Former Majority Leader Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu has criticised Speaker of Parliament Alban Bagbin’s decision to suspend four Members of Parliament (MPs) over the disturbances that marred the ministerial vetting session on Thursday, January 30, 2025.
Speaking in an interview with Joy News on Saturday, Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu questioned the legal basis of the Speaker’s decision, arguing that neither the Standing Orders nor the Constitution grants him the authority to impose such sanctions.
The Speaker is right to have availed himself of the imperative of Order 342 of the new Standing Orders.
The former Majority Leader further accused Speaker Bagbin of exceeding his legal boundaries, suggesting that the decision to suspend the MPs was unlawful.
Now the question to ask is from where the Speaker is deriving his authority. Neither the Standing Orders nor the Constitution grants the Speaker any of such authority...The Speaker has not only jumped the gun but has gone outside the prescription of the law to impose his sanction. His own attitude and conduct is questionable.
Renowned legal practitioner, Marti Kpebu has also backed this stance by further encouraging the four MPs to sue the Speaker Bagbin over their suspension.
We all want them to sue. Either he withdraws the decision, or they should sue. This is a democracy we are building; we are a country of laws. If you want to take such a drastic action, then it must be clearly outlined in the law. When you read those sections, yes, the Speaker has the power to maintain the dignity of the House. But does that extend to outright suspension without a hearing?
Mr. Kpebu affirmed that the Speaker's constitutional backing only addresses dignity in the Parliament, not the authority to met out sanctions to MPs.
The Speaker is quoting sections of the Parliament Act, Act 300, and other regulations regarding maintaining dignity in Parliament. But to completely suspend a member from sitting is difficult to justify legally.
Meanwhile the Speaker has established a special committee to probe into the chaos from the vetting on Thursday. Speaker Bagbin also announced that MPs who would be found guilty in the chaos will be surcharged for repairs of damages