THE Minority caucus in Parliament yesterday walked out of the House in protest against a comment by Felix Twumasi-Appiah (NDC-Sene) over a 5,000-dollar bribery allegation scandal against some Members of Parliament (MPs) in the sale of Ghana Telecom to Vodafone.
This was during the debate on the Economic Governance and Poverty Reduction Agreement between the government and International Development Association for 300 million dollars for General Budget Support.
It all started when Dominic Nitiwul (NPP-Bimbilla), contributing to the debate, said he hoped that the amount would not be misapplied and that it would be used for the purpose intended when it was approved.
To this, Mr Twumasi-Appiah replied that if what he heard on the radio by P.C. Appiah Ofori (NPP-Asikumah/Odoben/Brakwa that some MPs had received 5,000 dollars for endorsing the Vodafone agreement was true, then there had been misapplication in the past.
Dr Anthony Osei-Akoto (NPP-Suame) on a point of order quoting from the standing orders rejected the claim and urged Mr Twumasi-Appiah to withdraw the statement once he had no evidence to substantiate the claim.
Ambrose Dery (NPP-Lawra Nandom) Deputy Minority Leader said the context in which Mr Appiah Ofori made reference to a past occurrence, Mr Appiah-Twumasi specifically referred to members of the Minority side explaining that it was an indictment on the caucus that had some new MPs.
The caucus then walked out of the chamber, just as the Speaker, Joyce Bamford-Addo had asked Mr Twumasi-Appiah to withdraw his remark.
Meanwhile, the Speaker has referred the comments made on the floor of the House by Mr Twumasi-Appiah and the allegation by Mr Appiah-Ofori to the privileges committee for determination and report.
This followed the Majority Leader, Alban Bagbin’s call for the matter be referred to the committee in accordance with the Standing Order of House.
Mr Bagbin said he had heard the allegation over the radio as well as an indication by Isaac Asiamah (NPP-Atwima Mponua) to raise it on the floor of the house for determination.
Mr Bagbin said the Privileges Committee should expeditiously deal with the matter to put it to rest so that members would not continue to refer it to provoke an endless debate in the house.
Professor Mike Quaye (NPP-Dome Kwabenya), Second Deputy Speaker, though did not walk out, expressed the need for MPs to apprise themselves of the rules of the house to avoid making unsubstantiated comments.
Later at a press, conference following the walk-out the Minority Caucus appealed to the Privileges Committee to expedite action on the allegation.
Minority Leader, Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu said since the Speaker had referred the matter to the Privilege Committee in view of Mr Twumasi-Appiah’s conduct, “we appeal to the Chairman of the Committee to expedite action on the referral and deal with it as soon as possible”.
He said the MP for Sene alleged on the floor of Parliament that Members of Parliament from the Minority side had misapplied public funds and in particular, contended that the Minority MPs had taken 5,000 dollars per head in order to vote in favour of the Vodafone transaction.
He said standing Orders 93(2), 28 and 30 provided for the use of proper language and making statement of fact during debate.
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu said: “Indeed, we are aware of the baseless allegations of receipt of 5,000 dollars by individual MPs who voted for the approval of the Vodafone agreement made by P.C. Appiah-Ofori against some members of this house in some section of the media.
“We, in the Minority are purposed to treat these allegations appropriately after due consultations regarding due process coming from a person like P.C. Appiah-Ofori who is on record as saying that his wife has gonorrhea”.
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu said “however, when a member such as Honourable Twumasi-Appiah re-echoed this on the floor of Parliament, then it is a matter of great concern especially given his reluctance to withdraw the statement after persistent directive by the Speaker to do so”.
The Minority Leader said until the matter was cleared by the Privileges Committee, “we, in the Minority feel constrained to state that we find it rather difficult to participate in further decision making and voting on the floor of the house”.
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu said in as much as government business must go on, “we believe the esteem, dignity and integrity of Parliament must be preserved”.
