First Deputy Minority Whip Habib Iddrisu says the suspension of four Members of Parliament by the Speaker is in breach of the rules of the House.
He contended that the Parliamentary Standing Orders prescribe for the suspension of a member found guilty of contempt for 4 sitting days in the case of a first offender, 8 in the case of a second offender and 12 if the contemnor is a third offender.
“Per) our Orders, he cannot suspend somebody under Order 130 for two weeks even if it’s a contempt. Where from this two weeks? Even if they are in contempt of Parliament, the content needs to be established by a Privileges Committee,” he stated on JoyNews TV yesterday.
Habib, therefore, insists Alban Bagbin’s decision to suspend the MPs for 2 weeks doesn’t only smack injustice but also is in contravention of the rules of Parliament.
The Minority Caucus in Parliament rejected the suspension of 3 of its members by the Speaker as “overreach of parliamentary authority, a blatant display of selective justice” and an attempt to “silence dissent”.
The 3 were among 4 lawmakers suspended for 2 weeks for their role in the brawl that ensued at the vetting of ministerial nominees that resulted the destruction of public properties.
Chaos erupted during the Appointments Committee’s sittings to vet ministerial nominees on January 30, 2025 following the Minority’s opposition against the continuation of proceedings.
The Committee’s sitting on the said day, which commenced around 9 am in the morning, lasted up to 10 pm by which time it had done vetting about 6 nominees.
But the Majority insisted the proceedings should continue deep into the night, a position the Minority strongly rejected and demanded an end to the day’s sitting.
The disagreement degenerated, resulting in near-fisticuffs and the destruction of properties.
Captured on live television, some of the Committee members were seen dismantling the setup and throwing tables and microphones about, resulting in their destruction.
The chaos has been widely condemned with many calling for those involved to be sanctioned.
During sittings of the House on January 31, 2025, Speaker Bagbin announced the suspension of 4 MPs – Frank Annoh-Dompreh (NPP MP for Nsawam-Adoagyiri), Alhassan Sulemana Tampuli (NPP MP for Gushegu), Jerry Ahmed Shaib (NPP MP for Weija-Gbawe) and Rockson-Nelson Dafeamekpor (NDC MP for South Dayi) for their involved in the scuffle.
But the NPP Minority Caucus rejected the suspension its members as unjustifiable and demanded a reversal.
