The Minority Caucus in Parliament have strongly rejected the suspension of three New Patriotic Party (NPP) MPs by Speaker Alban Bagbin, describing it as an overreach of parliamentary authority and selective justice.
The Speaker suspended four Members of Parliament (MPs) for two weeks following a disruptive incident during Thursday’s sitting of the Appointments Committee.
The affected MPs include the Chief Whips of both the Majority and Minority caucuses, Frank Annoh-Dompreh and Rockson Nelson Dafeamekpor, alongside Alhassan Sulemana Tampuli and Jerry Ahmed Shaib.
In a statement dated January 31, 2025, the Minority have described Alban Bagbin’s decision as an attack on the democratic principles that underpin legislative process and set a dangerous precedent.
According to the Minority, ” the events that transpired during the vetting of ministerial nominees were borne out of deep-seated frustrations regarding the conduct of proceedings, the disregard for due process, and the Majority’s decision to railroad decisions without a consensus building.’
The Minority further criticized the Speaker for inconsistencies in handling parliamentary misconduct, recalling previous incidents—including the 2021 Speakership election, the E-Levy brawl, and the Supreme Court judge nominations hearing on July 30, 2024—where no punitive measures were taken.
The statement further questioned the Speaker’s decision to suspend the MPs without due process, arguing that it violates Standing Orders 130(a) and (b) of Parliament and Article 19(1) of the Constitution, which guarantees the right to a fair hearing.
Read full statement below
