The Member of Parliament (MP) for Hemang Lower Denkyira, Bright Wireko-Brobby, has called on Ghanaians to disregard videos circulating on social media implying he did not vote for Prof Mike Oquaye to be the Speaker of parliament.
According to him, the commentary attending the video is misleading, reckoning that it points to him as the cause of the rejected ballot found while votes were being counted.
“Nothing can be further from the truth. It’s a fabrication, a distortion of the events that unfolded, and can be considered contemptuous of Parliament.”
“In the first place, I think that assertion that I didn’t cast my vote as is narrated in the video could not have been true because all votes were cast,” he revealed.
The legislator disclosed that 4 members of parliament can attest to the fact that he voted for Prof Mike Oquaye to be the Speaker of the 8th Parliament.
His remarks come after the MPs voted Alban Sumana Bagbin as the Speaker of parliament.
He won a chaotic, keenly contested secret ballot in the Chamber of Parliament on Thursday, January 7, 2021 against former Speaker, Prof Aaron Mike Oquaye.
Alban Bagbin, one of the longest serving MPs, obtained 138 votes against his contender 136 with one parliamentarian failing to vote. With both NPP and NDC having 137 members each in parliament, is it affirmed that two members from the NPP voted for the NDC’s choice Alban Bagbin. He made history for being the first Speaker of Parliament who is not selected by the ruling party.
Mr Wireko-Brobby opined that, “Prof. Mike Ocquaye showed us over the last four years that he is a compassionate, loving and competent handler of the affairs of the house”. And I have strong admiration for him as the best person to steer the affairs of this parliament which is why I voted for hi
I have strong admiration for him as the best person to steer the affairs of 8th Parliament “which is why I voted for him”, he said.
“I am still baffled anyone would want to fabricate such outright lies against me. Let us not allow such lies to thrive. Our party shall rise from these difficult moments. Long live the Parliament of Ghana and long live the New Patriotic Party.”
Read the full statement below:
PRESS STATEMENT
DISREGARD RUMOURS I DID NOT VOTE FOR PROF. MIKE OCQUAYE – BRIGHT WIREKO-BROBBY
My attention has been drawn to a video with misleading commentary on social media about Thursday dawn’s voting in parliament for a Speaker. The video and commentary seek to paint the impression that as soon as I took the ballot paper, I went on straight to put the paper in the ballot box without ticking my choice, and that I may be the source of the rejected ballot. Nothing can be further from the truth. It’s a fabrication, a distortion of the events that unfolded, and can be considered contemptuous of parliament. Parliament’s Standing Orders 29 (h) is categorical that the publication of false, perverted, misleading, distorted, fabricated or scandalous reports, books or libels reflecting on the proceedings in Parliament constitute breach of privilege or contempt of Parliament.
In the first place, I think that assertion that I didn’t cast my vote as is narrated in the video could not have been true because all votes were cast. Secondly, for the records, I voted for Prof. Mike Ocquaye. And there are at least 4 different members of parliament who can testify to this.
As this attached video of my voting which was live on UTV shows, I was the last but three voter who was called. I am the one in the blue attire wearing a white face mask in the video. When I stood up from my seat, I took a pen from Ayawaso Central MP Hon. Henry Quartey. I then walked to go collect my ballot paper. As I walked towards the podium, I slowed down and paid particular attention to the names of the two people on the ballot paper. As I climbed the stairs to the podium, I slowed down further and used the pen I took from Hon. Henry Quartey to tick Prof. Mike Ocquaye as my choice.
Not everyone who voted actually made use of the voting booth by going to stand in it before ticking their choice. A number of NDC MPs and NPP MPs like myself who had pens in our hands just went ahead to tick after picking up the ballot, and then walked up stairs to go drop it in the ballot box. Mind you, we did not have to write the names of the people on the ballot paper. All we had to do was tick, a process that took less than 5 seconds for me to do whilst I was walking up the podium.
Prof. Mike Ocquaye showed us over the last four years that he is a compassionate, loving and competent handler of the affairs of the house. And I have strong admiration for him as the best person to steer the affairs of this parliament which is why I voted for him. Disregard any rumours that I did not vote for him and disregard any rumours that I did not tick the ballot paper. I voted Prof. Mike Ocquaye.
I am still baffled anyone would want to fabricate such outright lies against me. Let us not allow such lies to thrive. Our party shall rise from these difficult moments. Long live the parliament of Ghana and long live the New Patriotic Party.
Signed
Bright Wireko – Brobby
MP, Hemang Lower Denkyira
