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In a recent development, the Speaker of Parliament, Alban Bagbin, has addressed the issue of the Minority caucus boycotting Parliamentary proceedings without prior official communication. He stated that this action goes against the Standing Orders of the house.
As per the Standing Orders of Parliament, if a Member of Parliament is absent for 15 sittings without permission from the Speaker and fails to provide a valid explanation, they must vacate their seat. Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, the Member of Parliament for North Tongu, raised concerns about the absence of Minority representation in the Votes and Proceedings of Parliament. In response, the Speaker ruled that such a gesture is unjustifiable.
The Speaker highlighted some MPs were marked as absent without permission, raising questions about the definitions of “walk-out” and “boycott.” He stated, “Some MPs have been recorded as absent without permission, and concerns Speaker highlighted some MPs were raised about the definition of walk-out and boycott. The deputy Minority Whip has raised a significant issue, pointing out that some members were not present yesterday yet have been recorded as present. This is an indictment on the officers of Parliament.”
The Speaker further emphasized the importance of attendance and referred to Article 97 (1C) as the guiding principle for members’ presence in the house. He clarified that attending or choosing not to attend is a personal decision. Still, when a member refuses to attend, depending on their actions, they may be marked as absent or absent with permission.
He stated, “Regarding attendance, Article 97 (1C) is very clear and guides the attendance of the house. Members can choose to attend or not. When you choose not to attend, your actions determine whether you are marked absent or absent with permission. The burden now lies on the group to provide evidence that I, as the Speaker, have granted you written permission to be absent, not just verbally. You show that whenever your colleague attends court proceedings, you will stand in solidarity and be absent, allowing the official report to reflect that.
It is important to note that on July 11, the Minority in that once again boycotted business activities to support the ongoing trial of James Gyakye Quayson, the Member of Parliament for Assin North.
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Source: Omanghana.com
