We are not undermining Bagbin’s position by questioning his decision – Afenyo-Markin
The majority caucus in Parliament following their criticism of the Speaker over how he is handling the Madina MP Francis-Xavier case with the Police has assured the Speaker that, they are not demeaning his authority in any way.
Deputy leader of the Majority caucus Alexander Afenyo-Markin reiterated that the respect they have for the speaker will not be reduced in any way.
“The essence of the position taken earlier was not in any way to undermine the authority of Mr Speaker, no. He is the one who presides over our assembly and the majority leadership will continue to respect his authority,” the Effutu Member of Parliament said on the floor of the House on Thursday, November 4.
New Patriotic Party’s Members of Parliament had earlier expressed in a statement that they did not like how the Right Honorable Speaker was handling issues of lawmaker Francis-Xavier Sosu and the Police.
This comes after the police efforts to arrest the legislator was thwarted by the Speaker of Parliament Alban Bagbin.
Mr Sosu issues started with the Police started after leading his constituents to protest over deplorable roads in the constituency and it was alleged by the Police that there was burning of tyres and road blockage after the protest had started peacefully.
Mr Sosu, who has since been charged by the Police, however, denied the allegation saying “That any allegation of the Police about my involvement in unlawful blockade of road and destruction of public property is false and an afterthought carefully manufactured by the police to shift attention of the people of Ghana from the key issues of bad roads raised by our protest and demonstration.”
In a letter dated October 28, which was addressed to the Deputy Director-General of Criminal Investigation Division, F.K. Agyei, the Speaker indicated that due to limitations of Articles 117 and 118 of the 1992 Constitution, Mr Sosu could not be released.
“I am directed by the Rt. Hon. Speaker to inform you that proceedings of the 3rd Meeting of the 1st Session of the 8th Parliament commenced on Tuesday 26th October 2021 and having regard to the limitations of articles 117 and 118 of the 1992 Constitution of the Republic, he is unable to release the Member of Parliament as requested in your letter,” Deputy Director of Legal Services, Nana Tawiah Okyir wrote on behalf of the Clerk of Parliament.
But a statement from the Majority in Parliament on Thursday, November 4 regarding the Speaker’s response said “The Majority Leadership views the foregoing response by Speaker Bagbin as a troubling departure from how his predecessors handled such requests.
“To avoid doubt, when both Rt Hons Joyce Bamford Addo and Edward Doe Adjaho received those requests during their days in office, they responded by inviting the relevant MPs, held discussions with them, and then asked them to report to the requesting Police or investigative authorities.”
It added “Now the Speaker of Ghana’s Parliament, Rt Hon Bagbin, appears to be instituting new rules that seem to undermine the Rule of Law without any prior discussions with the Leadership of the House. We ask: What exactly has changed?” the caucus quizzed.
By: Stella Annan | myactiveonline.com Twitter @activetvgh
