The Speaker of Parliament Alban Bagbin, has referred three Members of Parliament, Sarah Adwoa Safo, Henry Quartey, and Kennedy Agyepong to the Privileges Committee.
The Speaker referred them to.the committee for absenting themselves from over fifteen sittings of the House without permission.
He described their action as a breach of the rules of the house.
Speaking on the floor of Parliament, Alban Bagbin urged the committee to provide its report to the house two weeks after the House reconvenes from recess.
Article 97(1)(c) of the Constitution and Parliament’s Standing Order 16(1) frowns on Members absenting themselves for 15 sitting days without permission from the speaker.
Per Article 97(1)(c) of the 1992 Constitution, a Member of Parliament shall vacate his seat “if he is absent, without the permission in writing of the Speaker, and he is unable to offer a reasonable explanation to the Parliamentary Committee on Privileges from fifteen sittings of a meeting of Parliament during any period that Parliament has been summoned to meet and continues to meet.”
According to him, a search of the attendance at the commencement of the 8th parliament of the 4th Republic was conducted by the table office, the results of the first session were interesting and revealed that members may take the attendance of parliament more seriously.
The evidence provided by the table office showed that three honourable members have so far absented themselves in his meeting for more than fifteen days without permission recorded by the votes and proceedings of the house.
However, the Minority Whip, Hon Muntaka Mubarak Mohammed disagreed with the speaker’s ruling regarding the referral of the three members of parliament because the issue was not raised by members but rather a memorandum from outside.
According to him, it is only the high court can declare a seat vacant without regarding any reasons or legal basis, and for that matter, he called on members to resist the attempt by Mr. Speaker to refer the MPs to the privileges committee of which he will come with a substantive motion to challenge the speaker’s ruling.
Also the Majority leader, Osei Kyei Mensah Bonsu challenged the ruling by the Speaker saying it is not right to vote on the committee’s report at the plenary.
He quoted Articles 112 (5) and 177 (1)of the 1992 constitution to oppose the ruling by the Speaker.
Background
Former Member of Parliament (MP) for the Kumbungu Constituency, Ras Mubarak, last month petitioned the Speaker of Parliament, Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin, to deal with absentee Members of Parliament (MPs).
He premised his petition on provisions of Article 97(1)(c) of the Constitution and Parliament’s Standing Order 16(1) which frowns on Members absenting themselves for 15 sitting days and that those who flout the regulations should appear before the appropriate quarters.
He copied the leadership of both sides of the House.
The MPs he wanted to be dealt with were Sarah Adwoa Safo, MP, Dome Kwabenya; Henry Quartey, the MP for Ayawaso Central; Ebenezer Kojo Kum, the MP for Ahanta West and Ken Ohene Agyapong, MP for Assin Central.
“In view of this reported breach of the constitutional provision, I respectfully petition your high office to direct for their conduct to be referred to the Privileges Committee for consideration and necessary action,” the petition said
By: Rainbowradioonline.com/Ghana
