It was total bedlam and within that pandemonium, something else very significant and serious happened, but unfortunately, it escaped everyone even the very close constituents.
The events of 7th January 2021 in the Parliament of Ghana when the election of the Speaker during the ungodly hour turned into a freak show would not be forgotten easily.
However, the fact that the discourtesy and maltreatment of a woman within the chaos that has been discussed for the past two weeks have been forgotten so quickly, and not received the strongest of condemnation is quite worrying.
Indeed, the Ghanaian Publisher is talking about the assault on the Member of Parliament for Ablekuma West, Ursula Owusu-Ekuful.
The seat she was sitting on was violently yanked from under her, which sent her crashing onto the floor with both hands flying wildly for anything to grab for support.
The MP, who landed on her knees did the next best thing to steady herself and perhaps prevent falling in a supine position on the floor of Parliament in the full glare of the world.
She shoved the chair in front of her, which incidentally was then occupied by the MP for Asutifi South Constituency, which sent it spiraling into the space between the row of chairs.
That incident should have featured extensively in the condemnation of the confusion that rocked the Chamber that midnight.
The Ghanaian Publisher cannot comprehend how the various women groups in the country missed that unfortunate incident and why none has issued a statement condemning the maltreatment of Ursula Owusu by some MPs of the National Democrat Congress (NDC) group in the House.
Regardless of whether the Ablekuma South MP left the ranks of her own party, the New Patriotic Party (NPP) group to take a seat among the NDC, which brewed some tension because of the already charged atmosphere, snatching the seat from beneath her was uncalled for.
Lest we forget, at that material moment all members in the Chamber were MPs-elect and have not been sworn in. Therefore, no side has been designated to any political party, which left the MP for Ablekuma South to choose wherever she would sit to feel comfortable.
As a country, we have consistently talked about women empowerment and have even discussed the idea of designating a specific number of seats in Parliament for women to ensure more participation in the governance of the country.
The Ghanaian Publisher demands whether this is how we intend to treat the more women we are advocating to take interest in politics and get themselves elected into Parliament.
What happened is a shame and the fact that it received little condemnation, even from the various women groups in the county is more disgraceful.
We must stop paying lip service to that so-called respect and empowerment of women and properly place them on the pedestal that they deserve.
Hon. Ursula Owusu-Ekuful deserves better.
