Ursula, Murtala clash in Parliament

The heated arguments that characterised discussions in the media during the electioneering campaign was re-enacted at the MPs Cafeteria in Parliament Tuesday, when the New Patriotic Party (NPP) Member of Parliament (MP) for Ablekuma West, Ms Ursula Owusu and the National Democratic Congress (NDC) MP for Nanton, Mr Murtala Mohammed Ibrahim engaged in heated verbal exchanges in the full glare of other colleagues.

The two newly-elected MPs were said to have traded insults over claims by Ms Owusu that her life was under threat by some Northern groups who were being incited by Mr Ibrahim. 

The Ablekuma West MP was reported to have said that she was currently being attacked by unidentified Northern groups because Mr Ibrahim was inciting them against her publicly due to comments she made about the NPP's free education campaign message which was misconstrued.

According to eye witnesses, the exchanges begun after Mr Ibrahim decided to exchange pleasantries with Ms Owusu, a move she objected to.

The situation, according to the eyewitness, could have degenerated into physical exchanges if some MPs present had not intervened.

Commenting on the issue, the MP for Nadowli Kaleo, Mr Alban Bagbin said it was unfortunate that the MPs were carrying some ill-feelings from 2012 to the new Parliament.

He said the incident was unfortunate, explaining that issues in Parliament were different from those that were discussed in the media.

Story by Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah