VIDEO: Ursula Owusu-Ekuful fires Murtala Muhammed for allegedly calling her ‘practitioner of LGBTQ
Parliament
A fiery confrontation unfolded within the confines of Ghana’s Parliament during a discussion on the Promotion of Proper Human Sexual Rights and Ghanaian Family Values Bill 2021, commonly known as the anti-LGBTQ+ bill.
The incident occurred when the Constitutional, Legal, and Parliamentary Affairs Committee presented the bill to the plenary session.
As lawmakers from both sides engaged in a passionate debate, the proceedings came to an abrupt halt when the deputy speaker intervened. The deputy speaker requested that the Member of Parliament for Tamale Central, Murtala Mohammed, retract a statement he had made concerning the MP for Ablekuma West, Ursula Owusu.
Although Murtala Mohammed did not address the microphone directly, his remark caught the speaker’s attention, leading the deputy speaker to implore him to withdraw the statement. “Honorable Murtala, please withdraw the statement you made; I heard you. Just withdraw the statement,” urged the deputy speaker.
In response, Murtala Mohammed argued that he had not made any official statement on the record and thus saw no reason to retract a passing comment.
He maintained, “Mr. Speaker, if the Hansard [official record] comes out and what you claim I said is in it… Mr. Speaker, if you believe I said something, the honorable minister also said something. What did she say? She called me mad.”
Murtala Mohammed further emphasized that parliamentary conduct is governed by the Constitution and the standing orders of the House. He challenged the deputy speaker’s request, stating that there was no provision in the rules stating that a statement made without being captured by the speaker should be considered an official statement of the House.
He questioned the specific statement he was asked to retract, as multiple statements were made by himself and his colleagues throughout the debate.
Amidst the ongoing exchange, the Minority leader, Cassiel Ato Forson, intervened, acknowledging that Murtala Mohammed had allegedly made inappropriate remarks. He suggested that even if Murtala did not address the microphone directly, the speaker would have heard his comments. Therefore, he urged Murtala Mohammed to withdraw the statement.
Murtala Mohammed took the floor once again, asserting that it was also fair for Ursula Owusu to offer him an apology.
However, Ursula Owusu, visibly angered, responded, “Mr. Speaker, I sat here and repeatedly heard Murtala refer to me as an LGBTQ+ practitioner, in front of everyone in this House. I sat here and repeatedly heard him. When you haven’t witnessed me engaging in any intimate acts with your wife, daughter, or mother, it is disrespectful for you to refer to me in those terms,” she expressed passionately.
Hon. Ursula Owusu-Ekufful angrily reacts in parliament during debate on the LGBTQ+ bill#PulseViral pic.twitter.com/Q3oJppuNGJ
— Pulse Ghana (@PulseGhana) July 5, 2023
SOURCE: Coverghana.com.gh
