Muntaka rushed by filing a motion without consulting his caucus members – Cletus Avoka
An experienced lawmaker for Zebilla East Cletus Avoka has said the Minority Chief Whip Muntaka Mubarak rushed into filing a motion calling for the reversal of the referral of three legislators to the Privileges Committee for absenting themselves from 15 sittings.
He opined that Muntaka Mubarak’s decision to file a motion, without extensively engaging the leadership of the Minority Caucus, was uncalled for.
He said extensive engagements would have provided the opportunity for legal considerations.
“I think Muntaka is rushing too much. I thought when the House adjourned, there should have been a caucus meeting to discuss the way forward. Should we present a motion or not to rescind the Speaker’s decision,” he said.
Mr Mubarak urged Ghana’s legislature “to revoke, cancel or rescind the referral made by The Rt. Hon. Speaker on the 5th day of April 2022, to the committee on Privileges to consider the issue of absence without permission from the House under Article 97 (1) (c) of the constitution and Standing Orders 15 and 16 of Honourables Sarah Adwoa Safo, Henry Quartey and Kennedy Ohene Agyapong.”
The lawmaker wondered whether the motion would yield results, given that it was filed by an individual and not the Minority Caucus.
The three legislators who have been referred to the committee include Sarah Adwoa Safo, Henry Quartey, and Kennedy Agyapong.
Per Article 97(1)(c) of the 1992 Constitution, a Member of Parliament shall vacate his seat “if he is absent, without the permission in writing of the Speaker, and he is unable to offer a reasonable explanation to the Parliamentary Committee on Privileges from fifteen sittings of a meeting of Parliament during any period that Parliament has been summoned to meet and continues to meet.”
