The somber act was a show of solidarity and an expression of their displeasure with the decision.

They chanted patriotic songs, demanding the reversal of Speaker Alban Bagbin’s “unilateral” decision.

On Friday, Speaker Bagbin suspended South Dayi MP and Majority Chief Whip Rockson-Nelson Dafeamekpor, Frank Annoh-Dompreh (Minority Chief Whip), Alhassan Sulemana Tampuli (Gushegu MP), and Jerry Ahmed Shaib (Weija-Gbawe MP).

The two-week suspension follows the chaotic incident that marred the Appointments Committee session on Thursday, January 30.

Meanwhile, heightened security has been put in place in Parliament to prevent the suspended MPs from entering the chamber.

As the House prepares for proceedings, there is a heavy police presence with barricades mounted at various sections of Parliament.

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Also, the Effutu MP has appealed to Speaker Bagbin to dissolve the bipartisan committee tasked to probe the incident.

In a letter, Mr Afenyo-Markin said his request is aimed at restoring procedural integrity and upholding the constitutional principles of fairness and justice.

“The suspension of the four MPs be reversed immediately, as it lacks the required procedural and legal foundation. The ad-hoc Committee constituted under Orders 5 and 20(4) be dissolved immediately.”

“The Committee on Privileges and Immunities be urgently constituted in accordance with the Standing Orders and the matter be referred to this Committee for a full and proper investigation and subsequent action and Parliament formally reaffirms its commitment to procedural fairness to avoid setting a precedent that undermines due process,” the letter read in parts.

The Minority Leader has further proposed to Speaker Bagbin to agree to a meeting between the two caucuses to address the issue.

“I humbly request a formal meeting with you at your earliest convenience, preferably before Tuesday, 4th February 2025, to discuss these grave concerns, explore remedial actions, and chart a dignified path forward,” the letter added.

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Read the full petition below:

In a jointly signed statement, the groups pledged their support for the Speaker’s decision to investigate the chaos and hold those responsible accountable.

“We believe the Speaker’s prompt and decisive action to launch an investigation into the incident and hold those responsible accountable is an essential step in preserving the dignity and integrity of Parliament. Such actions will help restore discipline and ensure that parliamentary proceedings are conducted with the decorum expected of elected representatives,” the statement read in parts.

The CSOs also expressed satisfaction with the Speaker’s enforcement of Standing Orders, which they believe will help rebuild public confidence in Parliament.

“We also acknowledge the Speaker’s commitment to enforcing the Standing Orders of Parliament. Strict adherence to these rules is a vital measure to halt the growing decline in parliamentary discipline, rebuild public trust in democracy, and safeguard the reputation of Ghana’s Parliament,” the statement added.

The CSOs further called for severe sanctions for those found culpable in the incident, emphasising that these measures are necessary to deter future misconduct.

“To serve as a deterrent and reinforce the principle that no one is above the law, we recommend imposing more severe punishments on those found culpable, along with surcharges to cover the damages they have caused,” the statement concluded.

Some legal experts have opposed the decision, arguing that the Speaker no authority to suspend the MPs.

Meanwhile, four MPs are currently serving a two-week suspension as a result of the chaotic incident.

The affected MPs are Rockson Nelson Dafeamekpor (Majority Chief Whip), Frank Annoh-Dompreh (Minority Chief Whip), Alhassan Sulemana Tampuli (Gushegu MP), and Jerry Ahmed Shaib (Weija-Gbawe MP).

Also, Speaker Bagbin has instituted a bipartisan committee to probe and submit its report within 10 days.

The New Patriotic Party(NPP) has since directed its MPs to disregard the suspension and return to work, describing it as illegal and unconstitutional.

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Click here to read the full statement:

According to her, there were many actors involved, and she finds it difficult to understand why only four MPs were suspended.

“There were many actors in the chaos, so why only the four? Off the top of my head, I saw Asiedu Nketia’s son, Okyere Baafi, Gakpey, among others,” she stated.

The affected MPs are Rockson Nelson Dafeamekpor (Majority Chief Whip), Frank Annoh-Dompreh (Minority Chief Whip), Alhassan Sulemana Tampuli (Gushegu MP), and Jerry Ahmed Shaib (Weija-Gbawe MP).

They have been suspended for two weeks, pending investigations into the incident.

In an interview on Adom FM’s Dwaso Nsem, the Asokwa MP acknowledged that the chaos was unfortunate but charged Speaker Bagbin to reflect on his actions.

“We find it hard to accept the suspension because, mostly, if people are first-time offenders, per order 130, the number of suspension days starts from 4, then 8,” she explained.

“So, what informed the Speaker’s decision? We want to understand the issues because he has no authority to suspend the MPs.”

“If the incident had been investigated, we would have had no issues, but there has been nothing like that. There is no privileges committee, and he single-handedly set up a committee without engaging the leadership. So, we would be happy if he reflects or gives us reasons for his action,” she noted.

Meanwhile, the lawmaker added that the incident calls for a lot of review in parliamentary works and procedures.

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The four affected MPs are Rockson Nelson Dafeamekpor (South Dayi), Frank Annoh-Dompreh(Nsawam-Adoagyiri) Alhassan Tampuli(Gushegu) and Jerry Ahmed Shaib(Weija-Gbawe).

However, Mr. Acheampong has stated that Yagba-Kubori MP, Mustapha Ussif and New Juaben South MP, Michael Okyere Baafi should have been suspended too.

The MP has said he was surprised they weren’t part.

