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NPP Member of Parliament for Akim Oda constituency, Alexander Akwasi Acquah, has described as disappointing some comments made by former President John Mahama in relation to recent happenings in the august House.

Former President Mahama appears to back the infamous brawl that took place in Parliament in December 2021 against the controversial e-levy, when he described it as a “fight for democracy”.

Emotions Spiral

On Monday, December 20,2021, members of Ghana’s Parliament couldn’t keep their emotions in check as they brawled in the House shortly before the final vote on the controversial Electronic Transfer Levy Bill, better known as e-levy.

The sit-in Speaker, Joseph Osei-Owusu, had declared that a division would be held to adopt the Bill, which had been tabled under a certificate of urgency, and that he would vote in his position as a Member of Parliament as well.

Members of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) seemed to be irritated by his choice to vote after presiding over the night’s events.

They made their way to the front of the dais, hurling threats at the Bekwai MP.

This prompted the Majority MPs to launch their own protests, and the fight erupted as soon as Mr Osei-Owusu turned over the presiding function to the Second Deputy Speaker, Andrew Amoako Asiamah.

"Fight For Democracy" - Mahama

Speaking during a meeting with a delegation from the leadership of the various church groups and associations in his office in Accra this week, the former President said: “that fight was a fight for democracy. There is no way a Speaker can sit in the chair, relinquish the chair, let somebody else come and sit in it and take a vote in something that he has presided over. The constitution is clear.....It was felt that our MPs should sit timidly and let them pass this unconstitutionality, it wont happen. I am happy that that rowdy scene has woken your consciences...."

Mahama Preaching Violence

But his comments seemed to have shaken the Akim Oda MP to the core.

Hon Akwasi Acquah said he expected the former president to rather outrightly condemn the act.

"I'm getting disappointed in Mahama...I don’t know when fisticuffs became part of our democracy…everybody is condemning this act and instead of also speaking against it, this is what you have to say? This action is not to protect democracy. We have a way to protect the constitution but not through fisticuffs....

"Why would you continue preaching violence…I’m really disappointed in him," he added while contributing to a discussion on UTV's "Adekye Nsroma".

Listen to him in the video below



However, MP for Wassa East Constituency, Isaac Adjei Mensah says the former President has been misconstrued.

Listen to him in the video below