June 4 amendment motion withdrawn

The Minority's amendment motion to retain June 4 as a Public Holiday suffered a setback in Parliament when it was withdrawn after contributions from the Majority.

Mr Joseph Ackah, NDC-Jomoro, who introduced the amendment motion, said: "After listening to the contributions against the celebration of June 4 as a holiday, Mr Speaker, I withdraw the amendment."

This led to shouts of "yea, yea" from the Majority, who stood their grounds and made emotional speeches as to why June 4 should not be observed as a public holiday.

Earlier Mr John Mahama, NDC-Bole, who seconded the amendment motion, extolled the events of June 4 saying that a national day could hold both pleasant and unpleasant memories in a nation's life. He said it was those mixed feelings like the one the French revolution evoked, that made it an event to be remembered.

Before the debate the Minority strategically and tactically streamed out of the chamber to technically cut down the number of members present to prevent the Bill from being taken through its consideration stage.

The Minority at yesterday's sitting adopted similar stands but the Bill was taken through the earlier consideration stages. Mr Doe Adjaho, the Minority Chief Whip quoting copiously from the Standing Orders of the House protested against the Bill being read for the decision to be taken because the number in the House was less than 101 members needed to vote on the Bill.

The Deputy Majority Leader, Papa Owusu-Ankomah said they could not technically hold the House to ransom. He said the Minority members were in the lobby and were taking tea and have deliberately refused to come to the chamber to perform their parliamentary duties, even though, they had signed the attendance book.

Those who spoke against the amendment included Mr Kwamena Bartels, Ms Christine Churcher, Captain Nkrabeah Effa-Dartey (rtd) and Mr Balado Manu all NPP members.