Speaker of Parliament Alban S.K. Bagbin has referred three Members of Parliament of the Majority New Patriotic Party (NPP) Caucus to the Privileges Committee for breaching the 15-day rule in the Chamber, generating a sharp disagreement between him and Minority Chief Whip Mohammed-Mubarak Muntaka.
The three MPs are Dome-Kwabenya MP, Sarah Adwoa Safo; Ayawaso Central MP, Henry Quartey and Assin Central MP, Kennedy Ohene Agyapong.
The Votes and Proceedings of Parliament has recorded the three MPs have absented themselves from the House for more than the mandatory sitting.
The absence of the MPs from the Chamber is reportedly a breach of the Standing Orders of the House which stipulates that an MP shall not absent him/herself from parliamentary sittings for fifteen (15) consecutive days without recourse to the Speaker.
Article 97 (1) (c) of the 1992 Constitution and Order 17 of the Standing Orders of Parliament state, “A Member shall not absent himself during a meeting for more than fifteen sittings without the permission in writing of the Speaker. Any member infringing this Order shall have his conduct referred to the Privileges Committee.”
In a formal communication to the House on Tuesday, April 5, 2022, Mr Bagbin stated that based on independent checks by the Table Office of Parliament, the three MPs have breached the 15-day rule.
The Speaker’s action followed a petition by former MP for Kumbungu, Ras Mubarak, against the three MPs.
The petition read in part, “It has come to my notice through parliament’s Hansard, and newspaper and radio reports that some four Members of Parliament, namely Hon. Sarah Adwoa Safo, MP for Dome-Kwabenya; Hon. Henry Quartey, MP for Ayawaso Central Hon. Ebenezer Kojo Kum, MP for Ahanta West; and Hon. Ken Ohene Agyapong, MP for Assin Central have all absented themselves from Parliament for more than fifteen sittings of a meeting of Parliament without the permission of Mr. Speaker in writing.
“The Standing Orders of Parliament is not clear as to who can or should raise the matter of absenteeism on the floor of the House for a debate and or referral by Mr. Speaker to the Committee on Privileges.
“I humbly submit that democracy can only work if Parliament puts the common good ahead of party and personal interest. At a time of seeming collapse of trust in politics and Parliament as an institution, it is my fervent prayer that the House would rise to the occasion and be UNITED on this matter, so as to uphold our constitution and also win back waned public confidence.”
Minority Chief Whip, Mohammed-Mubarak Muntaka, however, contested the Speaker’s ruling and insisted if the decision is allowed to stand, it will set a dangerous precedence that can be used by a ‘dictator speaker’ in future to hurt lawmakers.
“If we allow this to stand it will become precedent, tomorrow it may hurt all of us”, he said.
Speaker Alban Bagbin, however, defended the ruling and pointed out that the House is prepared to create room for Committees to be dictators but does not want speakers to be dictators.
The matter, he said, is before the House and not just before the Committee and argued he cannot declare a seat vacant without following a procedure.
“The matter will be submitted to the House and the House will make a decision on its report.
“Privilege’s committee, you are so directed, handle the matter, report back to the House,” he added.
