Executive Director of Parliamentary Network Africa, Sammy Obeng, has welcomed the decision by Speaker of Parliament, Alban Bagbin, to suspend some Members of Parliament over recent chaotic scenes during a sitting of the Appointments Committee.
Speaking during an interview with 3FM’s Beatrice Adu, his comments came after civil society organizations (CSOs) issued a statement supporting the Speaker’s move to hold lawmakers accountable for their actions during the disturbances, which led to the destruction of property in the vetting room.
According to the CSOs, maintaining order in Parliament is critical to preserving its integrity. They further called for severe sanctions against those found culpable, arguing that such measures will deter future misconduct and restore public confidence in the legislative body.
Reacting to the statement, Mr. Sammy Obeng clarified that the focus is not on the legality of the Speaker’s actions but rather on ensuring responsible behavior among lawmakers.
“The statement is not to go into the legality of whether the Speaker of Parliament can suspend members or not. For us, this is to say that Mr. Speaker, in the past, you didn’t act as you were supposed to, but since you have now, we are looking forward to seeing more,” he remarked in the interview.
He noted that Ghanaians have observed repeated instances of misconduct in Parliament and expect their representatives to be more accountable.
“The people of Ghana have realized that they have been misbehaving, so instead of focusing on procedures, they should look at ways to appease us,” he added.
Sammy Obeng’s comments highlight growing public concern over parliamentary discipline, reinforcing calls for reforms that prioritize accountability over procedural technicalities.
With the Speaker’s recent action drawing mixed reactions, the debate on how best to enforce discipline while respecting parliamentary rules remains ongoing.
However, CSOs insist that ensuring responsible behavior among lawmakers should take precedence to safeguard the dignity of Parliament.
By: Elsie Nana Adjoa Aidoo
Source:
3news.com
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