<<Print>>

Three Members of Parliament have been referred to the Privileges Committee for their continuous absence from Parliament.

Making the referral to the Committee, the Speaker of the 8th Parliament, Rt. Hon. Alban Sumana Bagbin said per article 97 ( 1 ) of the constitution, he, the Speaker could refer such matter to the Privileges Committee if a member of Parliament draws his attention on the floor of Parliament to a member of Parliament who has been absent from Parliament for 15 days without permission or if he receives a petition from a person or persons outside Parliament on the absence of a member of Parliament from Parliament for 15 sitting days without the prior permission of the Speaker.

He directed the Committee to submit a report on the matter within two weeks when the House reconvenes from recess in May 2022.

Per Article 97(1)(c) of the 1992 Constitution, a Member of Parliament shall vacate his seat “if he is absent, without the permission in writing of the Speaker, and he is unable to offer a reasonable explanation to the Parliamentary Committee on Privileges from fifteen sittings of a meeting of Parliament during any period that Parliament has been summoned to meet and continues to meet.”

The three are: the MP for the Dome/Kwabenya constituency, Sarah Adwoa Safo; Assin Central MP, Kennedy Agyapong and Ayawaso Central MP, Henry Quartey.

However, the Majority Chief Whip Hon. Annor Dompreh and the Minority Leader Haruna Iddrisu served notice that they will challenge the decision of the Speaker by a motion because they were of the view that it was wrong for the Speaker to make the referral to the Privileges Committee of Parliament without a member raising the issue of absenteeism of the three affected MPs on the floor of Parliament.

Parliament is expected to rise today for a six-week recess