Commotion in parliament over ‘all-die-be-die’ comment

There was chaos in parliament on Tuesday, when Deputy Information Minister Ibrahim Murtala Mohammed used the phrase “all die be die” to justify a point of order in a contribution on the state of housing in the country.

The commotion began after Member of Parliament (MP) for Nsawam Adoagyiri Frank Annor Dompreh made a passionate critique of government for abandoning the project to “the bush”.

“This government should show commitment and stop talking about big theories” he charged.

But a Deputy Minister for Information and Media Relations Murtala Mohammed rose on a point of order to stop his colleague.

He said the practice according to the standing orders was for an MP to make supporting comments on a statement presented by another MP and not to provoke debate.

He indulged in the repeated use of the word ‘all-die-be-die” – an action that drew an agitated response from the minority.

It took the Second Deputy Speaker, Ebo Barton-Odro, pains to establish order in the House as members traded loud and unregulated comments at each other.

“We don’t want to get this place unduly charged”, the Speaker said and asked that the MP for Nsawam, Frank Annor Dompreh and Deputy Minister Murtala Mohammed retract their provocative comments.

“I really don’t think all-die-be-die is the preserve of any member of this house”, the deputy minister said adding that if the minority felt slighted by his comments, he was sorry.