Reprimanding Ken Agyapong A Ruse To Protect Future ‘Recalcitrant’ MPs  – Odekro

Civil Society Organisation, Odekro is not happy with Parliament's decision to merely reprimand Assin Central Member of Parliament, Kennedy Agyapong for his contemptuous comments against the House.

The Speaker of Parliament on Thursday reprimanded Mr. Agyapong who was found in contempt of Parliament.

This was after he apologized to the House for insulting Parliament.

The MP reportedly described the House as useless for having Osei Kyei Mensah-Bonsu as its Majority leader on Accra-based Net2 TV in June 2018.

The group, in a statement, indicated that the decision to merely admonish the MP sets a bad precedent for similar cases that might emerge in future.

“Odekro is shocked by the astounding powerlessness of Parliament to gravely sanction Ken Ohene Agyapong (MP, Assin Central), a serial violator of the 1992 Constitution of Ghana, Standing Orders of the House and MPs Code of Conduct, for his recent contemptuous description of Parliament.”

“It is our considered view that the sanction approved by Parliament by the House against the contemnor in the form of a mere admonition, provides a passage of escape for future recalcitrant MPs. More disturbing is its potential to give credibility to the distasteful remarks the contemnor made against the august House,” the statement added.

Parliament met on Thursday, to among other things vote on the appropriate sanctions for Kennedy Agyapong after he was found guilty of contempt of Parliament by the Privileges Committee.

The committee report recommended a reprimand or suspension of Kennedy Agyapong for the rest of the session of Parliament.

The Speaker of Parliament, Prof. Mike Oquaye rebuked Kennedy Agyapong after the Members of Parliament voted to have him reprimanded instead of suspended.

Kennedy Agyapong admitted that he erred in June 2018 when he made the utterances concerning the Majority leader.

“I have apologised to the Majority leader. I have; I am a human being… he is my best friend,” the MP told the press at the time.

Muntaka Mubarak was the MP who dragged the Assin Central MP before the Privileges Committee.

He has another impending case against Kennedy Agyapon in which he accused the controversial MP of inciting violence against the slain Tiger Eye PI investigative journalist, Ahmed Suale.

The two MPs almost traded blows on the Floor of Parliament over the issue.

Kennedy Agyapong had previously described Muntaka Mubarak as dumb for referring him to Parliament's Privileges Committee.

–citinewsroom