The Office of the Speaker of Parliament, has described as “intriguing”, the complete silence on the travels of other members of Parliamentary leadership apart from Alban Bagbin, who are also receiving treatment abroad, yet the focus has been on only the Speaker.
A statement from Parliament without mentioning names, disclosed that other top officials of state, were undertaking even more frequent travels than the Speaker has since he took office sometime last year, but the media, had ostensibly chosen silence on those personalities.
The Herald digging, has, however, revealed that the Majority Leader, Osei Kyei Mensah Bonsu, has been traveling to Dubai for medical treatment, but these trips have been kept out of the public domain and discourse, while that of the Speaker is an open secret and public discussion.
Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu, has been receiving his medical treatment at a more expensive facility called the American Medical Centre of Excellence and fully sponsored by Parliament.
Also receiving medical treatment at the expense of the state is Matthew Opoku Prempeh, the Minister of Energy. He has been at a facility called Transform International both are in Dubai.
“What is intriguing is the focus on Mr Speaker’s travel and the efforts at exaggerating the cost. Meanwhile, there is complete silence on the travels of other members of government, the frequency of which is far higher than that of Mr Speaker,” portions of the statement read.
Monday’s statement denied allegations surrounding the Speaker’s travel expenses to Dubai for medical review, saying there are efforts to exaggerate the travel cost of the Speaker.
It added that Speaker Bagbin, in his 14 months in office, has travelled on a few occasions in comparison to previous Speakers within the same period, stressing that even some members of the leadership in Parliament have traveled more than the Speaker.
The Office of the Speaker urged the public to disregard allegations that the Speaker travelled to Dubai for medical review with his children and a large entourage.
“For purposes of clarity, Mr Speaker travelled with the medical doctor in charge of Parliament Medical Centre, his spouse as a carer and two other officials of Parliament as the least in practice. There is no advance party, no children, and certainly no other member in his entourage.
“The public is advised to see in such publications the political mischief that is intended and ignore such publications with the contempt they deserve,” portions of the statement read.
Bagbin last travelled to Dubai for medical review on January 29, 2022, and returned in early February. The first was on November 27, 2021, and the second was on January 7 and returned on January 23.
The statement had said that, “Travel expenses for Mr. Speaker’s trip to Dubai is in accordance with what is prescribed for the Speaker of Parliament long before Rt. Hon Bagbin became Speaker, and also for analogous members of government such as the President, Vice President and the Chief Justice.”
“The figures quoted in the story as per diem are false. The Speaker has no hand in the computation of his per diem and it is available as part of the official records of the State. It is part of the mischief that the publication is aimed at.”
“It is also on record that Rt. Hon. Bagbin, in his 14 months as Speaker, is the least travelled of all previous Speakers of Parliament within the same time frame,” the statement added.
Why Bagbin’s Travels Are A Big Deal
Bagbin, has undertaken medical trips to Dubai in the United Arab Emirates since last year for an undisclosed ailment.
His travels, have become topical because of the hung nature of the current Parliament, where his absence means there are 137 MPs apiece on both sides, in which case all things being equal, the government cannot pass important Bills.
He has serially been attacked by pro-government voices, who have insisted that he should vacate the seat and take care of his health, if need be, in order not to obstruct Parliamentary business.
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