Speaker of Parliament Alban Bagbin has once again threatened Members of Parliament absenting themselves from proceedings in the chamber with referral to the Privileges committee and declaration of their seats vacant. The threat from the speaker follows continuous low numbers recorded in the chamber since the commencement of the 9th parliament.
Addressing MPs at the commencement of sitting today, Alban Bagbin expressed disappointments in the constant low numbers recorded in the chamber despite previous warnings.
The former Nadowli-Kaleo MP consequently disclosed all MPs who absent themselves for more than 15 sittings without permission will be referred to the privileges committee and possibly have their seats declared vacant in accordance with the dictates of the constitution and standing orders.
According to the speaker he has in his possession attendance of both the first and second meetings and could easily trigger the process but chooses to offer the lawmakers the very final chance to mend their ways.
The Speaker expressed shock at the attitude of some MPs to attendance. Alban Bagbin explained the decision to move commencement of sitting from 10am to 2pm was to allow MPs enough time to show up for work but even that has done very little to improve the numbers.
In the 8th Parliament 3 MPs: Sara Adwoa Safo of Dome Kwabenya, Kennedy Ohene Agyapong of Assin Central and Henry Quartey of Ayawaso Central were all referred to the Privileges Committee for absenting themselves more than 15 times in a meeting without permission. The committee then chaired by first deputy speaker Joseph Osei-Owusu cleared two MPs and recommended Adwoa Safo’s seat be declared vacant. The recommendation of the committee was however never implemented
