We’ll challenge Bagbin’s decision to refer ‘absentee’ NPP MPs to Privileges Committee – Minority

The Minority in Parliament has served notice it will in the coming days file a substantive motion to challenge the ruling of Speaker of Parliament, Alban Bagbin referring three NPP MPs to the Privileges Committee of the House.

According to the Minority Chief Whip, Alhaji Muntaka Mubarak, a substantive motion will be filed to challenge the Speaker’s decision which he says is not in the right direction.

This follows a ruling by Mr Bagbin that the MPs have absented themselves from sitting for 15 days, which is in clear breach of the standing orders of the House.

Article 97 (1) (c) of the 1992 Constitution and Order 17 of the Standing Orders of Parliament state emphatically: “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.”

The three MPs whose conduct has been referred to the Privileges Committee include Dome-Kwabenya MP, Sarah Adwoa Safo; Ayawaso Central MP, Henry Quartey and Assin Central MP, Kennedy Ohene Agyapong.

But that move to haul the three before Privileges Committee led to disagreements from the Minority front bench.

Speaking on the floor of the House moments after the Speaker’s ruling, Alhaji Muntaka rallied his colleague MPs to resist the decision insisting that the Speaker cannot continue to accept petitions from outsiders and act on same, suo moto.

“It is on this basis that I call on all of us to resist the attempt by Mr Speaker to refer our colleagues to the Privileges Committee and if there is a justification, let us get one of us, as Member of Parliament, who is convinced that our colleagues need to do that and not allow Speaker to do this…if we allow this to stand, it will become precedent and tomorrow it may hurt each one of us,” the Asawase MP said.

Source: thenewsroomonline.com