The Minority in Parliament has accused the Speaker of “parliamentary bullying” after the Member of Parliament for Damongo, Samuel Abu Jinapor, was ejected from the chamber, despite withdrawing his allegation.
Mr Jinapor was ordered out after claiming that diplomatic passports had been sold for about $50,000, without providing evidence to back the claim.
Speaking to journalists on Wednesday, November 4, Minority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin said Mr Jinapor withdrew the statement when asked to clarify his remarks, but the Speaker still insisted he leave the chamber.
He argued that the withdrawal should have been enough to allow proceedings to continue without further confrontation.“Upon clarification, he expressly stated, ‘Mr Speaker, I withdraw.’
He repeated that withdrawal. Yet the direction that he leaves the chamber was maintained. We, the Minority, consider that response disproportionate and, in its effect, an act of parliamentary bullying,” he said.
Mr Afenyo-Markin said the Minority, through its Foreign Affairs Caucus, would present supporting material to back the claims, including allegations that the practice had become an illicit trade.
“There is supporting material which, in our assessment, raises serious concerns about false representations and apparent impersonation in procuring diplomatic or service passports through the Foreign Ministry,” he said.
He questioned where such concerns should be raised if Parliament was not open to scrutiny of issues involving the country’s diplomatic passports.
