Cletus Avoka is the Member of Parliament of Zebilla
The Member of Parliament of Zebilla, Cletus Avoka, has condemned the recent chaos that erupted during the vetting of a ministerial nominee on Thursday, January 30, 2025, describing it as an embarrassment and a dent on the image of Parliament.
Speaking in an interview on Channel One News on Monday, February 3, 2025, he emphasised Speaker Alban Bagbin’s role in maintaining order in the House.
“What happened that day was not just shameful, but also disgraceful. It brought the name of the House into disrepute and scandalised its image,” he said.
He stressed that although the Speaker is not a Member of Parliament, he serves as the Chairman or Father of the House and acted in good faith.
“He took that decision in the spur of the moment to send a message to the rest of the country that to whom much is given, much is expected from Members of Parliament. We are role models,” he remarked.
Cletus Avoka further touched on the expanded authority granted the Speaker under the new Standing Orders.
“You know we have a new Standing Order, and they have made a more lavish provision than the first. If you look at the old Standing Order, the Speaker has the discretion and authority to interpret for smooth running, and it is on record that the committee is a Committee of the House. The Speaker is literally in charge of the Chamber, so what they are doing with the vetting, the Speaker is in charge as well,” he noted.
The legislator added that the Speaker has inherent jurisdiction under the Standing Orders to take action in all cases, particularly those involving disorderly conduct.
“The Standing Order provides for disorderly conduct or behaviour, and the Speaker can instruct the Marshall to order people out and prevent them from returning,” he stated.
Following a chaotic vetting session on Thursday, January 30,2025, four MPs have been handed two-week suspensions from parliamentary duties.
The Speaker announced the sanctions on Friday, January 31, 2025, following the incident.
The suspended lawmakers are Member of Parliament of South Dayi, Rockson-Nelson Dafeamekpor; Member of Parliament of Nsawam-Adoagyiri, Frank Annoh-Dompreh; Member of Parliament of Gushegu, Alhassan Tampuli; and Jerry Ahmed Shaib, Member of Parliament of Weija-Gbawe.
JKB/AE
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