Bodi Member of Parliament (MP), Samson Ahi, has called for the enforcement of the Privileges Committee’s mandate to ensure parliamentary discipline and accountability.
He explained that the committee is responsible for handling cases of misconduct within Parliament and should be allowed to function effectively.
“You know, we have the Privileges Committee to be responsible for such matters. If you feel strongly that the conduct of a member has disrupted parliamentary proceedings, you can complain on the floor.
“And if the Speaker feels strongly that there is cause for investigation, the Speaker will refer the matter to the Privileges Committee, and the Privileges Committee is clothed with all the powers to prefer sanctions to affected members,” Mr Ahi stated.
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His comment follows chaotic events that transpired during the Appointments Committee’s sitting during the vetting of President Mahama’s ministerial nominees.
The clash between the majority and minority sides of the House during the vetting of ministerial nominees led to the destruction of public property, prompting the formation of the investigative committee by the Speaker, Alban Bagbin.
However, Mr Ahi believes that the Privileges Committee should be the appropriate committee to probe the chaos.
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He further noted that the absence of an active Privileges Committee has led to the formation of an alternative committee to investigate recent parliamentary disruptions. However, he stressed that if a Privileges Committee were in place, all matters of parliamentary misconduct should be directed there.
“I think we should enforce this [Privileges Committee] and allow it to work effectively. I guess this committee [current committee probing the chaos] has been formed because, as we speak, we don’t have a Privileges Committee in place. But if you have a committee in place, you should refer the matter to the Privileges Committee because they have the powers to prescribe sanctions, and punishment to members,” he added.
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