“Until the matter is brought to a closure, we in the Minority Caucus are unable to participate in any voting or decision making in Parliament,” he stated.
This was during the debate on the Economic Governance and Poverty Reduction Agreement between the government and International Development Association for 300 million dollars for General Budget Support.
It all started when Dominic Nitiwul (NPP-Bimbilla), contributing to the debate, said he hoped that the amount would not be misapplied and that it would be used for the purpose intended when it was approved.
To this, Mr Twumasi-Appiah replied that if what he heard on the radio by P.C. Appiah Ofori (NPP-Asikumah/Odoben/Brakwa that some MPs had received 5,000 dollars for endorsing the Vodafone agreement was true, then there had been misapplication in the past.
Dr Anthony Osei-Akoto (NPP-Suame) on a point of order quoting from the standing orders rejected the claim and urged Mr Twumasi-Appiah to withdraw the statement once he had no evidence to substantiate the claim.
Ambrose Dery (NPP-Lawra Nandom) Deputy Minority Leader said the context in which Mr Appiah Ofori made reference to a past occurrence, Mr Appiah-Twumasi specifically referred to members of the Minority side explaining that it was an indictment on the caucus that had some new MPs.
The caucus then walked out of the chamber, just as the Speaker, Joyce Bamford-Addo had asked Mr Twumasi-Appiah to withdraw his remark.
Meanwhile, the Speaker has referred the comments made on the floor of the House by Mr Twumasi-Appiah and the allegation by Mr Appiah-Ofori to the privileges committee for determination and report.
This followed the Majority Leader, Alban Bagbin’s call for the matter be referred to the committee in accordance with the Standing Order of House.
Mr Bagbin said he had heard the allegation over the radio as well as an indication by Isaac Asiamah (NPP-Atwima Mponua) to raise it on the floor of the house for determination.
Mr Bagbin said the Privileges Committee should expeditiously deal with the matter to put it to rest so that members would not continue to refer it to provoke an endless debate in the house.
Professor Mike Quaye (NPP-Dome Kwabenya), Second Deputy Speaker, though did not walk out, expressed the need for MPs to apprise themselves of the rules of the house to avoid making unsubstantiated comments.
Later at a press, conference following the walk-out the Minority Caucus appealed to the Privileges Committee to expedite action on the allegation.
Minority Leader, Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu said since the Speaker had referred the matter to the Privilege Committee in view of Mr Twumasi-Appiah’s conduct, “we appeal to the Chairman of the Committee to expedite action on the referral and deal with it as soon as possible”.
He said the MP for Sene alleged on the floor of Parliament that Members of Parliament from the Minority side had misapplied public funds and in particular, contended that the Minority MPs had taken 5,000 dollars per head in order to vote in favour of the Vodafone transaction.
He said standing Orders 93(2), 28 and 30 provided for the use of proper language and making statement of fact during debate.
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu said: “Indeed, we are aware of the baseless allegations of receipt of 5,000 dollars by individual MPs who voted for the approval of the Vodafone agreement made by P.C. Appiah-Ofori against some members of this house in some section of the media.
“We, in the Minority are purposed to treat these allegations appropriately after due consultations regarding due process coming from a person like P.C. Appiah-Ofori who is on record as saying that his wife has gonorrhea”.
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu said “however, when a member such as Honourable Twumasi-Appiah re-echoed this on the floor of Parliament, then it is a matter of great concern especially given his reluctance to withdraw the statement after persistent directive by the Speaker to do so”.
The Minority Leader said until the matter was cleared by the Privileges Committee, “we, in the Minority feel constrained to state that we find it rather difficult to participate in further decision making and voting on the floor of the house”.
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu said in as much as government business must go on, “we believe the esteem, dignity and integrity of Parliament must be preserved”.
“Until the matter is brought to a closure, we in the Minority Caucus are unable to participate in any voting or decision making in Parliament,” he stated.
