The Speaker of Parliament, Alban Bagbin, has taken action against a senior member of the Parliamentary Service, Thomas Bosompem, over an incident involving the unauthorized release of a draft document. This document, known as the “Hansard” from a parliamentary session on Thursday, October 17, 2024, was given to the Majority Leader, Alexander Afenyo-Markin, without proper permission. The Hansard is a record of proceedings in Parliament, and releasing it before final approval is considered a breach of protocol.
According to a report by GhanaWeb, Bagbin’s decision to begin disciplinary procedures was made clear in a formal memo addressed to Bosompem. The memo, dated Monday, October 21, 2024. In the memo, the Speaker asked Bosompem to explain why he should not face disciplinary measures for copying the draft Hansard and distributing it without authorization.
The specific regulation Bagbin referred to is Regulation 51(c) and (o) of the Parliamentary Service (Staff) Regulations from 2019. The memo stated, “Pursuant to Regulation 51(c) and (o) of the Parliamentary Service (Staff) Regulations, 2019, (C. I. 1 18), explain why disciplinary action should not be instituted against you for photocopying the draft ‘Hansard’ of Thursday, October 17, 2024, and making same available to some other persons without authorisation.”
Bosompem was given a deadline to respond. The Speaker ordered him to submit his explanation to the Editor of Debates, Chamber Reporting, by 4:00 p.m. on Wednesday, October 23, 2024. If Bosompem fails to provide a satisfactory explanation, further disciplinary action may follow.
The matter came to light after an important event in Parliament on October 17, 2024. During that session, Minority Leader Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson applied to have four parliamentary seats declared vacant. Speaker Bagbin ruled in favor of this application, leaving the MPs representing Amenfi Central, Fomena, Suhum, and Agona West without their seats. The MPs affected by this ruling were Peter Yaw Kwakye-Ackah of Amenfi Central, Andrew Asiamah Amoako of Fomena, Kwadjo Asante of Suhum, and Cynthia Morrison of Agona West.
The Speaker’s decision caused a stir, leading the Majority Leader, Alexander Afenyo-Markin, to take immediate legal action. On Friday, October 18, 2024, Afenyo-Markin’s lawyers went to the Supreme Court with an ex parte application. They sought an urgent stay of the Speaker’s ruling. This request was granted by a five-member Supreme Court panel, led by Chief Justice Justice Gertrude Torkornoo. The court instructed both parties involved to file their arguments within seven days.
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