The Member of Parliament for Asawase, Muntaka Mubarak has challenged the Speaker of Parliament’s decision to refer three legislators to the privilege’s committee of Parliament for their continuous absence from the house.
The speaker’s decision follows a petition from Former Kumbungu Member of Parliament, Ras Mubarak, who indicated in his petition that his attention was drawn to the absence of the three MPs through parliament’s Hansard, and newspaper and radio reports.
The petitioner, Ras Mubarak, wants Mr. Alban Bagbin to enforce the provisions of article 97(1)c of the 1992 constitution of Ghana and parliament’s Standing Order number 16(1).
On his part, the speaker during proceedings on Tuesday April 5 referred the MPs to the Privileges Committee for being absent without permission for more than 15 sittings.
The MPs, all of whom are New Patriotic Party members include; Kennedy Agyapong, Henry Quartey and Dome-Kwabenya legislator Sarah Adwoa Safo whose absence has recently sparked a lot of controversy in the media space.
However, Muntaka Mubarak, who challenged Speaker Bagbin’s ruling believes the decision will set a dangerous precedence that can be used against legislators.
“If we allow this to stand it will become precedent, tomorrow it may hurt all of us,” he bemoaned.
Defending his ruling, Alban Bagbin noted that “you don’t want speaker to be a dictator but you are prepared to create room for committees to be dictators. When the committee decides then that is it.”
He also declared that the matter is before both the house and the Committee and he followed due process in declaring seats vacant.
