George Mireku Duker, the Member of Parliament for Tarkwa-Nsuaem Constituency, says it is improper for members of the Parliamentary press corps to be ‘conducting other matters’ when parliament is in session.
He was reacting to recent criticisms against Rt Hon Speaker, Prof Mike Ocquaye after he reportedly threatened the parliamentary press corps.
Speaking on the floor of the House, the Speaker indicated that he will not hesitate to declare journalists as strangers to parliament by revoking their accreditation if due coverage is not given to proceedings in the House.
"It is forbidden if they have any doubt to abandon the permission given them to cover proceeding in this honorable House and go outside the chamber itself and do some other work....... and I want to let the media know if that which was reported to have happened should happen anymore I will......on the fact that you are here as a guest......any, such act will make you unwelcomed guest...," he warned.
His remarks came on the heels of a complaint from the Majority Leader Osei Kyei Mensah Bonsu to the effect that journalists abandoned proceedings of the House to give audience to the MP for Ellembelle Emmanuel Armah Kofi Buah who had concerns about the Energy sector aspect of the President's 2020 State of the Nation Address.
Some have described the Speaker's comments as a way of attempting to censure the medai.
However, Mireku Duker says the Rt Hon Mike Oquaye was only cautioning the media because the incident appears to be repeating itself.
According to him, “they should have waited for proceedings in parliament to be over before conducting other matters.”
“...the day the Minority walked out (on the day of the SoNA) the press corps followed them outside and the same thing was repeated during the SoNA debate; hence the Speaker had to caution…He’s the Speaker. It is not proper to get up while parliament is in session. The press has its freedom and the Speaker cannot determine what you cover but that doesn’t mean you can just get up and galavant about parliament anytime you feel like,” he added.
Source: Rebecca Addo Tetteh/Peacefmonline.com
Disclaimer: Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. |
You lie bad. Who and you made mistake and since when have you realized this? The slogan is 4 more 4 Nana.
Just 3years in power, they think they own Ghana. We have realized our mistake and never again will people like you test power from December 2020. You are too draconian, even Rawlings have stopped that military behavior.
Why do many of these npp MPs talk by heart as if they always drink akpeteshie? If care is not taken and the NPP wins the next term the entire media would be out of coverage area. Thier philosophy is very very terrible. Even in Saudi Arabia the media is fairly treated.
Massa stop!There are more important things to talk about - roads, 1D1F, COVID-19, voter registration etc.