July 15, 2021

Member of Parliament for Ningo-Prampram Samuel Nartey George has noted that comments made by the Chairman of the defence and Interior Committee of Parliament, Ken Ohene Agyapong against Erastus Asare Donkor, a journalist are more grievous than the comments made against Ahmed Suale who was gruesomely murdered few years ago.

Mr. Agyapong, the Member of Parliament for Assin Central in the Central Region is alleged to have said on a TV programme that the journalist should be seriously beaten, and threatened that if he was the President of Ghana, he would ensure he is beaten mercilessly.

“In the case of Ahmed, no reference was made to the president, but in this case, you have a leading member of the NPP make these comments, and when he speaks it carries weight”.

In an interview with journalists on his expectations of the issue that the Speaker has referred to the Privileges Committee, he noted that he does not want to preempt the work of the Committee, but clear lines should be drawn as a country for everyone.

Again, this is an individual whose conduct has gone all the way to the Supreme Court. There is a case pending against him, but the Chief Justice is unable to hear the case, but in the case of Dr. Akuritinga Dominic Ayine, a former deputy Attorney General and Minister of Justice, he has been hauled before the General Legal Counsel and Supreme Court for contempt.

And added that parliament has an opportunity to lay down the matter and say that enough is enough, standards and quality should be upheld, “he is not just an MP, Chairman of Defense and Interior”.

Also, it is a critical Committee of all parliaments in the world, and supervises the Interior ministry which the police fall under. Additionally, Ken has done some philanthropic works for the 37 Military Hospital, “would the military be able to hold him to account? It’s only the peoples’ representative that can do this work”.

“Erastus Asare’s MP should have been the one moving a motion on the floor, we need to see for once Parliament doing what is in the interest of Ghanaians”, Sam George lamented.

Kwaku Sakyi-Danso/Ghanamps.com