Parliament’s Privileges Committee on Tuesday suspended its sitting to examine alleged contemptuous comments by the Assin Central MP, Kennedy Agyapong.
The Chairman of the committee made the decision after Mr. Agyapong’s lawyers raised some objections over the processes and the nature of the hearing.
Mr. Agyapong’s lawyers, Afenyo Markin and K.T Hammond submitted a letter from some members of the committee who wanted to recuse themselves from the proceeding citing the possibility of bias.
During the sitting, lawyer Afenyo Markin referred to the letter signed by some MPs from in the Central Region who had all sought to be excused from the session by the Chairman of the Committee; Joseph Osei Owusu contended that the letter had not been formally tabled before the committee and therefore could not be considered.
Kennedy Agyapong’s lawyers also noted that some MPs connected to the substantive matter had made prejudicial comments on the case which will not ensure a fair hearing.
However, after further deliberations, Joseph Osei Owusu announced that the letter had been sent in through the clerk although he overruled the other objections raised by the counsel for Kennedy Agyapong.
He subsequently informed the audience that the committee had to curtail the public hearing of the matter to move into a private sitting to decide on their receipt of the letter.
Last month, Mr. Agyapong reportedly described Parliament as “useless†for having Osei Kyei Mensah-Bonsu as its Majority leader.
The comments compelled the Minority Chief whip, Muntaka Mubarak, to file a motion that led to Kennedy Agyapong been referred to the Privileges Committee.
Last week Tuesday, Muntaka Mubarak, who subsequently engaged in a fierce media war with Kennedy Agyapong over the matter, appeared before the committee to give evidence to back his claims and support his reasons to get Mr. Agyapong sanctioned.
The committee subsequently established a prima facie case against Mr. Agyapong, hence his appointment with the committee today [Tuesday].
It is expected to cross-examine both Mr. Agyapong and Muntaka Mubarak.
Muntaka Mubarak had earlier said in a Citi News interview that he believes Kennedy Agyapong must be suspended for his utterances.
“I strongly believe that Parliament should suspend this gentleman for the rest of the year. He doesn’t deserve to be sitting in the House,†Muntaka Mubarak said on Eyewitness News last week.
Muntaka Mubarak had earlier said an apology from Kennedy Agyapong would settle the matter.
“If he appears and he apologizes, I am sure it will end there, but if he appears and he is going to flex there, then obviously, it will go through the full haul.â€
Source: citinewsroom.com