<<Print>>

Former Central Regional Minister, Kwamena Duncan, has supported the National Democratic Congress (NDC) Member of Parliament for Asawase, Mohammed Mubarak Muntaka's challenge of the decision by the Speaker of Parliament, Alban Bagbin to refer three New Patriotic Party (NPP) MPs to the Privilege’s Committee of Parliament.

Rt. Hon. Bagbin, during proceedings on Tuesday, April 5, referred the NPP MPs, Kennedy Agyapong, Sarah Adwoa Safo and Henry Quartey, after receiving a petition against them for absenting themselves from Parliament without permission for more than fifteen sittings.

But Muntaka contests the Speaker’s ruling.

To him, if the decision is allowed, it will set a dangerous precedent which can be used by a “dictator Speaker” in future to hurt lawmakers.

“If we allow this to stand it will become precedent, tomorrow it may hurt all of us,” he said.

Speaking in a Joy News interview, Hon. Muntaka, who doubles as Minority Chief Whip, further argued that “every application to Parliament shall be in the form of a petition and every petition must be presented by a member who shall be responsible for the observance of the rules.”

“So you see if you’re not a member,” he explained, “you’ll not be conversant with these standing orders to apply the rules, and unfortunately Speaker is not a member of parliament. So yes, people can write petitions to him, that is why almost all petitions that have been written to Speakers many of them don’t get to be on the floor.”

He added; “So if Speaker has received petitions, talking about Kennedy Agyapong, Henry Quartey and Adwoa Safo, the Speaker himself, suo moto, I disagree cannot bring the matter on the floor. A member of parliament who feels very convinced about these infractions will raise it.”

Kwamena Duncan, speaking on Peace FM's morning programme 'Kokrokoo', welcomed Hon. Muntaka's position on the issue.

He believed the Minority Chief Whip's challenge raises some legitimate questions that must be answered.

"I also like the spirited opposition by Muntaka. Is it true that, per order 76, it is only a Member of Parliament that must present such an application in the form of petition? If it is the case, can the Speaker sidestep this order and take an application from outside?'' he questioned.