2 weeks Ago By Ghana News
By Elsie Appiah-Osei Accra, Jan 31, GNA – In a response to the altercations in Parliament on Thursday, Speaker Alban Bagbin has outlined a series of measures to address the immediate fallout and prevent future occurrences. In his formal communication to Members of Parliament on Friday, the Speaker suspended four Members of Parliament (MPs) involved in the clashes for two weeks, effective January 31, 2025. They are Mr Frank Annoh-Dompreh, Minority Chief Whip, Mr Rockson-Nelson Dafeamekpor, Majority Chief Whip, Jerry Ahmed Shaib, Second Minority Whip, and Alhassan Sulemana Tampoli, NPP MP for Gushegu.
“These...
people are suspended from Parliament for two weeks from today and barred from engaging in any parliamentary activity,” Speaker Bagbin said. The Speaker’s decisive actions aimed to restore trust, ensure accountability, and maintain order in the legislative body. He also directed the Clerk of Parliament to formally lodge a criminal complaint with the police, paving the way for a full investigation into the incident.
He said: “This move ensures that those found culpable will face legal consequences.” To restore trust and ensure the Committee operates effectively and without bias, the Committee of Selection had been instructed to reconstitute the Appointments Committee. According to the Speaker, the Clerk to Parliament would conduct a comprehensive assessment of the damage caused to parliamentary property during the confrontations.
“MPs found responsible for the destruction will be surcharged to cover the costs of repairs or replacements,” the Speaker said. Further, a seven-member committee, chaired by Mr Emmanuel Bedzrah, a National Democratic Congress MP for Ho West, has been established to investigate the incidents in detail. The committee has a 10-day deadline to submit its findings and recommendations for further action.
Speaker Bagbin’s swift actions demonstrates his commitment to maintaining order and accountability in Parliament and ensure the smooth functioning of Ghana’s legislative bodyt Confusion rocked the Parliament’s Appointments Committee sitting Thursday night, when members of the Minority and Majority caucuses clashed over the vetting of Mr Kwabena Mintah Akandoh, minister-designate for health, and Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, designated for Foreign Affairs. The disagreement began after 2200 hours when the vetting of the nominee for Transport, Mr Joseph Bukari Nikpe, had been concluded. The Majority Caucus decided to vet two more ministerial nominees that night after having already vetted five others.
The Minority group on the Committee, however, proposed rescheduling the vetting to Friday, January 31, saying it was too late. The Majority rejected that suggestion, insisting that the vetting should continue as scheduled. It accused the Minority Leader, Alexander Afenyo Markin, (Ranking Member on the Committee), of spending more time on nominees, hence the delay.
The situation escalated into chaos, disrupting the session as tables were broken and microphones destroyed in a tussle between some committee members. In response, the Majority Leader, Mr Mahama Ayariga, intervened and apologised for the unfortunate incident, suspending the vetting and rescheduling it to Friday, January 31. “Let us not destroy the enviable image that Ghana has carved for itself in terms of our democracy,” he said.
The clash between the two causes brought the Committee’s work to a standstill, with both sides refusing to back down from their positions. The incident had raised concerns over the integrity of the vetting process and the ability of Parliament to conduct its business in a peaceful and orderly manner. Meanwhile, Mr Afenyo-Markin said the Minority would not be bullied into submission and prevented from asking the necessary questions during vetting.
GNA.
