Former Majority Leader Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu has taken a firm stance against Speaker Alban Bagbin’s decision to suspend four Members of Parliament over the chaos that erupted during Thursday’s vetting session.
Speaking in an interview on Joy News on Saturday, Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu questioned the legality of the Speaker’s decision, arguing that neither the Standing Orders of Parliament nor the Constitution grants Bagbin such powers.
“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.”
Although he acknowledged that Bagbin acted under Order 342 of the newly revised Standing Orders, he insisted that the Speaker overstepped his mandate, adding:
“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.”
Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu’s comments have reignited the debate over Bagbin’s handling of parliamentary discipline, with some questioning whether the Speaker is exercising unchecked authority or taking necessary steps to maintain order in the House.
