The Speaker of Parliament, Alban Bagbin, has ruled out any move to refer the Ranking Member on the Health Committee, Dr. Nana Ayew Afriyie, to the Privileges Committee following Tuesday’s chaotic scenes in Parliament.
The disturbance erupted on June 10 after Dr. Ayew Afriyie defied a decision by the First Deputy Speaker, Bernard Ahiafor, who had refused to admit a statement on the ongoing strike by the Ghana Registered Nurses and Midwives Association (GRNMA). Dr. Afriyie insisted on addressing the House, prompting the Speaker to order the Marshal to remove him from the chamber—a directive that triggered strong protests and disorder among Minority MPs.
The heated exchanges forced Speaker Bagbin to suspend proceedings until the next day, Wednesday, June 11.
Addressing the House when proceedings resumed, Speaker Bagbin clarified that the matter would not be referred to any committee but would instead be resolved through open discussion among parliamentary leadership and members.
“The Speaker, however, the situation is always right on the floor. I want Hon. Members to take this in good faith. This is not a matter to be referred to any committee. It’s a matter that I have discussed with leadership, and we have agreed that it should be resolved. And we will solve it here openly for all of us to be guided, so that in future we don’t fall foul of the law,” he stated.
