Parliament witnessed one of its rare moments of drama on Friday when the National Chairman of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Johnson Asiedu Nketiah, stirred a ‘selfie frenzy’ among some Members of Parliament during an unannounced visit to the Chamber.
The Chairman, who entered the Chamber while the House was on a short suspension, took the opportunity to interact with the MPs.
The spontaneous moment, however, turned controversial when Minority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin, after resumption, rose on a point of order, expressing concern over what he described as a breach of parliamentary rules and a political stunt.
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“Mr. Speaker, our rules do not allow strangers into the chamber,” Afenyo-Markin protested.
“Our colleagues allowed their national chairman to enter the chamber to take pictures as part of his campaign, courting the support of NDC MPs. He has declared his intention to succeed President Mahama.”
The Minority Leader further claimed that over 80 NDC MPs took photos with the party chairman in what he described as open campaigning within the chamber.
“Mr. Speaker, I am told 60 MPs took pictures with him, and 20 more joined to make it 80. I want the chairman to know that the 80 is not enough—he should get more to make him the preferred candidate,” he said jokingly.
Afenyo-Markin then challenged the Speaker to rule on whether presidential aspirants or flagbearer hopefuls should be allowed to enter the chamber, warning that the NPP could reciprocate if such actions were permitted.
“If this is allowed, then in the NPP, we have quite a number. We’ll also let them come here and take pictures. Mr. Speaker, rule on this matter for me.”
Ayariga counters with historical context and humour
However, responding to the Minority Leader’s complaint, Majority Leader Mahama Ayariga defended the presence of Asiedu Nketiah, arguing that the NDC Chairman had every right to be in the Chamber given his longstanding association with the House.
“Mr. Speaker, the Chairman of the NDC served in this house for at least three terms. He was also a member and even chairman of the Parliamentary Service Board. He has every reason to check in once in a while to see that things are working well, including facilities he helped procure,” Ayariga said.
He brushed aside concerns about the selfies, claiming MPs from both sides of the aisle were eager to be seen with the veteran politician.
“Mr. Speaker, I saw—with my naked eyes—NPP Members of Parliament jostling to take photos with him. I saw it on the TV screen in the clerk’s lobby,” Ayariga said, drawing laughter from some corners of the chamber.
Ayariga also suggested that Asiedu Nketiah’s charisma was the real cause of the frenzy because the Minority leader himself jostled to get to ‘get a hug from the NDC chair.
“Being the charismatic Chairman that he is, all the MPs were excited to see him. This is a Minority leader who wants to take the benefit and leave his backbenchers, and when they also saw an opportunity to have photographs with the national chairman of the NDC, he got disappointed,” he noted.
He reminded the House that it was not unusual for political party leaders—including those from the NPP—to be invited into the chamber for ceremonial events.
“The Chairman of the NPP also comes, even the General Secretary and other national executives. They’ve all been allowed into the chamber before. So I don’t think there’s a problem with this,” he added.
Second Deputy Speaker of the House, Andrew Amoako Asiamah, noted that NDC Chairman Asiedu Nketiah had been a Member of Parliament and a member of the Parliamentary Service Board, and is always welcome as a special guest in the Chamber.