The Member of Parliament (MP) for Effutu, Alexander Afenyo-Markin, has openly criticized the Speaker of Parliament, Alban Bagbin, for his decision to approve a motion that called for four MPs to vacate their seats. The motion, introduced by Haruna Iddrisu, Minority Leader of Parliament, led to a heated exchange between Afenyo-Markin and Speaker Bagbin. Afenyo-Markin deemed the decision unconstitutional, arguing that the Speaker lacked the legal authority to make such a ruling.
In an interview on Citi FM’s Citi Breakfast Show, hosted by Bernard Avle on Friday, October 18, Afenyo-Markin expressed his concerns over the legitimacy of the Speaker’s decision. According to him, the approval of the motion went against parliamentary rules and could set a troubling precedent for future decisions.
Afenyo-Markin explained that, under the rules of Parliament, Speaker Bagbin was not granted the authority to compel MPs to vacate their seats based on a statement made under Order 93. This rule, he argued, is clear in its function, and any matter brought under it should be referred to a committee for deliberation before any further action is taken.
“The Speaker has no such mandate to make a ruling on a statement under Order 93. In our rules book, when a statement is made, members are allowed to make comments, and if Mr. Speaker, after the comments, wants to make consequential orders, he refers the thing to a committee. Order 93(6) is very clear, and we drew his attention to this, so he had no such power to make a ruling on a statement. It has never happened, and it is not part of our rules,” Afenyo-Markin explained.
The MPs affected by Speaker Bagbin’s ruling included Cynthia Mamle Morrison, NPP MP for Agona West, Kwadjo Asante, NPP MP for Suhum, Peter Kwakye-Ackah, NDC MP for Amenfi Central, and Andrew Amoako Asiamah, an independent MP for Fomena who has rejoined the New Patriotic Party (NPP) ahead of the 2024 elections.
According to Afenyo-Markin, the Speaker’s decision to approve Haruna Iddrisu’s motion without following proper parliamentary procedures raises serious concerns about the handling of such issues in the future. He argued that if an applicant wishes to have a matter determined, it must be presented in the form of a motion. Afenyo-Markin further questioned why Speaker Bagbin chose to bypass the appropriate processes by setting aside Haruna Iddrisu’s notice of motion.
“If an applicant wants a matter to be determined, it comes by way of a motion. Now, one will wonder why Mr. Speaker decided to set aside Haruna Iddrisu’s notice of motion or the matter to be determined?” he asked.
Afenyo-Markin’s primary concern was the lack of a committee referral before the final ruling. He emphasized that the Speaker’s decision created confusion within Parliament, which he believes will disrupt parliamentary business until the issue is properly addressed.
“The Speaker should have referred the matter to a committee for deliberation before a final ruling. The hasty determination has brought confusion, and this will affect parliamentary business until it is resolved,” Afenyo-Markin stressed.
The Effutu MP pointed out that Speaker Bagbin’s rush to make a decision without thorough consideration of the consequences has led to unnecessary tension within the legislative body. He believes that parliamentary rules exist to ensure that decisions are made after careful deliberation and that rushing through important matters only serves to create uncertainty.
“When someone serves a notice, your duty is to admit it, and a committee will go through the motion. He [Bagbin] has created a whole confusion, and I don’t know to what end or what has become of the motion,” Afenyo-Markin stated.
During the interview, Afenyo-Markin revealed that he had directly confronted Speaker Bagbin about the matter, telling him that he had acted beyond his powers. Despite his attempt to bring attention to the issue, Afenyo-Markin said the Speaker was dismissive of his concerns.
“The Speaker was just in a rush to create confusion. I told him he could not do that, and the Hansard is my witness. He wanted to have a banter with me, but I vowed not to go that way with him,” Afenyo-Markin explained.
The dispute over the vacating of parliamentary seats has highlighted the ongoing tensions within Ghana’s political landscape. As the country approaches the 2024 general elections, the decisions made within Parliament carry significant weight, and any missteps can lead to larger political ramifications.
With several MPs now facing the prospect of vacating their seats, the legal and political implications of Speaker Bagbin’s ruling continue to be a source of debate. For Afenyo-Markin, the core issue lies in ensuring that parliamentary rules are respected and that no Speaker oversteps their boundaries.
As the controversy unfolds, it remains to be seen how Parliament will address the confusion caused by this decision. Afenyo-Markin’s criticism of the Speaker’s actions may spark further debate about the appropriate roles and powers of parliamentary leaders in determining the future of sitting MPs.
