The issue of whether or not the Minority Leader in Parliament, Alexander Afenyo-Markin, is in contempt of Parliament for attending an ECOWAS Parliament meeting when the House had decided to drop him from the Ghanaian delegation to ECOWAS has been referred to the Privileges Committee of Parliament for investigation, enquiry, investigation, and report to the House.
The Majority Leader, Mahama Ayariga, had cited the Minority Leader for contempt of Parliament and urged the Speaker to refer him to the Privileges Committee to face possible appropriate sanctions, if found guilty, for defying a resolution passed by the House.
He said Alexander Afenyo-Markin clearly defied a resolution passed by Parliament to remove his name as a member of Ghana’s delegation to the ECOWAS Parliament meeting in Port Harcourt.
Contrary to the resolution passed, Mr Afenyo-Markin attended a session of the ECOWAS Parliament, a move the Majority Leader described as constituting contempt of Parliament and a breach of parliamentary privileges.
“That is why Mr Speaker, I have cited the provisions of Order 31 (0) which says that any act or omission which affronts the dignity or authority of Parliament of Ghana or produces any such effect constitutes contempt of Parliament and a breach of parliamentary privilege,” Mr Ayariga had said.
Ruling on it in Parliament today, Speaker Alban Bagbin said there was merit in the issue raised by the Majority Leader.
He said having reviewed the complaint, the Standing Orders and the Governing Principles, he was satisfied that the matter raised had prima facie grounds that implicate the institutional integrity of Parliament
Pursuant to Order 34 (1), the Speaker therefore referred the matter to the Committee on Privileges and Immunity for examination, enquiry, investigation, and report to the House.
The committee has been directed to ascertain the relevant facts giving rise to the complaint, including the action taken by the House and the member concerned, review those actions within the framework of the Standing Orders and the applicable protocols of the ECOWAS Parliament
And to also determine whether the conduct, if established, constitutes contempt of Parliament or a breach of Privileges under Orders 30 and 31.
The committee is to make appropriate recommendations to the House for its consideration.
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