Education Minister, Dr Mathew Opoku Prempeh shocked a section of Parliamentarians on Friday when he stormed the house with an attire which was tagged the uniform for the soon to be rolled out free SHS policy.
Ningo Prampram Member of Parliament (MP), Sam George Nettey was the first to draw the attention of the 1st Deputy Speaker of Parliament to the attire of the Minister which he described as ‘unparliamentary’.
According to the MP, the Minister was wearing an attire which could easily qualify as a uniform for SHS students.
He complained to the speaker that the attire of the soft-spoken Manhyia South MP was a ‘uniform for the free SHS policy’ which the President announced would be starting in the 2017/2018 academic year.
“Mr Speaker, in the course of the discussion, the honourable Minister walked in and those of us at this side of the house (minority) were taking aback, we wondered what school uniform he was wearing because he appears to be in school uniform, we are not sure if this is the new school uniform for the Minister of Education or if it is in line with the free SHS…,” he said.
Adom News’ Parliamentary correspondent, Abednego Asante Asiedu reported that the description given to the short sleeved Ghana@60 shirt which looked smart on the Minister sparked laughter in the house especially among the minority members present.
The statement, however, did not go down well with the Minister who this week revealed that he had been having sleepless nights over the policy which was a major campaign message of the New Patriotic Party.
Responding to the complaints, Napo as the Education Minister is called labelled the description by the Ningo Prampram MP as one which is borne out of “crass ignorance.”
“Mr Speaker, I am not worried by people because they just want to be noticed…I am more worried that an honourable member of the house feels so insecure that he has to get up in this chamber and speak to expose his ignorance,” he responded.
He continued that the attired ‘is not a school uniform and to describe this as a school uniform, he exposes his ignorance’.
Napo called on Sam George to know that it was a Friday wear which was permitted by the Standing Orders of Parliament. He further urged the NDC MP to withdraw and apologise.
First deputy speaker, Joe Osei-Owusu commenting on the statement by Sam George urged Legislators to always wear attires that go beyond their sleeves and one befitting an MP.
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