Speaker suspends 4 MPs over vetting chaos

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Members of Parliament who participated in the violent altercations during the Appointments Committee meeting on Thursday, January 30 have been suspended for two weeks in an unprecedented action.

Speaker Alban Bagbin hinted that the decision, which was made public on Friday, January 31, 2025, is a sign of Parliament’s firm opposition to wrongdoing and incivility among legislators.

The aforementioned instances took place on Thursday, January 30, in the evening, and on Friday, January 31, in the morning.

Key members of both caucuses are impacted by the suspension, including Jerry Ahmed Shaib and Alhassan Sulemana Tampuli, as well as Chief Whips Frank Annoh-Dompreh of the Minority and Rockson-Nelson Dafeamekpor of the Majority.

“These people are suspended from Parliament for two weeks from today,” at the meeting on Friday, Speaker Bagbin made a firm decision.

Disagreements about political affiliations and appointments during the Appointments Committee’s screening procedure allegedly led to the violent altercations, which escalated into physical altercations.

According to eyewitnesses, the disturbances began as verbal altercations that turned into physical altercations, threats, and destruction of legislative property.

Speaker Bagbin responded to the concerning incidents by outlining a number of steps meant to mitigate the immediate consequences and stop similar incidents in the future.

  1. Suspension of MPs Involved: The two-week suspension is intended to serve as a disciplinary action against those directly involved in the altercations. The suspended members are barred from participating in parliamentary sittings and activities during this period.
  2. Criminal Complaint to the Police: The Clerk of Parliament has been directed to formally lodge a criminal complaint with the police. This will pave the way for a full investigation into the incidents, ensuring that those found culpable face legal consequences.
  3. Reconstitution of the Appointments Committee: The Committee of Selection has been instructed to reconstitute the Appointments Committee. This move is aimed at restoring trust and ensuring that the Committee operates effectively and without bias.
  4. Assessment of Property Damage: The Clerk of Parliament has also been tasked with conducting a comprehensive assessment of the damage caused to parliamentary property during the confrontations. MPs found responsible for the destruction will be surcharged to cover the costs of repairs or replacements.
  5. Seven-Member Investigative Committee: A seven-member committee, chaired by Emmanuel Bedzrah, has been established to investigate the incidents in detail.

A 10-day deadline has been set for the committee to present its findings and recommendations for additional action.

Source: Ghanatodayonline.com

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