MPs pushing for Kennedy Agyapong to face Privileges Committee

Discussions are ongoing among some Members of Parliament (MPs) to summon Assin North MP before Parliament's Privileges Committee over his comments about the Electoral Commission (EC) Chair.

The New Patriotic Party (NPP) MP Kennedy Agyapong has said Mrs Charlotte Osei got her current position by sleeping with power brokers.

His comment has received a lot of condemnations from many individuals, organisations, civil society and women groups.

The Ghana Bar Association (GBA) added its voice in condemning the MP for saying the comment against Mrs Osei is “distasteful, offensive, abusive and derogatory not only to Mrs Osei, but to women in general.”

The latest person to add his voice is Emmanuel Kwasi Bedzrah, a member of the Committee on Governance Assurances who said "I heard it and I was so enraged, I wish I met him in parliament today and ask him whether he made those comments."

"If I were a member of the NPP, he would have been the first person we would ask to leave Parliament," he added.

According to him, the backbenchers in Parliament which include some members of the NPP are lobbying to summon Mr Agyapong before the Privileges Committee for his distasteful comments.

"As MP’s we are supposed to be above making such statements even though we are in the political season, it is not right to denigrate someone when we are promoting women to assume positions of trust and authority and you denigrate her to this position?" he quizzed.

Mr Bedzrah said MPs must be seen as role models because they "are not street boys, we are not people who should go and speak anyhow."

He was emphatic he will be one of those MP's who would want to appear before the Committee to explain his action and also to see Mr Agyapong reprimanded since his "behavior is unbecoming of an MP."

Meanwhile, leadership of the NPP is silent on the sexually offensive comments by Mr Agyapong.

Joy News has learned that NPP MPs discussed the issue extensively Wednesday at a caucus meeting, but they remain tight-lipped on the matter.

NPP MP for Asuogyaman constituency, Kofi Osei Ameyaw, however thinks any condemnation ahead of a possible evidence from Mr Agyapong is premature.

Story by Ghana | Myjoyonline.com | Abubakar Ibrahim | Email: [email protected]