Speaker of Parliament, Alban Bagbin, has cautioned the Members of Parliament that they are not above the law.
Speaker Alban Bagbin speaking on the recent threat allegations by the Assin Central MP, Kennedy Agyapong to journalist, Eratus Donkor, he averred that their [MPs] privileges and immunity do not apply outside plenary and committee sessions.
“It is important for me to emphasize here that the privilege and immunity of free speech applies in full force in plenary session and committee sessions, not when members are outside debating issues or on radio and TV. You don’t have that right,;that privilege, that immunity to just say anything because you are a Member of Parliament.
“We are not above the law. It is for good reasons because you represent a large number of people,;you should be given the full immunity to be able to say what the people say they want you to say. That is why you say it here and you are covered. That immunity doesn’t extend to you in anywhere else. So, please the committee should go into the matter, submit the report.”
Alban Bagbin
The Speaker of Parliament also said he cannot take a decision on Assin Central’s Lawmaker, Kennedy Agyapong, over his utterances against a journalist in Ghana.
Decision on conduct lies with the House
That decision to determine whether or not the conduct smacks of abuse of privileges,;Speaker Alban Bagbin said rests with the lawmakers as a House to take. He said these while referring Mr. Agyapong to the Privileges Committee of Parliament for his utterances against a journalist, Erastus Asare Donkor.
“I want to emphasize that it is the House that will take the decision,;it is not the speaker, it is not any other person apart from the House.
“That will be your collective wisdom that come to the conclusion whether what it is alleged or it’s just a mere allegation or is supported by facts and whether those facts constitute contempt of the House and abuse of a privilege of members.”
Alban Bagbin
Also, the Tamale North Lawmaker,;Alhassan Suhuyini, said he felt obliged to raise the issues against his colleague Member of Parliament for Assin Central Kennedy Agyapong on the floor of the House because of his background as a journalist.
Alhassan Suhuyini who raised the issue on the floor of the house,;asked the Speaker to refer the matter to the Privileges Committee.
“Mr. Speaker, I think that as a former journalist,;I feel obliged to draw the House’s attention to this conduct of an Honorable colleague of this house, which in my view, brings this house into disrepute.”
Alban Bagbin
Based on that, Speaker of Parliament, Alban Bagbin, has referred Assin Central legislator,;Kennedy Agyapong, to the Privileges Committee over alleged threats.
Multimedia Group files law suit
Meanwhile the media organization, Multimedia Group has also filed a law suit against Kennedy Agyapong. This comes on the back of the MP calling for a reporter with Joy News, Erastus Asare Donkor, to be beaten after raining insults on him on a television show on his Net 2 TV last Friday.
The threats by Kennedy Agyapong on the reporter is due to the attestation he [Eratus] gave during the probe by the Ejura three-member committee.
