The Member of Parliament For North Tongu, Mr Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa has commended the Speaker of Parliament for commencing action against all three absentee Members of Parliament (MPs).
Former Kumbungu lawmaker, Ras Mubarak petitioned the Speaker to discipline these lawmakers for absenting themselves from Parliament without permission.
In his petition, he said “It has come to my notice through parliament’s Hansard, and newspaper and radio reports that some four Members of Parliament, namely Hon. Sarah Adwoa Safo, MP for Dome-Kwabenya; Hon. Henry Quartey, MP for Ayawaso Central; Hon. Ebenezer Kojo Kum, MP for Ahanta West; and Hon. Ken Ohene Agyapong, MP for Assin Central have all absented themselves from Parliament for more than fifteen sittings of a meeting of Parliament without the permission of Mr. Speaker in writing.
“In view of this reported breach of the constitutional provision, I respectfully petition your high office to direct for their conduct to be referred to the Privileges Committee for consideration and necessary action.”
The Speaker then referred Adwoa Safo, Kennedy Agyapong and Henry Quartey to the Privileges Committee as stated by Ras Mubarak.
In the speaker’s ruling, he quoted article 75 (2) of the the constitution detailing absenteeism of members of parliament.
In a Facebook post, he wrote,”I commend Speaker Bagbin for commencing action against all three absentee MPs. As I indicated earlier following my research, the provisions of the 1992 Constitution under Article 97 must apply without discrimination.”
He added,”Adwoa Safo, Kennedy Agyapong and Henry Quartey must face the same music. It is my hope, as I remarked on the floor of Parliament today that the House shall be guided by the 11th December, 2008 Prof. Kwaku Asare radical decision by the Court of Appeal.”
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Ghana| Atinkaonline.com| Porcia Oforiwaa Ofori
