In a rather weird turn of events during today's parliamentary session, the Speaker of Parliament, Alban Bagbin, publicly admonished the Minister of Communications and Digitalisation, Ursula Owusu-Ekuful, for her interjection during a debate on the import restrictions bill.

Tensions escalated as the Minority in Parliament expressed concerns about the laying of the Legislative Instrument (LI), prompting a heated exchange.

Hon Ursula Owusu-Ekuful, also the Member of Parliament for the Ablekuma West constituency, objected to the debate, contending that the draft policy had not been formally presented before the house, rendering the ongoing discussion unnecessary.

“I have no idea on what we are debating in this house today. There is nothing before the house so, as you [Speaker of Parliament] indicated to the Minister [of Trade, KT Hammond] that we are not yet there, I was of the opinion that you would tell my colleagues on the other side that there's nothing before us,” Owusu-Ekuful asserted.

However, Speaker Alban Bagbin did not take the objection lightly. In a stern response, Bagbin addressed Minister Owusu-Ekuful, questioning her attentiveness and commitment to parliamentary proceedings.

“Minister, do you really listen to yourself when you are talking? If you were here from the very beginning before we started, why did you say no when I asked if you were here from the beginning… This is not the Ministry of Communications, this is Parliament. Resume your seat,” Speaker Bagbin retorted.