Kyei Mensa-Bonsu was not behind Carlos' ballot snatching act - Afenyo-Markin

MP for Effutu, Alexander Afenyo-Markin has shot down claims that the Leader of the NPP Caucus in Parliament, Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu directed colleague, Carlos Ahenkorah to snatch ballot papers in Parliament's Speaker elections.

The Effutu legislator said the false allegation is being pushed by the opposition NDC.

During the election of the Speaker of Parliament on January 7, 2021, MP for Tema West, Carlos Ahenkorah attempted to snatch uncounted ballot papers but was overpowered by some National Democratic Congress Members of MPs and the Marshalls of Parliament.

A footage of the incident showed Kyei Mensah-Bonsu having a discussion with Mr Ahenkorah before he proceeded to snatch the ballots. Due to this, the NPP leader has been accused of orchestrating the Mr Ahenkorah's action.

However, in an interview on Accra-based Citi TV, the Deputy Leader of the NPP Caucus in Parliament said the narrative is a propaganda used by the NDC to sway attention.

AFENYO MARKIN

“Don’t be swayed by the NDC’s propaganda. They started rioting, they on three occasions obstructed with the process of voting and no one is talking about that. The NDC Members of Parliament assaulted parliamentarians on the side of the NPP and no one is talking about that. The Ashaiman MP assaulted Ursula Owusu, pulled the chair, and she fell.”

“From where I stood in Parliament on that day, I could not have seen anything like that. In any event, it would be wrong for anyone to attempt accusing Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu of any form of involvement and that is sanctioning anyone’s conduct. He is a member of our party, a member of our caucus, and I am sure leadership will have an engagement with him and when we meet in the chamber, what ought to be said will be said.”

“I am unable to say if he will be punished or not for what he did. It is farfetched for someone to even think Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu ordered that to be done.” he explained.

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Meanwhile, NDC MP for the Asawase Constituency in the Ashanti Region,  Mohammed Muntaka Mubarak has alleged that the NPP MP for Suame, Osei Kyei Mensah Bonsu, could be blamed for the removal of all his colleague leaders in Parliament.

According to him, the former leader of Ghana’s 7th Parliament has failed to carry his colleague NPP leaders along.

He however admitted that Mr Mensa-Bonsu was very good when it comes to the workings of parliament, but maintained that , he has terrible human relations.

“He can’t carry people along,” he stated as quoted by Pulsegh.

Muntaka wondered how Mr. Mensa-Bonsu has been the constant as NPP leader in parliament but all his colleague leaders have always been changed.