Lawmakers of Ghana’s ruling party led by their Leader, Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu, has expressed stern exceptions to the Speaker of Parliament’s decision to direct the plenary to debate the ultimate decision of Dome Kwabenya Member of Parliament (MP), Sarah Adwoa Safo and two other legislators over absenteeism.
The three lawmakers, the Dome-Kwabenya MP, Sarah Adwoa Safo, Ayawaso Central MP, Henry Quartey and Assin Central MP, Kennedy Agyapong all from the ruling Party (NPP) violated the 15-day absence rule, compelling the Speaker of Parliament to refer them to the Privileges Committee for the necessary actions to be taken.
The Speaker of Parliament refused to heed to calls urging him to declare some of the seats vacant without a formal debate of the Privileges Committee’s report.
On Wednesday, October 26, 2022, Alban Bagbin, (Speaker of Parliament) gave clearance for a report from the Privileges Committee on the three absentee Members of Parliament to be tabled and debated in Parliament.
The preliminary objection for the admissibility of the report is hereby dismissed in limine. Said the Speaker, Alban Bagbin.
Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu, the Majority leader explained that the Speaker’s decision to refer the matter back to the house, is erroneous and unfortunate. He added that the ruling flies in the face of the constitution and threatened to challenge the decision.
I totally disagree with the ruling. It doesn’t sit with the constitution and I must express my discomfort with this unfortunate ruling that has been made because it is very inconsistent. We will come back with a substantive motion to challenge the ruling”, Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu mentioned on the floor of the House following the ruling.
He added,
I am insisting that the Speaker is totally wrong in his understanding of the Constitution. He has taken us on an obsequious journey that is not helpful to the growth of Parliament. The matter doesn’t rest with plenary.
Ghanaians expect the lawmakers to stick to the rules governing the House which are enshrined in the constitution on this particular ruling as any ruling outside the constitution will serve as precedence for future adjudications on similar matters.
