Private Legal Practitioner, Zachariah Musah Tanko has said that Speaker could have been taken to court regarding his suspension of four parliamentarians.
According to him, the Speaker’s approach to address the issue in Parliament was above his means hence he could have been brought to book.
Speaking on ABC in the morning, Tanko noted that despite the dissatisfaction of some MPs, they decided to take alternative measures to tackle the issue, adding that this falt could lead to future speakers following his footsteps.
His stern remarks comes as tension in Parliament escalated on Tuesday, February 4, as Minority MPs staged a protest against the suspension of four of their colleagues by Speaker Alban Bagbin.
Dressed in red and black, the Minority caucus sang patriotic songs and party anthems, demonstrating their displeasure over what they termed as an unfair and unilateral decision.
The controversy stems from the chaotic events that unfolded on January 30 during the ministerial vetting process at the Appointments Committee.
A heated disagreement between Majority and Minority MPs led to disruptions and damage to parliamentary equipment.
In response, Speaker Bagbin imposed a two-week suspension on four MPs—Rockson-Nelson Dafeamekpor (South Dayi), Frank Annoh-Dompreh (Nsawam-Adoagyiri), Alhassan Tampuli (Gushegu), and Jerry Ahmed Shaib (Weija-Gbawe)—citing their involvement in the altercation.
The Minority caucus, however, rejected the Speaker’s action, arguing that the MPs were not given a fair hearing before the suspension.
On Monday, February 3, they held a press briefing describing the move as a direct attempt to weaken the Minority’s oversight role in Parliament.
The tension escalated further when security was tightened around the parliamentary precinct, blocking the suspended MPs from entering the chamber ahead of Tuesday’s sitting.
Meanwhile, reactions from key political figures have fueled the debate. Hon. Kojo Oppong Nkrumah questioned the Speaker’s authority to suspend MPs, suggesting it could be a constitutional overreach.
Amid calls for calm and bipartisan dialogue, Speaker Bagbin eventually lifted the suspension of the four MPs following an appeal from both sides of the House.
However, he maintained that the committee investigating the vetting chaos would continue its work, ensuring accountability for the events of January 30.
With the controversy far from over, we will analyze the legal, governance, and parliamentary implications of these developments. To gain further insight, we will engage key stakeholders, including legal and governance experts, as well as members of Parliament from both sides.
