Hon. Seidu Musah Writes: Boycotting the Work of Parliament by the Minority MPs amount to Contempt of Parliament

The eighth(8th) Parliament of the Republic of Ghana will go down as the most controversial in the history of the fourth Republic.
From the date of constituting the eighth Parliament on the 7th January, 2021, the ‘hang’ nature of the eighth Parliament came with numerous controversies ranging from the incidents that occurred during the election of the speaker, vetting of the president’s Ministerial nominees and the passage of a number of bills including the most talked-about E-lavy bill.

The most recent controversy that rock Parliament and the most dangerous among all due to its constitutional ramifications is the boycott of the work of Parliament by members of the minority in solidarity with the criminal trial of James Gyakyi Quayson, the member of Parliament for Assin North constituency.
Minority members of Parliament in a rather bizarre manner decided to abandon the work of Parliament for the court in solidarity with their colleague who is standing criminal trial at the High Court. This act of the minority group constitute Contempt of Parliament under article 122 of the 1992 constitution of the Republic of Ghana.

For the avoidance of doubt, article 122 of the constitution states: ‘ An act or omission which obstructs or impedes Parliament in the performance of its functions or which obstructs or impedes a member or officer of Parliament in the discharge of his duties, or affronts the dignity of Parliament or which tends either directly or indirectly to produce that result, is contempt of Parliament.’

A true and proper interpretation of article 122 of the constitution means that the action of the minority obstructs and impedes Parliament in the performance of its duties and clearly amounts to contemp of Parliament. Perhaps the minority group in Parliament has not averted their minds to this constitutional provision under article 122 of the constitution.

Members of Parliament are mandated by law under article 93(2) to perform legislative functions. They are also mandated to institute measures to control the public purse and exercise oversight of the executive arm of government. Parliament also serves as a representative forum for the people and a place where bills, motions and questions are debated.

It is therefore surprising and dangerous to our fragile democracy to see members of the minority sidestep their core duties to sit in court in solidarity with a member standing criminal trial in a court of competent jurisdiction

I call on Parliament’s committee on privileges to call the minority group to order so that the sanctity of Parliament as well as that of the 1992 constitution of the Republic of Ghana is preserved.

Director of communications
Oti region- NPP

0242051602