We are not small boys - Minority tells Speaker of Parliament

On Tuesday, August 1, the Minority has stormed out of parliament over the controversial Ameri deal.

This follows unsuccessful attempts to stop the Member of Parliament for Adansi Asokwa K.T Hammond from moving a motion in Parliament seeking the review of the deal. They walked out because they disagreed with the motion.

The walk out by the Minority follows series of protest by its members against the Speaker of Parliament.

On Thursday, July 27, the Minority voiced their frustration and disenchantment that the Speaker exhibited naked bias against them when the Minister of Food and Agriculture, Dr Owusu Afriyie Akoto, appeared on the floor of Parliament to answer questions on the Planting for Food and Jobs programme of the government.

However, the Minority has threatened to impeach Prof. Aaron Michael Oquaye.

The Minority Chief Whip, Mohammed Mubarak-Muntaka, interacting with journalists after the Minority walked out of Parliament said they are fed with the biases of the Speaker and will continue to protest in similar fashion.

He said "We don’t want it to look as if we are just complaining and complaining. But one thing we can assure Mr. Speaker is that we shall continue to fight until he understands that this is a House that every Member must be given space. When we were debating the Gitmo 2, Members will stand up and he will not recognize them. He was even participating in the debate which is not allowed. Even when Hon. Mahama Ayariga was reminding him that this is the only platform that ordinary citizens of this country can express themselves without being heckled, he will not listen. We are worried and we left because one he should have allowed our leader to exhaust the Supreme Court ruling he was referring to.

"We are saying that the constant neglect by the Speaker to ignore and to disrespect the Minority … yes look with the greatest of respect, you could be in the age bracket of some of our parents but remember that some of the Members behind us are older than him. So he should stop looking at us as if we are some small boys that are talking to him. With the greatest respect, both the Minority Leader and myself, we came to this House with him in 2005. He left and came back and we are still here.

"He should know that we are the official mouth piece of the minority, the opposition in this country. If we cannot have enough space to even air our views, then what business are we coming here to do. Our notice is that we shall continue to demonstrate to insist to walk out and to do whatever we can to make the Speaker understands that the Chamber of Parliament is for Members of Parliament and it is for Members of Parliament to express their views."

Meanwhile, the Majority Leader Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu has asked the Minority to conduct themselves properly in House.

He said he believes strongly that his colleagues are not subjecting themselves to the rules of the House, hence, their behavior towards the Speaker.