There was chaos on the floor of parliament on Tuesday June 10 after a ranking member on the Health Committee, Dr. Ayew Afriyie, was ordered out of the House following a contentious exchange with the 1st Deputy Speaker, Bernard Ahiafor.
Dr. Afriyie tried to make a statement with regard to the on the ongoing strike by the Ghana Registered Nurses and Midwives Association got messy.
A Marshall removed him from the chamber not long after he stood to second a motion. The remarks Afriyie made about the health professionals’ strike action did not sit well with Mr. Ahiafor, who wanted to know his motivations for making such comments.
“Honorable, if you don’t take time, I will send you out of parliament”, the Speaker admonished.
Unperturbed, Afriyie refused to succumb to the warning from Mr Ahiafor insisting that he has every right to speak to issues that need urgent attention.
“You can send me out, I’m ready to leave”, unbothered Afriyie noted.
Many have characterized the nurses’ strike as a concerning situation that requires immediate deliberation on how best the government can negotiate with the health personnel for them to go back to work and save lives.
The Speaker had to postpone proceedings till Wednesday due to the tense atmosphere and heated exchanges by members.
