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0 Four Members of Parliament have been suspended from parliamentary sittings for two weeks for their various contributions to the chaos that ensued during the Appointments Committee sitting on January 30.
Speaker Bagbin announced the suspension on the floor of the House on Friday, January 31, 2025.
The suspended MPs are; South Dayi MP, Rockson-Nelson Dafeamekpor, Nsawam-Adoagyiri MP, Frank Annoh-Dompreh, Gushegu MP, Alhassan Tampuli and Weija-Gbawe MP, Jerry Ahmed Shaib.
During vetting on Thursday, January 30, 2025 chaos erupted between members of the Minority and Majority caucuses in Parliament over the vetting of Health minister-designate, Kwabena Mintah Akandoh and Foreign Affairs minister-designate, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa.
This led to destruction of some equipment being used for the vetting including furniture and microphones.
Addressing the matter on the floor of the House on Friday, January 31, Bagbin strongly condemned the incident describing it as “disgraceful and deeply regrettable”, warning that parliamentary privilege does not extend to disorderly conduct.
Speaker sets up 7-member special committee to investigate vetting chaos
The Speaker criticized the conduct of the legislators, stating that they “could not exercise a scintilla of emotional intelligence” and that such an incident was happening at a particularly critical time.
The committee will be chaired by Ho West MP, Emmanuel Bedzrah.
“Members found culpable shall bear full cost of repairs with deductions from salaries if necessary,” Bagbin said.
Eroding Public Trust in Parliament
Bagbin warned that Parliament’s credibility was at stake, emphasizing that “this House must acknowledge that it is rapidly eroding public confidence.” He lamented that the chaos directly contradicted his repeated calls for discipline and respect during parliamentary proceedings.
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