Members of Parliament (MPs) have challenged Speaker Alban Bagbin’s warning to circulate names of legislators who have tested positive for the COVID-19 virus.
Their agitation follows a statement read on the Speaker’s behalf by the first deputy Speaker, Joseph Osei Owusu after he threatened to take action against people who tested positive but still come into the Chamber.
Mr. Bagbin indicated that should the MPs remain adamant to “withdraw from the precinct of Parliament” by next week, he will be forced to name them for everyone to know their Covid-19 status.
According to some Parliamentarians, the Speaker does not have the right to publish the confidential medical reports of MPs.
The Member of Parliament for South Dayi, Rockson Dafeamekpor indicated that in spite of the Speaker having the test result of all legislators, it will be indiscreet for the Speaker to openly declare MPs who have tested positive for the virus.
“The leadership has the list so they know those who are positive and those who are negative but I am not in favor [of publishing the names] because these are medical matters and must be confidential”.
Corroborating his stance, MP for Sekondi, Andrew Egyapa Mercer also harped on the need for Mr. Bagbin to use other means rather than publication to get the MPs to comply.
“I don’t have the result for the second testing that we have done in Parliament because I guess that the protocol with respect to the test that we do in Parliament is that, only those who test positive are contacted and they proceed to take the necessary steps relating to isolating and subsequent treatment if need be”.
Meanwhile, the Africa Center for Parliamentary Affairs (ACEPA) has called for tough sanctions against the Members of Parliament who have tested positive for COVID-19 but are reporting to the House.
Executive Director of ACEPA, Dr. Rashid Draman, in an interview, said the MPs, besides being punished, should also have their names published.
“This is a public health emergency, and I’m sure that we have laws in this country about how to deal with a situation such as this one. Anybody who has COVID-19 and is moving around simply means that the person is spreading death. This is not very honorable behaviour we’re seeing being exhibited by the Members of Parliament. I seriously support publishing the names and serious sanctions and those sanctions must be consistent with what our public health rules say in terms of dealing with people who flout the protocols”.
Rashid Draman
Additionally, he intimated the MPs are subject to the laws set to punish people who flout the COVID-19 protocols hence must be made to face the law.
It is reported that, more than 40 Members of Parliament tested positive for the virus when they were screened last week.
The First Deputy Speaker of Parliament, Joseph Osei Owusu on Wednesday, February 3, 2021, disclosed that some Members of Parliament (MPs) who have tested positive for the virus are still attending to the business of the House.
