Former Majority Leader Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu has vehemently opposed Speaker Alban Bagbin’s decision to suspend four Members of Parliament over their conduct which caused chaos during the vetting session on Thursday, January 30, 2025.
The former Suame MP questioned Bagbin’s authority to impose such sanctions, arguing that neither the Constitution or Standing Orders of Parliament grants him such power.
Although he agrees with the Speaker’s decision to refer the matter to the Privileges Committee in accordance with Order 342 of the Standing Orders of Parliament, Kyei-Mensa-Bonsu believes Bagbin has usurped his powers by suspending the MPs.
“The Speaker is right to have availed himself of the imperative of Order 342 of the new Standing Orders,” which allows referring matters of privilege to the Committee of Privileges and Immunities,” he said on Joy News, Saturday, February 1.
However, he raised concerns about the basis of the Speaker’s authority, stating, “Now the question to ask is from where the Speaker is deriving his authority. Neither the Standing Orders nor the Constitution grants the Speaker any of such authority.”
He further explained that if such incident occurs in the precincts of Parliament, “the Speaker has the authority to cause the withdrawal of that person from the presence of Parliament,” but this should not exceed 24 hours.
For him, Bagbin has 0verstepped his bounds.
“The Speaker has not only jumped the gun but has gone outside the prescription of the law to impose his sanction. His own attitude and conduct is questionable,” he remarked.
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