The Speaker of Parliament, Alban Bagbin, has defended the approval of the controversial revenue bills despite the absence of the Member of Parliament for Nanton, Mohammed Hardi Tuferu. The MP was involved in an accident on his way to Parliament to partake in the vote on the financial bills.
Tuferu was driven to the house in an ambulance with Whips on both sides of the house directed by the Speaker to confirm the situation. After the proceedings, Bagbin clarified why the legislator was counted as part of the votes. “Members who are incapacitated shall upon reporting their incapacity to the Speaker through the Clerk be recorded,” he said.
Bagbin explained that the Whips were asked to go and physically see the incapacitated MP to assess their incapacity and whether they were of sound mind. “I did not do anything untoward. I only followed the rules,” he added.
The Minority Leader, Haruna Iddrisu, had earlier accused the Speaker of Parliament of unfairly including Tuferu in the vote count. However, Bagbin insisted that the decision was in line with the rules of Parliament.
Meanwhile, the Majority Leader, Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu, has dismissed calls for the review of the passage of the revenue bills. Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu said that the bills had gone through all the required processes and had been duly approved by Parliament.
The passage of the revenue bills has been a contentious issue in the country, with some stakeholders expressing concerns about the impact on businesses and ordinary Ghanaians. The government has defended the move, saying that it is necessary to boost revenue generation and support the country's development agenda.