale Central and Hon Mohammed Muntaka MP for Asawasi, who are the leaders of the minority caucus, to force the injuncted Parliamentary candidate for Assin North , Mr James Gyakye Quayson to vote, was unlawful and amounts to contempt of court.

According to him, such acts, provoked the anger of Hon Carlos Ahenkorah, MP for Tema West to disgracefully snatch the ballot box leading to fisticuffs in the house .

The Vice Chairman, therefore called for a thorough investigations into such uncivilized acts, to prevent such situation from reoccurring .