“If you watch the video, OKyere Baafi was also pushing the table and Mustapha Ussif also lifted his chair and drop it on the table.

“I don’t know which video Speaker watched that he did not see the action of these two and did not add them to the suspension,” he said.

Tables and microphones were destroyed when tempers flared on Thursday night.

Speaker Bagbin on Friday while announcing the MPs’ two weeks suspension condemned the conduct, stating it has brought the image of the House into disrepute.

Speaking on Adom FM Midday News on Saturday,  Mr. Acheampong noted thay the continuous brawl among Members of Parliament in the House is disgraceful and needs to be condemned.

‘’You see, the chaos that keep occurring in Parliament, I feel ashamed when I go to my constituency or at some high profile meeting and they address me as honourable, because the behaviour of some of us do not warrant us to be called such,” he said.

He added that the suspension is good and will serve as a guide and deterrent going forward.
‘’I urged my colleagues who have been suspended to accept it in good fate and also we those remaining to take lesson from it so that, in case we don’t agree to something, we will follow the right channel to address our grievances and not engage in unnecessary fisticuff,” he admonished.

When asked by the news anchor Nana Addai Mununkum if he will write to the  Speaker to take action against the two MPs, he replied, ‘’ I cannot disclose that because even if I will do that, I don’t have to tell you because they may be listening and take some action I may not know.”

Speaker Alban Bagbin has taken a definitive stand against breaches of decorum, emphasising that such conduct is unacceptable in a legislative environment meant to uphold democracy and order.

The Incident

On Thursday, during the vetting of ministerial nominees, a conflict erupted that led to physical altercations among MPs.

Reports indicate that the disorder escalated to the point where tables and microphones were damaged, and some MPs nearly engaged in a fistfight.

Speaker Bagbin condemned the behaviour, labelling the incident as an embarrassment not just to Parliament but also to the country.

The suspended MPs are:

• Rockson Nelson Dafeamekpor (Majority Whip)
• Frank Annoh-Dompreh (Minority Whip)
• Alhassan Sulemana Tampuli
• Jerry Ahmed Shaib

Speaker Bagbin’s Response

In response to the chaos, Speaker Bagbin established a committee to investigate the circumstances surrounding the uproar.

He directed the Parliamentary Marshal to restrict the access of these MPs to the chamber during the suspension period, underscoring the seriousness with which Parliament views such disruptions.

In his statements, Bagbin conveyed disappointment about the conduct of the MPs, stressing that it tarnished the reputation of the legislative body.

By taking swift action, the Speaker aims to restore discipline and mitigate the likelihood of future incidents.

Bagbin warned MPs that any repeated occurrences could result in even stricter consequences, highlighting the need for respect and civility within parliamentary proceedings.

Impacts on Parliamentary Proceedings 

The implications of this suspension extend beyond the immediate actions against the four MPs. It raises critical questions about the current state of Ghana’s political climate and the functioning of its parliament.

With the Appointments Committee already under scrutiny, a renewed focus on maintaining order will be necessary to ensure smooth sessions in the future.

Moreover, the heated environment portrayed by the recent incident could hinder bipartisan efforts and collaborative governance.

Effective dialogue is essential in legislative processes; therefore, establishing trust and mutual respect among MPs should now be a priority to prevent further clashes.

Public Reactions 

As with any high-profile incident involving public officials, reactions from the public and various stakeholders vary.

Some citizens have applauded Speaker Bagbin’s decisive actions, viewing them as a necessary step towards upholding parliamentary integrity.

Conversely, others argue that such measures might be politically motivated or insufficient in addressing deeper systemic issues within Ghana’s political parties.

Conclusion: A Call for Better Conduct 

The recent chaos in Ghana’s Parliament underscores the importance of decorum and respect within legislative bodies.

By suspending the offending MPs, Speaker Alban Bagbin has not only sent a strong message about the standards expected of all parliamentarians but has also initiated a reflection on the broader challenges facing political discourse in the country.

Moving forward, both MPs and citizens must advocate for a more respectful and constructive environment conducive to productive governance.

In these times of political anxiety, Parliament’s role as a stabilizing force must be prioritized to maintain public trust and ensure effective representation.

Speaking on Newsfile on JoyNews, he acknowledged that the Speaker acted within Order 342 of the new Standing Orders when he referred the suspected misconduct of MPs at the Appointments Committee to the Committee on Privileges and Immunities. However, he insisted that for the Speaker to suspend the MPs for two weeks was beyond his legal authority.

“The Speaker is right to have availed himself of the imperative of Order 342 of the new Standing Orders,” which allows referring matters of privilege to the Committee of Privileges and Immunities.

However, he questioned the Speaker’s directive for the immediate suspension of four MPs involved in the chaos, stating, “Now the question to ask is from where the Speaker is deriving his authority. Neither the Standing Orders nor the Constitution grants the Speaker any of such authority.”

He explained that Order 35 permits the person presiding to order a member to withdraw from Parliament for disorderly conduct, but this withdrawal lasts only for the remainder of the day’s sitting, not for an extended period like two weeks.

He emphasised that if an incident occurs in the plenary, “the Speaker has the authority to cause the withdrawal of that person from the presence of Parliament,” but this should not exceed 24 hours.

Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu also noted that since the incident occurred before a committee, the appropriate action should have been taken by the committee’s chairman, not the Speaker.

He concluded that “the Speaker has not only jumped the gun but has gone outside the prescription of the law to impose his sanction. His own attitude and conduct is questionable.”

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