A photo collage of Habib Iddrisu (L) and Bernard Ahiafor

The First Deputy Minority Whip of Parliament, Habib Iddrisu, on July 8, 2025, reminded the First Deputy Speaker, Bernard Ahiafor, who was presiding over parliamentary proceedings, that he was elected to the House and was not there by accident.

He emphasised that he could not be threatened while expressing his views in the chamber.

According to him, as an elected Member of Parliament (MP), he has every right to express his opinions without any form of intimidation.

His comments followed a heated debate in the chamber over the use of the dispatch box.

The Minority Leader, Alexander Afenyo-Markin, had approached the dispatch box to pose an urgent question to the Minister of Trade, Industry and Agribusiness, Elizabeth Ofosu-Adjare.

However, his question could not be taken as confusion erupted when the Majority Leader, Mahama Ayariga, raised concerns and sought to block him, citing due process and the standing orders governing the use of the dispatch box.

The argument escalated, drawing in other members, including Habib Iddrisu, who also serves as the Member of Parliament for the Tolon Constituency in the Northern Region.

He argued, “Mr. Speaker, we made an application to you to the effect that you, as the Presiding Speaker, the First Deputy Speaker of the Ninth Parliament of the Republic of Ghana, did rule that we on this side can use this dispatch box, it belongs to us.”

However, Ahiafor, who had already asked Habib to withdraw his claim, challenged him, issuing a disclaimer that he had never made such a ruling in the House.

He further cautioned that he would give Habib time to produce the record of his alleged ruling, failing which the rules of the House would be applied accordingly.

“If you wouldn't mind, I can give you time to produce a copy of my ruling, and if you are unable to do so, we will invoke the rules,” Ahiafor stated.

In response, Habib clarified, “Mr. Speaker, I just said maybe you didn't hear me right I had said, Mr. Speaker, that if what happened does not constitute a ruling, I take it back.

“But you were the one presiding when the incident happened, and you finally allowed him to ask the question. That is the basis of my claim.

“But if it doesn't constitute a ruling, I take that back. Mr. Speaker, I’m an elected member of this House. I cannot be threatened. I didn’t come here by accident I was elected. So, if I make an application, I shouldn’t be threatened that the rules will be invoked against me.

“The most important thing is that if that was not a ruling, I take it back. But you were the one presiding when that incident happened, and then you allowed him to ask the question.”

AM/KA

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