News:
Minority Whip on his feet making his point
April 8, 2022
Minority Leader Haruna Iddrisu and Minority Chief Whip Mohammed Mubarak Muntaka have expressed strong reservation on three of their colleagues directed to appear before Privileges Committee as they are said to have absented themselves without permission from the Speaker more than the stipulated fifteen days limit.
The Minority Chief Whip coming under order 76 pointed out that he disagrees with the Speaker on his conclusion, stating that Order 76 (1) directs that “every application to Parliament shall be in the form of a petition and should be presented by a Member of Parliament who shall be responsible for the observance of the rules”. You said MPs can raise an issue, same as civil society or CSO, I disagree with you vehemently when you Mr. Speaker want to do that yourself”.
Mr. Speaker then pointed out to him to read the standing orders again, but the Whip retorted, “Mr. Speaker it would be good to listen to me when I am done you have the privilege to make your remarks, Mr. Speaker I have read what I want to read and I have stopped where I want to stop”.
When the Speaker directed the Whip to resume his seat, he insisted that the Speaker would have to hear him first and pointed out that they heard him when he was reading his formal communication in silence.
When Mr. Haruna Iddrisu asked the whip to resume his seat, he retorted back, “Leader no it is only fair you listen to us; as for the ruling and decision to be taken it is absolutely yours, but Mr. Speaker you must listen to us, you gave so many examples what you left out was what the Appeals Court said; under the 1992 Constitution it’s the High Court which can declare an MPs seat as vacant” he emphasised.
Again, the danger he pointed out is that if Speakers are allowed to take petition from outsiders and to refer MPs to privileges, “colleagues we would be doing ourselves the greatest disservice, we would one day get a dictator Speaker who would simply take a statement from outsiders and begin to penalize individual MPs”
Mr. Muntaka noted it was on those bases he calls on his colleagues to resist the attempt by the Speaker to refer his three colleagues to the privileges committee, and if anything they should rather get one of their own who is convenient to bring up the matter.
“If we allow this to stand it would become precedence and tomorrow it may hurt each and every one of us, and I come under Order 93 (5), this your decision would be challenged with a substantive motion”
However, the Speaker pointed out to the Minority whip that there is a difference between a petition to Parliament and that of the Speaker, adding that the standing order that the Chief whip put out was refereeing to a petition to Parliament.
“I have not taken away petition to Parliament and I have had the patients to listen to you because you have drawn my attention to this before; it is your opinion and the Speaker has refereed the matter to the privileges committee according to our standing orders”
And further pointed that if MPs defer from his ruling it would reflect in the Committee report and a decision would be taken.
Kwaku Sakyi-Danso/Ghanamps.com