Minority to Boycott "Reconciliation Debate" Until AG Apologises

THE Minority in Parliament has made it clear that it will no more take part in the debate on the National Reconciliation Commission Bill unless the Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Nana Akufo Addo, apologises for the unpleasant remarks he made about its members last Friday.

The Minority Leader, Mr Alban Bagbin, was quoted yesterday by a Radio Ghana report as saying that members of the Minority will return to the House to tackle scheduled business.

He, however, said they will not be involved in the business of the National Reconciliation Commission Bill if the Attorney General and Minister of Justice does not accept that he has erred and apologises for his utterances at the last sitting on Friday.

Mr Bagbin said in the absence of this, all decisions on the bill will have to be deferred until the Speaker, Mr Peter Ala Adjetey, who is currently out of the country, returns next week.

He gave the assurance that the Minority is committed to national reconciliation, saying it is unfortunate that the debate after the second reading of the bill rather led to division in the house, after so much effort had been put into it.

Members of the Minority walked out of Parliament last Friday, when the Attorney General was winding up the debate on the motion for a second reading of the bill.

At a press conference after the walkout, Mr Bagbin said the Minority staged the walkout in protest against the persistent insults and arrogant utterances of Nana Akufo Addo.

This happened just when it appeared that the two sides were about to iron out their differences about the bill.

Winding up the debate on a second reading of the bill, Nana Akufo Addo said he expected the Minority to be unanimous over the issue because former President Flt Lt J. J. Rawlings’ attitude towards the bill is more constructive.

In interviews with television and radio networks, Nana Akufo Addo expressed surprise about the claim by the Minority that he exhibited arrogance and insulting behaviour towards them.