The only independent Member of the Eighth Parliament, Andrews Amoako Asiamah, has been nominated as the Second Deputy Speaker.
He was nominated by the National Democratic Congress (NDC) caucus of the House.
In nominating the Fomena Member of Parliament immediately after the inauguration of the Parliament, Asawase MP Alhaji Muntaka Mohammed Mubarak told the story of how Mr Amoako Asiamah was expelled from the Seventh Parliament “in Rambo style” but his hardwork won him the love of the “conservative” constituents of Fomena.
Alhaji Muntaka’s motion was seconded by Effutu MP Alexander Afenyo-Markin.
His nomination comes just on the heels of the nomination of First Deputy Speaker of the last Parliament, Joseph Osei Owusu, in the same capacity for the current Parliament.
Joe Osei Owusu retains his position as the First Deputy Speaker
He was nominated by Leader of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) caucus, Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu, and was seconded by his opposite number, Haruna Iddrisu.
New Speaker Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin, who served as second to Mr Osei Owusu in the just-gone-by-Parliament, confirmed the nomination in the absence of any other nominations and declared the Bekwai MP as the First Deputy Speaker, describing him as a “colleague”.
On the turn of the declaration of the Fomena MP as the Second Deputy Speaker, Speaker Bagbin said it is a feat to be cherished by the independent lawmaker.
“It is not easy to get an independent MP being elected to the high office of the Second Deputy Speaker,” he said to his direct successor.
The decision to select the two deputy speakers is said to have been based on high negotiation and consensus between the two sides.
Speaker Bagbin, therefore, lauded the Minority and Majority caucuses for the diligence shown in reaching such a consensus.
