Chaos in Parliament

The Daily Guide reports that the ongoing twists and turns over Sahara Energy Resource's lifting of crude oil to Ghana, took a disturbing turn in Parliament on Tuesday, when the Minister of Energy Mr Albert Kan-Dapaah appeared before the House to throw more light on the issue.

Before the Minister could land with his defence on what has become known as the Sahara brouhaha, tempers had already risen high with the NDC caucus in Parliament interjecting and interrupting Dapaah's speech with statements like "Mr Minister bring the facts" while the NPP Majority countered loudly thus reducing the august House to a 'macaranta' session (apologies to Ghanaian Muslims.)


The trade in accusation and counter accusation created a chaotic situation in the House so uncontrollable that the Speaker of the House, Mr Peter Ala Adjetey had to stamp his authority on the feuding members to bring some sanity in the House. The Speaker's hammer and loud boom of his deep voice was heard over the ensuing chaos calling for "order, order".


At one point, the Minority Chief Whip, Hon E.K. Doe Adjaho, stood up to talk as the Speaker too was talking, against parliamentary regulations, which did not go down well with the Majority who shouted at him to sit down. However, the charged Minority Chief Whip also kept asking the Majority, "Are you afraid? Are you afraid?

MPs from both sides, talked across the House, as the Speaker struggled to calm them down. Miss Theresa Tagoe, MP for Ablekuma South and Deputy Minister for Works and Housing was seen throwing her hands in the air as everyone wanted to be heard.


At the end of it all, the Majority led by their Deputy leader, Papa Owusu-Ankomah threw a challenge to the Minority for a full blown debate on the issue in the House, as the Minority also called for a full blown investigation into the contract.