Muntaka Chases Colleague MP For 'Insulting' Speaker

Majority Chief Whip Mohammed Muntaka Mubarak is seeking severe parliamentary sanctions against the NPP MP for Effiduase-Asokore Frank Boakye Agyen whom he accuses of defaming the Speaker, Edward Doe Adjaho. The Effiduase-Asokore MP in the heat of Mr. Adjaho's controversial dismissal of a motion filed by the Minority over the sale of Merchant Bank to Fortiz, said the Speaker's decision had been externally influenced. His comments, according to Muntaka Mubarak, was despicable and an affront to the dignity of the House and particularly the Speaker. He said the comments have brought the House into disrepute and the MP must be punished for it. On the first day of resumption after a long parliamentary recess, Muntaka Mubarak attempted to table a motion before the House, seeking for sanctions against his colleague. He said the MP must be hauled before the Privileges Committee for his conduct. Joy News' Parliamentary correspondent, Elton John Brobbey, reported however, that the MP was unable to table the motion before the House because the Speaker, the person against whom the comments were made, was not presiding over the House at the time. Deputy Speaker Ebo Barton Oduro told the MP to hold on until the Speaker assumed his seat. Muntaka Mubarak later told Joy News' Evans Mensah he will file the motion tomorrow when the Speaker, Edward Doe Adjaho, returns to the House. He said the comments made by his colleague were an affront to the House, adding, MPs and politicians in general have lost respect in the eyes of the public due to such unguarded comments. The Asawasi MP dismissed assertions that he was hauling his colleague to the Privileges Committee because he is NPP. He said if any member of the NDC should make similar comments, he would take the same action he is taking now. The Minority in Parliament is angered by the move, Elton John Brobbey has reported. But the leadership of the Minority has decided to wait until the motion is officially filed in Parliament before reacting.