Joseph Osei-Owusu has criticised Speaker Bagbin over suspension of four MPs
The former First Deputy Speaker of Parliament, Joseph Osei-Owusu, has criticised the Speaker of Parliament, Alban Bagbin, over the suspension of four Members of Parliament.
The esteemed lawmaker expressed that Speaker Bagbin’s decision to suspend the four MPs, following the chaotic scenes and altercations during the vetting by the Appointments Committee, was a reactive measure, resulting in a hasty judgment.
In an interview with Channel One TV on Monday, February 3, 2025, Joe Wise, as he is popularly known, stated that Alban Bagbin should have referred the four MPs to the Privileges Committee regarding their conduct, rather than using his authority to pass judgment.
“Indeed he was right in referring the conduct to the Privileges Committee he ordered to be constituted but why did he rush to pronounce punishment when he was going to try the people?
“You must wait to go through the process and then at the end of it all, if the people are found to have misconducted themselves, the parliament act will then be applied. I think he rushed into making a decision or announcing a decision which he has no power to do,” he said.
Joe Wise, the former Member of Parliament for Bekwai, also questioned the legal basis for the Speaker’s decision, arguing that Bagbin lacked the power to suspend the lawmakers.
He maintained that the Speaker did not follow due process and strongly expressed his disagreement with Bagbin’s handling of the matter.
“I wonder the basis or legal authority. As I said there is a punishment regime and a procedure for dealing with misconduct of any kind. Whether it is a member or a stranger or a witness, whoever is accused of misconducting him or herself, there is a procedure for dealing with it.”
He added, “What I’ve heard the Speaker say was bereft of procedure as no procedure was followed. I’m not aware that any of the rules or even the constitution gives Mr Speaker the power to punish anybody without due process and that is where I disagree with him [speaker].”
Background
Speaker of Parliament Alban Bagbin has suspended four Members of Parliament (MPs) for two weeks following violent clashes during a ministerial vetting session on Thursday, 30 January, 2025.
The suspended MPs are Frank Annoh-Dompreh (NPP, Nsawam-Adoagyiri), Rockson-Nelson Dafeamekpor (NDC, South Dayi), Alhassan Tampuli (NPP, Gushegu), and Jerry Ahmed Shaib (NDC, Weija-Gbawe).
As confirmed by GhanaWeb’s George Ayisi, a special parliamentary committee, chaired by Ho West MP Emmanuel Bedzrah, has been tasked with investigating the incident and submitting a report within 10 days.
Speaker Bagbin also directed the Clerk of Parliament to file a formal complaint with the Ghana Police Service for a criminal probe into the conduct of MPs involved.
He further declared that no public funds will repair damaged parliamentary property and that MPs found culpable will be surcharged for repairs.
The fracas occurred during the vetting of Minister of Health-designate Kwabena Mintah Akandoh and Minister of Foreign Affairs-designate Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa.
The Minority caucus accused the Majority of violating an agreement to vet only two nominees per day, sparking heated exchanges.
Tensions escalated into physical altercations, with microphones and furniture destroyed, and the vetting table overturned.
MAG/EK
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