Minority Accuse Speaker Of Bias...Vows To Investigate Merbank Sale

The Minority in Parliament say the Speaker of Parliament, Edward Doe Adjaho, conspired with the Majority side of the House to prevent a debate on the Merchant bank sale to Fortiz Private Equity Fund. A motion filed by the Minority side was thrown out by the Speaker who ruled that debating the matter would amount to usurping the powers of the Court hearing the case. Fortiz are now the legal and registered owners of the Bank after paying Ghc90 Million for 90 percent majority shares from former owners Social Security and National Insurance Trust (SSNIT). At a press conference Thursday, the Minority Leader, flanked by some of his colleagues, accused the Speaker of bias in his ruling. �It took the right Honourable Speaker 15 minutes to read a ruling in which he cited many authorities and which he alleges to have researched and written in one hour. A ruling will usually take into consideration, the views expressed by parties in a matter. It is significant to note that the ruling from the right honourbale Doe Adjaho represented just one side of the equation�, Osei Kyei Mensah-Bonsu said. He said: �All the arguments that were raised by myself [and] by Hon Papa Owusu Ankomah were not factored into that so called ruling�. �Clearly that ruling had been prepared before Parliament sat that fateful Monday�, he alleged. Mr Kyei-Mensah added that: �The NDC addressed the press soon after Mr Speaker had ruled that the motion would not be moved. The time read exactly 3:20[pm] when the speaker adjourned the house sine dine. Ten minutes after that the NDC Majority engaged the media to address them�and when they started, it was exactly 3:30[pm]. They read a prepared statement, the opening sentence of which read, �good morning ladies and gentlemen of the media�. ��Good morning at 3:30pm?� He added that: �Ladies and gentlemen, what further evidence does one need to establish that there was a well rehearsed conspiracy to prevent the motion from being moved whilst yet pretending to encourage leadership of both the minority and majority to find common ground as happened last Monday�.