The Speaker of Parliament Rt. Hon. Alban Bagbin has referred three (3) Members of Parliament to the Privileges Committee for absenting themselves for fifteen (15) sitting days. In an official communication to the House today, the Speaker mentioned Hon. Sara Adwoa Safo (MP Dome Kwabenya), Hon. Kennedy Agyapong (MP Assin Central ) and Hon. Henry Quartey (MP Ayawaso Central) for absenting themselves for more fifteen sitting days within the First Meeting of the Second Session, per the records from the Clerks at Table.
Speaker Bagbin supported his ruling with article 97 (1)c of the Constitution which states that: “A member of Parliament shall vacate his seat in Parliament if he is absent, without the permission in writing to 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”, the Standing Orders and a number of rulings from the Supreme Court. The Rt. Hon. Speaker indicated that his ruling was also based on petitions submitted to him on absenteeism of Members of Parliament.
The Minority Chief Whip, Hon. Mohammed Mubarak Muntaka and the Minority Leader, Hon. Haruna Iddrisu however strongly disagreed with the ruling of the Speaker, arguing that the matter ought to have been raised on the floor by a Member of Parliament first before the Speaker could act on it.
Meanwhile, the Speaker has given the Privileges Committee two weeks after the House resumes from recess, to submit their report for further deliberation on the floor.