[ad_1]
First Deputy Speaker of Parliament Joseph Osei Wusu said Tamale North MP Alhassan Suhuyini who petitioned the president against fellow Assin Central lawmaker Kennedy Agyapong will appear before the privileges committee to testify.
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 (Alhassan Suhuyini) of the House who petitioned the President, 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.
“Remember, when it comes to the Privileges Committee, it’s 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, whatever recommendations are allowed by the rules that can be made by the committee, decisions are made by the committee. ”
Meanwhile, Mr. Suhuyini 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
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
Source link
