Speaker’s comment on Israeli capital ‘disgraceful’ - Ras Mubarak

Member of Parliament for Kumbungu, Ras Mubarak, has described as ‘disgraceful’ if reports suggesting Ghana’s Speaker of Parliament Professor Aaron Mike Oquaye has taken a stance on the Israeli-Palestinian crisis are true.

The international media have reported that parliamentary leaders from Ghana and Tanzania visiting Israel to celebrate their collaboration as part of the “Power Africa” initiative expressed support for America’s move to recognise Jerusalem as Israel’s capital city.

Speaker of the National Assembly of Tanzania, Job Ndugai, is reported to have said in an interview that: “It is a very commendable decision to move the American embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem. I believe it will be followed suit by several African countries, Tanzania included, to move said quarters from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, because we believe where the parliament is -- I am a speaker of parliament -- then the government should be there and embassies should be there too.”

When asked about the recognition of Jerusalem as Israel’s capital, the speaker of Ghana's parliament Prof Oquaye is reported to have said “whatever Israel wants, we in Ghana will go by that, because that is essentially an internal decision.”

Reacting to the speaker’s reported comment, the Kumbugu lawmaker posted on Facebook: “I hope the Speaker didn’t say what he’s been reported to have said but if the report is accurate, I would say it’s simply disgraceful. Speaker of Parliament cannot be commenting on government’s foreign policy. He’s not a member of the Executive. Not only would such comments be prejudicial but a complete departure from Ghana’s position on the Israeli Palestinian issue.”