House refers publisher to Privileges Committee

Page 12, Oct 27, 2010
Story: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah
THE Speaker of Parliament, Mrs Joyce Bamford-Addo, yesterday referred the Editor of Africawatch, a pan-African magazine, Mr Steve Mallory, to the Privileges Committee of the House over a publication in the magazine’s October 2010 issue which graded the performance of Members of Parliament (MPs) and the Executive.
Her action followed contributions by MPs on both sides of the House to two statements by the MP for Manhyia, Dr Matthew Opoku Prempeh, and the MP for Ashaiman, Mr Alfred Kwame Agbesi.
In referring the matter to the committee, the Speaker quoted Article 122 of the 1992 Constitution, as well as Order 30 (2) of the Standing Order of the House, and said that the publication had brought the reputation of MPs into disrepute.
The said article states: “An 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.”
The Speaker explained that the publication had done exactly what Article 122 of the Constitution sought to prevent and thus needed to be investigated by the Privileges Committee.
“Honourable members, my duty is to protect the integrity of the House and I, therefore, refer the matter to the committee for consideration and report,” she said.
In his statement, Dr Prempeh said at one time or another, both sides of the House had considered an objective and fair assessment of MPs, adding that that showed that parliamentarians were not averse to being assessed.
“We will welcome it, provided it is done fairly, objectively and transparently with built-in safeguards for feedback and re-evaluations,” he said.
He said what the publication had achieved was to mainly ridicule MPs in the eye of Ghanaians by reducing a well-thought out initiative to be sacrificed on the altar of simplicity.
“This simplicity, which panders to the basic instincts of mischievous elements, is very unfair to the reputation of all MPs,” he said, adding that it was being used by friends and foes in the various media, political parties and constituencies to tarnish the image of MPs and Parliament as an institution.
He argued that the Political Performance Index (PPI) sought to undermine the harmonious working relation in the House, explaining that it would make it very difficult for the leadership to persuade the back benchers to give in to their colleagues on the front bench during debates.
“Madam Speaker, we should not make an avatar of this PPI and we should not allow it to pass, lie or die without comment and action. If we do so, it will be at our own peril,” Dr Prempeh said.
In his statement, Mr Agbesi said while it was necessary to assess MPs for the growth of democracy, it was critically necessary for those involved to be circumspect in arriving at conclusions such as awarding grades which sent devastating signals to constituents and the general public.
He called on Parliament to establish an institution of high learning to build the capacities of MPs, in addition to the formation and recognition of a strong back-bencher group.
When the MPs were given the chance to contribute to the matter, they did so with passion, with all the contributors calling on the Speaker to refer the matter to the Privileges Committee.
In his contribution, the MP for Atwima Mponua, Mr Isaac Kwame Asiamah, said it would be the highest order of injustice should any MP lose his or her seat as a result of the publication.
For her part, the MP for Evalue-Gwira, Mrs Catherine Afeku, said the publication had done more harm to the effort of all well-meaning Ghanaians to encourage women to vie to become MPs.
She stated that by awarding such low grades to women in the House, the magazine had succeeded in putting fear in women who intended to contest for seats in the 2012 parliamentary election.
The MP for Asawase, Alhaji Muntaka Mohammed Mubarak, said the publication was unfair, particularly to MPs who were in Parliament for the first time, explaining that since they were still learning, it was impossible for them to speak on all issues.
“How can people who know next to nothing about parliamentary practice assess the work of MPs?” he asked and called on the leadership of the House not to take the matter before the House lightly.
The MP for Jaman South, Mr Yaw Afful Maama, questioned the criteria for the assessment of MPs, saying it would be impossible for former MPs who lost their seats either at the constituency primaries or parliamentary elections to see anything better in sitting MPs.
When it came to their turn, both the Majority and Minority leaders, Mr Cletus Avoka and Mr Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu, respectively, condemned the publication and urged Ghanaians to treat it with the contempt that it deserved.
Other MPs who contributed to the two statements were Simon Edem Asimah (South Dayi), Sampson Ahi (Juabeso), Dominic Nitiwul (Bimbilla), Inusah B.A. Fuseini (Tamale Central) and David Tetteh Assumeng (Shai-Osudoku)