The Minority Caucus in Parliament has strongly opposed the suspension of three New Patriotic Party (NPP) Members of Parliament by Speaker Alban Bagbin, describing the decision as an overreach of parliamentary authority and a case of selective justice.
Speaker Bagbin announced the suspension of four MPs on Friday—three from the NPP and one from the Minority Caucus—following the chaos that erupted during the ministerial vetting on Thursday.
The suspended MPs include Frank Annoh-Dompreh (Nsawam-Adoagyiri), Alhassan Sulemana Tampuli (Gushegu), and Jerry Ahmed Shaib (Weija-Gbawe). Majority Chief Whip Rockson Nelson Dafeamekpor was also affected by the ruling.
Reacting to the decision, the Minority Caucus expressed strong disapproval, arguing that the Speaker’s ruling was an attempt to intimidate lawmakers and stifle dissent in Parliament.
In a statement, the Minority attributed the disturbances during the vetting process to mounting frustration over procedural fairness. They accused the Majority of pushing decisions through unilaterally without engaging in consensus-building, which, they argued, contributed to tensions in the House.
They insisted that parliamentary debates, by nature, are expected to be robust and that the disruptions, which resulted in some property damage, were an unintentional consequence of tensions exacerbated by the Majority and the perceived partiality of the Appointments Committee Chair.
The Minority Caucus in Parliament has criticized Speaker Alban Bagbin for his decision to suspend three New Patriotic Party (NPP) MPs, arguing that it violates due process and parliamentary regulations. They claim the ruling contradicts Standing Orders 130(a) and (b) of Parliament, as well as Article 19(1) of the Constitution, which guarantees the right to a fair hearing.
In addition to challenging the legality of the suspensions, the Minority pointed to inconsistencies in the Speaker’s disciplinary approach. They recalled instances such as the 2021 Speakership election dispute, the E-Levy controversy, and the Supreme Court judge nomination hearings on July 30, 2024, where no punitive measures were taken despite similar tensions.
The Caucus defended the MPs’ actions during the ministerial vetting, emphasizing that Parliament is a space for vigorous debate. They attributed the chaos, which resulted in minor property damage, to frustrations caused by the Majority’s unilateral decision-making and the perceived lack of impartiality by the Appointments Committee Chair.
According to the Minority, the Speaker’s selective application of sanctions undermines his neutrality and erodes confidence in his leadership. They insist that Parliament should uphold democratic principles and not be used as a tool to suppress accountability.
The Minority has urged Speaker Bagbin to ensure fairness and impartiality in his rulings, warning that arbitrary suspensions set a dangerous precedent for Ghana’s parliamentary democracy.
The suspensions, which will last two weeks, come alongside the formation of a seven-member committee tasked with investigating the incident and making recommendations within 10 days.
SOURCE: http://dew360.net
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