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Speaker of Parliament, Alban Bagbin has chided the Minority Caucus for subjecting him to public ridicule by their actions and comments due to the delay in the resumption of sitting today (26 November).

The Speaker had earlier suspended sitting for 30 minutes to allow the majority of members who were in a caucus meeting to return.

However, the House took more than two hours to resume sitting which resulted in the Minority members chanting songs and criticizing the Leadership of the House.

Bagbin, who was clearly not happy with the actions of the Minority said he has his reputation to protect in serving the nation.

He said the delay was due to an audience he granted the Finance Minister and leaders of both sides as the House prepared to vote on the 2022 Budget.

“I’m saying that the suspension was for 30 minutes but it has taken us two hours or more to return and that is because the subject matter that we are to discuss there’s been new development…and as Speaker, I have to be briefed. So your leaders came with the Minister for Finance to brief me. Should I ignore them and come and preside because I’ve suspended sitting for 30 minutes?”

“Go through the media and see how I’m being insulted. Please the only thing I have is my reputation…Please let’s be Honourable Members of Parliament.”

Earlier, Frank Annoh Dompreh, the majority chief whip, informed the press that the Majority Caucus was in a meeting hence the delay.

“…Even as I speak with you now and address you we are still at the meeting. The meeting is not done yet and because we were in a caucus meeting when the speaker called to engage us. Our members are still waiting and they have finished their caucus. So after engagement with the Speaker we still have to go back and finish our caucus meeting.”

This was after the Minority had earlier accused the members of the Majority of intentionally delaying the start of proceedings of the House.