The Speaker of Parliament Alban Bagbin, has referred three Members of Parliament, Sarah Adwoa Safo, Henry Quartey, and Kennedy Agyepong to the Privileges Committee for absenting themselves from over fifteen sittings of the House.
According to the Speaker, the absence of the MPs without his permission constitutes a breach of the rules of the house.
Speaking on the floor of Parliament, Alban Bagbin urged the committee to provide its report to the house two weeks after the House reconvenes from recess.
Petition
Already the former Member of Parliament for Kumbungu, Ras Mubarak has petitioned Parliament to crack the whip on some absentee MPs who have breached the 15-day rule in the House.
According to him, four Members of Parliament have all absented themselves from the Chamber for more than 15 sitting days without the express permission of the Speaker.
In the petition, Mr. Mubarak called on the Speaker “to direct for their conduct to be referred to the Privileges Committee for consideration and necessary action.”
Article 97 (1) (c) of the 1992 Constitution and Order 17 of the Standing Orders of Parliament state emphatically: “A Member shall not absent himself during a meeting for more than fifteen sittings without the permission in writing of the Speaker. Any member infringing this Order shall have his conduct referred to the Privileges Committee.”
Okudzeto Defense
In related to this development, the Member of Parliament for North Tongu, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa in a post on Facebook said; I commend Speaker Bagbin for commencing an action against all three absentee MPs.
According to him; As I indicated earlier following my research, the provisions of the 1992 Constitution under Article 97 must apply without discrimination.
‘’Adwoa Safo, Kennedy Agyapong, and Henry Quartey must face the same music.
