Defense Committee goes beyond one person – Aning calls for Ken Agyapong’s removal

Professor Kwesi Aning of the Kofi Annan International Peacekeeping Training Center

Professor Kwesi Aning of the Kofi Annan International Peacekeeping Training Center (KAIPTC) said the work of parliamentary committees goes beyond an individual.

He said this in response to calls for Assin Central MP Kennedy Agypong to be removed from his post as Chairman of the Defense and Home Committee following his verbal attacks on journalists in Ghana, during of a speech during Good Evening Ghana Thursday July 22.

Dozens of Ghanaians sign a petition for Mr. Agyapong’s impeachment.

He was referred to the Parliamentary Privileges Committee for his remarks against a journalist from the Multimedia Group, Erastus Asare Donkor. Mr. Agyapong reportedly threatened to attack Mr. Asare Donkor on Friday July 9 “for his journalistic work.” that the latter committed during the recent shootings and killings in Ejura ”on his television channel.

The Multimedia Group has filed a formal complaint against Mr. Agyapong.

On Wednesday, July 14, Tamale North MP Alhassan Suhuyini raised the issue on the floor of the house and asked the chair 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 to recommend sanctions if possible which will have a deterrent effect on other members who might be tempted to act like him.

Professor Aning said: “The committee goes beyond an individual, but its functions primarily as an oversight committee are to ensure that it becomes a vital partner both for the police administration and for the government. police council.

“The Police Board and the Police Administration have both let down the Ghana Police Service and the Ghanaian people.

“Because their functions and roles have been limited, for the police council to be a promotion and dismissal council and for the defense and interior committee to be a committee that requires little accountability. on the part of the police department, does not question the police department. , does not ask for a document.