Deputy Minority Leader James Klutse Avedzi has said

The Deputy Minority Leader in Parliament, James Klutse Avedzi has indicated that the absence of the Speaker of Parliament, Mr Alban Bagbin, from the house on Monday night during a sitting on the controversial e-levy bill was not deliberate.

He told journalists yesterday that Deputy Majority Leader, Alexander Afenyo-Markin’s claim that Mr Bagbin’s absence was part of a grand scheme by the Minority Caucus to frustrate the e-levy, was baseless.

“He (Afenyo-Markin) said Bagbin’s absence was a deliberate act to frustrate government business. That is a complete lie. It is not true. We all know Bagbin just returned from Dubai where he went for medical treatment, and he must obey the instructions of his doctors,” Mr Avedzi said.

“If Bagbin was not showing leadership, he would have reversed the wrongs by the first Deputy Speaker, but for the fact that he wanted the country to move on, he said he will not do anything to overturn the decisions, so, for Afenyo-Markin to say that Bagbin is not showing leadership. is very surprising.”

“He is the only person who has served Parliament for 28 good years. Everybody should disregard the comments from Afenyo-Markin in relation to the leadership style of Bagbin,” Mr Avedzi added.