The Minority Caucus has compiled a memorandum outlining their concerns regarding the Speaker’s decision to suspend four Members of Parliament (MPs) for two weeks.
The suspension follows allegations of disruptive behaviour that caused damage to public properties during an Appointments Committee sitting.
The memorandum was expected to be served on the Speaker, Rt. Hon. Alban Kingsford Sumana Bagbin yesterday, February 3, 2025.
This will be followed by a face-to-face meeting between the Speaker and the House Leadership to resolve the impasse.
At a press conference in Accra, Minority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin expressed the Caucus’ view that the Speaker overstepped his boundaries by imposing sanctions before establishing a committee to investigate the matter.
“The Speaker grossly exceeded his jurisdiction and mandate,” Afenyo-Markin stated.
The controversy stems from a violent incident during an Appointments Committee sitting on Thursday, January 30, 2025.
The melee, which was televised live, resulted in damaged communication gadgets, tables and other public properties.
The Speaker condemned the incident, describing it as an affront to the dignity of the House.
At a sitting on Friday, the Speaker, Rt. Hon. Bagbin, in a communication to members, noted that “let there be no doubt, Parliament’s credibility has been seriously undermined and urgent punitive action has to be taken, since this was done contemptusParlamenti in facie parlamenti”,
Consequently, he went ahead to sanction four MPs by suspending them from sittings of the House for two weeks, following their alleged involvement in the chaotic incident.
The suspended MPs are Rockson Nelson Etse Kwame Dafeamakpor, NDC MP for South Dayi and Majority Chief Whip; Frank Annor-Dompreh, NPP MP for Nsawam-Adoagyire and Minority Chief Whip; Jerry Ahmed Shaib, NPP MP for Weija-Gbawe, 2nd Deputy Minority Whip and Alhassan Sulemana Tampuuli, NPP MP for Gushegu.
The Speaker cited Orders 34(2) and 36, the Parliament Act of 1965, and Article 123 of the 1992 Constitution as the basis for the sanctions.
Additionally, he called for an immediate meeting of the Committee of Selection to reconstitute the Appointments Committee as a matter of urgency and to set up the Standing Orders Committee to reconsider a revision of the rules for the assessment of nominees for consideration and approval by the House.
He also set up a seven-member committee chaired by Emmanuel Bedzrah, NDC MP for Ho West, to investigate the incident and report to the House with its findings and recommendations within 10 days from last Friday.
“Any Member found culpable shall face the appropriate disciplinary measures as prescribed by the Constitution, 1992, the Parliament Act of 1965, and the Standing Orders of Parliament.
That notwithstanding, he directed the Clerk to Parliament to cause to undertake full assessment of all damage caused within the committee room and parliamentary precincts as a result of the alleged misconduct of the members, stressing that “not a single pesewa of public funds shall be used to repair or replace any damaged property.
Instead, Members found responsible shall be surcharged for the full cost of repairs, replacement, with deductions made from their emoluments, including the salaries of Members if necessary”.
The Clerk to Parliament was further directed by the Speaker to formally lodge a complaint with the Ghana Police Service to conduct a full criminal investigation into the matter for appropriate action.
Commenting further on the Speaker’s communication, Afenyo-Markin argued that the Speaker should have allowed for a fair hearing before imposing sanctions.
Additionally, he did not hear from the Chairman of the Appointments Committee, Bernard Ahiafor, before sanctioning the MPs.
“We believe that the right thing to do is to grant these affected persons the right of fair hearing”, Afenyo-Markin posited.
The Minority Caucus has refused to recognise the suspensions, while remaining open to discussions to find a common ground and allow government business to proceed smoothly.
Notable attendees at the press conference included National Chairman, Stephen Ayesu Ntim and General Secretary Justine Frimpong Kodua of the New Patriotic Party (NPP).
By Stephen Odoi-Larbi
