Month: February 2025

With the confusion that has clouded the real roles of the Member of Parliament particular on the issue of spearheading developments in their various constituencies, as to whether he or she a development agent because he is elected and their role as law makers the Member of Parliament for Mpraeso, Davis Opoku Ansah has pointed out that the National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE) would have to improve their engagement with the Ghanaian public to let them know the actual functions of their representatives in parliament .

“Our role as MPs, coming to Accra as legislators is to have oversight responsibility over the Executive arm of Government. When that education goes down well, Ghanaians will begin to appreciate the role of the MP. Then a lot of pressures will be lifted off the MP. If he or she is to ensure that laws are passed, that is the work they are supposed to do rather than MPs coming to fix gutters, toilets and build schools”.

As to whether Parliamentary Candidates or Members of Parliament should not take part of the blame as they go out there to campaign and give a lot of promises, the lawmaker pointed out in an interview that at the time the lawmaker to be was going round campaigning, the Metropolitan, Municipal and District Chief Executives (MMDCEs) are not yet known, and it takes the parliamentary candidate to sell the programmes and policies contained in the manifestoes of the political parties they represent.

So in doing so, the people assume the promises were coming directly from the PCs, forgetting that they have presidential candidates seeking executive power who would spearhead the development agenda including the construction of roads, schools, hospitals among others through the MMDCEs who are actually the development agents at the assemblies.

Kwaku Sakyi-Danso/Ghanamps.com

The Minority in parliament has rejected the Speaker Rt. Hon. Alban Bagbin’s suspension of three of their members; Hon. Frank Annoh-Dompreh (Nsawam-Adoagyiri), Hon, Alhassan Sulemana Tampuli (Gushegu), and Hon. Jerry Ahmed Shaib (Weija-Gbawe) which took effect from Friday, January 31, 2025.

The Minority noted that the decision by the Speaker is “an unfortunate overreach of parliamentary authority, a blatant display of selective justice, and an attack on the democratic principles that underpin our legislative process.”

In a press release, they stated that “The events that transpired during the vetting of ministerial nominees were bore out of deep-seated frustrations regarding the conduct of proceedings, the disregard for due process, and the Majority’s attempt to railroad decisions without consensus building. Parliament, by its very nature, is a forum for robust debate and passionate deliberation. The unfortunate incident that led to minor property damage was not a planned disruption but a manifestation of the growing tensions caused by the Majority and their members and the failure of the Chairman of the Appointments Committee to exercise impartiality.”

They contend that the Speaker’s decision to unilaterally suspend these three MPs—without due process in accordance with provisions enshrined in Standing Orders 130 (a) and (b), without an opportunity for them to be heard under Article 19 (1) of the Constitution and without first exhausting internal disciplinary mechanisms—sets a dangerous precedent. It signals an era where the Speaker can arbitrarily punish Members of Parliament based on perceived disobedience, rather than adherence to parliamentary rules and fairness.

They further stated that Parliament must remain a bastion of democracy, not an institution of oppression. The Ghanaian people deserve a Parliament where all voices are heard, not one where members are punished for their commitment to due process and accountability.

“Democracy thrives on fairness and justice, and we will not sit idle while our parliamentary democracy is undermined by selective application of rules.”

They have therefore rejected the suspension of the three MPs and demand an immediate reversal of the decision.

Ghanamps.com

The Speaker of Parliament’s disciplinary axe has fallen on four Members of Parliament.

The four;
Rockson Nelson Dafeamekpor, MP for South Dayi;
Frank Annoh-Dompreh, MP for Nsawam Adoagyiri;
Alhassan Sulemana Tampuuli, MP for Gushegu; and
Jerry Ahmed Shaib, MP for Weija-Gbawe have been suspended from Parliament for two weeks, the Speaker, Rt. Hon. Alban Bagbin announced.

Their suspension is in relation to their involvement in the Thursday, January 30, 2025 chaotic scene at the vetting conducted by the Appointment Committee of Parliament.

A disagreement over whether or not the Committee should continue with the vetting of Mr Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa and Kwabena Mintah Akandoh Ministers -designate for Foreign Affairs and Health respectively resulted in a brawl disrupting the vetting process.

The unfortunate development also resulted in the destruction of properties including tables and microphones at the vetting centre.

The Speaker described their actions as a direct affront to the dignity of Parliament, warranting immediate punitive measures.

”Let there be no doubt, Parliament’s credibility has been seriously undermined, and urgent punitive action must be taken, as this was done contemptus Parlamenti in facie parlamenti. Consequently, the following members are suspended from the sittings of Parliament for two weeks from today”, he said.

Dominic Shirimori/Ghanamps.com