Minority Leader, Alexander Afenyo-Markin, has vowed to prevent the Majority side from having more speakers than the Minority during the debate on President Mahama’s State of the Nation Address (SONA).
His statement came after the Majority proposed a rule for the debate, where for every three MPs from the Majority side who speak, one MP from the Minority side would be allowed to speak.
Afenyo-Markin argued that both sides of the House should be afforded equal opportunities, a principle that has traditionally been upheld in parliamentary proceedings.
He emphasized that it has never occurred in the history of Parliament for the Majority to have more speakers than the Minority, and he vowed not to allow such an imbalance.
He also reminded the Majority that they would not hold their position forever and should not use their current power to intimidate the Minority.
“Equal opportunity, Mr. Speaker is guaranteed. Mr. Speaker we will not, Mr. Speaker we will not, I repeat we will not accept, allow the majority to use its numbers to intimidate us.”
Afenyo-Markin expressed disappointment in the Minister of Education, Haruna Iddrisu, for sitting in Parliament and supporting the Majority’s proposal. “Mr. Speaker they should know that we are not going to be in this minority forever. Today, the Minister of Education Haruna Iddrisu is in this house and his side is proposing this. Eeei Haruna..eei Haruna,” he exclaimed.
“Mr. Speaker, Honourable Mahama Ayariga, the legal advisors to the Ato Forson leadership is today saying that if they get 3 we should get 1. It won’t happen today, it won’t happen tomorrow.”
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