MPs Tell Kennedy Agyapong… We’re Not Buffoons!

Even before maverick Assin Central Member of Parliament, Kennedy Agyapong, makes his appearance before the Privileges Committee for describing the Legislature as ‘useless’, the House is sure it is not an assemblage of buffoons.

In the view of the members of the august House, the controversial MP had violated Order 28 and 30 (Rule 2) of the House.

NPP fire-brand MP recently descended on the House, following comments by Majority Leader, Osei Kyei-Mensah Bonsu, that the NPP was not in essence against the modus operandi of investigative journalist, Anas Aremeyaw Anas.

He is quoted as having called Parliament ‘foolish’, an act which appears to have ruffled the feathers of the House.

Mr. Agyapong has been on a warpath with Anas since he announced his latest piece, ‘When Greed and Corruption Become the Norm’, popularly referred to as #Number 12, and which was premiered last week.

According to him, Anas’ method of investigation is wrong because he lures his victims into a trap. He also accused Anas of being corrupt.

In the view of the Assin Central MP, Anas sets his victims up, and blackmails them with threats to destroy their reputation.

He also claimed to have evidence to show that some Parliamentarians, including Osei Kyei-Mensah Bonsu, engaged in corrupt acts, adding that if he was dared, he’d make them public.

But Member of Parliament for the Abuakwa South constituency, Samuel Atta Akyea, would not take any of the insults anymore.

He told the House that “in the heat of anger, which I am of the view should not be too much associated with a man who is supposed to represent a crowd, your capacity to control your temper is evidence of maturity and if in the fit of anger, you want to come and denigrate this House and the Leader and the rest of them…”

He explained: “if where we make the laws of this country is an assembly of buffoons, this should be investigated, coming from anybody, because we have been entrusted to bring about the laws of this country.”

The Works And Housing Minister further indicated that: “The sanity of this country is in our hand; people don’t know what law-making is all about. Law-making is how people begin to come under law so that men will not exalt themselves above the law.”

Joseph Osei–Owusu, the First Deputy Speaker of Parliament, chairing proceedings for the day, said the MP is alleged to have said that the House is a “foolish assembly of members, otherwise they (MPs) would not have elected Kyei-Mensah Bonsu as leader of the House.”

He stressed that if indeed he (Mr. Agyapong) uttered those words, then clearly it was against Order 28 and order 30 rule 2 of the rules of the house.

In what appears to be a double slap for the MP, the journalist at the center of the controversy, Anas, had dragged the Assin Central MP before an Accra high court, demanding GH¢25 million in damages from him.

The suit follows weeks of media attacks by the MP against the investigative journalist in an attempt to stop him from airing the documentary “Number 12,” an investigative piece detailing corruption in Ghana football.

The suit, filed on June 8, is requesting Mr. Agyapong to appear in court within eight days or in default, “judgment may be given against you without further notice to you.”

Apart from the damages of ¢25 million, Anas Aremeyaw Anas is also demanding costs, including lawyers’ fees.

By: Jeffrey De-Graft Johnson