By Josephine Kekeli Amuzu
The Minister of Environment, Science and Technology, Dr. Ibrahim Murtala Muhammed, has openly rejected the title “Honourable,” citing concerns over the conduct of some Members of parliament, which he believes undermine the dignity of the legislative house.
In an exclusive interview with the host of the GTV breakfast show, Maltiti Sayida Sadick, on Wednesday, March 12, 2025, Dr. Murtala expressed disappointment in the behaviour of some members of parliament. He emphasised that while some demonstrate integrity and serve their constituents with dedication, others act in ways that you would not associate with.
“I do not want to be identified as Honourable Murtala because the conduct of some members of parliament are absolutely dishonourable and there is no pride being associated with the title but there are outstanding members of parliament who understand the job, who think so much and care about their constituents, and the law. There are some you wouldn’t want to associate with,” he stressed.
He also addressed the frequent clashes in the chamber, noting that such incidents were not unique to Ghana. He referenced similar altercations in the Indian Parliament, the U.S. Congress, and even the British Parliament, stating that parliamentary disagreements are a global phenomenon.
His remarks follow recent controversies in Parliament, which include accusations of name-calling. He stated the name-calling incident, “daughter of a murderer,” that happened recently came as a result of a statement made in commemoration of J.B Danquah, and in contributing to those statements, he defended the controversial remarks about J.B. Danquah, which sparked backlash.
He insisted that his statements were based on historical and political facts, referencing writings from Martin Meredith and Mahoney’s books, which were declassified CIA cables. “Facts are facts,” These attempts to bury the true political history of this country under a paved threat and tribal bigotry will not sell.
The person who made that unfortunate statement doesn’t even want to identify himself. I didn’t make my statement in secrecy; I stood, and I owned it. So if you have a problem, you can have a problem with the statement,” he stressed.
He expressed his frustration over the selective outrage in Ghanaian politics.
“I mean, this country sometimes is a joke. People have made statements, and as long as we engage in politics, we should be subject to criticism,” he stated.
