Speaker Bagbin kicks out Sefwi-Wiawso MP from Chamber over disrespect

Speaker of Parliament, Rt. Hon. Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin has ordered the Marshall of Ghana’s Parliament to walk out the Member of Parliament for Sefwi-Wiawso, Dr Kwaku Afriyie, from the Chamber of the House.

This comes after the NPP MP challenged the authority of the Speaker to allow preliminary comments on the referral of some nominees to the Supreme Court to the Appointments Committee.

During proceedings on Monday, July 22, 2024, the MP was held in contempt of the chair for making comments that the Speaker deemed rude after the Deputy Minority Leader, Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah raised preliminary issues with the limited time frame for the consideration of the nominees.

The Speaker however ruled him out of order. Following that, Dr. Kwaku Afriyie expressed dissatisfaction with some comments from the Speaker on the referral.

“With due respect to your chair, these preliminary remarks you’re making about the judiciary, and I believe that as a representative of the good people of Sefwi Wiawso, it doesn’t lie in your mouth to remind us of the things that you said,” the Sefwi-Wiawso MP said.

The Speaker did not tolerate this challenge when it appeared that Dr. Afriyie made further comments off the record, which the Speaker heard.

Consequently, Speaker Bagbin ordered the Sefwi-Wiawso MP to vacate the chamber.

“Marshal, take him out of the House. I will not entertain such disrespect,” he ordered.