Why parliament did not observe moment of silence for Friday’s accident victims

The Minister for Parliamentary Affairs, Mr. Osei Kyei Mensah Bonsu has explained why parliament did not observe a moment of silence for last Friday’s accident victims.

The House on Monday observed a moment of silence for victims of last Friday’s gunshot incident in New Zealand which killed at least 50 people and happenings in other part of the continent but did not do so for about 80 people killed in two separate road crashes in the Bono East and Central Regions on Friday.

In an interview on Accra based Okay FM on Tuesday, Mr Bonsu said parliament works with procedure, adding that the House has not yet been briefed about the accidents, hence it was impossible for parliament to observe moment of silence for the victims.

According to him, the Member of Parliament (MP) for Offinso South Constituency, Mr Ben Abdallah Banda raised concerned about some unfortunate incidents happening in some parts of Africa such as the Cyclone Idai in Zimbabwe, Malawi and Mozambique and victims of the shooting in New Zealand.

This, he said led to the House observing a moment of silence for the victims.

He continued that the minister for transports had gone to Kintampo to get firsthand information about the accident and late present a report to parliament.

He therefore assured that parliament is not downplaying last Friday’s incidents but the House will at an appointed time observe a moment of silence for the victims.

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But the explanation did not go down well with the MP for the Kumbungu constituency, Ras Mubarak who described the actions of his colleagues as disappointing.

He said a parliament that represents Ghanaians didn’t seem to show concern for the over 80 Ghanaians who perished in the two accidents.

He said even if parliament could not issue a statement on the black Friday, it should have observed a minute of silence for the victims in acknowledging that as a House they were aware of the incident.

Mr Mubarak who explained that he and a number of his other colleagues had been in the Public Accounts Committee sitting at the time, said parliament missed the opportunity to commiserate with the families of the victims.  

He added that government has poorly handled the issue, ‘this weekend president Nana Addo was in Tumu for a festival, what would it take to stop over in kintampo and Techiman to see our brethren on admission after the accident as the father of the nation. What would it take to make that stop over’, he questioned.

Although the MP lauded the government for its intention to foot the hospital bills of the victims, he said the government should have consider those with long time injuries.

He said he was hoping that government would announce a support package for those with long time injuries.

Mr Mubarak also raised concerned about the government not announcing a state of mourning after as many as 80 Ghanaians have lost their lives in a day.

“And that is why I feel so disappointed of the government handling of the issue, I think the government could have done better. Unfortunately they are not showing leadership in times like that”. He added.