Ford gift: Dismissal of ‘silly’ motion right – Murtala

The motion to get President John Mahama investigated by Parliament in connection with the Ford gift saga was a “silly” motion that merited being thrown out, Murtala Mohammed, Member of Parliament for Nanton has revealed.

According to him, the NPP MPs cannot pretend to be ‘holier than thou’ at a time they disrespected the office of the Speaker when they chose to sit when the Speaker was walking out of the chamber.

According to him, it was absolutely disrespectful for any MP to remain seated while the Speaker of Parliament either walks in or out of the house.

Mr Edward Doe Adjaho threw out the motion of inquiry on Thursday, 1 September, explaining that the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ), a constitutional body, is already investigating the case.

In dismissing the motion, Mr Adjaho told the house “after a careful study of the correspondence from CHRAJ, I have come to the conclusion that the matter is not different in material, in particular from the matter under investigation by CHRAJ.”

But on Saturday September 3, the MP for Abuakwa South, Samuel Atta Akyea said on TV3 that the Speaker wasted an opportunity to get the President to clear his name.

However, Mr Murtala, also speaking on the same station described the motion as “silly”.

He said: “They [minority] disrespect the office of the Speaker of Parliament by sitting down as the speaker walks out. The minority leader [Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu] stood up but they [NPP MPs] shouted at him to sit down, that was disrespectful for democracy and the office of the speaker.”