Controversy over vacant seats a bad reflection on Parliament – Joe Wise

The First Deputy Speaker of Parliament, Joseph Osei-Owusu, popularly known as Joe Wise, says the recent developments in Parliament over vacant seats cast a bad image of the House.

According to the Bekwai MP, such delicate matters were previously settled behind closed doors amongst the House’s leadership.

Speaking in an interview, Joe Wise stated that the issues that led to parliament grinding to a halt should not have occurred.

“It’s a reflection of the politics of today, of the things that we place emphasis on. Of things that in my view should be in the background. Of the things that do not add any value to our work as MP.

“I’m disappointed. I think that these are not the things that should take the front stage when we are discussing Parliament.

“But why are we behaving as we’re doing, when in the past, in the previous three parliaments I’ve been in, such matters are discussed indoors, at the leadership level,” he stated.

He added that the House has always dealt with a wide range of viewpoints because its members represent different political parties, and the current deadlock leaves a lot to be desired.

“How is it now playing out in the open? Who is whipping members to be agitated and showing off their machoism? What value does that serve? I am not interested in who is responsible. It is reflecting badly on Parliament.

“As for having controversy, it has always been with Parliament. The reason Parliament is called Parliament is because it is a reflection of the various shades of ideas in the country,” he stated in an interview monitored by The Ghana Report on TV3

Meanwhile, the Speaker of Parliament, Alban Bagbin has recalled Parliament to sit on November 7.

This comes after he adjourned the House indefinitely due to a lack of quorum during the last sitting when the Members from the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP) boycotted the House.