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The Member of Parliament (MP) for Ningo-Prampram Sam George says he has been vindicated by the release of a video which proves that the Minister of Education Dr Matthew Opoku Prempeh insulted Tamale North Constituency, Alhaji Alhassan Suhuyini in Parliament.

Sam George released the video in which Hon Mathew Opoku Prempeh is seen gesticulating and pointing his finger to his head in anger as an evidence that Napo insulted Hon Suhiyini.

In a statement from Sam George, he said: “Hon. Matthew Opoku Prempeh has demanded a swift apology from me. I urge Him to embrace humility and decorum and publicly apologize to our colleague Member of Parliament, Hon. Alhassan Suhuyini. I further advise him to also apologize for his uncouth and unparliamentary behavior to the Speaker of the august House and to His constituents for letting them down one more time”

A near brawl occurred in Parliament after the Joe Ghartey committee presented its report. According to Sam George the misunderstanding was after Dr Opoku Prempeh described Hon Suhiyini as “a fool”.

A day after Sam George made the allegation, the Minister issued a statement categorically denying the claim and further asked the former to apologise. But the Ningo-Prampram MP who feels vindicated by the video says there is no need to apologise.

Read the statement from Sam George

MINISTER FOR EDUCATION CAUGHT ON TAPE INSULTING IN PARLIAMENT

My attention has been drawn to a statement on the official letterhead of the Member of Parliament for Manhyia South Constituency and Minister for Education, Hon. Matthew Opoku Prempeh. I would have ordinarily ignored the said statement, but for the sake of posterity and clarity in the minds of right thinking Ghanaians. The Minister for Education is on the wrong path, he must rather apologize for his uncouth behavior and I wish to set the records straight:

1.That on Thursday, 30th March 2017, during proceedings in Parliament, tempers flared when the report ofthe Hon. Joe Ghartey Investigative Committee on the alleged ‘Agyarko Bribery Scandal’ was being debated on thefloor;

2.That in the course of heckles and side commentary, the Member of Parliament for Manhyia SouthConstituency and Minister for Education, Hon. Matthew Opoku Prempeh took issue with the Member of Parliament for Tamale North, Hon. Alhassan Suhuyini and hurled invectives at the latter;

3.That I clearly heard the Member of Parliament for Manhyia South Constituency and Minister for Education,Hon. Matthew Opoku Prempeh call the Member of Parliament for Tamale North, Hon. Alhassan Suhuyini “mad”and described him in the akan language with the word “nkwasiasem”; and

4.That as I had stated earlier, on Friday 31st March 2017, on the Citi Breakfast Show, the Member ofParliament for Manhyia South Constituency and Minister for Education, Hon. Matthew Opoku Prempeh triggeredthe angry exchanges in Parliament.

Notwithstanding these facts, I have read with shock in the third paragraph of the Minister for Education’s statement, a wholesome denial of his unfortunate utterances in Parliament. In doing so, he adopts a weak excuse of Hansard records to seek escape from his misdeed.

In the penultimate paragraph of his statement, my factual reportage of the issues is described as scurrilous and unfounded allegations. The Hon. Matthew Opoku Prempeh again reminds that “the people of Ghana have reposed utmost confidence in us …. we must conduct ourselves with decorum to preserve the integrity of the House.”

Hon. Matthew Opoku Prempeh has rather damaged the integrity of Parliament. The attached footage aired by TV3 captured him vividly as he was busily insulting.

Hon. Matthew Opoku Prempeh has demanded a swift apology from me. I urge Him to embrace humility and decorum and publicly apologize to our colleague Member of Parliament, Hon. Alhassan Suhuyini. I further advise him to also apologize for his uncouth and unparliamentary behavior to the Speaker of the august House and to His constituents for letting them down one more time.

I stand to be guided by the truth and my conscience for there is no greater measure of integrity.

Hon. Samuel Nartey George (MP)


Below is the statement from Hon Matthew Opoku Prempeh

PRESS RELEASE: INSULT ALLEGATIONS BY HON. SAM GEORGE

My attention has been drawn to a news item on citifmonline.com, dated Friday 31' March 2017. The headline reads 'Napo triggered anger in Parliament, called Suyuhuni a ‘fool- Sam George.’

In the said news item, which was in relation to proceedings in the House yesterday Thursday 30’" March 2017. the Member of Parliament for Ningo Prampram, Hon Sam George is quoted to have said that “...Napo |as I am known by many) had called him [Alhassan Suyuhuni] a fool. During the proceedings he called him 'kwasia' and that is what triggered the whole thing...four weeks ago he called me a fool on the floor of the House simply because I had asked the Speaker to ask him if he v/as wearing a school uniform or was properly attired to Parliament."

First I absolutely and unequivocally deny that I used that word on Hon Suhuyini during the proceedings or at any other time in Parliament yesterday. It must be noted that during yesterday's proceedings, only four Members of Parliament spoke. They are the Majority and Minority Leaders, Hon. Alban Bagbin and Hon. Ayarigah. In any event, whilst the Hansard (a verbatim record of proceedings) relating to yesterday's proceedings is not yet available, the proceedings were televised live. Clearly I would have been heard by viewers uttering those words if indeed Hon. Sam George heard them, as he sits on the other side of the House. No doubt the Speaker too would have heard and certainly would have swiftly ordered that I withdraw the word. No such thing occurred, as viewers of yesterday's proceedings would note.

In respect of the claims relating to four weeks ago. per Hon. Sam George, it is clear he was referring to the proceedings of Friday 10th March 2017, when the issue of my attire came up. As would be noted from the records of that day's proceedings, at no point did I refer to him in the manner he alleges.

I take grave exception to the scurrilous and unfounded allegations by my colleague Member of Parliament. The people of Ghana have reposed utmost confidence in us by electing us to represent them in the House. It is therefore important that at all times we conduct ourselves with decorum to preserve the integrity of the House and to justify that confidence.

I expect Hon. Sam George to do the honourable thing by swiftly apologizing for his unfounded allegation.