News:
January 29, 2014
The Speaker of Parliament Edward Doe Adjaho has given the leadership of the House ten days to investigate and submit a report on a case against the Effiduase-Asokore Member of Parliament who has been accused of bringing Parliament into disrepute.
An incensed Frank Boakye Agyen alleged that the Speaker was compromised and externally influenced to dismiss a case brought by the Minority seeking Parliamentary inquiry into the sale of Merchant Bank to Fortiz.
The Majority Chief Whip Mohammed Muntaka Mubarak however said the comment by the MP was an affront to the dignity of Parliament and vowed to have him punished.
He filed a motion on the floor Wednesday bringing the comments officially to the attention of the Speaker.
According to Joy News\’ Parliamentary correspondent Elton John Brobbey both the Minority and Majority Leaders attempted to intervene in the matter and have the matter dropped.
Minority Leader Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu pleaded for leniency on the part of his colleague and referred to the close personal relationship the Speaker had with the MP during their school days.
Instead of referring the matter to the Privileges Committee the Minority Leader pleaded that the case should be handled at the leadership level of Parliament.
The Majority Leader Benjamin Kunbour in part agreed with his colleague and also pleaded that the matter be investigated by the leadership of the House.
Having gone through the transcripts of the interview granted by the Effiduase-Asokore MP the Speaker initially threatened to refer the matter to the Privileges Committee to investigate.
Elton John Brobbey, reported the Speaker as saying the matter had assumed huge public interest and ought be investigated by the dreaded Privileges Committee.
Not only was he accused of being influenced, the Speaker said allegations of bribery had also been levelled against the Majority members in the House, all of which needed to be investigated.
But after the intercession by the leadership of the House, the Speaker decided not to refer the matter to the Privileges Committee but to allow the Leadership of the House to investigate and present their report in ten days.
Myjoyonline.com