By Our Reporter
A former Speaker of Parliament, Prof. Aaron Mike Oquaye has waded into the controversy surrounding the withdrawal of military personnel attached to current Speaker, Alban Bagbin.
According to him, at no point during his 4-year tenure did he benefit from military protection while serving as Speaker.
This follows the withdrawal of all military personnel attached to Alban Bagbin, a situation that has been described as worrying by many.
He was reacting to publications suggesting that he was given military protection while he was Speaker of the 7th Parliament of the 4th Republic.
Correspondence from the Chief of Staff of the Ghana Armed Forces, Major General NP Andoh to the Speaker, Alban Bagbin said the withdrawal was necessitated because the said officers were earlier attached “without proper procedure.”
The aftermath of that decision has led to criticisms amidst claims that Prof. Oquaye benefited from a similar arrangement during his time as Speaker.
But a statement signed by Prof. Oquaye described those claims as “palpably false.”
“I was never offered military protection nor did I request for any. Indeed, I had only three policemen to move with me and provide security at all material times. This information can be easily verified by anyone who cares for the truth at the office of the Clerk-to-Parliament at any given time,” he said.
