The Member of Parliament of Afigya Kwabre North, Collins Adomako-Mensah, has reacted to Speaker of Parliament Alban Bagbin’s criticism of the Minority caucus’ boycott of a three-day orientation workshop at Ho, in the Volta Region.
Speaking in an interview on Sompa TV on March 3, 2025, Collins Adomako accused the Speaker of being hypocritical with his criticism of the NPP MPs over the boycott.
He indicated that the main reason why they boycotted the conference was because of the Speaker’s double standards.
He said that the Speaker rejected a proposal to hold a similar programme for the 8th Parliament when the NPP was in power at the Rock City Hotel, which belongs to the MP for Abetifi, Bryan Acheampong, stating that the economy was in a bad place and the orientation could be held in Parliament.
He added that his side of the House holds the position that the recent orientation should not be held outside Accra because President John Dramani Mahama has categorically stated that Ghana’s economy was in a mess.
“Our principal point was that the orientation should be done in Accra, in Parliament, just as Speaker Bagbin suggested two years ago. Even Mr Mahama suggested that two years ago was better because if you listen to his State of the Nation Address, he virtually said that Ghana now had no money for food.
“So, if there is no money, why are we able to now afford Volta Serene?” the Afigya Kwabre North legislator, who is a former Deputy Minister of Energy, said in the Twi dialect.
He also indicated that the decision to go for the workshop at the Volta Serene Hotel in Ho was politically motivated.
He indicated that in 2022 the Speaker rejected a proposal to hold a similar programme at Rock City Hotel, owned by Bryan Acheampong, because he is a member of the NPP; suggesting that the Volta Serene Hotel, where the recent orientation was held, belongs to people affiliated with the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC).
“Rock City is owned by Bryan Acheampong, a stalwart of the NPP. We all know the owner of Volta Serene, It belongs to the Sky Group – Sky FM, Sky Constructions – and everybody knows their political affiliation.”
He added, “We are not concerned about going to Volta Serene; we have gone there before for Parliament programmes. It is the principle the Speaker brought 2 years ago that the country was in a bad place and Parliament must tighten its belt… his double standards are very, very worrying.”
Watch the interview below:
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