Truant MPs face probe …but Muntaka insists Speaker is out of order

The Speaker of Parliament Alban Bagbin has been challenged with a substantive motive over his Tuesday April 5, 2022 landmark decision to  personally refer  three Members of Parliament (MP)  to  the Privileges Committee  for them to  offer reasonable explanations on why they had  absented themselves from more than 15 sittings without permission.

The three MPs in question could  have their seats declared vacant and parliamentary  by-elections held  for their replacement if they are unable to offer a convincing and reasonable explanation for being absent without leave.

The three absentee MPs,  all on the tickets of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), are the Greater Accra Regional Minister who doubles as MP for Ayawaso Central Constituency , Henry Quartey,  the Minister for Gender, Children and Social Protection who doubles as MP for Dome-Kwabenya. Sarah Adwoa Safo and the outspoken MP for Assin Central, Kennedy Agyapong.

However, Minority Chief Whip and MP for Asawase Constituency in the Ashanti Region, Muntaka Mubarak has said the Speaker is clearly out of order as he lacks the locus to refer a Member to the Privileges Committee  based on a petition the from outside Parliament.

Mr. Muntaka Mubarak served notice on the Floor that he would file a substantive motive fortified under Order 93 (5) to nullify the decision of the Speaker.

Muntaka explained: “Mr. speaker, with the greatest of respect to your office, I disagree with you vehemently when you Mr. Speaker, want to do that yourself because it has to be a Member of Parliament who has to do that according to our rules.”

The Minority Chief Whip called for the support of other MPs to challenge the decision of Mr. Speaker:

“If we allow Speakers to take petitions from outsiders to refer Members of Parliament to the Privileges Committee, colleagues, we would be doing ourselves the greatest disservice. Because we would one day get a dictator Speaker who would simply take statements from outsiders and begin to penalize individual Members of Parliament.

“It is on this basis that I call on all of us to resist the attempt by Mr. Speaker to refer our colleagues to the Privileges Committee. If there is a justification, let us get one of us as a Member of Parliament who is convinced that our colleagues needs to go to the Privileges Committee to do that but not to allow Mr. Speaker to do this.

Today, we may have a Speaker that we may think would be unbiased. If we allow this to stand, it would become precedent and tomorrow,  it may hurt each and every one of us and it is o that bases that stand to say Mr. Speaker that I want to come properly  under Order 93 (5) to say this your decision to refer our  colleagues to the Privileges Committee would be challenged with a substantive motion”, Muntaka added.

DRAMA

There was before moment of dramatic exchanges between the Speaker and Mr. Muntaka Mubarak  when the latter rose to make his submission and the former attempted to prevent him:

Speaker: Honourable Member, read the Standing Orders again

Muntaka: Mr. Speaker I would be grateful if you listened to me…

Speaker : (interrupts) Read the Standing Orders again

Muntaka : Mr. Speaker, it would be good to listen to me. When I am done you have the privilege to make you ruling…

Speaker:  (interrupts) Minority Chief Whip, read the Standing Orders again

Muntaka : Mr. Speaker, I have read where I want to read and I have stopped where I want to stop.  It is only fair you listen to me and when you hear me….

Speaker : (interrupts) Honourable Member would you resume your seat?

Muntaka : Mr. Speaker you have to hear me.

Speaker : (interrupts) Would you resume your seat?

Muntaka : Mr. Speaker you have to hear me first.

Speaker : (interrupts) Would you resume your seat!!!

Muntaka:  Mr. Speaker we heard you in silence. Mr. Speaker it is only fair that you would hear us and when we are done, as for the ruling and the decision to be taken, Mr. Speaker, it is absolutely  yours. But you must listen to us.