GRi in Parliament 26 - 01 - 2002
We demand an apology from Interior Minister-Minority
Missing register has no effect on Reconciliation Law - Speaker
Parliament pays tribute to former IGP
Accra (Greater Accra) 26 January 2002- The National Democratic Congress (NDC) group in Parliament on Friday asked for an apology from Alhaji Malik Alhassan Yakubu, Minister of Interior, to the party and Ghanaians for denying the Tamale People's Assembly assault incident.
"I think he owes it as a duty to himself and his conscience to apologise to the good people of this country for his attempt at deceiving the public," Mr Alban Bagbin, Minority Leader told a press conference in Parliament.
He said the two victims, Mr. Rawbil and Mr. Mohammed Abdul Malik Cheno, who are NDC members were manhandled after one asked a question.
"While Cheno was in the queue, his friend Mutawakil walked up to him and whispered in his ear to ask a question about the abandoned Tamale Municipal Assembly complex."
He said several members of the crowd then started shouting at him to leave the assembly since it was not an NDC function.
"It took the intervention of the Deputy Minister of Food and Agriculture, Alhaji Majeed Haroon, before Cheno was allowed to asked his question. He said Cheno asked about the project, streetlights and the cancelled NDC's 31st December celebration the previous year.
According to Mr Bagbin, Mr Cheno was heckled by the crowd and was later told by Mr John Yakubu, a regional executive of NPP that "you think you know how to ask questions. You will see."
Mr Bagbin said Mutawakil was suddenly slapped on the cheek from behind by one Mohammed Iddrisu popularly known as"Irfa"
Mutawakil was restrained by Cheno when he tried to fight back and even after that Mr Yakubu came back to threaten him with a police arrest if he made noise. "At this point, there was pandemonium in the hall with several members of the crowd threatening to lynch them."
He said the two men then sought refuge on the high table but were escorted out by policemen who said they mere bodyguards of the Municipal Chief Executive; hence they could not arrest the assailant.
" The police escorted them to the Regional Library nearby and asked them to go home. The two friends after this unpleasant experience took the advice and went home."
Mr Bagbin said on January 12, a group of NPP youth followed up to Cheno's house and destroyed benches and other furniture outside the house. "Cheno was not in the house but they left threatening messages that they would beat him if they laid hands on him."
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Accra (Greater Accra) 26 January 2002- The Speaker of Parliament, Mr Peter Ala Adjetey on Friday declared that the alleged missing of the Parliamentary attendance register had no effect on the passage of the National Reconciliation Bill on December 21, last year when the minority walked out of the House.
He said "as far as I am concerned the issue of the missing register is finished and any one who is not pleased with my ruling can take any other course open to him."
Mr Ala Adjetey gave the ruling in his characteristic stern manner when Mr Joe Baidoe-Ansah, NPP-Effia-Kwesimintsim made a statement saying that the media had taken over the issue, making Parliament look as if in passing the Reconciliation Bill the majority did so without the requisite number.
Mr Baidoe-Ansah said the minority was raising the issue of the alleged missing register on radio stations and he quoted a newspaper publication, which cast a slur on the integrity of Parliament.
Mr Kofi Attor, NDC, Ho Central on a point of order cut in to say that at the previous day's meeting the issue was referred to the leadership of the House for investigation and that what the member was doing was to revisit a matter that a decision had already been taken on.
The Speaker ruled that it was necessary for him to hear the issue and know the worry of Mr Baidoe-Ansah since he had the right to be heard.
Mr Attor countered that what Mr Baidoe-Ansah was saying was nothing new and that if he (Baidoe-Ansah) has produced the missing register then he would have been helping the House.
Mr Ala Adjetey said the matter had raised a lot of speculation in the media, which they were entitled to and yet nothing concrete had come to the floor of the House and that he was obliged to give a ruling on what had been raised.
Mr Alban Bagbin, Minority Leader incurred the wrath of Mr Ala Adjetey when he said the Speaker by his ruling had "descended into the arena of conflict."
