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The Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA), with the support of some 642 journalists and press freedom supporters, petitioned Speaker of Parliament Alban Bagbin calling for a frank debate by the House on deterioration of the press freedom situation in Ghana in order to make appropriate recommendations. towards a trend reversal.
According to the petition, this request was prompted by the recent verbal attack on Erastus Asare Donkor, a reporter for Luv FM, by Assin Central MP Hon Kennedy Ohene Agyapong, who also called for the reporter to be beaten.
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“Erastus Asare Donkor was invited by the three-member committee to investigate the recent murder of two people during protests in Ejura in the Ashanti region. His invitation by the Committee was apparently due to his extensive coverage of the murder of social media activist Mohammed Ibrahim Anyass and the protests that followed.
“Commenting on Asare Donkor’s reports and subsequent submissions to the Committee, the MP insulted the journalist and demanded that he be beaten,” the petition reads.
Meanwhile, the First Deputy Speaker of Parliament, Mr. Joseph Osei Wusu, said Tamale North MP Alhassan Suhuyini who petitioned the president against his fellow Assin Central lawmaker Kennedy Agyapong will appear before the committee on privileges.
Speaking to reporters in parliament on Thursday, July 23, the Bekwai lawmaker said the case would be heard as if it were a court trying an accused.
“It is a member of the House who petitioned the Speaker, so it is the petitioner who will appear before us. If the applicant decides that he needs someone else to help him pursue his case, why not. Keep in mind that when it comes to the Privileges Committee, it is more or less a trial, so our process is no different from that of the tribunal.
“However you present your case, you will be guided by the house rules, nothing else.
“A committee of parliament is just a committee of parliament, we make recommendations to the House, so yes, under the rules of parliament, any recommendations allowed under the rules can be made by the committee, decisions are taken by the committee. ”
Mr. Suhuyini had said he felt compelled to raise the issues against fellow Assin Central MP Kennedy Agyapong on the House floor because of his background as a journalist.
It comes after President Alban Bagbin referred Mr. Agyapong to Parliament’s Privileges Committee for his remarks against media group journalist Erastus Asare Donkor.
Mr. Agyapong is said to have threatened to attack Mr. Asare Donkor on Friday July 9 “for the journalistic work that the latter carried out during the recent shootings and murders in Ejura” on his television channel.
The Multimedia Group has filed a formal complaint against Mr. Agyapong.
On Wednesday, July 14, Alhassan Suhuyini raised the issue on the floor of the house and asked the President to refer the matter to the Privileges Committee.
He said: “Mr. Speaker, I think that as a former journalist I feel obliged to draw the attention of the House to this conduct of an Honorable colleague of this House who, in my opinion, discredit this House.
“Mr. President, I urge you to exercise your powers under 27 and refer this conduct of the Honorable which is becoming unacceptable, to the Committee on Privileges to verify the veracity of the comments which have been made and recommend sanctions if possible which will have a deterrent effect on other members who might be tempted to act like him.
In response to his request, the Chairman therefore referred Mr. Agyapong to the committee.
He said he could not take a decision on Mr. Agyapong on his remarks against a journalist in Ghana.
That decision of whether or not the conduct resembles an abuse of privilege, he said, is for lawmakers as a House to make.
“As it is, I have to send it to the Privileges Committee. I would like to stress that it is the House that will make the decision, it is not the speaker, it is not another person outside the House.
“It will be your collective wisdom that will come to the conclusion if what is alleged is merely an allegation or is supported by facts and if those facts constitute a contempt of the House and an abuse of a member’s privilege.”
“It is important for me to stress here that the privilege and immunity of freedom of expression apply fully in plenary and in committee, and not when members are outside the proceedings or on the radio and on the radio. television. You do not have the right, this privilege, this immunity to say anything because you are a member of Parliament.
“We are not above the law. This is for good reasons because you represent a large number of people, you should have full immunity to be able to say what people say they want you to say. That’s why you say it here and you’re covered.
“This immunity does not extend to you anywhere else. So glad the committee is looking into this, submits the report. ”
—3news.com
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