Minority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin has accused President John Dramani Mahama of discrimination following the announcement of a planned meeting between the President and the National Democratic Congress (NDC) caucus in Parliament.
The criticism came after Majority Leader Mahama Ayariga informed the House of an upcoming engagement between President Mahama and members of the Majority caucus, a development Afenyo-Markin argued excluded the Minority from discussions on matters affecting all Members of Parliament.
Addressing the House, the Minority Leader maintained that issues relating to the welfare of MPs should involve both sides of the chamber and not be limited to members of the governing party.
“We are aware that you are going to the presidency. Very discriminatory call. We have a 276-member chamber. The president, who is supposed to be a father for all, decided to only invite his side.
“We know the welfare issues that are going to be discussed. Mr Speaker, I don’t know whether you’ve been invited, but Mr Speaker, it is only the 180-something that the president has invited.
“When we have a 276-member house, and you say you’re going for a meeting, which meeting? This side of the house is part of the country, and the president is only inviting your side to take care of you.
“Mr Speaker, is that how we run a country? A president who is discriminatory? Mr Speaker, we protest this matter. The majority leader has failed parliament. How can you carry your side to the presidency? We will not agree. If the president is inviting parliament, all parliamentarians must be invited. And we will be there,” he said.
Afenyo-Markin further argued that under former President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, parliamentary welfare issues were handled in a manner that benefited the entire House rather than a single caucus.
However, Majority Leader Mahama Ayariga dismissed the concerns and assured the Minority that they would also have an opportunity to engage the President.
“What is your problem? I will take you to President John Mahama. I will take you there. In fact, your entire caucus. We have heard your plea and your appeal. There’s enough space. He will receive you. He will discuss with you the welfare of NPP as a party. Because he’s a father for all. He’s the father of NDC. He’s the father of NPP,” he said.
Ayariga also rejected Afenyo-Markin’s assertion that former President Akufo-Addo had engaged both sides of Parliament on welfare matters during his tenure.
“Throughout the period that Akufo-Addo was president, there was not a single occasion when I or any of my colleagues were invited to meet with him to discuss welfare matters. Former President Akufo-Addo never invited us, then on this side of the House, to the Flagstaff House to discuss any welfare issues,” Ayariga said.
The exchange sparked debate in the chamber over the role of the Presidency in engaging Parliament and whether discussions on parliamentary welfare should be conducted on a bipartisan basis.
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