Blakk Rasta likely to appear before Bar of Parliament

Entertainment of Saturday, 25 July 2015

Source: myjoyonline.com

Blakk Rasta ParliamentBlakk Rasta

Controversial reggae artist and host of Hitz FM Taxi Driver programme Blakk Rasta may likely be hauled before the Bar of Parliament to again render an unqualified apology for his “reckless” comment Editor of the New Crusading Guide has suggested.

“I won’t be surprised if he is called before the Bar of the House because the kind of mood i am sensing, i will be surprised if it doesn’t happen,” Kweku Baako Jnr told Joy News hours after Rasta appeared before the Privileges Committee of Parliament for allegedly bringing the name of the House into disrepute.

The Radio host in an interview on Hitz FM suggested that 80 per cent of MPs smoke wee. He was campaigning for the use of marijuana to be legalised.

His comments attracted lots of criticism from the public and the MPs are angry.

The Speaker Edward Doe Adjaho ordered that Blakk Rasta be brought before the Privileges Committee of Parliament to be interrogated.

He appeared Thursday in the company of his lawyer, Thaddeus Sory and George Imbeah who represented Multimedia CEO Kwasi Twum.

The 15-minute controversial interview was replayed at the Privileges Committee after which Rasta and his lawyer were asked to comment.

He pleaded with the House to be lenient with the witness. Blakk Rasta on his part also apologised for the comment. He said he made it on the spur of the moment.

His apology notwithstanding, the MPs are not appeased. They have hinted in an interview with Joy News’ Elton John Brobbey the controversial presenter will be dealt with.

Speaking to Joy News’ Dzifa Bampoh the Editor of the Crusading Guide newspaper Kweku Baako Jnr said the MPs are “legitimately distressed and angry.”

“The comments by our brother Blakk Rasta were completely reckless,” he said, adding “scanning the mood of MPs they may want to debate the issue openly on the floor” and later haul him before the Bar of the House to apologise.

Mr Baako Jnr who describes himself as a “student of Parliament” said as far he could recall it was the first time contempt proceedings in Parliament had been televised live.

He explained however that if Rasta were to appear before the Bar of the House it would be the second time in Parliament’s history.

He said the executives of the National Union of Ghana Students in the early 70s were called before the Bar of the House to apologise for denigrating the House.

The Bar of the House is simply the floor of the House with all the MPs present. Apart from hauling Rasta before the floor of the House, Kweku Baako Jnr said Parliament may also refer the conduct of the presenter to the Attorney General for prosecution, an option he would rather Parliament will not activate.

Even though he conceded that the comments made by Rasta were grievous he said Parliament must have a big heart, allow him to apologise and forgive him.