The Office of Speaker of Parliament has expressed concern at what it says are constant attempts to make the cost of the medical travels of Speaker Alban S.K. Bagbin to Dubai a subject for media discussion.
According to the Office, the travel expenses for Mr. Speaker’s trip to Dubai is in accordance with what is prescribed for Speakers of Parliament long before Rt. Hon Bagbin became Speaker and for analogues members of government such as President, Vice President and the Chief of Staff.
A release by the Public Affairs Directorate for the Office of the Speaker noted that some details provided in publications, in both new and traditional media, about the travel of Mr. Speaker to Dubai for medical review are false.
According to the release, contrary to the publications, the Rt. Hon. Speaker did not travel to Dubai with his children and has never included his children in any of his trips.
“The figures quoted in the story as per diem are false. The Speaker has no hand in the computation of his per diem and it is available as part of the official records of the State. It is part of the mischief that the publication is aimed at.”
“For purposes of clarity, Mr. Speaker traveled with the medical doctor in charge of Parliament Medical Centre, his spouse as carer and two other officials of Parliament as the least in practice. There is no advance party, no children, and certainly no other member on his entourage,” the release said.
The Office described as intriguing the focus on Mr. Speaker’s travel and the efforts at exaggerating the cost when there is complete silence on the travels of other members of government, the frequency of which is far higher.
It note that even within the hierarchy of Parliament, there are members of the leadership whose frequency of travel is far higher than that of Mr. Speaker.
“It is also on record that Rt. Hon. Bagbin, in his 14 months as Speaker, is the least travelled of all previous Speakers of Parliament within the same time frame,” it added.
The Office urged the public to see in such publications the political mischief that is intended and ignore such stories with the contempt they deserve.
Read a copy of the release below:
