‘Immunities affect comments made on Parliamentary floor only’
The Speaker of Parliament, Mr Edward Doe Adjaho, yesterday reminded members of Parliament that parliamentary immunities and privileges regarding speech affected only comments made on the floor of the House.
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He said if any member made any statement outside the chamber which was deemed to be unsavoury, he or she would have to face the consequences alone.
The Speaker made the comments in reference to an interview granted to the media by the Member for Mankarigu Daboya, Mr Nelson Abudu Baani, on the Intestate Succession Bill, during which he suggested that women who committed adultery needed to be stoned to death.
The bill is currently before Parliament.
Background
Mr Baani had earlier in his contribution to the debate on the bill referred to some women as “alomo djata.”
His statement drew the ire of some civil society groups, which have called for his resignation as MP.
He has since apologised for the statement.
The issue came up for discussion when the Deputy Minority Leader, Mr Dominic Nitiwul, drew the attention of the Speaker to the fact that the media and civil society organisations had created the impression that the call for women who committed adultery to be stoned was made on the floor of the House.
Mr Nitiwul said the “stone to death” suggestion was not made in the Chamber and added that the media and the civil society groups owed Parliament an apology for impugning that “we sat down and allowed the member to make that statement without reprimanding him.”
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Views
The member for Asawase and Majority Chief Whip, Alhaji Muntaka Mubarak, and the Deputy Majority Leader, Mr Alfred Agbesi, expressed similar sentiments and said the public needed to know that the MP made the statements at different times and at two different fora.
Alhaji Muntaka said since Mr Baani made the statement, the leadership of the Majority had drawn his attention to the fact that it was revolting and he had apologised.
The Member for Anyaa Sowutuom, Ms Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey, stated among other things, that whether the statements were made on the floor or not, they were repulsive.
The member for Tema West, Ms Irene Naa Torshie Addo, said it was not right for any member of Parliament to make any statement referring to women as “alomo djata”, adding that it needed to be expunged from the records.
The member for Tarkwa Nsuaem, Mrs Gifty Eugenia Kusi, expressed similar views.
Mr Adjaho
Mr Adjaho referred to the “alomo djata” comment as un-Parliamentary and directed the leadership of the House to “take the matter up” and report back to him.
He said when the MP made the comment on the floor of the House his attention should have been drawn by other members to enable him to rule on the matter.
He advised members to pay attention to what their colleagues say during debates so that such comments did not pass unnoticed.