Kintampo, Cape Coast accidents: Media misreported, we didn't 'snub' victims - Deputy Speaker

A complete misrepresentation and misreportage of the real happenings is how First Deputy Speaker of Parliament, Joseph Osei Owusu describes reports Monday suggesting the lawmaking chamber ‘snubbed’ victims of the dastardly twin accident that occurred at Kintampo and CapeCoast Friday, leaving scores dead and several others injured.

Parliament came under real ‘bashing’ after it appeared they had paid homage to other countries which had been affected by disasters; mass shooting and cyclone but barely did same for the over 70 persons who had lost their lives in both accidents in Ghana.

A minute silence was observed for victims of the tragic shooting in New Zealand and those affected by Cyclone Idai in Mozambique, Zimbabwe and Malawi; incidents which happened on March 14 and 15 respectively.

New Patriotic Party MP for Offinso South Constituency, Ben Abdallah Banda subsequently read a statement commiserating with the government of New Zealand.

NDC North Tongu MP Okudzeto Ablakwa also read a statement on the Southern African tragedy left at least 259 people in Zimbabwe, 56 in Malawi, and at least 417 in Mozambique dead.

Commenting on the issue Tuesday March 26 however, Mr. Osei Owusu noted that the victims of the twin accidents were duly acknowledged and condolences extended to the respective families which were affected, expressing displeasure about the fact that facts were misconstrued by the media.

His disappointment was more about the fact that media persons who were present at the sitting and witnessed the order of events of events put out half-truths, consequently tarnishing the image and reputation of the house.

“Mr. Speaker, I recall that yesterday, when I made the last contribution to the debate on the statement made by the Honorable Member for Offinso South, I referred to this accident and extended my condolence but when our own press corps decided to report and open us up to the public to be insulted, they never mentioned that”, he said.



“They said that we didn’t mention anything about that. Those are our partners, they are supposed to be here with us but they choose to open us up to the public, probably it makes them feel better”, he added.

“For the record, I want to repeat that this house extends our condolences to the bereaved families and victims of these accidents”, he stressed.