The Minority Caucus in Parliament on Tuesday evening walked out in protest against the Speaker, Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin’s, decision to order the member of Parliament (MP) for Damongo, Samuel Abu Jinapor, out of the Chamber following a disagreement over allegations of the sale of Ghanaian diplomatic passports.
The Speaker of Parliament had directed the Ranking Member on the Foreign Affairs Committee, Jinapor, to withdraw an allegation on the floor of the House to the effect that Ghanaian diplomatic passports are being sold at GH¢50,000.
Mr. Bagbin asked Mr. Jinapor, who is the MP for Damongo, to withdraw the allegation, but he declined, forcing the Speaker to order the Marshall to walk him out.
The Speaker had asked him to withdraw and assured him that he would be allowed to make such an allegation once he came with evidence.
But Mr. Jinapor appeared hesitant to heed the Speaker’s directive and was later seen packing his books and walking out.
He insisted that Mr. Jinapor withdrew the allegation, but when he declined to do so immediately, he subsequently directed the Marshal to escort him out of the chamber.
“Marshal, please carry out the orders immediately. Honourable Abu Jinapor, please walk out of this place or you will be taken out,” the Speaker directed.
In a show of solidarity, his colleague Minority MPs were also seen walking out of the Chamber.
The Ranking Member of the Foreign Affairs Committee had raised concerns about reports that Ghanaian diplomatic passports were being sold for amounts ranging from $10,000 to $50,000.
The MP for Damongo had described the development as a serious threat to the country's international reputation.
Saying that there was “unimpeachable evidence” that diplomatic passports were being sold, he called for the matter to be brought to the attention of Parliament for investigation.
He said the alleged practice required urgent attention because of the implications for Ghana's standing in the international community.
“As we speak today, there is evidence, unimpeachable evidence, that today diplomatic passports are being sold, Mr. Speaker,” he told the House.
He pointed out that it was only the Foreign Affairs Minister who had the authority to grant and were subject to a thorough process, given the privileges and international responsibilities associated with their use.
“By law, it is only the Minister who has the authority to grant diplomatic passports in our country,” he said.
Mr. Jinapor added that the issuance and use of diplomatic passports had historically “far-reaching implications on the standing and reputation of our country on the international stage”.
Majority objection
However, his attempt to raise the matter was interrupted by the Majority Leader, James Agalga, who objected to the statement on the grounds that it constituted a serious allegation of criminal conduct which required substantiation.
He argued that Mr. Jinapor should provide evidence to support the allegation before it could be admitted as part of proceedings in the House.
He consequently urged the Speaker to direct the MP to withdraw the allegation and have the relevant portion expunged from the parliamentary records.
In response, Mr. Jinapor maintained that he had evidence to support his claim, insisting that the issue was already in the public domain.
“Mr. Speaker, I have evidence. That allegation is out there,” he said.
Withdraw allegation
Unhappy with the allegation, Mr. Bagbin directed him to withdraw the allegation and indicated that he could return to the matter with the necessary evidence.
Mr. Jinapor subsequently indicated that he would withdraw the statement and return to the issue through the appropriate parliamentary process.
He was, however, ordered out of the Chamber after the Speaker considered his response insufficient and instructed the Marshall to walk him out.
Such instruction prompting the Minority to stage a walkout in solidarity with Mr. Jinapor.
High-handed decision
Speaking to the press after the walkout, the Minority Leader, Alexander Afenyo-Markin, said the issue of diplomatic passports was a matter of public interest and should have been allowed to proceed for investigation.
He argued that MPs did not necessarily have to establish all the facts before raising matters requiring parliamentary scrutiny.
In his view, the Foreign Affairs Minister could have been invited to make a statement on the matter, with Parliament considering a bipartisan committee if further investigation became necessary.
Describing the Speaker’s action as “harsh, high-handed and mostly unfair” to Mr. Jinapor, Mr. Afenyo-Markin insisted that the matter was of public interest and ought to have been allowed to undergo parliamentary scrutiny.
He took a swipe at the Speaker and described his decision inappropriate, particularly after Mr. Jinapor had indicated his willingness to withdraw the allegation and return to the matter with supporting evidence.
“As far as we in leadership are concerned, we heard him withdraw the statement and the records would bear us all out,” he said.
He explained that he, as the Minority leadership, had attempted to catch the Speaker’s attention to resolve the disagreement but was unsuccessful.
He said the caucus subsequently decided to leave the chamber in solidarity with their colleague to prevent the situation from escalating.
