The altercation between the Speaker of Parliament, Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin, and Sefwi Wiawso lawmaker, Dr. Kwaku Afriyie, according to the African Center for Parliamentary Affairs (ACEPA) boss, was unfortunate.
During proceedings in Parliament Monday, July 22, 2024, the Speaker of Parliament, Alban Bagbin, had asked Parliament to look into the issues of the full complement of the Supreme Court when the Appointments Committee presents its report on the two justice nominees for the Supreme Court by the President for consideration by the plenary.
But the Sefwi Wiawso MP averred that it is not within the Speaker’s purview to make such comments which he deemed prejudicial.
The Speaker, saying the comments were disrespectful, asked the Marshall to walk the legislator out of the House.
But commenting on the issue, the Executive Director of the African Center for Parliamentary Affairs, Dr. Rasheed Draman, noted such altercations are not necessary.
He has asked Parliament not to lose sight of the work ahead of it and ensure it delivers on its mandate in the interest of the public.
Dr. Draman indicated that the Speaker might have acted based on his powers as enshrined in the Standing Orders due to the MP’s action which could be described as going beyond reasonable limits, the House should not dwell on such things to sway from the core mandate for which they members have been sent there by their constituents.
“Maybe some will say the Speaker by walking this member of parliament out has exercised his utmost power granted to him as the standing orders. Many speakers have resisted doing it.
“On the other hand, some would say the member of parliament has also gone beyond what is considered reasonable limits when you’re addressing the chair. For him to be involved in this kind of verbal fight with the speaker is quite unfortunate.
“We want this parliament to finish its work and solve our problems rather than these unnecessary issues that will take away the important work they have ahead of them,” the Executive Director of the African Center for Parliamentary Affairs said in Citinews interview Monday, July 22, 2024.
Source:onuaonline.com