Bagbin To Undergo Third Medical Review In Dubai; Returns On March 4

The Speaker of Parliament, Alban Bagbin, is scheduled to undergo another medical review in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) barely a week after the Parliament’s resumption from recess. Barring any hitches, he is also expected to return to the country on March 4. This is the third time Mr Bagbin is travelling to Dubai for a medical

review. The first was on November 27, 2021, and the second was on January 7, 2022. After returning from his second medical checkup on the January 23, he is expected to jet off once again this weekend. In the last meeting of Parliament, the numbers in the House split as members of both caucuses also engaged in physical

confrontations over the E-levy in the Speaker’s absence. Members of the Majority Caucus in the Parliament are worried about what they say is the frequent absence of the Speaker from the House, especially when the Electronic Transactions Levy Bill (E-levy) is expected to be re-submitted for discussion next week. Majority

Chief Whip, Frank Annoh-Dompreh, says the practice of the Speaker should be reviewed for a more productive alternative that will benefit the country and the legislative arm of government. According to the Nsawam-Adoagyiri lawmaker, some measures should be put in place to provide medical care for Speaker

Bagbin in the country. His health is important. And I think we as a people should put our heads together, or the leaders should find a way of helping the Speaker find a solution to this because it is becoming one too many. I mean, he is the Speaker, and he has taken ill, and he needs treatment. Is it the case that we can’t get

an equally good medical team to have this treatment done here? Vis-à-vis the fact that, because of the nature of our Parliament, he said on the Thursday. Due to the Speaker’s possible absence next week, Mr Annoh-Dompreh divulged that leadership of the Majority Caucus are currently holding an extensive backdoor

engagement with the Minority Caucus on the E-levy Bill to avert any future fisticuffs. We are guided that there is a possibility that he will not be available, so it is something that we are conscious of, and we are taking due measures in regards to that. However, we anticipate to navigate our way through properly because of what happened.