KEY POINTS
- Parliament is investigating four suspended MPs for misconduct.
- The Minority Caucus calls the suspension unfair and politically motivated.
- Public hearings aim to ensure transparency and accountability.
Ghana’s Parliamentary Committee is set to begin public hearings on February 5, 2025, to investigate the misconduct of four suspended MPs during a heated ministerial vetting session.
The MPs—Rockson-Nelson Dafeamekpor, Frank Annoh-Dompreh, Alhassan Tampuli, and Jerry Ahmed Shaib—were suspended following disruptions during the Appointments Committee proceedings.
The four-member committee, chaired by Ho West MP Emmanuel Kwasi Bedzrah, has extended an open invitation to MPs, media personnel, and members of the public to submit relevant evidence, including videos and audio recordings. The goal is to ensure transparency and accountability in parliamentary conduct.
“We have decided to hold a public hearing on all the issues starting Wednesday at 10 a.m. in Parliament House,” Bedzrah announced during a press conference. The committee has provided a WhatsApp contact for submitting evidence.
Suspended MPs face backlash as Minority calls ruling unfair
The Speaker of Parliament suspended the four MPs, citing their involvement in physical altercations and procedural disruptions during the vetting process.
The Minority Caucus adamantly disapproves of the suspension since they consider it an effort by the administration to shut down dissenting voices.
Minority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin described the ruling as an “unfair and targeted action” against those who challenged the ministerial nominees.
According to Graphic Online, he argued that the decision undermines parliamentary democracy, and the Minority plans to challenge it through legal and constitutional means.
The vetting session was expected to be routine, but it quickly turned chaotic due to disagreements over the qualifications and credibility of some nominees. The disruptions prompted the Speaker to refer the matter to a disciplinary committee.
Public and political reactions to the investigations
People across Ghana are debating extensively about both the suspensions and the upcoming inquiry following the public hearings. Public opinions differ about whether the Speaker made the decisions because of legislative respect or political reasons.
The finance minister Mthuli Ncube expressed that these hearings will create essential guidelines to preserve parliamentary order and professionalism. Critics claim that disciplinary measures should exist for every member of Majority and Minority groups equally.
As the public hearings commence, attention will be on the committee’s findings and whether the suspended MPs will face further disciplinary action. The outcome could reshape parliamentary conduct and influence future vetting sessions.
