The Speaker of Parliament, Rt. Hon. Alban Bagbin has lifted the two-week suspension of four Members of Parliament (MPs) who were sanctioned for their involvement in chaotic scenes during a ministerial vetting session on Thursday, January 30.
The affected Members of Parliament, Rockson-Nelson Dafeamekpor, Frank Annoh-Dompreh, Alhassan Tampuli, and Jerry Ahmed Shaib have been reinstated with immediate effect following an appeal from both the Majority and Minority caucuses.
The Speaker’s decision to revoke the suspension follows a plea from leaders of both sides of the House, urging him to temper justice with mercy.
The initial suspension, announced on Friday, January 31, barred the four MPs from parliamentary proceedings for two weeks.
Bagbin had also indicated that any lawmakers found responsible for damages would bear the cost of repairs, potentially through salary deductions.
The disturbances erupted when members of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) and New Patriotic Party (NPP) clashed during the vetting process.
The disagreement stemmed from an attempt to continue the vetting of Minister-Designate for Foreign Affairs, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, and Minister-Designate for Health, Kwabena Mintah Akandoh, despite time constraints. The Minority NPP opposed proceeding with the session, arguing that the nominees had been “sneaked” into the room.
In response to the incident, a parliamentary committee, chaired by Ho West MP Emmanuel Bedzrah, was established to investigate the events and recommend appropriate measures to prevent future disruptions.
With the suspension now lifted, the four lawmakers are expected to resume their parliamentary duties immediately.
