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The sound of an ambulance, may not be an unusual one, within the precincts of Parliament especially when a lively activity is on-going.

What perhaps shocked most people on Tuesday morning, was not only the identity of the occupant of that medically-equipped vehicle, but also the fact that the emergency vehicle was not being driven out of Parliament, but was rather wheeled to the Chamber as MPs prepared to vote on the controversial E-Levy Bill.

It fueled suspicions that a gravelly ill MP has been ferried to the House to vote.

Lack of Numbers

In spite of government's engagement and education on E-levy, the bill has not been passed for months because they (MPs on the Majority side) lack the numbers to push it through.

To counter that -a split Parliament of 137 MPs each on the Minority and Majority side with one independent MP opting to do business with the Majority side always leaves the Majority at a disadvantage - the bed-ridden MP had to be present at all cost, since NPP MP for Dome-Kwabenya, Adwoa Safo appeared a lost cause.

Stretchered off an ambulance?

He was supposed to drive in by himself but due to ill health, the ambulance became his best option.

This was how the Majority Caucus conveyed Member of Parliament for Ahanta West constituency who doubles as the Minister for Religious and Chieftaincy Affairs, Hon. Alexander Kojo Kum to the House to shore up its numbers.

Ofori-Atta Returns To Parliament

Though Peacefmonline.com can not authoritatively confirm his precise ailment, reports indicate that he has been bed-ridden for quite some time now. And with the second reading of the E-levy bill on the order paper, the Majority Chief Whip had to ensure all MPs available are present in the House.

This was because both sides of the House had rallied their numbers to ensure that they push forward their interests; and Hon. Alexander Kojo Kum was no exception, particularly so since Finance Minister, Ken Ofori-Atta had returned to Parliament to push for the passage of the Electronic Transactions (E-Levy) Bill.

Already Recovered, Nothing Wrong

In a related development, Sekondi MP Andrew Egyapa Mercer believes there is nothing wrong with having his Ahanta West colleague in the House to conduct parliamentary business.

“....it is not the first time that has happened," adding that the MP has already been discharged and “that in itself demonstrates some recovery on his part.”

Meanwhile, NDC MP, Assin North Constituency, James Gyakye Quayson was not present as he was attending a hearing in court.