Former Member of Parliament for Essikado-Ketan, Joe Ghartey has criticised Speaker of Parliament, Alban Bagbin’s initial decision to suspend some members of parliament arguing that the sanction denied the MPs the right to natural justice.
This comes after Speaker Bagbin lifted the suspension of four MPs, including Majority and Minority Chief Whips, Rockson-Nelson Dafeamekpor and Frank Annor Dompreh, as well as Jerry Ahmed Shaib and Alhassan Sulemana Tampuli.
The suspension was initially imposed due to a chaotic confrontation that erupted at the Appointments Committee on Thursday, January 30.
In an interview with Channel One News on Tuesday, February 4, Joe Ghartey noted that the speaker’s objective approach to leadership but posited that his initial means of tackling the issue was not right.
He emphasised that due process was not followed.
“When Adam ate the apple, God asked Adam where are you and he said I heard you coming so I hid. He said why are you hiding? What have you done? God is omnipotent. He knew what Adam had done but he asked him. The rule of natural justice says that no man shall be condemned without being taken through a hearing. It is a fundamental rule part of our laws,” he stated.
He further condemned the various incidents of chaos that occurred during ministerial vetting at the Appointments Committee.
“I totally condemn everything that happened there. Nothing should lead us to the state of drawing swords against each other,” he stated.
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