Mr Ala Adjetey declined to listen to the Minority Leader asking him to sit down and that if he had anything contrary to his ruling he could use other methods open to him either by coming to the House with a substantive motion or go to court.
Mr Bagbin got up and said "I want to be heard." The Speaker said as far as he was concerned that was the end of the matter and explained that the attendance register was not anything the House worked with, to take decisions.
"Decisions are taken on the number in the House and I have been so meticulous about this that I have often been criticised for doing that.
"Sometimes members come to the House and forget to sign the register and even at Committee meetings it is often complained that some members have not signed their names and that is why we go through and correct the proceedings of previous sittings. On January 16, when the votes and proceedings were corrected no one raised the issue of numbers in the House that passed the reconciliation bill."
Mr Ala Adjetey said what he did on the reconciliation bill was that the requisite number of more than 100 passed it and there was no question of "a so called attendance register."
He warned about the use of language in the House declaring that if he was accused of descending into the arena of conflict his integrity as Speaker was being questioned and that he was entitled to refer to the practice in the House.
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Accra (Greater Accra) 26 January 2002- Parliament on Friday paid tribute to the late Inspector General of Police and Gushe-Na, Bawah Andani Yakubu who died on January, 6 and have since been buried.
Alhaji Hudu Iddrisu, Member of Parliament for Gushegu/Karaga who made the tribute and was supported by many members said the tribute was to focus attention on the noble personal attributes of the late Gushie-Na and to highlight certain characteristics of traditional authority.
He said Na Yakubu was born in 1926 and after his primary education in Yendi in 1936, he proceeded to the Tamale Middle Boarding School from 1941 to 1944 after which he enlisted in the Ghana Police Service in 1945.
Na- Yakubu became a member of the National Liberation Council and during the same period he was a minister of state in-charge of Lands and Mineral Resources before becoming the IGP in 1969. He late B.A. Yakubu became the Gushie-Na in 1995 until his death on January, 6, 2002.
Alhaji Iddrisu said the late Gushe-Na had sympathy, patience, humility and above all, he was a man of goodwill who regarded himself as a father of all the people.
He said, " a great tree had fallen and the people of Gushegu, Dagbon and the entire country have lost a great father and it was the hope that his soul would rest in perfect peace".
He expressed his heartfelt condolences to the immediate family and the people of Gushegu and prayed that the succession to the skin would be settled smoothly and soon.
Alhaji Alhassan Yakubu, NDC- Nanton said the late Gushe-Na was one of the pillars, who ensured the settling of the conflict and ensuring an end to the Yendi Skin Affairs.
He said it was in appreciation of his meritorious service in amicably settling the chieftaincy disputes in the area that even though he was from the opposing skin, the Ya-Na found it fitting fit to offer him the Gushe skin.
Mr M.A. Seidu, NDC- Wa Central said the late Gushe-Na was a shining example whose dedication to national duty saw him rise through the ranks to the high office of IGP.
He said the tradition of chieftaincy in the country, would not be complete without mentioning him since he was respected among his colleagues and helped the institution improve on its image.
Capt. Nkrabeah Effah-Dartey, (Rtd) NPP-Berekum, said the late B.A. Yakubu was one of a few dedicated people who after retiring from active service agree to leave the splendour of city life and go to assist his people to ensure peace and development.
Alhaji Ali Amadu, NDC- Atebubu South prayed that the people in the area would be guided by the late Gushe-Na's quest for peace to ensure peaceful succession.
Alhaji Malik Alhassan Yakubu, Minister of Interior and MP-Yendi said the late IGP was a disciplined man who sought to bring dignity to the Police Service and was described in various cycles as the people's policeman.
He advised the present crop of police to emulate his service to duty by being honest and duty conscious to help raise the image of the service.
Alhaji Yakubu said the former IGP also identified himself with the youth and students and was always ready to offer pieces of advice to them in the various campuses while advising them to be hardworking and to show fortitude in their studies.
Mr Manu Kwaku Balado, NPP- Ahafo-Ano South said the deceased ensured professionalism in the police service which should be emulated by the present crop of policemen.
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