Bagbin got it wrong, more MPs should’ve been suspended – Assafuah

The Member of Parliament for Old Tafo, Vincent Ekow Assafuah, has criticised the recent suspensions handed down by the Speaker of Parliament, Alban Bagbin, following the chaotic scenes during a parliamentary sitting.

According to Assafuah, the Speaker’s decision to suspend only four MPs was insufficient and failed to address the full scope of the misconduct that occurred.

Speaking on Channel One TV’s The Big Issue, Assafuah argued that the Speaker missed an opportunity to hold all responsible parties accountable.

He pointed out that several individuals visible in video footage of the incident were equally involved in the chaos but were not sanctioned.

“There are a number of people in the video that should have been suspended. I will cite one example: go back and you will see the son of Asiedu Nketiah. He was at the centre of this mayhem. Why was he not mentioned? Why will the Speaker of Parliament present Parliament as a secondary school where the headmaster can take any decision in the name of sanctifying Parliament? That is not acceptable. The Speaker of Parliament got it wrong,” Assafuah stated.

The MP’s comments come in the wake of the suspension of four MPs—Frank Annoh-Dompreh (Minority Chief Whip), Rockson-Nelson Dafeamekpor (Majority Chief Whip), Alhassan Sulemana Tampuli, and Jerry Ahmed Shaib—following violent clashes during a sitting of the Appointments Committee.

The incident, which occurred on January 30, 2025, involved physical altercations and the destruction of property, leading to widespread condemnation.

He argued that the Speaker’s approach undermines the integrity of Parliament and sets a troubling precedent. “The Speaker’s actions make it seem like Parliament is a secondary school where the headmaster can unilaterally decide who to punish. This is not how a democratic institution should function,” he added.

Source: channel1news