Parliament reprimanded for observing a minute of "foreign" silence … but Ablakwa explains | Policy

On Monday, Parliament observed a minute of silence for the victims of the shooting in New Zealand, as well as for the citizens of Zimbabwe, Malawi and Mozambique who died as a result of the cyclone.

A statement was read to Parliament on Monday, on behalf of the New Zealand government, following the shooting on March 15, 2019.

They also paid tribute to the victims of Hurricane Idai, who killed more than 750 people.

On Monday, minority foreign affairs spokesman Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa said:Mr President, I propose, if you wish, Members to make voluntary donations, in cash or in kind, that we should gather and give to our fellow Africans in Mozambique, Malawi and Zimbabwe who are in dire need of help urgent"

However, this act was not well received by many as they relied on social media to condemn MPs who did not recognize the terrible accidents that claimed the lives of more than 60 people. Ghana.

They wondered why the Parliament had not yet reacted to the tragic news on Monday, nor observed a minute of silence for the more than 50 victims.

Kumbungu MP Ras Mubarak, who was not in the House at the time, added that the public was right to get angry.

"I found it rather strange that more than 70 of our compatriots died sadly in Friday's double accident and that the House of Parliament representing the people of Ghana did not show any support for the victims of this accident. This is very disappointing and if the public is angry, it is rightly so. The misfortune of the public is just indignation. . . we had to live up to the situation, but unfortunately we did not measure up, He told the media.

But by reacting to that in an interview on Citi Eyewitness News, Said Mr Ablakwa in accordance with the Rules of the Parliament, "you submit a statement to the speaker when you wish to make a commemorative statement" and that "Eligibility is up to the chair and it is up to the chair to read the statement to approve it and decide when the statement will be made.".

According to him, "he could not have changed the statement (which he submitted a few days ago) in order to include both accidents; adding that he had included that, he would be declared inadmissible and the President would not have allowed him to speak at all.. "

He also described as erroneous the impression that "Members of Parliament cherish other citizens … ultimately, it is humanity. We are one people and the House of Parliament knows its duty and we will not place other countries on our people. "