Speaker Withdraws MPs’ Suspension

The Speaker of Parliament, Alban Bagbin, has accepted the prayer of Minority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin and accordingly lifted the suspension he placed on four Members of Parliament over their purported involvement in the reported chaos that enveloped the Appointments Committee last week.

The affected MPs are the Majority Chief Whip and MP for South Dayi, Rockson Nelson Dafeamakpor; the Minority Chief Whip and MP for Nsawam-Adoagyiri, Frank Annor-Dompreh; the MP for Gushiegu, Alhassan Sulemana Tampuli, and the MP for Weija-Gbawe, Jerry Ahmed Shaib.

The Minority Leader, in his statement of plea to Alban Bagbin in Parliament, noted that  he takes full responsibility for the actions of the suspended members from is Caucus and gave the assurance such an occurrence would not be repeated.

“Mr. Speaker, I take full responsibility as a leader on my side, on all actions that took place. I will therefore conclude by inviting you, Mr. Speaker, to in the circumstance and with assurance given, consider a recession of the decision you communicated to the house, as well as all consequential matters there too,” Afenyo-Markin stated.

The Majority Leader, Mahama Ayariga, added his voice in pleading with the Speaker to rescind his decision and to temper justice with mercy.

Speaker Bagbin, before lifting the ban, advised the House to be deliberate about protecting the integrity of Parliament.

He confirmed that leadership from both sides has earlier met with him over the matter: “They demonstrated and assured me of their total support to me and the deputy speakers to ensure that we have an efficient and an effective function in parliament in Ghana. So I am satisfied with not just the statement, but also their conduct.

“And I will proceed to lift the suspension of the four members of parliament that I considered were involved in this disorderly conduct which amounted to contempt”, Alban Bagbin noted.